Papers by David Solomon
Advances in Dual Diagnosis, 2024
Abstract
Purpose – New psychoactive substance (NPS) use in mental health and addiction health-car... more Abstract
Purpose – New psychoactive substance (NPS) use in mental health and addiction health-care services
is a common co-morbidity. This paper aims to explore the survey responses with health-care
professional’s (HCPs) engagements and experiences towards people who use NPS in five health-care
services.
Design/methodology/approach – A theoretically adapted online survey design explored the
engagements and experiences of participants towards people who use NPS across (n ¼ 3) community
and (n ¼ 2) rehabilitation mental health and addiction health-care services consisting of (n ¼ 1,027)
service users.
Findings – A total of 92 participants (of 120 participants) completed the survey and 28 did not. Most
(56.33%) reported neutral to poor experiences and engagements and a lack of NPS-related policies,
procedures and educational training. Participants (99%) recognised the harmful effects of NPSs and
(87%) requested clinical assessment procedures. The participants are unable to identify and manage
acute intoxication by NPS, lack knowledge of NPS adverse effects and requested NPS-specific training
on drug legislation.
Research limitations/implications – The sample may not be representative with the broader UK
population. The study’s methods are comparable to similar research surrounding NPS in health-care
services. Similar studies may advance the findings.
Practical implications – The implications for practice include NPS awareness trainings, educational
updates through seminars and conferences. Participants requested clearer NPS assessment, referral
and management processes. Several policy-making and procedural opportunities exist to ensure a
better health outcome for people who use NPS.
Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first theoretically adapted survey to
explore participant’s engagements and experiences with people who use NPS in addiction and mental
health settings.
Keywords Survey, Dual diagnosis, Engagements, Health-care professional, New psychoactive substances
Paper type Research paper
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Mental health practice , 2024
The use of new psychoactive substances is a growing concern across healthcare services in the UK.... more The use of new psychoactive substances is a growing concern across healthcare services in the UK. To date, more than 1,000 types of new psychoactive substances have been identified and they have a wide range of effects, potency and mechanisms of action, which can result in overdose and death.
This article reviews the challenges experienced by nurses including in identifying new psychoactive substances, their associated risks and various psychosocial and pharmacological interventions. Currently, evidence surrounding the appropriate nursing interventions required for the misuse of new psychoactive substances is limited. Further research and training opportunities are required for nurses to manage service users who present having taken new psychoactive substances, particularly in hospital, substance misuse and mental health settings.
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Primary Health Care, 2016
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University of Bedfordshire Press, 2023
Research explores views of healthcare professionals working with psychoactive substance users
Thu... more Research explores views of healthcare professionals working with psychoactive substance users
Thu 23 November, 2023
Article Header Image
New research from the University of Bedfordshire, which explores the experiences of healthcare professionals working with people who use a range of psychoactive substances (NPS), has found there is a need for better training, education, and assessment processes.
The report, co-authored by Dr David Solomon, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing at Bedfordshire - has been published in the Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental Journal – together with academics from Anglia Ruskin University and Swansea University.
The study analysed the lived experiences of those who work with people using new psychoactive substances, which are substances that mimic traditional drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy. However, these can be up to ten times more potent, causing a range of physical and mental harm to those using them.
A series of semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals took place in mental health addiction healthcare services across Hertfordshire, London, Essex, and Norfolk. Five common themes were identified, including a lack of assessment procedures in place, and how stigma affects treatment availability.
The analysis identified that these interviews allowed healthcare professionals to have an empowering voice and made them feel like they could make a difference to those using the substances. Findings from this study also highlighted the need for policy-making opportunities across the different healthcare services that may come into contact with people who use new psychoactive substances.
Speaking about this research, Dr Solomon said: "This is the first study to explore the experiences and views of healthcare professionals working with people who use new psychoactive substances in statutory, non-statutory, and private mental health and addiction healthcare services”.
“The findings highlight that healthcare professionals need better training, education, and assessment processes to manage people who use these substances. The benefits of this study may inform policy-making opportunities across different healthcare sectors, ensuring positive health outcomes for people who use new psychoactive substances.”
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Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental , 2023
Objective: It is unclear how healthcare professionals (HCPs) experience and view the challenges o... more Objective: It is unclear how healthcare professionals (HCPs) experience and view the challenges of working with people who use New Psychoactive Substances (PWUNPS), in different healthcare services (HCS). The aim of the study was to explore HCPs' experiences of working with individuals who use NPS across statutory, non-statutory, and private mental health and addiction HCSs. Methods: HCPs completed in-depth semi-structured interviews. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim with a mean duration of 30 min 55 s. Data were analysed through thematic analysis. Results: A purposive sample of 14 HCPs (6 men, 8 women) with a mean age of 42.5 years were interviewed in 2019. Organisational issues, including funding, impacted the treatment for PWUNPS and HCPs perceived a lack of support dependent on their qualifications. They reported a lack of assessment, policy, harm reduction, and awareness of NPS-related symptoms including mental health problems and stigma faced by PWUNPS. Conclusion: HCPs need better training, education, and assessment processes to manage acute NPS intoxications and address the stigma associated with PWUNPS. There is a need for policy-making opportunities across different HCSs to ensure better healthcare outcomes for PWUNPS.
