Moral compasses. Isn’t it strange how substance use is frequently considered a problem? What would change if we just accepted substance use as a thing that humans do? We can accept it for legal stuff. So…let’s legalize substances.
The overarching idea that drugs are bad and will eventually turn into problem if unaddressed.
Youth are vulnerable. More or less than 25 years ago when I embarked on my adolescence? I’m not sure.
Do you ever read peer reviewed research and wish that the researchers situated themselves in the research so you had a better idea of what their values and beliefs are and why they do the work that they do? I do.
Identifying the potential harms of substance use is important. But not acknowledging that some of the harms could be better addressed by safe supply, legalization, housing initiatives, poverty reduction, more money in community services like schools, sports and other recreation, and general healthcare access (not just mental health care access), in many ways prevents us from demanding g upstream change. Meanwhile ongoing privatization of substance use treatment and proliferation of abstinence-based (sometimes re-branded substance free living?) is going strong.
What’s wrong with taking a harm reduction approach rather than having substance-free living as a goal? the evidence for compulsory treatment is non-existent. Inpatient treatment are based on an abstinence-based models. What is the model for everyone else when they need a higher level of care? It’s also abstinence-based treatment, the difference is involuntary instead of voluntary. Riddle me this: do we know if involuntary treatment causes iatrogenic trauma? And, what is our approach to people living with complex health issues (including mental health and substance use) again?
How do these fit?
Trauma and Violence Informed Practice
Forced Treatment for Substance Use Issues
Nurses need to take a deep think on this. We also need to take a leadership role in research on this. In Western Canada we have a separate designation of Nurses that focus on mental health care, Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs). Most RPNs in Canada are registered and practice in B.C. We do not produce the more mental health nursing research. Why not?
Love,
Michelle D.
- Hadland, S. E., Yule, A. M., Levy, S. J., Hallett, E., Silverstein, M., & Bagley, S. M. (2021). Evidence-Based Treatment of Young Adults With Substance Use Disorders. Pediatrics, 147(Supplement 2), S204-S214.
nursingforsocialjustice 
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