Resources

Welcome to the resources page of the forum - this page has been created for the posting of various resources that I hope will be of interest and of use to anyone using this forum. Whilst there are only a few here currently, I will endeavour to add to them over time, although I would also welcome any additional resources that people have and would be happy to have posted here. Also, if there are any suggestions about resources that people would like to see please let me know and I will do what I can to accomodate you.

Thanks, Ed

Appendix 1: International Classification of Diseases-10 (Word 24KB)

The International Classification of Diseases is an international tool which is used so that clinicians can check symptoms displayed by a patient and see if these then match those of any of the illnesses listed in here. If the symptoms do match, often there are a mimimum of symptoms that need to match, then the patient may well be diagnosed with that illness. The illnesses in here are forms of mental ill health and included is a tool to diagnose alcohol dependence. For me this raises an interesting point which is whether or not alcohol dependence is a form of mental illness? Whilst the syndrome has psychological features, there are also physical (tolerance and withdrawal) elements to it as well. My second question is - is this an illness at all? If we assume that it is, then does that just mean we can medicalise the condition?

Whilst I dont have answers to these questions and am not sure if I am asking the correct questions, I hope that by adding this resource I can help others to begin to question such a categorisation of alcohol dependence. 

Appendix 2: Brief Alcohol Advice and Screening (PowerPoint 432KB)

I am aware that it is now possible to access many websites for information or guidance about these interventions, and that it has now been rebadged Identification and Advice. However, I have kept the old definition for now as thought it would be easier to recognise. I also included this as I hope it is an approachable document and may help simplify what can often be a confusing area of skill development. 

Transtheoretical Model of Change (Word 113KB)

This model was initially created when the authors studied smoking behaviour although is now used in any area where there is a desire to change negative behaviours. To really appreciate this tool; I would reccomend using it to understand your own processes when trying to change a negative behaviour. For example I often use it to try and understand why I still can't resist chocolate!

Management of alcohol detoxification (PDF 75KB)

This document may only be of interest to a minority - however as nurses we are more and more expected to support patients through this diffficult time. I would also argue that our core nursing skills makes us the most appropriate professional to help patient's through this time. 

Repertoires of distinction: Exploring patterns of weekend polydrug use within local leisure scenes across the English night time economy (PDF)

Research into recreational drug use by Fiona Measham and Karena Moore from Criminology and Criminal Justice 2009, 9, 437.  This paper is revisiting the 'rave' scene from the nineties as it says that previous research has been too narrow in its remit of studying this area, and has used limited methods of data collection. This mainly involved eliciting information in a club environment and public areas which often lead to limited data colelction. These researchers used a combination of club-specific websites and researchers based outside clubs asking questions as their data collection source. They also split the study into two distinct groups of people who use bar areas and those who use clubs and looked at the differences in use between the two. They identify four distinct conclusions from the study:

  1. That there is evidence of  significant recreational drug culture which inolves the enduring and prolific use of illicit drugs, and alcohol, at weekends only.
  2. That within this scene there are very diverse patterns of drug use which can happen despite the setting. So they did not find evidence for the polarisation argument that certain groups of young people who listen to certain music are drawn to specific drugs. They did find that almost all used their illiicit drugs in conjunction with alcohol.
  3. It also found evidence that, much in the same way as with alcohol, people would pre-load with drugs before entering the night time economy. They also found a reported increase in the use of illicit drugs in comparison to similar studies in the Manchester club scene 10 years earlier, yet there are even less services to meet the needs of such service users.
  4. They found that as the study took place over a longer period of time (approximately 18 months between interviews) this led to a clearer overall picture of activity within this differentiated night time economy. Which they say has differentiated due to the change from a basic club scene to a variety of club scenes with some being seen as more 'authentic' than others within the same city.

They also say that when new dance drugs appear, such as GHB in 2000, people start to use it and then this it made illegal. This means that people who were indulging in a legal activity are now involved in an illegal one. The change in legal status does not seem to make any impact upon the popularity of the drug used, however. 

See also our page on drug-related research in Europe.