Methamphetamine Drug Abuse
Mock Case Study
Demographics:
-Patient Name: Susan
-Gender: Female
-Age: 20
-Race: Mexican-American
-Height: 5'4''
-Weight: 115 lbs
Physical Assessment:
-Patients eyes are red with dilated pupils
-Patient has a disheveled and malnourished appearance
-Has sores visible all over her arms
-Blood pressure: 128/82
Mental Assessment:
-Depressed and very aggressive because she just had a fight with her boyfriend
-Reports that she has been paranoid that there are people following her
-Susan has had insomnia which has intensified her paranoia as well as auditory hallucinations
Social Assessment:
-Has a boyfriend but says that they are always breaking up and getting back together
-Doesn't have a job
-Has a few friends through her boyfriend but doesn't know many other people in the area
Medical Assessment:
-Susan has high blood pressure
-Has had persistent sores on her body causing a skin infection
-Has had a decreased appetite causing her to lose weight
Dental History:
-Hasn't been to the dentist in over 5 years
Extra Oral Exam:
-General Appearance: Tired; malnourished
-Face: Symmetrical
-Lips: Dry, Angular cheilitis
-TMJ: Moderate bilateral clicking; patient complains of pain from grinding/clenching
-Glands: Non-palpable
Intra Oral Exam:
-Missing #'s 2,3,15,18,29,32 with retained roots
-Has visible rampant caries on all anterior teeth
-Attrition on most teeth
-Cracked #14 and 19
-Case type 4: Advanced Periodontitis
Communication:
-I asked Susan a the questions from the CAGE questionnaire:
Q: Have you ever felt that you should cut down on your drug use?
A: Yes, I don't feel good about being a drug addict.
Q: Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drug use?
A: Yes, my family tries to get me to quit all the time.
Q: Have you ever felt guilty about doing drugs?
A: Yes, it makes me feel like a bad person when I'm not high.
Q: Have you ever felt like you needed to use drugs first thing in the morning to steady your nerves?
A: Yes, sometimes after not getting any sleep the night before I have to do more drugs to get more energy because I get really tired but can't sleep, then the paranoia sets in.
-While communicating with Susan, I kept my hands visible and made no sudden movements. These actions cause the patient to be very uneasy and nervous. While asking Susan questions about her drug problem, I make sure to use direct, non-judgmental questions so I can keep her talking.
-I asked Susan if she knew about the organization Narcotics Anonymous, a support group for drug users and she said she has heard of it but has never looked in to it. I provided her with more information and she was willing to look in to it.
-I told Susan of methadone clinics that can help to suppress withdrawals and drug cravings when she is trying to quit.
Appointment Planning:
-Susan will be seen in multiple, short appointments
-3 month re-care intervals are recommended
-Nutritional counseling will be included in following appointments
-First priority is to remove the retained roots and restore Susan's cracked teeth
-Last priority is the esthetic restorations
-Payment is to be received prior to treatment
Client Positioning:
-Make sure patient is comfortable; in a supine or semi-supine position
-Avoid the use of bright lights
Dental Hygiene Procedures:
-Confirm with Susan at each appointment to confirm that there is no immunosuppresion or kidney/liver damage
-We will use the ultrasonic scaler to remove debris in a timely manner
-Positive reinforcement will be given to Susan with improvements in her oral hygiene
Safety Precautions:
-Anesthetic without epinephrine should be used for Susan
-Pain relief can be used when appropriate such as NSAID's
OHI and Home Care:
-Discussed with Susan the Bass method of brushing
-Provided Susan with a fluoride mouth rinse
-Discussed the importance of good nutritional behaviors and the effect of her diet on her teeth
Personal Reflection:
-I chose to do my mock case study on drug abuse because I have an uncle that started using drugs in his early 40's and has since been out of my families life. I was about 14 years old when my parents first told me about his addiction and I would send him cards and papers for NA that I had researched for online in the hopes that he would seek help. The last time I saw him was about four years ago, standing in a hospital room after he had been in a motor cycle accident. I just stood in the doorway as he stared at me and my family; it had been a few years since we had seen him. His jaws were wired shut and had injuries all over his body. It was our hope that by being there all together that he would have a wake up call and want to seek help however, after a while he started acting irrational so we all had to leave. That is the last time I have seen him and as far as we all know, he is still abusing drugs. This was a life changing experience for me because I saw first hand what drugs can do to your life and the affects it has on the addicts’ family as well. Unfortunately, I also think about how horrid his teeth must be from the effects of the drugs. I still hope that one day he will recover from this addiction, although I'm not sure that he will ever be able to be a part in our lives like he once was. These are the devastating effects of drug use!
