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Substance Use and Misuse in Psychiatric Wards

NCJ Number
180889
Journal
Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: July 1999 Pages: 181-194
Author(s)
Jeff Cohen; Ruth Runciman; Richard Williams
Date Published
July 1999
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Observations and contacts with inpatient psychiatric services in England and Wales formed the basis of an analysis of the clinical and managerial problems relating to the use and misuse of drugs and alcohol in psychiatric wards.
Abstract
The populations of psychiatric wards are disproportionately younger, male, and socially disadvantaged, so it seems logical that drug abuse in these settings would match or outstrip the general trend. The culture of drug use and drug abuse is now an active and demanding part of the inpatient culture. This situation appears at a minimum to call for an extended consultative role for drug treatment services. Urgent priorities for people who create policy, develop strategy, and design and deliver services are investment in an appropriately skilled workforce, research into the nature of comorbidity, and the development of new models for service delivery. Issues of direct concern to drug abusers, carers, professional practitioners, and managers relate to the ability to intervene and set conditions for ward regimes within the current legal framework. Specific issues include the actions hospital staff can take to control drug abuse on their premises and the need for policies and procedures relating to searches, compulsory drug testing, the exclusion of visitors, confidentiality, and cooperation with the police. In addition, it is important to balance control with the need to maintain a therapeutic stance. Finally, staff training is crucial to providing appropriate services and responses. 27 references