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Mental Health

Working effectively with individuals with substance use disorders: a qualitative descriptive study

23 January 2025
Professional
02 January 2025
Volume 34 · Issue 2

Abstract

Background:

Irrespective of where nurses work, they may provide care to individuals with substance use disorders. Unfortunately, some nurses may not understand how to work with these individuals and stigmatisation may occur.

Aim:

To explore how to provide effective care for these individuals.

Method:

A qualitative descriptive study examining helpful interventions for individuals with substance use disorders through interviewing four substance abuse specialist nurses.

Findings:

Findings consider person-centred care, such as how to create a therapeutic relationship with individuals with substance use disorders, empowerment of these individuals and providing hope, and employing a holistic approach.

Conclusion:

Nurses may encounter individuals with substance use disorders and may benefit from knowledge of how best to intervene.

Nurses regularly encounter individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). Whether a SUD is the primary focus of care or not, understanding how best to work with individuals who have SUDs is important. There are several reasons why nurses, irrespective of their work setting, need to understand how to effectively approach their work with those experiencing SUD, as well as provide interventions. This article describes a study conducted by the first author, examining knowledge about how addiction specialist nurses work with those with SUDs, as well as caring interventions to employ. The interventions may inform non-addiction nurses how best to work with people with SUDs.

First, nurses should understand how to effectively work with individuals with SUD because of stigma. Studies have revealed that healthcare providers, including nurses, hold stigmatising views towards those with SUD (Russell et al, 2017). Even when staff believe that the views of individuals with SUD are being valued, those individuals themselves may feel misunderstood (Larsen and Sagvaag, 2018). When people feel stigmatised, they may avoid or delay healthcare treatment, thereby exacerbating pre-existing conditions (Mundy, 2012). The root of stigmatisation may be moralising beliefs about substance use (Chang and Yang, 2013), rather than understanding the biological components of addiction (Heilig et al, 2021).

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Substance use disorders
Addiction
Therapeutic relationships
Empowerment