Substance Abuse and Chemical Dependency

Course Introduction

How to Take This Course

Substance abuse, improper or excessive use of alcohol or other mood altering substance, occurs at an alarming rate in today’s society. It is estimated that approximately 1:5 male patients in a dental practice abuse alcohol. Approximately 1:16 female patients have a substance abuse problem 1 alarming new trend is the misuse of prescription medications, following alcohol and tobacco use, it is the most commonly abused substance. Would you be able to identify patients in your practice who are abusing, dependent or addicted to alcohol or drugs? Although the scope of dental practice does not include diagnosis or treatment of chemical dependency, the oral health team must be aware of signs and symptoms of substance abuse and addiction. Treatment modifications are often necessary. Medical emergencies such as heart attack or stroke may occur.

Not only should dental offices and clinics should provide prevention information related to substance abuse, if a chemically dependent patient is identified, your role includes:

assisting the individual in recognizing that he or she has a substance abuse problem,
doing what you can to help prevent a relapse in a patient recovering from chemical dependency, and
implementing necessary treatment modifications to ensure each patient receives safe and effective dental care.

This course will also assist you in understanding:

prevalence and incidence of substance abuse,
pathophysiological and psychological features of substance abusers,
clinical manifestations of substance abuse,
treatment options available for substance abuse, and
dental treatment modifications for patients who are abusing or recovering from substance abuse.
implications if a member of the oral health team is impaired.

This course is informational in nature and is not intended to provide legal advice or set a standard of care. The oral health team must comply with state and federal laws and ethical standards of their respective professional organizations, and be familiar with all aspects of providing care to individuals who are chemically dependent or in recovery. This course provides an overview of Chemical Dependency and should not be used as the sole basis for practice decisions.

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