Illicit Drugs and Mental Health

This assignment delves into the impact of illicit drugs on mental health, focusing on common maladaptive behaviors associated with substance misuse and various treatment approaches. It examines pharmacological interventions for drug dependence, the role of international drug conventions in public health, and explores alternative perspectives on drug policy beyond criminalization. The assigned readings provide insights from experts in the field and highlight the multifaceted challenges surrounding drug addiction.

Enhancing Assessment and
Treatment of Substance Misuse

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................3
Cocaine dependence in United Kingdom.............................................................................................3
Harm Reduction Strategies...................................................................................................................3
Intervention in public and school based anti-cocaine campaigns....................................................4
Abstinence Approach.......................................................................................................................5
Interventions that helps in promoting abstinence approach ............................................................6
Policies in the United Kingdom and international health policies to prevent the misuse of Cocaine..7
Quality of the evidence (Strengths and Limitations)............................................................................8
CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Substance use also generally termed as drug misuse is excessive usage of those substances
which causes intoxication, addiction and dependence of that particular substance (Dietz and et.al,
2013). The quantity and amount of substance consumed by an individual gradually increases and it
develops the capacity of enhanced dependence with time. There are different definitions of drug or
substance misuse according to the health and medical centres. Substances which are included in
drug abuse can range from few alcohol categories to potent drugs such as cocaine, marijuana,
opioid, barbiturates, hypnotics and substituted stimulant drugs. Different types of behavioural
changes are noticed in individuals who are under the influence of several substances that leads to
intoxication and addiction (Sofuoglu and et.al, 2013).
This report will include three different types of treatment interventions for an addictive
disorder caused due to cocaine. It will also focus on various logical explanations which will support
clinical interventions for the treatment of cocaine misuse in UK. Lastly, the report will include
evidences which can be analysed in accordance with treating cocaine misuses in UK and European
countries.
COCAINE DEPENDENCE IN UNITED KINGDOM
According to different surveys, it has been reported that the overall rate of cocaine misuse
in United Kingdom has gradually decreased over the time as compared to values recorded in the
year 2008-2009 (Marsch and et.al, 2014). More number of individuals under the age group of 16-24
has been misusing cocaine from a very long time. Cocaine is a potent drug that is extracted from the
plant of coca (Russo, 2015). It creates dependence after the prolonged usage of drug. It has the
ability to cause different types of hallucinations in an individual who is consuming it. Drug abuse
survey in UK recorded that the misuse of cocaine in UK resulted in death of more than 300
individuals in 2014 which has increased by 3% as compared to death in 2013 (Kapil and et.al,
2014). The main factor which is responsible for developing cocaine abuse is reported to be
emotional and childhood trauma caused in early stages of life of children.
HARM REDUCTION STRATEGIES
Harm reduction strategies are those plans which are developed by healthcare administration
system to reduce the harm caused to vulnerable individual and to the people of different community
(Reed and et.al, 2015). These strategies or drug interventions mainly focus on decreasing the risk
associated with different types of drug abuse in UK. This can be reduced by successfully
implementing measures such as avoiding sharing of needles and injections to provide different
substituted drug in place of cocaine to reduce its abuse. These strategies should be incorporated in
all drug abuse treatment services on the basis of legal contracts or agreements (Abraha and Cusi,

