Substance Use Disorders and Addiction in the Emergency Care Setting Position Statement-Substance Use Disorders and Addiction in the Emergency Care Setting

Substance Use Disorders and Addiction in the Emergency Care Setting

Pdf Summary

The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) has released a position statement on substance use disorders (SUD) and addiction in the emergency care setting. The statement highlights the prevalence of SUD around the world and the impact it has on emergency departments (EDs). The document emphasizes the need for dignified, compassionate, and personalized care for patients with SUD and calls for crisis intervention and specialized treatment for the physical and psychological consequences of SUD.<br /><br />The position statement also addresses the challenges faced by EDs in managing patients with co-occurring pain and SUD. It highlights the need for integrated multi-disciplinary approaches to treatment that include both pharmacological and non-pharmacological care. The statement also discusses the issue of alcohol exclusion laws, which allow insurance companies to deny claims for injuries or illnesses related to alcohol or non-prescribed substances. This creates barriers to understanding the true impact of SUD on ED capacity.<br /><br />The document acknowledges the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on substance use and addiction, as well as the mental health challenges faced by healthcare workers. It emphasizes the importance of addressing substance use disorders among nurses and calls for the adoption of alternative-to-discipline (ATD) approaches to treat nurses with SUD, with the goal of retention, rehabilitation, and re-entry into safe professional practice.<br /><br />The ENA position statement provides further background information on SUD, overdose deaths, the impact of COVID-19, alcohol-related issues, and the need for improved resources and standardized programs for nurses with SUD. It includes a list of resources for further information and concludes with a disclaimer stating that the positions and recommendations outlined in the statement are subject to change as new information and advances emerge.

Keywords

Emergency Nurses Association

substance use disorders

addiction

emergency care setting

prevalence of SUD

emergency departments

dignified care

crisis intervention

COVID-19 pandemic

alternative-to-discipline approaches