IV Drug Users: Skin & Wound Issues Part 1
IV Drug User: Skin & Wound Issues
By Nancy Morgan RN, BSN, MBA, WOC
Webinar Topic: IV Drug Skin and Wound Issues
CE Credit(s): 1.0
Length: 60 minutes
Webinar Description:
The United States has a drug crisis that is only getting worse. According to NIDA, 20.4 million American were diagnosed with a SUD (Substance Use Disorder). 3.7 million of those are Persons who inject drugs (PWID). Due to the increase in availability of fentanyl and Xylazine those numbers are rising. Your neighbors, a family member or your patients could be suffering from a SUD. It’s time to call attention to a crisis that’s causing life-threatening harm to more Americans every day.
Drug addiction does not discriminate. Addiction knows no socio economic or racial boundaries. It has no age or gender bias. Unfortunately, many people in our society do not recognize addiction as a disease. Many have developed negative attitudes and stereotypes for those affected by this illness creating barriers them from seeking psychological, medical, and wound care assistance. Injection of drugs was commonly via intravenous (IV) route, but now other methods are becoming popular such as skin popping (intradermal and subcutaneous), and muscling (intramuscular). This is now one of the fastest growing populations with skin and wound challenges.
In this webinar, I will define addiction, give you some insight on who is more likely to get a SUD, educate you on harm reduction, acquaint you with specific clues to help recognize a person who injects drugs such as common behaviors, changes in physical appearance, alterations in their everyday lifestyle and unexplained wounds.
I will also review common skin and wound issues, various treatment options, and methods to provide discreet care while upholding their honor and dignity.
Upon completion of this webinar participants will be able to:
- Review 3 key assessment findings to identify persons who inject drugs (PWID)
- Discuss 2 skin and wound issues common with person who inject drugs (PWID)
