Young People and Stimulants

Young People And Stimulants

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Introduction

This assignment will seek to explore evidence available relating to the prevalence of young people (<16-30 years) and stimulants. It will do this in order to understand the issues surrounding this client group and look at the treatment options available along with their theoretical underpinnings. As well, as analyze harm reduction.

Evidence

        In the last one year statistics indicate that at least one in twelve adults aged between 16 and 56 (8.5%) in Wales had used stimulants. However, this doubled when it came to the age group of between 16 to 23 year olds (19%).These figures increased from 2014 when 8.2% of 16 and 56 year olds and 17% of 16 to 23 year olds had used stimulants in the previous year.  But these figures are still low compared to what was registered in 1997.  In 2014, 15% of England pupils asserted that they had at one point tested drugs within a period of one month before the survey. This is the same as what was recorded in 2013 and 2012 concerning pupils’ level of using drugs. However, there was a decline in the use of drugs amongst pupils aged 10 to 14 between 2001 and 2010 (Becker, 2014).  

In 2014, there were 7000 admissions to hospitals with a basic diagnosis of drug related behavioral and mental health disorders. This marked a 9% increase from 2013 where there were 6,400 admissions. Generally admissions decreased by 12% between 2004 and 2014. There were reported 13, 800 admissions with a basic diagnosis of stimulant use. Generally there was an increase of 77% since 2003 when there were registered 7,800 admissions. There were 1,950 deaths due to the misuse of drugs in 2014, which marked an increase of 320 from 2013 where 1,630 deaths were reported. This contrasts the 2008 downtrend where the number of deaths was 2,001 (Johnston, 2014).

Ketamine, Cocaine, LSD and ecstasy use increased between 2012 and 2014. However, no significant statistical decreases were recorded in 2015 drug use amongst 16 to 58 year olds. About 33% of adults had indicated to have used drugs at one point in their lives. In the 16 to 58 age cohort 36% indicated to have ever taken drugs. Frequent use of drugs prevalence rates have been constant in the last four years.  In the year 2012, 4% of adults between the ages of 16 to 57 were described to have been frequent users of drugs and were believed to have taken stimulants at least more than one time in a month averagely in a year. This was somehow a higher proportion compared to 2011 but scored the same results as 2013 (Sussman, 2016).

Young adults have been found to be more profound users of drugs compared to older people. The percentage of young adults who are aged 16 to 25 and classified as frequent users of drugs at 7% was more than double that of adults aged 16 to 57 at 4% in 2012. This was representative of a statistical significant increment in comparison to 2011.  There were recorded disparities in the degree of frequent use of drugs amongst participants with various areas, personal and household attributes. The degree of using stimulants more than one time per month in 2015 were higher amongst men compared to women particularly for those who frequented night clubs often and amongst those that resided in informal settlements (Robertson, 2015).

Those who often frequented night clubs were prone to take drugs many times. The levels of using stimulants over once per month in 2015 were considerably high for those who frequented night clubs more than four times in a month at 11% compared to 3% of respondents that had not visited night clubs. The same pattern was exhibited by those who often frequented pubs. Those who resided in informal settlements were found to be prone to the use of drugs on a recurrent basis. A large proportion at 5% was frequent users of drugs in comparison to those who lived in formal settlements at 2% (Andersen, 2016).

As far as the legal emerging drugs are concerned it is emerging that in 2013 questions on their use were especially nitrous and salvia oxide were placed on the survey list for the first time.2% of adults at the age of 16 to 56 had used nitrous oxide in 2013 this was the same as that of 2012 where a not statistically different figure of 2.2% was recorded.  0.4% of the adults who are aged between 16 and 56 were found to have used salvia in 2013 this represented a statistical increase significantly from 0.25% in 2012 (Robertson, 2014).

The young adults aged between 16 and 25 had 7% of them taking nitrous oxide in 2013. This was not significantly different statistically from 8% in 2012. 1.7% were found to had used salvia in 2012. This was not significantly different statistically from1.2% in 2012. Information concerning the use of polydrug and polysubstance was assessed in 2011 and 2012. Given that those who took it are small in number the two years were combined during analysis. In surveys conducted in 2010 and 2011, 7% of participants that took drugs within a span of a year indicated that they took more than one drug at one point the last time they were using drugs. 60% of participants who took drugs within a period of one year also took alcohol at the last point they were taking drugs (Dennis, 2013).

Virtually all cases concerning instantaneous use of the polydrug at 96% entailed the taking of cannabis at 74%, amphetamines at 20%, powder cocaine at 47%, and ecstasy at 36%.  The most intensive taking of polydrug was found amongst those who had also taken amphetamines (44%), methadone (59%), Ketamine (47%), and ecstasy (45%). The lowest simultaneous rate of taking polydrug was witnessed amongst the people who had also taken cannabis when they last took drugs at (8%) (McCabe, 2011).

As far as the accessibility of drugs is concerned, those who had taken drugs in a period of one year were requested to name their sources. Over 50% of the respondents indicated that they had bought them from an individual they knew too well but was not related to them. About 52% of the respondents got the drugs while in their homes or in a friend’s house.  The  number of individuals taking these drugs in their homes tends to increase with age; it ranged from 21% of those aged between 16 and 25 and 57% of those aged between 46 and 60 (Meier, 2013).

ATS which includes methamphetamine are stimulants of the central nervous system that impact neuro-chemical processes which are used in the regulation of attention, heart rate, appetite, and blood pressure as well as moods and responses related to alarmist conditions. Its chemical structure is similar to that of serotonin, neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenalin. ATS acute physical impacts are similar to the physiological impact of a fight and flight response to perceived threats which includes augmented heart rates, hyperglycemia, increased blood pressure, bronchodilation and vasoconstriction. Consequently, those who employ ATS as well as methamphetamine do experience decreased appetite, increased focus, no tiredness, and increased alertness (Ahuriri, 2008).

Treatment Options

        This paper will deal with the treatment options available for Amphetamine kind of stimulants. This is a group of substances that contain synthetic and artificial stimulants. Globally there are numerous individuals that employ synthetic substances including ATS, for instance ecstasy as well as methamphetamine just as the individuals who take heroin and cocaine. Since the 90s ATS have been found being manufactured in 61 countries and emerging manufacturing stations are cropping up every other year (Afsarifard, 2009).

Chemically, the methyl group found in methamphetamine makes it stronger than amphetamine where little is required for the same impact; increased solubility of the lipid eases the crossing of methamphetamine in the blood brain barrier. The long time dopamine receptors stimulation could make receptors to be less responsive in the compensation of dopamine increased levels in the synaptic cleft. If methamphetamine is repeatedly taken the neurological changes could be permanence even after one stops taking it for a long time.  Increased frequency of use makes one to increasingly become dependent on methamphetamine. The dependence syndrome increase the risk of withdrawal effects if there is cessation of use (Berma, 2008).

Intoxication management is the provision of a safe environment and awaiting an individual to come back to a safer environment with settled behavior and state of mind. If the environment is kept calm and also quite it could assist the patient. Those who take ATS may find physical effects like the lack of sleep, agitation and a racing heart somehow distressful and would need reassurance that the impact would pass (Cruickshank, 2006).

Those who take stimulants only to become irritable and violent could be unmanageable. As a matter of fact their judgment is at times impaired. They might not understand words spoken to them in the ordinary way. Such individuals should be spoken to in a steady and soft manner. One should cautiously listen to them and request clarification where required. Rapid moves towards the individual should be avoided. They should be engaged in counseling. Urgent medical attention would be required if the individual develops low blood pressure, chest pain, high blood pressure, seizures, and increased body temperature (Darke, 2007).