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Nursing times, 2017
Review.
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Nursing times, 2019
Review.
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The politics of autism nursing times, 2019
The Politics of Autism inform readers on the social policy, diagnosis, education and clinical tre... more The Politics of Autism inform readers on the social policy, diagnosis, education and clinical treatment of autism. These chapters highlight Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) practitioners and parents sometime ignore the basic skills associated with improving an individual's quality of daily life. For instance, the key ingredients for high-quality parent training/ psychoeducation is that parents should receive individual instructions around their child with ASD-and to be sceptical surrounding generic trainings. A range of interesting analogies, points of view and experience stamp the authors perspective on 'saying how it is' , thus, using an evidence-based approach to both identify and address social issues surrounding diagnosis and management.
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Book review HIV pioneers
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Solomon, D. (2018) The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016: one year on: “Poor legislative changes h... more Solomon, D. (2018) The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016: one year on: “Poor legislative changes have increased nursing care for managing NPS use”. Nursing Times. 114(13):1
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Opioid addiction and the menopause share similar signs and symptoms, which may confuse a diagnosi... more Opioid addiction and the menopause share similar signs and symptoms, which may confuse a diagnosis, impairing treatment options. The menopause is diagnosed commonly in middle-aged women by testing blood and urine. Opioid dependence is diagnosed using urine analysis, assessment and diagnostic tools. A misdiagnosis may result in unwanted symptomatology and chronic disease. Nurses need to develop a better understanding of how best to use clinical assessment tools to assess women who are opioid-dependent and experiencing the menopause. A combined assessment strategy should encourage nurses to identify a correct diagnosis and source of treatment.
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Alamy Keywords: Non-medical prescribing/ Addiction/Patient safety/Opioid dependence ●This article... more Alamy Keywords: Non-medical prescribing/ Addiction/Patient safety/Opioid dependence ●This article has been double-blind peer reviewed Abstract Solomon D (2016) Safer prescribing for opioid dependence. Nursing Times; 112: online issue 12, 5-8. Non-medical prescribers (NMPS) are able to treat people who are addicted to opioids, so it is vital they know how to prescribe safely to reduce medication errors. Consultation models provide a framework, structure and diagnostic base to help NMPs identify and safely treat opioid dependence. This article looks at poor prescribing practice and how NMPs can prescribe safely by comparing available specialist addiction consultation models for adults. It also highlights which models may be useful for NMPs to incorporate into their practice.
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Solomon D et al (2014)
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Conference Presentations by David Solomon
Poster 25 | Health and social care professional’s experiences, views and responses of people who use new psychoactive substances in different Mental Health and Addiction Healthcare Services. Apr 2024 Conference:, 2024
The abstracts included in this brochure have been printed as submitted by the authors with some m... more The abstracts included in this brochure have been printed as submitted by the authors with some minor editing to maintain RCN house style. The RCN does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of the information provided in this book of abstracts. Authors are fully responsible for the content of their abstracts including accuracy of the facts, statements and references.
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Papers by David Solomon
Purpose – New psychoactive substance (NPS) use in mental health and addiction health-care services
is a common co-morbidity. This paper aims to explore the survey responses with health-care
professional’s (HCPs) engagements and experiences towards people who use NPS in five health-care
services.
Design/methodology/approach – A theoretically adapted online survey design explored the
engagements and experiences of participants towards people who use NPS across (n ¼ 3) community
and (n ¼ 2) rehabilitation mental health and addiction health-care services consisting of (n ¼ 1,027)
service users.
Findings – A total of 92 participants (of 120 participants) completed the survey and 28 did not. Most
(56.33%) reported neutral to poor experiences and engagements and a lack of NPS-related policies,
procedures and educational training. Participants (99%) recognised the harmful effects of NPSs and
(87%) requested clinical assessment procedures. The participants are unable to identify and manage
acute intoxication by NPS, lack knowledge of NPS adverse effects and requested NPS-specific training
on drug legislation.
Research limitations/implications – The sample may not be representative with the broader UK
population. The study’s methods are comparable to similar research surrounding NPS in health-care
services. Similar studies may advance the findings.
Practical implications – The implications for practice include NPS awareness trainings, educational
updates through seminars and conferences. Participants requested clearer NPS assessment, referral
and management processes. Several policy-making and procedural opportunities exist to ensure a
better health outcome for people who use NPS.
Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first theoretically adapted survey to
explore participant’s engagements and experiences with people who use NPS in addiction and mental
health settings.
Keywords Survey, Dual diagnosis, Engagements, Health-care professional, New psychoactive substances
Paper type Research paper
This article reviews the challenges experienced by nurses including in identifying new psychoactive substances, their associated risks and various psychosocial and pharmacological interventions. Currently, evidence surrounding the appropriate nursing interventions required for the misuse of new psychoactive substances is limited. Further research and training opportunities are required for nurses to manage service users who present having taken new psychoactive substances, particularly in hospital, substance misuse and mental health settings.
