Social issues, crisis, and care coordination: First responders experience responding to people affected by methamphetamines

Title
Social issues, crisis, and care coordination: First responders experience responding to people affected by methamphetamines
Publication Date
2023-06
Author(s)
Jones, Rikki
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6643-1565
Email: rjones66@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:rjones66
Jackson, Debra
Woods, Cindy
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5790-069X
Email: cwood30@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:cwood30
Usher, Kim
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9686-5003
Email: kusher@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:kusher
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Place of publication
Australia
DOI
10.1111/inm.13119
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/55676
Abstract

Methamphetamines remain a public health problem due to the extensive burden of illicit drug use on society. Callout events in the pre-hospital environment related to methamphetamine use is increasing. In addition, there has been an increase in reported mental health side effects and breakdown in relationships and social networks. Descriptive phenomenology research design was undertaken and data analysed using thematic analysis. Semi-structured interviews were utilized to collect data exploring the experience of first responders attending callouts to people affected by methamphetamines in the pre-hospital environment. Interviews included paramedics (8) and police officers (10) from across Australia. Overall, participants reported responding to people affected by methamphetamines was complex in nature. Complexity was affected by extensive social circumstances, people presenting in states of crisis, lack of coordinated approach, and unsuitable care environments. The social impact of methamphetamine addiction is extensive. Staff working as first responders have an opportunity to help reduce the social impact and crises, referring people to follow-up care and drug and alcohol support services. Further research is needed to determine if a standardized approach, between first responders and EDs, should be developed to help streamlines services and improve how the individual services respond as a group to people affected by substances.

Link
Citation
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 32(3), p. 755-766
ISSN
1447-0349
1445-8330
Pubmed ID
36695412
Start page
755
End page
766
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

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