Prescribing for patients who use drugs & alcohol, Cheshire & Merseyside CPD

Course Outline;

Drug and alcohol use are common. 1 in 3 adults WILL use illicit drugs sometime during their life and 1 in 6 adults drink at “increasing risk” levels. These figures present us with a difficult task: How can clinicians safely prescribe for patients in this cohort? This course will examine this challenging area through an interactive exploration of both drug and alcohol use and appropriate prescribing within this context for both the experienced or inexperienced Non-Medical Prescriber.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the session participants should be able to:

• Discuss the prevalence of illicit drug and alcohol use in the UK and the potential impact on your prescribing

• Undertake a basic drug and alcohol history relevant to a generalist NMP

• Understand the consequences of illicit drug and alcohol use on the health of your patient

• Differentiate treatment options for these presentations and when it is appropriate to prescribe e.g. treatment of depression when the patient has an alcohol use disorder

• Prescribe safely for other physical and mental health presentations that may be independent of the patient’s drug or alcohol use

• Describe illicit and/or alcohol and licit drug interactions and their relevance when making prescribing decisions

Course content

• Overview of the impact and prevalence of drug and alcohol use in the UK including some basic nomenclature on drug and alcohol use disorders

• How do I take a basic drug and alcohol history for my patients?

• What is the impact of drug and/or alcohol use on my patients’ physical and/or mental health?

• Is prescribing an option when patients present with these conditions and how do I decide?

• Prescribing safely for patients with chronic health conditions who use illicit drugs and/or alcohol

• Illicit drug/alcohol – prescribed drug interactions: are they important or relevant?

THIS TRAINING IS FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY FOR CPD WHITHIN CHESHIRE & MERSEYSIDE PRIMARY CARE TEAMS ONLY.

You will be required to give details of your NMC number and Practice/PCN name.

The following Primary Care staff are eligible for CPD funding: All registered Nurses , Midwives , Art Therapists , Drama therapists , Music therapists , Chiropodists/podiatrists , Dietitians, Occupational therapists , Operating Department Practitioners , Orthoptists , Osteopaths , Paramedics , Physiotherapists , Prosthetists and Orthotists, Radiographers , Speech and language therapists.

Will be free to book and attend but the cost of £63.75 will be taken out of your £333 CPD Allowance for this year. Charges for inappropriate roles will apply.