2012). It is very necessary for overall system to participate in reducing harm causes to different
individuals because of cocaine misuse. The system should aim at eliminating number of diseases,
death and infections caused due to excessive usage of cocaine in earlier or later stages of life.
Cocaine is a very potent drug which has the ability to gain addictive power of an individual
very easily. With prolonged use of cocaine or any type of drug, the normal functioning of brain is
disturbed and the nervous system is reverted to abnormal activities under the influence of drugs
(Noone and et.al, 2015). The sensitivity of brain towards normal functioning is reduced. With time,
dependence is created for particular drug which causes development of unusual symptoms if a
desired quantity of drug is not present in the body. These symptoms are also known as withdrawal
symptoms which are characterized by the need of cocaine in same quantity as it was used for the
first time to experience pleasure and comfort. Numerous side-effects of cocaine abuse has been
reported which ranges from anxiety, panic attacks, restlessness, excessive sweating, irritability and
death of people. The most common symptom of misusing cocaine is that a person starts
hallucinating either in audible or in visual sense (McMullen Conlan and Kipping, 2015).
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approach and Maladaptive thinking
This is one of the most efficient therapies which is also known as talking therapy that is
specially used in the cases where an individual is exposed to substance misuse during the teenage
years or in later stages of life (Strang and et.al, 2012). CBT approach is very effective in addressing
the people who are under the influence of cocaine from a long period of time. The approach is
based on identifying the reason for addiction which gradually changes the way in which a person
thinks and behaves in front of other people. It is one of the most effective theories used to change
the maladaptive thoughts which arise during the time of cocaine addiction. CBT helps in identifying
all the maladaptive thoughts which highly influence the behaviour and emotions of an individual in
certain ways (Common Maladaptive Behaviors, 2016.). Maladaptive thoughts arise from the stem of
childhood which tempts the person to indulge in different types of addictions. Main aim of CBT is
to consider various issues related to maladaptive thinking. This tends to change the negative
thoughts by removing the feeling of fear and negative consequences from a person's mind that is
addicted to cocaine.
Relapse Prevention
Relapse is defined as the situation when the symptoms of different drug addiction arise
when the subject is not able to respond to the treatment in a positive way. Many individuals who try
to quit cocaine addiction experience a relapse condition which increases the intensity of cocaine to
higher level (Sofuoglu and et.al, 2013). Relapse prevention therapy is a type of cognitive-
behavioural approach which addresses the issue of relapse condition during the treatment of drug

addiction. After identifying the coping deficiencies in addictive individuals, a training session for
increasing self motivation and esteem is undertaken.
Abstinence Approach
The main strategy behind implementing abstinence approach is that dependence of cocaine
can be reduced successfully only when there is complete control over the access of these drugs
(Greer and et.al, 2013). Approaches or plans other than this will lead to relapse mechanism or
reverting back of behaviour. When an individual is exposed to potent drugs such as cocaine, opioid
or other harmful stimulants he/ she tends to fulfil the urge of drugs in her body after a definite
period of time. If a person tries to reduce the intake of drugs or alcohol he/she is likely to
experience abnormal symptoms which can create a feeling of anger and impatience (Ashworth and
Horder, 2013). This is caused due to increased dependence of particular drug in the body of an
individual. Motivational interviews and other cognitive behavioural therapies are suggested to
people who develop withdrawal symptoms due to excessive consumption of alcohol or other
substances. However depending upon groups of peers and friends in surroundings the behaviour of
a person automatically changes. If an individual is communicating with a group of people who do
not restrict substance misuse then he/she will revert back the behaviour of not consuming drugs to
basic nature of consuming it (Abstinence approaches to addiction treatment, 2016).
Motivational interviews can help the addicted individual in realising the dangerous effects
which are caused due to intake and sniffing of cocaine. They help in motivating the teenagers and
other people to quit the habit of misuse of harmful substances (Noone and et.al, 2015). Motivational
interviews also helps in better counselling of such people by introducing them with other persons in
a rehabilitation centres.
Apart from abstinence approach if people who consume cocaine are not given access to
these drugs or if this product is easily not available in the market than gradually a person will not
get influence by the use of drugs which will help in withdrawing the habit of drug addiction (Pierce
and et.al, 2016).
Interventions that helps in promoting abstinence approach
For implementing successful abstinence approach to reduce the misuse of cocaine in UK it
is very important to promote this strategies in different ways so that the percentage of people
consuming drugs is minimized to a large extent. Different intervention has been suggested by the
government of UK to promote this abstinence strategy which is discussed as below.
Restriction on selling and purchasing of Cocaine to all the individuals: One of the most
effective interventions which the government of UK incorporated is that they restricted the buying
and selling of cocaine for all other purpose except the medical use (Sofuoglu and et.al, 2013). No

