Journal of addictions nursing
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Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is commonly encountered in the intensive care unit population. Currently, the mainstay treatment for AWS is the use of benzodiazepines. However, some patients are refractory to benzodiazepine treatment due to heavy alcohol abuse. ⋯ The addition of dexmedetomidine in adjunct to benzodiazepine use has been proven to reduce the amount of benzodiazepine administered, decrease the number of patients requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation, and decrease length of intensive care unit stay and overall length of hospital stay. However, the use of dexmedetomidine has also produced harmful side effects such as hypotension and bradycardia. The use of dexmedetomidine in conjunction with benzodiazepines in the setting of AWS is promising; however, more research needs to be conducted in regard to the safety and efficacy of its use.
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Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is commonly encountered in the intensive care unit population. Currently, the mainstay treatment for AWS is the use of benzodiazepines. However, some patients are refractory to benzodiazepine treatment due to heavy alcohol abuse. In addition, escalating doses of benzodiazepines can lead to respiratory depression, requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. ⋯ The addition of dexmedetomidine in adjunct to benzodiazepine use has been proven to reduce the amount of benzodiazepine administered, decrease the number of patients requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation, and decrease length of intensive care unit stay and overall length of hospital stay. However, the use of dexmedetomidine has also produced harmful side effects such as hypotension and bradycardia. The use of dexmedetomidine in conjunction with benzodiazepines in the setting of AWS is promising; however, more research needs to be conducted in regard to the safety and efficacy of its use.
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It has taken the tragedy of swelling opioid overdoses to raise addictions to national attention. This past year, a new law called the Comprehensive Addictions Recovery Act has helped to open doors for nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe buprenorphine. ⋯ One treatment option is group therapy, which is effective for individuals with substance use as well as other co-occurring disorders to develop needed skills to remain in recovery. The purpose of this review is to explore the nursing role in group therapy for substance use as well as encourage addictions and psychiatric nurse practitioners to offer recovery-focused group therapy to this population.