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Part 2

He agrees to being referred to the Drug and Alcohol Service for assessment and for them to initiate treatment.

The next time you see Mr E, 3 months later, he appears to be getting on well with methadone maintenance treatment. He says that he was told by the clinic to get some vaccines but he can't remember what they were.

2

Which of these 3 immunisation regimens would you recommend for this patient?

  • influenza, hepatitis A and tetanus
  • hepatitis A, hepatitis B and tetanus
  • hepatitis B, pneumococcal and tetanus

Prodigy guidance recommends that hepatitis A, hepatitis B and tetanus vaccine status is checked and updated as necessary.

Reference:

Prodigy Knowledge Guidance on opioid dependence. Accessed 21 September 2006 www.prodigy.nhs.uk

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3

List sources of support (both local and national) which could be suggested to this patient to improve his chance of success. e.g. Narcotics Anonymous

Examples of support include:

  • Narcotics Anonymous
  • National Drugs Helpline
  • Addaction
  • Local drug dependency service
  • Cognitive behavioural therapy
  • Community pharmacists
  • Religious communities
  • Social worker

For young people, the website "Talk to Frank" can to be recommended. It is available at http://www.talktofrank.com/home_html.aspx

Narcotics Anonymous has a UK website: http://www.ukna.org/

The UK National Drugs Helpline is available on: 0800 77 66 00. This is a 24-hour, seven-days a week, free and confidential telephone service that offers advice and information for those who are concerned, or have questions, about drugs.

Addaction is a drug and alcohol treatment charity. Their website is available at http://www.addaction.org.uk/

Contact details for local services can be found at:

http://www.drugs.gov.uk/dat/directory/

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