How to support abstinence during a season of excess
By Lextox Drug and Alcohol Testing
Understanding emotional drivers for substance use
Christmas can be full of triggers for those with substance use issues as the pressures of the season mount against them. Mental Health UK surveyed over 1,000 people and 80% said their mental health symptoms worsen over the festive period, 84% found the season to be stressful and 73% felt lonely even when they were surrounded by family
Stress and loneliness are two of the biggest emotional triggers when it comes to consuming drugs and, with such a strong focus on family during this time, it’s easy to see why someone struggling with addiction and going through the family court process is likely to turn to substances. There is a huge risk at this time of year that any progress made could be sabotaged over the course of a few days or weeks.
Monitoring abstinence over the festive period can also prove difficult as the various parties involved in a case may not be as available as they usually would during the working week, which can also cause a delay in collecting evidence. This could have further implications in not bringing a case to court within the statutory 26 week timeframe as set out by the Public Law Outline.
An innovative way to monitor abstinence
Despite the combination of heightened emotions and, historically, the difficulty in abstinence monitoring during this time, an innovative technology has recently landed in the UK which can help donors and legal professionals alike.
DrugPatch is a discreet and tamper-evident sweat drug test which has seen great success in the USA for over 30 years in helping ex-prisoners remain abstinent from substances. The patch is applied to the upper arm and continually monitors sweat for drug use. The patch detects the most commonly used drugs, as well as other substance groups, and is worn for up to 10 days at a time, which means the entire festive period can be monitored for real time data. For a more comprehensive view of the lead up to and wake of the season, an abstinence monitoring programme of either 30, 60 or 90 days can also be put in place. Wearing a patch also doesn’t affect day-to-day activities so donors can still partake in Christmas celebrations.
This ground-breaking technology works by continuously collecting sweat and only allowing small molecules such as water vapour to pass through its membrane, while drug molecules are collected on the absorbent pad. The pad is then sent to the laboratory to be analysed and a positive or negative result is recorded.
Creating a programme that works for you
Our team of dedicated Lextox client managers are ready and waiting to work with you to create a DrugPatch programme that works best for your client over the festive period. Patch fitting, collection and removal are all a part of the hassle-free service, so you don’t need to worry about making additional arrangements. From enquiry to results delivery, your client manager will be on hand to advise and support at every stage.
To learn more about DrugPatch, or book a programme and fitting, get in touch here.
Published 25/11/2024. All information correct at time of publication.