Health and social care professionals experience, views and responses toward people who use new psychoactive substances in different mental health and addiction services.

Abstract

Title: Healthcare professional’s experiences, views and responses of People Who Use New Psychoactive Substances in different Mental Health and Addiction Healthcare Services. Authors: Dr David Solomon, Professor Jeffrey Grierson, Associate Professor Lauren Godier-McBard, Associate Professor Amira Guirguis. Background New psychoactive Substances (NPS) cause harm to both the physical and mental health of people who use NPS (PWUNPS). Health and social care professionals working in mental health and drug and alcohol settings experience daily challenges surrounding the identification of NPS types, and related symptoms resulting from NPS. Although a limitation of research exists surrounding how Hcps manage PWUNPS, more research is needed on Hcps views, responses, and experiences across different healthcare services (HCSs) surrounding their engagements with PWUNPS. Aim (s) Exploring the experiences, views, and responses of health and social care professionals in contact with people who use new psychoactive substances. Sampling Method: Purposive sampling Methods: A Sequential Explanatory Design was carried out in three different service type provisions namely statutory, non-statutory, and private sectors across five mental health and drug and alcohol HCSs. Specific Analytical approach: Descriptive Statistics and Thematic Analysis. Main Findings In total, 92 Hcps took part in the survey across five different HCSs. Most Hcps were female (n=47) in comparison to male Hcps (n=3) and some Hcps (n=2) did not disclose. 45% of Hcps reported no assessment or procedures were in place for PWUNPS and views were predominately neutral towards PWUNPS and engagement experiences were deemed neutral. The phase 2, (n=14 ) semi-structured interviews results identified 5 common themes associated with Hcps experiences and responses toward PWUNPS including organisational issues, assessment, stigma, harm minimisation and a symptoms as contributing factors toward Hcps experiences surrounding the management of PWUNPS. Discussion/ Conclusions Hcps frequently meet PWUNPS across different HCSs presenting with various health-related co-morbidity. Organisational issues impacted the engagements, access and funding toward treating PWUNPS. HCSs need to integrate specific NPS trainings for Hcps across the different HCS sectors is recommended to reduce the harms associated with NPS use. This study demonstrates the potential of implementing newer assessment, policy, and a Harm Minimisation approach toward PWUNPS across different HCSs.