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Experience and views of healthcare professionals towards people who use new psychoactive substances: Evidence from statutory, non‐statutory, and private mental health and addiction healthcare services

David Solomon Orcid Logo, Jeffrey Grierson, Lauren Godier‐McBard, Amira Guirguis Orcid Logo

Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, Volume: 38, Issue: 6

Swansea University Author: Amira Guirguis Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1002/hup.2883

Abstract

Objective: It is unclear how healthcare professionals (HCPs) experience and view the challenges of working with people who use New Psychoactive Substances (PWUNPS), in different healthcare services (HCS). The aim of the study was to explore HCPs' experiences of working with individuals who use...

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Published in: Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental
ISSN: 0885-6222 1099-1077
Published: Wiley 2023
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64639
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Abstract: Objective: It is unclear how healthcare professionals (HCPs) experience and view the challenges of working with people who use New Psychoactive Substances (PWUNPS), in different healthcare services (HCS). The aim of the study was to explore HCPs' experiences of working with individuals who use NPS across statutory, non-statutory, and private mental health and addiction HCSs. Methods: HCPs completed in-depth semi-structured interviews. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim with a mean duration of 30 min 55 s. Data were analysed through thematic analysis. Results: A purposive sample of 14 HCPs (6 men, 8 women) with a mean age of 42.5 years were interviewed in 2019. Organisational issues, including funding, impacted the treatment for PWUNPS and HCPs perceived a lack of support dependent on their qualifications. They reported a lack of assessment, policy, harm reduction, and awareness of NPS-related symptoms including mental health problems and stigma faced by PWUNPS. Conclusion: HCPs need better training, education, and assessment processes to manage acute NPS intoxications and address the stigma associated with PWUNPS. There is a need for policy-making opportunities across different HCSs to ensure better healthcare outcomes for PWUNPS.
Keywords: Experiences, healthcare professionals, healthcare services, new psychoactive substances, views
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Issue: 6