individual is allowed to sell or purchase drugs on illegal basis. Heavy penalty was imposed on a
person who was found with drugs. Based on statistical data recovered from different studies and
surveys it has been reported that major number of crimes that happen in UK are committed by
individual in juvenile age group. The tendency to commit different crimes is due to the influence of
different types of drugs which stimulates the behaviour in negative ways (Reed and et.al, 2015).
Number of crimes reported by people who are addicted to cocaine has been higher than crimes due
to influence of any other drugs. The main aim of introducing this strategy by government was to
ensure that these drugs are not available easily in the market so that illegal use or misuse of cocaine
is prohibited. They also monitored that cocaine or any other stimulants available in the market were
only used in medical assistance in case of traumatic surgeries in order to inhibit the pain receptors
of the body (Kaskutas and et.al, 2014).
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: This intervention is one of the methods which shows an
impact on the behavioural patterns of an individual who is under the influence of different
substance misuse (Abraha and Cusi, 2012). According to research, it has been revealed that the
behaviour of a person who is addicted to drugs is unhealthy as compared to person who is not
addictive to any substance. The main aim of cognitive behavioural therapy is to determine the cause
and reasons which are responsible for promoting substance misuse. Different motivational
interviews and counselling sessions are given to the person who is unable to quit the habit of
cocaine addiction (McMullen Conlan and Kipping, 2015). Motivation therapy results in identifying
what are a person’s desires and what are his/her failures which are tempting them to indulge in these
activities.
Two different perspectives have been evolved in order to successfully implement cognitive
behaviour therapy on various individual (Noone and et.al, 2015). The first perspective of the
therapy is that the person who is addicted to drug abuse is mingled with other persons who are also
suffering from same problem. This helps in quitting the habit of substance misuse because all the
people present in a group have common objectives and problems. The second objective or
perspective of the cognitive therapy is that the person is introduced to people who are normal in
their behaviour and habits (Campbell and et.al, 2014). This will develop a sense of shame because
of unhealthy behaviour and addiction of cocaine. Hence, this therapy is very useful in preventing
drug addictions at various stages.
Contingency Management
Contingency Management is also known as motivational incentives which help in rooting
the behavioural therapy. This type of treatment is useful in understanding different behaviours of
and reasons which caused individuals to get addicted to different substances. This type of treatment

offers rewards for different behaviours acquired by adolescents (Erickson and et.al, 2015). The aim
of this attention is to positive as well as negative punishment to all the people who are indulged in
different drug addictions. Contingency management is based on operant conditioning theory.
Operant conditioning theory:
This theory is generally based on imposing reinforcement or punishment in order to
determine the cause of addiction in all the people. There are both positive as well as negative
components of operant theory. In order to strengthen the behaviour a positive reinforcement is
applied by rewarding and negative reinforcement is used when the outcome of certain behaviour is
not appropriate (Sofuoglu and et.al, 2013). Both the cases leads to increase in behaviour in some or
the other ways.
POLICIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
POLICIES TO PREVENT THE MISUSE OF COCAINE
The legislations and policies which are enacted by the government of UK against the misuse
of cocaine is same as laws which have been implemented by other countries worldwide (McMullen
Conlan and Kipping, 2015). Based on different international standards and health implications,
almost all the countries have determined a common approach to reduce the intake of alcohol or
other drugs. The government of UK has imposed a huge penalty on people who are engaged in
illegal activities of selling or buying cocaine (Strang and et.al, 2012). Places were cocaine or other
nervous stimulants are available is under the supervision of drug inspector or officer so that no
individual is allowed to purchase them without proper references. Cocaine available in hospitals or
any other care centres is only meant for medical purpose. No individual present inside or outside the
hospital is permitted to consume cocaine (Erickson and et.al, 2015).
Unlike alcohol, there is no exceeding limit in potent drugs. Intake of drug in small quantity
tends to increase the urge with time. Failure to fulfil the needs leads to develop withdrawal
symptoms. With time the tolerance level of body increase and the individual starts demanding more
drugs in order to feel the same pleasure at the first time (Ashworth and Horder, 2013). The
government of UK also organises different campaigns at school or public level which helps in
creating awareness among all the individuals who are addicted to some or the other kind of drugs.
Yet another policy which is enacted to prevent the misuse of drugs is through advertisement and
online media services. All the products with potent ingredients in them are marketed with statutory
warning notes that these can develop harmful disease (Pierce and et.al, 2016).
The warning message displayed on different products is an indication to create self
awareness among all the people of UK so that they do not use these drugs. They also furnish a
warning for avoiding the intake of those drugs which are present in different salts forms of the