Thu 23 November, 2023
Article Header Image
New research from the University of Bedfordshire, which explores the experiences of healthcare professionals working with people who use a range of psychoactive substances (NPS), has found there is a need for better training, education, and assessment processes.
The report, co-authored by Dr David Solomon, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing at Bedfordshire - has been published in the Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental Journal – together with academics from Anglia Ruskin University and Swansea University.
The study analysed the lived experiences of those who work with people using new psychoactive substances, which are substances that mimic traditional drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy. However, these can be up to ten times more potent, causing a range of physical and mental harm to those using them.
A series of semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals took place in mental health addiction healthcare services across Hertfordshire, London, Essex, and Norfolk. Five common themes were identified, including a lack of assessment procedures in place, and how stigma affects treatment availability.
The analysis identified that these interviews allowed healthcare professionals to have an empowering voice and made them feel like they could make a difference to those using the substances. Findings from this study also highlighted the need for policy-making opportunities across the different healthcare services that may come into contact with people who use new psychoactive substances.
Speaking about this research, Dr Solomon said: "This is the first study to explore the experiences and views of healthcare professionals working with people who use new psychoactive substances in statutory, non-statutory, and private mental health and addiction healthcare services”.
“The findings highlight that healthcare professionals need better training, education, and assessment processes to manage people who use these substances. The benefits of this study may inform policy-making opportunities across different healthcare sectors, ensuring positive health outcomes for people who use new psychoactive substances.”
Conference Presentations by David Solomon
Purpose – New psychoactive substance (NPS) use in mental health and addiction health-care services
is a common co-morbidity. This paper aims to explore the survey responses with health-care
professional’s (HCPs) engagements and experiences towards people who use NPS in five health-care
services.
Design/methodology/approach – A theoretically adapted online survey design explored the
engagements and experiences of participants towards people who use NPS across (n ¼ 3) community
and (n ¼ 2) rehabilitation mental health and addiction health-care services consisting of (n ¼ 1,027)
service users.
Findings – A total of 92 participants (of 120 participants) completed the survey and 28 did not. Most
(56.33%) reported neutral to poor experiences and engagements and a lack of NPS-related policies,
procedures and educational training. Participants (99%) recognised the harmful effects of NPSs and
(87%) requested clinical assessment procedures. The participants are unable to identify and manage
acute intoxication by NPS, lack knowledge of NPS adverse effects and requested NPS-specific training
on drug legislation.
Research limitations/implications – The sample may not be representative with the broader UK
population. The study’s methods are comparable to similar research surrounding NPS in health-care
services. Similar studies may advance the findings.
Practical implications – The implications for practice include NPS awareness trainings, educational
updates through seminars and conferences. Participants requested clearer NPS assessment, referral
and management processes. Several policy-making and procedural opportunities exist to ensure a
better health outcome for people who use NPS.
Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first theoretically adapted survey to
explore participant’s engagements and experiences with people who use NPS in addiction and mental
health settings.
Keywords Survey, Dual diagnosis, Engagements, Health-care professional, New psychoactive substances
Paper type Research paper
This article reviews the challenges experienced by nurses including in identifying new psychoactive substances, their associated risks and various psychosocial and pharmacological interventions. Currently, evidence surrounding the appropriate nursing interventions required for the misuse of new psychoactive substances is limited. Further research and training opportunities are required for nurses to manage service users who present having taken new psychoactive substances, particularly in hospital, substance misuse and mental health settings.
Thu 23 November, 2023
Article Header Image
New research from the University of Bedfordshire, which explores the experiences of healthcare professionals working with people who use a range of psychoactive substances (NPS), has found there is a need for better training, education, and assessment processes.
The report, co-authored by Dr David Solomon, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing at Bedfordshire - has been published in the Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental Journal – together with academics from Anglia Ruskin University and Swansea University.
The study analysed the lived experiences of those who work with people using new psychoactive substances, which are substances that mimic traditional drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy. However, these can be up to ten times more potent, causing a range of physical and mental harm to those using them.
A series of semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals took place in mental health addiction healthcare services across Hertfordshire, London, Essex, and Norfolk. Five common themes were identified, including a lack of assessment procedures in place, and how stigma affects treatment availability.
The analysis identified that these interviews allowed healthcare professionals to have an empowering voice and made them feel like they could make a difference to those using the substances. Findings from this study also highlighted the need for policy-making opportunities across the different healthcare services that may come into contact with people who use new psychoactive substances.
Speaking about this research, Dr Solomon said: "This is the first study to explore the experiences and views of healthcare professionals working with people who use new psychoactive substances in statutory, non-statutory, and private mental health and addiction healthcare services”.
“The findings highlight that healthcare professionals need better training, education, and assessment processes to manage people who use these substances. The benefits of this study may inform policy-making opportunities across different healthcare sectors, ensuring positive health outcomes for people who use new psychoactive substances.”