6th November 2001

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Health workers have been branded as ‘uncaring’ by drug addicts who turned to them for help, according to research carried out by the University of Ulster.

The drug users also accused the health professionals of lacking education, training, skills and knowledge of drug problems.

GPs, in particular, came in for severe criticism from most of the 20 drug users – 13 men and seven women – interviewed for the research carried out by Mr Derek McLaughlin, lecturer in nursing.

One user compared his GP to a drug pusher for merely giving him prescriptions for drugs. Another described his GP as a supplier of drugs – “they become your pharmacists, that’s all a doctor has become to me in the end”.

All those who took part in the research thought GPs need more education in the care of illicit drug users.

However 18 of the 20 drug users said they had received high quality care and treatment from specialist addiction staff. Only one participant spoke negatively of his experiences at the hands of specialist addiction staff.

The drug users admitted that they often exploited the lack of knowledge of non-specialist health workers and manipulated them in a variety of ways, most frequently to obtain prescriptions.

The research confirmed a common theme which had emerged from earlier studies – that some health care staff abhor and dread working with illicit drug users.

Mr McLaughlin said: “The findings also show that providing care and treatment to this group of clients can be extremely challenging. Three quarters of those participating admitted to manipulating health care staff and nearly a third reported lying and withholding information.”

He said the drug addicts crave care and treatment that is humanistic and they respond positively to care and treatment from staff that are knowledgeable, understanding, caring and skilled.

Mr McLaughlin added: “What is very clear is that more, rather than fewer, illicit drug users will be coming into contact with health professionals. Increasingly, nurses in acute and primary care roles will be caring for such individuals. This will be especially the case for community psychiatric nurses. These practitioners must address radically the current standard of their knowledge, skills and care.

“It is recommended that this study be replicated and lesson learned used to effect change in caring for this group of people. An enhanced education package for health care staff should be formulated.”

Mr McLaughlin also interviewed health professionals to obtain their views of illicit drug users. Their responses supported those of the drug users admitting that these clients are difficult to treat and unpopular and often unwelcome patients.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk