Drug/Alcohol Withdrawal: Implications for Nursing Practice Essay

This essay focuses on caring for individuals experiencing withdrawal symptoms from drugs and alcohol. It explores the conflict between private and public values using the Johari window to understand self-awareness in this context. The rationale for choosing this topic stems from the significant global problem of substance abuse and the associated health and economic consequences. The essay highlights the stigma faced by individuals in recovery and the importance of empathy and psychological support. It further discusses the implications for nursing practice, including the varied attitudes of nurses towards patients with substance use disorders, such as intolerance and frustration, and the impact of knowledge deficits on patient care. The essay emphasizes the need for nurses to reflect on their values and beliefs to provide quality care and advocate for patient rights.

Running head: Caring for people withdrawing from drugs/alcohol
Caring for people withdrawing from drugs/alcohol
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1Caring for people withdrawing from drugs/alcohol
Introduction
This report will focus on those people who have ceased the use of the drugs and
alcohol and are struggling with the withdrawal symptoms. The report will also argue over
private and public self of understanding the issue by the use of Johari window. Finally it will
also discuss about the positive and negative consequences of the values of nursing. The
rationale for choosing this topic is that, alcohol and drug abuse continues to be a significant
global problem having many economic as well as the health consequences. Apart from this,
individuals who have quit drugs or alcohol might suffer from withdrawal symptoms and can
also be stigmatised by the society. Hence, caring for people, who are withdrawing from drugs
and alcohol requires a holistic approach
Discussion of the conflict between private and public
Many people are of the belief that addiction is a moral problem and people who have
once been addicted towards alcohol, but are under the withdrawal period continue to use
drugs. Unlike individuals with other chronic conditions, those who are in recovery from
addiction are still stigmatised and blamed for their problems (Gutierrez and Sher 2015). It has
to be remembered that, this stigma, build guilt, fear and shame, preventing millions of people
from getting treatment that they need to recover (Andrabi et al. 2015). Johari window can be
used by the individuals or the members of the self-help group to understand their own
relationship with the other (Saxena 2015). While thinking about this group of people, the
words that come to my mind are “empathy”. “Psychological support” and “wellbeing”. I have
reconfirmed my beliefs from my mentors for the feedback. This reflects my personal belief,
and, I can assure that, I personally feel that this group of people should never be stigmatised.
As a nurse one should advocate for their basic rights and equality. I believe that stigma can

2Caring for people withdrawing from drugs/alcohol
make the symptoms of addiction even more badly. An experimental research have found that
when people with substance use disorders perceive social rejection and discrimination, this
enhances their feeling of anxiety and depression. Additionally, individuals with the mood
disorders simultaneous with the substance abuse have perceived more amount of negative
attitude towards them.
Articulating the implications for nursing practice
Nurses sees patients with substance abuse in the emergency department and plays an
important role in bringing them back to the pace of life and coping up with the withdrawal
symptoms. Like general public, many caregivers think poorly of people with substance use
disorder (Neville and Roan 2014). Nurses have demonstrated a varied range of attitudes
towards patients who are withdrawing from drugs and alcohol, like intolerance, distrust,
anger, powerlessness, anxiety, feelings of being manipulated by others, futility, frustration
and disappointment related to the relapse of the symptoms and recidivism (Andrabi, Greene,
Moukaddam and Li 2015). The main reason behind this negative attitude of the nurses are
lack of knowledge or competence in caring for patients under substance use. This knowledge
deficit can perpetuate in giving a suboptimal care.

3Caring for people withdrawing from drugs/alcohol
References
Andrabi, S., Greene, S., Moukaddam, N. and Li, B., 2015. New drugs of abuse and
withdrawal syndromes. Emergency Medicine Clinics, 33(4), pp.779-795.
Gutierrez, A. and Sher, L., 2015. Alcohol and drug use among adolescents: an educational
overview. International journal of adolescent medicine and health, 27(2), pp.207-212.
Neville, K. and Roan, N., 2014. Challenges in nursing practice: Nurses’ perceptions in caring
for hospitalized medical-surgical patients with substance abuse/dependence. JONA: The
Journal of Nursing Administration, 44(6), pp.339-346.
Saxena, P., 2015. Johari Window: An effective model for improving interpersonal
communication and managerial effectiveness. SIT Journal of Management, 5(2), pp.134-146.