Catholic Social Teaching: Drug Addiction

This article discusses the issue of drug addiction and its impact on human life and dignity. It explores the role of nursing professionals and community support in addressing this global problem. The article also highlights the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and their relevance in tackling drug addiction.

Running head: CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING: DRUG ADDICTION
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING: DRUG ABUSE
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1CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING: DRUG ADDICTION
Introduction
Issue
At present, the issue of drug addiction has emerged to be a shortcoming of global
significance, affecting the dignity and life of individuals, across all communities and nations
(Everitt & Robbins, 2016). According to the World Health Organization, drug addiction is
characterized by the frequent intake of harmful drugs, natural as well as synthetic, resulting in a
state of periodic intoxication affecting the society in general and the individual in particular. Key
features of drug addiction include, an individual feeling psychologically and physiologically
dependent on the drug, uncontrollable desire to engage increments in drug dosages as well as a
continuous of need to continue, maintain consumption and acquire the drug (World Health
Organization, 2019). Likewise, drug overdose is interrelated to drug addiction and is
characterized by a desired to consume the drug in quantities excessive and toxic as compared to
the standard values (Howe & Kenny, 2018).
Findings
Recent findings indicate that opioids, are the class of drugs undergoing the highest levels
of abuse, nationally as well as internationally. According to the Centers of Disease Control and
Prevention, it was reported that in the year 2014, an estimated 2 million individuals engaged
either in dependency and abuse of prescription opioids (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 2019). Additionally, according to the World Health Organization, it has been
calculated that approximately 1000 individuals undergo emergency admissions across healthcare
organizations due to engaging in misuse and overdose of prescription opioids. Hence, large
alarming statistics, not only reflect upon the widespread nature of the population, but also reflect

2CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING: DRUG ADDICTION
hindrances to shared responsibility of the common good and lack of collaboration between the
private and public components of the society in mitigating the problem of drug abuse (World
Health Organization, 2019).
Common Good
If left untreated, the global issue of drug addiction and overdose can result in hindrances
to the maintenance of common good in terms of human life and dignity. Prolonged engagement
in drug abuse and addiction can result in serious physiological illnesses, nausea, vomiting,
sleeplessness, restlessness, weakness as well as psychological impacts such as hallucinations and
cognitive deficits (McGinty et al., 2015). Such consequences indicate that hindrances to human
life and dignity. According to Catholic Social Teaching principles, the life and dignity of an
individual is sacred and must be conserved, and is clearly being affected by drug addiction
(Sison, Ferrero & Guitián, 2016).
Discussion : Addressing Challenges
Professional Community
The nursing community can play a key role in mitigation of the issue of drug addiction
and overdose, and overall conservation of the human life and dignity. One of the key issues
underlying drug addiction is the lack of knowledge among patients on the harmful consequences
and threat to human life and dignity due to the same (Krokmyrdal & Andenæs, 2015). Hence, as
a nurse, I must firstly seek to educate the patient. This can be done using written documents as
well as discussion session with the clients which will include educating the patient on the harms
of drug intake, ways in which it can be prevented as well as its negative effects on catholic social
principles like human life and dignity (Nash et al., 2017). Further, it has been evidenced that

3CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING: DRUG ADDICTION
drug addiction is often due to detrimental behaviors of individuals as a response to a stimuli
which maybe discomforting to the patient. Hence, as a nurse, I can refer the patient or
collaborative work with a psychotherapist who can administer behavioral treatments like
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which will teach patients to regulate their behaviors (Wiers et al.,
2016). Hence, this will not only reduce drug addiction symptoms and as a result protect life and
dignity of the individual but will also allow nurses and healthcare organizations to adhere to the
rights and responsibilities of conserving human life (Valadez & Philip, 2015).
Community Contribution
As per the CST principles of solidarity and the call to family, community and
participation, we must work collaboratively in unison and restructure our community and society
to collective address global issues like drug addiction and maintenance of the dignity and life of
the individual. Hence, the community can play a key role in mitigating drug addiction and
overdose by providing community and self help support (Cremers, 2017). Hence, as a nurse I can
ensure same by firstly engaging in family centered care and using the support of the patient’s
family in reducing drug addiction symptoms. I can also advocate and refer the patient to a
community and self help support group which can assist the patient through provision of
empathy, safety, security, belongingness and compassion (LaBelle et al., 2016).
Existing Initiatives
At present, existing initiatives include the ‘5 Point Strategy to Combat Opioid Crisis’
implemented by the US Department of Health and Human Services, which seeks to provide
improved drug accessibility and addiction prevention intervention, improved data on the nature
of the opioid crisis, enhanced treatment for targeting overdose of drugs and enhanced evidence

4CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING: DRUG ADDICTION
based research on addiction prevention and mitigation of pain (Dasgupta, Beletsky & Ciccarone,
2018).
Skills
For the prevention and management of drug addiction and overdose among patients,
nurses like me, can contribute immensely to maintenance of human life and dignity by
possessing skills of compassion, empathy, affection, patient and family centered approaches -
which are necessary for assisting the poor and vulnerable as per CST principles (Daibes et al.,
2017).
Catholic Social Teaching
The above solutions, in addition to human life and dignity, fulfill additional CST
components as well. These include solidarity and call to family, community and participation
where the community as a whole, seeks to assist the patient in eradication of his drug overdose
and drug addiction symptoms (Annett, 2016).
Local and Global Contexts
While local initiatives include community participation and self help support,
international organization can also work towards addressing this problem. This can include
governments of various nationalities working together in solidarity to mitigate the problem by
formulation of appropriate policies which incorporate CST principles. Further, international
bodies can also adhere to the principle of dignity of work and the rights of workers, by providing
funding to allow healthcare organizations to address drug addiction through subsided treatment
(Botticelli & Koh, 2016).

5CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING: DRUG ADDICTION
Conclusion
Hence, it can be concluded that using principles of education, patient centered approaches
as well as provision of community care and social support, nursing professionals like me can
contribute actively in the protection of human life and dignity and eradication of drug addiction
and overdose.

6CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING: DRUG ADDICTION
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