Carla is a 26-year-old woman from Medellin, Colombia. She works as a server in a local restaurant. Her employer found her unresponsive in the restaurant's staff room and took her to the local hospital. After she was revived with the opioid antagonist naloxone (called la naloxona in Colombia), Carla was found to have nearly overdosed on opioids. Carla admitted to hospital staff that this was part of a pattern of episodic drug use she had engaged in over the past decade of her life.
Additionally, read the World Opioid and Substance Use Epidemic: A Latin American Perspective article to get a more holistic view of the opioid crisis in Latin America.
Prompt
Apply your disciplinary perspective to analyze and prioritize the major determinants of health implied by the case. In other words, defend your professional viewpoint regarding the most important factors that contribute to the health challenge. Then, in your responses, work as a group to refine those initial assessments.
In your initial post, address the following elements. Provide at least one scholarly source from the last five years to support your claims:
Identify the most important mental health considerations for this case. In other words, which mental health challenges are most relevant for understanding and addressing Carla's case? Be sure to substantiate your claims with evidence.
Identify the most important nutritional considerations for this case. In other words, which nutrient deficiencies are most relevant for understanding and addressing Carla's case? Be sure to substantiate your claims with evidence.
Identify the most important food safety and insecurity considerations for this case. In other words, which drivers of food insecurities are most relevant for understanding and addressing Carla's case? Be sure to substantiate your claims with evidence.
Full Answer Section
Research Support:
- A study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that people with SUD are more likely to have experienced trauma than people without SUD.
- A study published in the journal Substance Abuse found that people with co-occurring mental health disorders and SUD are more likely to have difficulty recovering from SUD.
Nutritional Considerations
The most important nutritional considerations for Carla's case are:
- Undernutrition: Opioid use can lead to malnutrition and undernutrition. This is because opioids can suppress appetite and make it difficult to eat.
- Micronutrient deficiencies: Opioid use can also lead to micronutrient deficiencies, such as deficiencies in vitamins B and C. This is because opioids can interfere with the absorption of these nutrients.
Research Support:
- A study published in the journal Nutrition found that people with SUD are more likely to be undernourished than people without SUD.
- A study published in the journal Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy found that people with SUD are more likely to have micronutrient deficiencies than people without SUD.
Food Safety and Insecurity Considerations
The most important food safety and insecurity considerations for Carla's case are:
- Food insecurity: Food insecurity is the lack of consistent access to enough food to meet basic nutritional needs. People with SUD are more likely to experience food insecurity due to factors such as poverty, homelessness, and unemployment.
- Food safety: People with SUD are more likely to engage in risky behaviors that can increase their risk of foodborne illness, such as sharing needles and using drugs in unsafe environments.
Research Support:
- A study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition found that people with SUD are more likely to experience food insecurity than people without SUD.
- A study published in the journal Foodborne Pathogens and Disease found that people with SUD are more likely to be hospitalized for foodborne illness than people without SUD.
Recommendations
Based on the above considerations, the following recommendations are made for Carla's case:
- Mental health assessment and treatment: Carla should be assessed for SUD and other mental health disorders. If she is diagnosed with a mental health disorder, she should receive appropriate treatment.
- Nutritional assessment and treatment: Carla should be assessed for undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. If she has any nutritional deficiencies, she should receive appropriate treatment.
- Food security and safety support: Carla should be connected to resources that can help her improve her food security and reduce her risk of foodborne illness.
Additional Resources
- World Health Organization: Substance use disorders
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Substance use disorders
- Feeding America: Food insecurity
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): Food safety
Scholarly Source
- Opioid use disorder and its consequences in Latin America: A systematic review (2022)