Nursing Debate: Denying ICU Access to Substance Abusers - Analysis

This discussion board post presents an argument in favor of denying access to intensive care units (ICUs) for individuals with substance abuse issues. The author contends that substance abuse, including alcohol and drug addiction, can lead to uncooperative behavior, potential harm to other patients, and legal issues. The argument highlights the potential risks associated with addicted individuals in the ICU environment, emphasizing concerns about patient safety, security, and the disruption of healthcare services. The author cites several research papers to support the view that substance abuse can cause mental illness, generate negative attitudes, and lead to absenteeism among healthcare personnel. The post concludes by reinforcing the recommendation to deny ICU access to substance abusers to protect patients, families, and healthcare workers from potential harm and legal complications. The post references several studies and articles related to the topic.

Nursing Debate

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Nursing Debate................................................................................................................ 1
Debate..............................................................................................................................1
References....................................................................................................................... 3

Debate
“People who abuse alcohol and drugs should be denied access to intensive
care unit.”
I agree with the statement because drugs and alcohol creates an addiction
among every human being who inherit them. If an addicted person will not be provided
with such substance then it will cause a negative symptom.(Johannessen & et.al.,
2016). Such uncooperative behavior can cause several issues at the health care
services. Not only this, it can also be considered as a crime or violent activity due to
which addicted person can be sued by law. Intensive care units are generally occupied
with those patients who are severely ill and need special care. However, such patients
require more attention and concern including safety and security measures. If there
would be any participation of alcohol or drug addicted personnel than it may cause harm
to those persons. “Addiction encourages negative attitude of families and service
providers (Can & et.al., 2016).” this statement conveys that human being basically have
the tendency to stigmatize addicted persons and moreover, families of admitted patients
often becomes judgmental against the service providers. Therefore, people deny the
access over such health care centers which incur a huge amount of loss. It has been
further highlighted that “misuse of drugs results in mental illness” (King & et.al., 2017).
Several controversies are generated against the addicted persons which generates
legal issues, failures, physical injuries etc. Further, if patients are left alone at intensive
care units with those people who are addicted towards drugs, can harm the patients
which may cause injuries and even death. This is because addicted workers fails to
control themselves and remain unstable as well as stressful. Such human beings
cannot take care about affected patients and with less tolerance power they might harm
them. Such, circumstances results in distrust among families and society towards the
health care unit (Guille & et.al., 2017). On the other hand, health care personnel who
are alcohol addict often generates absenteeism among them and they do not provide
focus over the actions provided to them. Moreover, they can perform wrong activities
which creates a risk over the health of patients and may cause death. Over
consumption of drugs and alcohol influences negative impact over other their coworkers
which may engage them in adopting such false activities (de Oliveira & Vicentin, 2016).
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This further harm the communities as well as can makes the health care center legally
biased. It may cause huge government intervention and this discourage the trust and
loyalty of people towards the hospital. It has been frequently diagnosed that
consumption of drugs as well as alcohol has become a common issue which is affecting
people in a very disastrous manner (Crowley & et.al., 2017). Therefore, it should be
recommended that such person should be denied to access under health care units so
that it does not harm other patients, families, workers etc. It has been identified that
such bad activities influences several people which may cause affect and generate risks
for their livelihood (Maile & et.al., 2016). Thus, I agree with the declaration that alcohol
and drugs addicted persons should not be allowed under health care service centers.
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References
Can, B. & et.al., (2016). Hallucinations after Ingesting a High Dose of Benzydamine
Hydrochloride. Clinical psychopharmacology and neuroscience: the official
scientific journal of the Korean College of Neuro psychopharmacology.14(4).
407-408.
Crowley, D. & et.al., (2017). Exploring patient characteristics and barriers to Hepatitis C
treatment in patients on opioid substitution treatment attending a community
based fibro-scanning clinic. Journal of Translational Internal Medicine.5(2). 112-
119.
de Oliveira, A. & Vicentin, M. C. G. (2016). Temporary housing as a mental health
intervention for the needs of children and adolescent’s users of alcohol and other
drugs: Hybridity between care and protection. Journal of health psychology.21(3).
429-438.
Guille, C. & et.al., (2017). Treatment of Prescription Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnant
Women. American Journal of Psychiatry.174(3). 208-214.
Johannessen, A. & et.al., (2016). Older peoples' narratives of use and misuse of alcohol
and psychotropic drugs. Scandinavian journal of caring sciences.30(3). 586-593.
King, A. & et.al., (2017). Novel Emergency Medicine Curriculum Utilizing Self-Directed
Learning and the Flipped Classroom Method: Psychiatric Emergencies Small
Group Module. Journal of Education and Teaching in Emergency Medicine. 2(3).
Maile, E. L. & et.al., (2016). Ethical issues for older people in the emergency
department. European Geriatric Medicine.7(4). 372-378.
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