original drugs (Marsch and et.al, 2014). Depending upon the composition of salt in the product
these drugs can be less or more potent as compared to the original form of cocaine. They also
appointed different officials members to monitor the misuse of various drugs at various places in
UK. According to this policy if any individual is found to indulge in drug addiction then those
officials have the permission to take legal actions against them (Noone and et.al, 2015). They can
also inform about the cocaine misuse issue to higher authorities so that appropriate measures are
taken on time to stop the misuse (Kapil and et.al, 2014).
QUALITY OF THE EVIDENCE (STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS)
All the information and statistical data collected in this report is based on genuine and
authentic researches made by various authors around the world (McMullen Conlan and Kipping,
2015). The contents, facts and figures which are included in all the articles have been reviewed
systematically before and after the submission. Based on the topic of research and collection of data
all the information in this report is gathered from primary source. No evidences or facts are
collected through secondary sources. This helped in compiling the information very easily without
any difficulty (Kaskutas and et.al, 2014). As all the demographic values and content of the
published articles have been collected through reliable sources there was little or no limitations
noticed throughout the completion of report. According to world survey and UK is dealing with
with one of the most dangerous problems of drug misuse. According to data collected from
researches it has been reported that a major percentage of children are exposed to drug misuse as
compared to adults in UK (Ashworth and Horder, 2013).
Although various studies and researches have been done by scientist all over the world but
they are unsuccessful in eliminating the misuse of drugs and alcohol in UK (Sofuoglu and et.al,
2013). Cocaine misuse is reported to be one of the most ascendant problems which cause 12% of
deaths every year. Therefore, UK has appointed many researchers to investigate the exact cause
which is responsible for influencing people to consume different types of drugs at higher level. The
data gathered for studying the interventions and harm reduction strategies are also based on
authentic information available through trusted sources (Bell and et.al, 2014).
CONCLUSION
The overall report was based on enhancing assessment and treatment of cocaine abuse in
UK. It included three different interventions which were used to eradicate the dominant issue of
drug misuse among children and adults in the country. It focussed on harm reduction strategies,
organisation of school based and public campaigns to create awareness and the abstinence
approaches. The report also emphasized on different ways which helped in promoting the
abstinence approach. Motivational interviews and cognitive behavioural therapy are the two

interventions which plays a role in promoting these strategies. It also discussed the impact of
organising campaigns so that parents, individuals and children develop a sense of responsibility of
not getting exposed to illegal drugs at any stage of life.
The report also explored various policies and interventions which are implemented by the
government of UK to reduce the number of people getting addicted to substance misuse on daily
basis (Kapil and et.al, 2014). The main aim of incorporating these policies is to minimize the deaths
caused by this problem in overall UK. The policy included restriction and penalties on any
individual who is found to purchases or sell illicit drugs in school or at other places. Lastly they also
tried to create awareness among the citizens by displaying various statutory warnings so that people
become conscious of consequences due to substance misuse.

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