Health and social care professional’s experiences, views and responses of people who use new psychoactive substances in different Mental Health and Addiction Healthcare Services

Title
Health and social care professional’s experiences, views and responses of people
who use new psychoactive substances in different Mental Health and Addiction
Healthcare Services.
Background
Background New psychoactive Substances (NPS) cause harms to both physical and
mental health of people who use NPS (PWUNPS). Health and social care
professionals working in mental health and drug and alcohol settings experience
daily challenges surrounding the identification of NPS types, related symptoms
resulting from NPS. Although a limitation of research exists surrounding how Hcps
manage PWUNPS, more research is needed on Hcps views, responses, and
experiences across different healthcare services (HCSs) surrounding their
engagements with PWUNPS.
Aims
Aim (s) Exploring the experiences, views and responses of health and social care
professionals contact with people who use new psychoactive substances. 1.
Describe Hcps’ experiences in response to users of NPS in different healthcare
sectors. 2. Identify factors that affect the assessment process of Hcps responding to
PWUNPS 3. Explore Hcps perceptions of their knowledge toward PWUNPS, legislation
and drug policy. 4. Identify areas in which education and training would enhance
Hcps knowledge across different services.
Methods
Purposive sampling was used, and analysis was through descriptive statistics and
thematic analysis. The experiences, views and responses of health and social care
professionals toward PWUNPS in three different service type provisions namely
statutory, non-statutory and private sectors across five mental health and drug and
alcohol HCSs. A Sequential Explanatory Design consisted of 2 phases. Phase one
survey data explored the responses of 92 health and social care professionals; thus,
the results of the survey informed the development of the interview questions for
phase 2. Phase 2 consisted of fourteen health and social care professionals’
responses were explored through 14 semi-structured interviews.
Results
Results 92 Health and social care professionals took part in the survey design across
different healthcare services. Most Hcps were female (n=47) in comparison to male
Hcps (n=3) and some Hcps (n=2) did not disclose their gender. The findings indicated
that 45% of Hcps reported no assessment or procedures were in place for PWUNPS,
and views were predominately neutral towards PWUNPS and engagement
experiences were deemed neutral. The phase 2, 14 semi-structured interviews results
identified 5 common themes associated with Hcps experiences and responses
toward PWUNPS including organisational issues, assessment, stigma, harm
minimisation and a symptoms as contributing factors toward Hcps experiences
surrounding the management of PWUNPS.
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Discussion/Conclusions
Discussion/ Conclusions Hcps frequently come into contact with PWUNPS across
different HCSs presenting with various health-related co-morbidity. Organisational
issues impacted the engagements, access and funding toward treating PWUNPS.
HCSs need to integrate specific NPS trainings for Hcps across the different HCS
sectors is recommended to reduce the harms associated with NPS use. This study
demonstrates the potential of implementing newer assessment, policy, and a Harm
Minimisation approach toward PWUNPS across different HCSs.
Recommended reading
• Campbell, A., O Neill, N & Higgins, K (2017). Health and Social Care workers'
perceptions of NPS use in Northern Ireland. International Journal of Drug
Policy, 40, pp. 93-101. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2016.11.003.
• Gittins, R., Guirguis, A & Schifano et al, (2018). Exploration of the Use of New
Psychoactive Substances by Individuals in Treatment for Substance Misuse in
the UK. Brain sciences, 8, 4, 58. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci8040058
• Ralphs R & Gray P., 2018. New psychoactive substances: new service provider
challenges. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy. 25, 4. pg. 301–312.
doi:10.1080/09687637.2017.1417352.3390/brainsci8040058