Chemical Dependency and Substance Abuse: A Review for the Dental Professional, 4th Edition

Course overview

Chemical dependency and substance abuse affect all segments of the population. As of 2020, an estimated 21.4% of people 12 and over in the U.S. have used illegal drugs or misused prescription drugs for the first time within the past year. Dental professionals will encounter these problems among their patients and should be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of substance abuse, as well as serve as a resource for these patients. This basic-level course reviews commonly misused substances, discusses their origins, and details the physical effects they can produce. Special consideration is given to substances commonly available in the dental office and the medications dental professionals may administer and prescribe. The course also highlights the signs and symptoms of drug abuse, slang associated with misused and abused substances, and the common routes of administration for each substance so that dental professionals will be able to identify patients who may be abusing certain substances.