Additional Information:
The official website for Narcotics Anonymous World Services:
http://www.na.org/
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has facts about Methamphetamine:
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/infofacts/methamphetamine
Above the Influence is an organization geared toward young adults in the prevention against drugs:
http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/
**Images retrieved from google.com/images**
Demographics:
-Patient Name: Susan
-Gender: Female
-Age: 20
-Race: Mexican-American
-Height: 5'4''
-Weight: 115 lbs
Physical Assessment:
-Patients eyes are red with dilated pupils
-Patient has a disheveled and malnourished appearance
-Has sores visible all over her arms
-Blood pressure: 128/82
Mental Assessment:
-Depressed and very aggressive because she just had a fight with her boyfriend
-Reports that she has been paranoid that there are people following her
-Susan has had insomnia which has intensified her paranoia as well as auditory hallucinations
Social Assessment:
-Has a boyfriend but says that they are always breaking up and getting back together
-Doesn't have a job
-Has a few friends through her boyfriend but doesn't know many other people in the area
Medical Assessment:
-Susan has high blood pressure
-Has had persistent sores on her body causing a skin infection
-Has had a decreased appetite causing her to lose weight
Dental History:
-Hasn't been to the dentist in over 5 years
Extra Oral Exam:
-General Appearance: Tired; malnourished
-Face: Symmetrical
-Lips: Dry, Angular cheilitis
-TMJ: Moderate bilateral clicking; patient complains of pain from grinding/clenching
-Glands: Non-palpable
Intra Oral Exam:
-Missing #'s 2,3,15,18,29,32 with retained roots
-Has visible rampant caries on all anterior teeth
-Attrition on most teeth
-Cracked #14 and 19
-Case type 4: Advanced Periodontitis
Communication:
-I asked Susan a the questions from the CAGE questionnaire:
Q: Have you ever felt that you should cut down on your drug use?
A: Yes, I don't feel good about being a drug addict.
Q: Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drug use?
A: Yes, my family tries to get me to quit all the time.
Q: Have you ever felt guilty about doing drugs?
A: Yes, it makes me feel like a bad person when I'm not high.
Q: Have you ever felt like you needed to use drugs first thing in the morning to steady your nerves?
A: Yes, sometimes after not getting any sleep the night before I have to do more drugs to get more energy because I get really tired but can't sleep, then the paranoia sets in.
-While communicating with Susan, I kept my hands visible and made no sudden movements. These actions cause the patient to be very uneasy and nervous. While asking Susan questions about her drug problem, I make sure to use direct, non-judgmental questions so I can keep her talking.
-I asked Susan if she knew about the organization Narcotics Anonymous, a support group for drug users and she said she has heard of it but has never looked in to it. I provided her with more information and she was willing to look in to it.
-I told Susan of methadone clinics that can help to suppress withdrawals and drug cravings when she is trying to quit.
Appointment Planning:
-Susan will be seen in multiple, short appointments
-3 month re-care intervals are recommended
-Nutritional counseling will be included in following appointments
-First priority is to remove the retained roots and restore Susan's cracked teeth
-Last priority is the esthetic restorations
-Payment is to be received prior to treatment
Client Positioning:
-Make sure patient is comfortable; in a supine or semi-supine position
-Avoid the use of bright lights
Dental Hygiene Procedures:
-Confirm with Susan at each appointment to confirm that there is no immunosuppresion or kidney/liver damage
-We will use the ultrasonic scaler to remove debris in a timely manner
-Positive reinforcement will be given to Susan with improvements in her oral hygiene
Safety Precautions:
-Anesthetic without epinephrine should be used for Susan
-Pain relief can be used when appropriate such as NSAID's
OHI and Home Care:
-Discussed with Susan the Bass method of brushing
-Provided Susan with a fluoride mouth rinse
-Discussed the importance of good nutritional behaviors and the effect of her diet on her teeth
Personal Reflection:
-I chose to do my mock case study on drug abuse because I have an uncle that started using drugs in his early 40's and has since been out of my families life. I was about 14 years old when my parents first told me about his addiction and I would send him cards and papers for NA that I had researched for online in the hopes that he would seek help. The last time I saw him was about four years ago, standing in a hospital room after he had been in a motor cycle accident. I just stood in the doorway as he stared at me and my family; it had been a few years since we had seen him. His jaws were wired shut and had injuries all over his body. It was our hope that by being there all together that he would have a wake up call and want to seek help however, after a while he started acting irrational so we all had to leave. That is the last time I have seen him and as far as we all know, he is still abusing drugs. This was a life changing experience for me because I saw first hand what drugs can do to your life and the affects it has on the addicts’ family as well. Unfortunately, I also think about how horrid his teeth must be from the effects of the drugs. I still hope that one day he will recover from this addiction, although I'm not sure that he will ever be able to be a part in our lives like he once was. These are the devastating effects of drug use!
Additional Information:
The official website for Narcotics Anonymous World Services:
http://www.na.org/
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has facts about Methamphetamine:
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/infofacts/methamphetamine
Above the Influence is an organization geared toward young adults in the prevention against drugs:
http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/
**Images retrieved from google.com/images**