Problems Related to Substance and Alcohol Misuse

This chapter focuses on health and mental problems related to substance and/or alcohol misuse. It highlights how substance use/misuse and so-called addictive disorders are health problems which can be seen in all genders, ages, races, and social-economic conditions. The chapter begins by reviewing the relevant data pertaining to etiological factors in substance and alcohol misuse problems. Following this, attention is paid to describing and understanding more about the most commonly encountered substances and their features. The chapter then proceeds to explore and discuss helpful and therapeutic psychiatric/mental health (P/MH) nursing responses to problems related to substance and alcohol misuse. Then the main themes of care and treatment are scrutinized. Particular attention is then paid to common elements of treatment responses such as abstinence-based approaches and programs, psychopharmacological responses, environmental-based programs, cognitive behavioral interventions, and motivational interviewing.