People with Substance Use Disorder are NOT ‘Bad People’

When living with substance use disorder, individuals face many obstacles within society. 

Challenges include barriers to treatment, social isolation and poor mental health.

Majority of people in society understand that use of illicit drugs is illegal. This statement leads to substance users being commonly labeled as “criminals“, “addicts” or “abusers“.

These negative stereotypes are far from the truth and here’s why:

• Many people who are drug dependent that commit crimes have been addicted to drugs before they started criminal activity.
• Finances and unemployment are other reasons why people commit crimes rather than drug use.
• Approximately 75% of the Nation’s population that are addicted to opioids, first started taking them to manage pain. 
• There are roughly 22 million U.S. people in recovery for substance use disorder. This means that anyone, even your neighbor could have substance use disorder.
• Many highly educated and famous people have lived with substance use disorder.
  • Examples include:
    • George W. Bush
    • Elton John
    • Van Gogh
    • Thomas Edison

Robert Ashford’s Story 

Robert Ashford is a doctoral student in health policy and a graduate research assistant at the ‘Substance Use Disorders Institute’. 

Anyone who meets Robert for the first time would most likely not expect that Robert has been in recovery for substance use disorder since 2013.

During the time that Robert had substance use disorder, he faced discrimination, housing barriers and struggled to pay for his education. These factors often get in the way of individual’s seeking treatment and recovery. 

Robert Ashford’s story proves the countless substance use disorder stereotypes to be false.

Recovery is possible for everyone. 

Greenbaum (2019).

Here’s some more facts about people with Substance Use Disorder:

• Opioid use disorder is more common in adults 60+. This could be explained by the increased need for chronic pain management in older adults.
• Common pain medications prescribed to patients that lead to substance use disorder are:
  • Heroin
  • Morphine
  • Hydrocodone or Oxycodone
  • Tramadol
• People at higher risk for substance use disorder are:
  • Cigarette smokers
  • Family history of substance use disorder
  • Started taking substances at a young age

This short clip describes stigma and the ways that it can negatively impact people with substance use disorder. 

After viewing this clip, we now understand that stigma is a common negative belief that society has regarding a certain population. Stigma causes society to shame and mistreat people. 

Typically, people with substance use disorder need treatment & therapy in order to achieve recovery. Feelings of guilt that go hand in hand with substance use stigma make it more challenging for people to seek help when they need it most. 

Bottom line is that substance use disorder can happen to anyone regardless of their demographics and characteristics.

References

Addictions UK. (2020, October 28). Addicts are not criminals. AddictionsUK. 2023, https://addictionsuk.com/blogs/addicts-are-not-criminals/

Greenbaum, Z. (2019). The stigma that undermines care. American Psychological Association. 2023. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/06/cover-opioids-stigma

Not your stereotypical addict. (2023). Harvard Women’s Health Watch, 30(11), Cover-7.

Managing the ‘Night Shift Burnout’ 

Tired medical professional sitting on chair and sleeping in hospital waiting area

Are you a health care worker struggling to manage working overnight shifts? If yes… this article is for you! 

For many new healthcare workers in a hospital setting, working night shifts is mandatory. Some people can easily adjust to this non-traditional lifestyle while others are not and experience negative effects on their mental and physical health.

Your body runs on an ‘internal clock’ that is also known as a ‘circadian rhythm’. This is a natural process that signals sleep and wakefulness in your body from the environment around you. When you start staying awake during nighttime and sleep during the day, your internal clock is interrupted. 

Repeated interruptions in the circadian rhythm can lead to Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD). This is a common sleep disorder that affects 10-40% of shift workers that work outside of the traditional ‘9 to 5 lifestyle’. 

You may have SWSD if you are experiencing: 

• feelings of chronic ‘jet-lag’ or fatigue
• insomnia or excessive sleeping
• depression or anxiety
• stomach or digestion issues

Don’t worry! There are ways to overcome this!

Practice Sleep Hygiene

Sleep hygiene is important so your body sticks to a regular schedule and sleeping environment. The body gets the best sleep when there is a dark, cool environment. 

• Schedule yourself time for sleep. Avoid stimulating activities at least 30 minutes prior to sleep. 
• Use blackout curtains or a sleep mask.
• Sleep for at least 7 hours at a time.
• Avoid caffeine at least a few hours prior to sleep. 
• Tell your family members when you will be sleeping so they can limit noise and distraction. 
• Place a ‘Do not disturb’ sign on your door. 
• Use natural sleep aids such as melatonin. 

Make time for Self-Care

Good self-care practices can have a major positive impact on your mental health! Don’t forget to prioritize time for yourself.

• Maintain a healthy diet.
• Exercise.
• Socialize on your days off.
• Practice keeping a positive mindset.
• Speak to a therapist or counselor.
• Designate time for hobbies or activities. 

Scheduling is KEY!

Routines are a great way to ensure that you are still allowing your body enough rest and nutrition. They allow you to block time for sleep, self-care, and socialization which are essential to living a healthy life. 

If you’re still struggling to cope with night shift:

• Attempt to find a day shift position within the hospital or at another facility. There are many different opportunities within healthcare.
• Schedule yourself to have enough rest between shifts. 
• Speak with your manager about having a more consistent schedule or working less night shifts.
• Seek support and guidance from your coworkers.

References

Cleveland Clinic. (2023).Shift work sleep disorder (SWSD): Symptoms & treatment. Cleveland Clinic.https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12146-shift-work sleepdisorder#:~:text=Shift%20work%20sleep%20disorder%20(SWSD)%20is%20a%20circadian%20rhythm%20sleep,light%20therapy%20and%2For%20medication 

Harvard Medical School. (2023, February 28). Shift work can harm sleep and health: What helps? Harvard Health Publishing. 2023, https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/shift-work-can-harm-sleep-and-health-what-helps-20230228289

Schnur, MSN, RN, M. B. (2021, February 18). Successfully Navigating the Night Shift. NursingCenter Blog. 2023,https://www.nursingcenter.com/ncblog/february-2021/navigating-night-shift