HUMAN RIGHTS & SUBSTANCE MISUSE

Human Rights and Substance Misuse - Health and Social Care

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Discussion2

Human Rights Issues3

Empowerment to Bring Change5

Service Users9

Role of the Pharmacist10

Conclusion11

Human Rights and Substance Misuse - Health and Social Care

Introduction

Health has been associated with the biological dimension, but today we must recognize the limitations of this consideration and the increased scope of its subject that covers unquestioned political and social characteristics that go beyond the natural phenomenon and extend the guarantee of human rights. So far, it had clearly defined the determinants of health that are considered to be social, economic and cultural; however, currently more importance has been given to human and social rights of healthcare that not only affect the live of a person, but his surroundings, as well. The political dimension is another determinant of health, and its influence is studied through public policies, and it can be said that the effects of public policies will be positive when they will be based on human rights (BCSSE 2004).

The supranational character of the European Commission and Court of Human Rights' may induce deference and self-restraint in respect of conclusions reached at the national level. This pertains to the appropriateness of restrictions on rights and freedoms. This may not always be regarded as affording sufficient protection for the latter. In any event, even if such objections to rulings are not necessarily justified, there is scope for concern about the way in which the proportionality concept appears applicable with fewer rigors in certain cases. This may simply be a facet of the supranational self-restraint already mentioned, but there may also be assumptions about the relative significance of certain rights and interests, which might be open to question (McCabe et al. 2009: pp. 63-70).

In this essay, we will be discussing the issues of human rights and substance misuse in the context of health and social care. Also, we will be discussing ways through which service users can be empowered for controlling human rights' issues. In addition, we will discuss the importance or significance of relationship between different service users such as doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professional that how they can bring the change in substance misuse if they work together.

Discussion

Intoxication or regular, excessive consumption of and/or dependence on psychoactive substances, leading to social, psychological, physical or legal problems is known as substance misuse. It includes problematic use of both legal and illegal drugs (including alcohol when used in combination with other substances). It also involves the use of substances in quantities of larger and larger, the fact of giving the greatest difficulty in obtaining the substance, the onset of withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking the substance or the inability to stop or reduce the taking of the substance (Burke et al. 2005: pp. 770-6).

It also involves the use or taking of substances in large quantities, the onset of withdrawal symptoms when an addict stops taking the substance or the inability to stop or reduce the taking of the ...