Project Population
The population of interest for the health promotion capstone project is people suffering from substance abuse. It should be noted that the given problem is substantial due to its prevalence as well as its profound impact on one’s quality of life. In addition, any form of drug addiction has always been subject to stigma when the victim becomes the center of blame. The latter essentially prevents the implementation of sound and effective measures to treat it.
Therefore, three core elements encompass historical stigmatization, a harmful belief that it is a personal choice, as well as a demographic understanding of medical experts that it is a chronic disease. My population of interest perceives that they are blameworthy for their affliction. My perception is that they have a disease, which needs to be recognized as such by the people with an addiction, as well as the rest of society.
Nursing Diagnosis
A primary concern within my population is overcoming the stigma of drug addiction, which is preventing the integration of effective interventions by people with an addiction, as well as others. A study found that substance abuse stigma is a serious barrier to substance abuse treatment, with women and married parents reporting the highest levels of stigma (Stringer & Baker, 2018).
In other words, the stronger societal expectations from a group, the greater the barrier stigma becomes when accessing treatment. In addition, evidence suggests that even if the treatment is available, the outcomes of such measures are less optimistic and successful, primarily due to negative experiences driven by stigmatization (Crapanzano et al., 2019). Thus, not only does stigma prevent substance abuse addicts from seeking treatment, but they are also less likely to recover when given such help and assistance.
Practical interventions must be coupled with stigma management communication to address the concern. As a result, combating stigma as a problem requires educating both the public and the people with an addiction themselves (O’Shay-Wallace, 2020). This means that the language used to define or describe the condition needs to be altered and less personalized toward the victim (Zwick et al., 2020). Therefore, substance abuse requires a communication style that depicts it as a chronic condition rather than a personal choice. I determined this need for stigma education by understanding its detrimental effects on treatment access and outcomes based on the literature reviewed.
Plan
I intend to address the problem of substance abuse addiction stigma through patient education. I plan to educate patients on a wide range of important aspects of drug addiction. I will use substance abuse data and evidence to inform the population on the most effective way to combat stigma and prevent it from hindering their recovery journeys.
It is stated that the community plays a vital role in improving the health of people who have an addiction and other chronic conditions (MacDonald & Jakubec, 2021). In terms of resources, I will need a team of community leaders, recovered people with an addiction, and medical experts. The former groups will be necessary to show support for people with an addiction in the community. In contrast, the ex-addicts will provide the critical message of hope and success. Medical experts on addiction will provide the key knowledge for the informational aspect of patient education.
In addition, I need funding to rent a stage, such as a conference room, since it will be a mass patient education similar to a seminar. My plan corresponds to the CHN Standard 1: Promoting Health, which is about applying “epidemiological principles in screening surveillance, immunization, communicable disease response, and outbreak management and education” (Community Health Nurses Association of Canada, 2019, p.99). In the case of chronic diseases, it encourages the application of substance abuse data to the planning of an intervention program.
Implementation
If there were no restrictions, I would deliver the content via a large seminar, which would also be translated live. It will be a significant educational event for all community members, where community leaders, medical experts, and ex-addicts will give speeches and talks. It would be moderated and delivered online to increase the reach and accessibility of the patient education presentation. However, realistically, it will likely be a medium-sized seminar delivered at a relevant healthcare center for patients suffering from some form of substance abuse and addiction.
Self-Reflection
One of the most critical roles that Community Health Nurses play is serving as advocates for vulnerable and marginalized populations, working to identify and address gaps in services and resources. The proposed health promotion plan aims to benefit the substance abuse population by providing accessible, evidence-based support that is sensitive to their unique needs and experiences. The given program can contribute to improved mental health and increased self-efficacy by fostering a sense of community and belonging. As a result, these conditions of mutual respect, understanding, and support can significantly reduce the impact of stigma among individuals struggling with substance abuse. In addition, it can improve overall health outcomes since treatments will be more successful in achieving recovery due to the lack of external stigmatization.
References
Community Health Nurses Association of Canada. (2019). Canadian Community Health Nursing Standards of practice (CCHN Standards) toolkit [PDF document]. Web.
Crapanzano, K. A., Hammarlund, R., Ahmad, B., Hunsinger, N., & Kullar, R. (2019). The association between perceived stigma and substance use disorder treatment outcomes: A review. Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, 10, 1-12. Web.
MacDonald, S. A., & Jakubec, S. L. (2021). Stanhope and Lancaster’s Community Health Nursing in Canada (4th ed.). Elsevier Canada.
O’Shay-Wallace, S. (2020). “We weren’t raised that way”: Using stigma management communication theory to understand how families manage the stigma of substance abuse. Health Communication, 35(4), 465-474. Web.
Stringer, K. L., & Baker, E. H. (2018). Stigma as a barrier to substance abuse treatment among those with unmet need: An analysis of parenthood and marital status. Journal of Family Issues, 39(1), 3-27. Web.
Zwick, J., Appleseth, H., & Arndt, S. (2020). Stigma: How it affects the substance use disorder patient. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 15(1), 50. Web.