💊 Substance misuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescription medications. It can lead to addiction (substance use disorder), physical dependence, and a wide range of health, social, and legal problems. Early recognition and appropriate management are essential to reduce harm and improve outcomes.

📌 Key Points on Substance Misuse

🧪 Types of Substances: Alcohol, opioids, cannabis, stimulants (e.g., cocaine, amphetamines), sedatives, hypnotics, inhalants.
⚠️ Signs of Misuse: Behavioral change, neglect of duties, health decline, social withdrawal.
💥 Complications:
- Physical – liver disease, cardiovascular problems, infections (HIV, hepatitis).
- Mental – depression, anxiety, psychosis, suicide risk.
- Social – unemployment, financial strain, crime, safeguarding concerns.
🩺 Diagnosis: Detailed history, examination, laboratory tests, and validated screening tools (e.g., AUDIT for alcohol, DAST for drugs).
💊 Management: Motivational interviewing, detoxification, pharmacotherapy (e.g., methadone, naltrexone), psychological therapy, peer support groups.
🛡️ Prevention: Education, early intervention, screening of at-risk groups, and responsible prescribing of controlled drugs.

🧾 Common Substances Misused and Their Management

Substance	Signs & Symptoms of Misuse	Diagnosis	Management
🍺 Alcohol	Slurred speech, impaired judgment, liver disease, withdrawal (tremor, seizures, delirium tremens)	🧪 LFTs, AUDIT tool, blood alcohol concentration	💬 Counseling, detox (chlordiazepoxide taper), relapse prevention (disulfiram, acamprosate, naltrexone), support groups (AA)
💉 Opioids	Drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, constipation, respiratory depression, withdrawal (sweating, yawning, myalgia)	🧪 Urine drug screen, clinical history	💊 Opioid substitution therapy (methadone, buprenorphine), naloxone for overdose, psychosocial support
🌿 Cannabis	Impaired memory, anxiety, psychosis risk, red eyes, increased appetite	🧪 Clinical history, urine drug screen	💬 CBT, motivational interviewing, support networks
⚡ Cocaine	Euphoria, agitation, paranoia, dilated pupils, chest pain, nasal damage (snorting)	🧪 Urine drug screen, ECG (for arrhythmia/MI)	💬 CBT, supportive management of withdrawal, treat cardiovascular complications
💤 Benzodiazepines	Drowsiness, ataxia, confusion, dependence, respiratory depression	🧪 Urine drug screen, clinical history	📉 Gradual taper (to avoid seizures), psychological support, management of anxiety/insomnia without benzodiazepines

⚠️ UK Context & Clinical Pearls

🚨 Alcohol misuse is the most common substance problem seen in UK general practice and emergency care.
🩸 Opioid misuse carries high risk of overdose and blood-borne virus transmission—naloxone kits are a community harm reduction measure.
👩‍⚕️ Substance misuse often co-exists with mental health disorders → dual diagnosis services are essential.
🛑 Safeguarding: Always consider risks to dependents (e.g., children) in cases of parental substance misuse.

✅ Take-Home Messages

Substance misuse is common and has wide-ranging consequences—physical, psychological, and social.
Use structured assessment tools (AUDIT, DAST) to screen systematically.
Management combines pharmacological and psychological strategies, with strong emphasis on harm reduction.
Multidisciplinary approach (GPs, psychiatry, addiction services, social care) is vital for long-term recovery.

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Substance misuse

📌 Key Points on Substance Misuse

🧾 Common Substances Misused and Their Management

⚠️ UK Context & Clinical Pearls

✅ Take-Home Messages

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