Citation

Murphy DA. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. Clin. North Am. 2010; 22(2): 231-238.

Affiliation

Health Risk Reduction Projects, Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, 11075 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90025-7539, USA. (dmurphy@mednet.ucla.edu) (dmurphy@mednet.ucla.edu)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.coms.2010.01.005

PMID

20403554

PMCID

PMC2858059

Abstract

Substance use is a major contributing factor to the interpersonal violence that accounts for a significant proportion of facial injuries among adults and adolescents; thus, violence is the main "pathway" through which substance use and injuries are linked. Beyond causality, substance use continues to influence recovery from the injury through its impact on the healing process (eg, patient noncompliance, suppression of T-cell counts, susceptibility to bacterial colonization, and protein production). Further exacerbating this issue are significant rates of injury recidivism and the lack of motivation to seek treatment for underlying substance-use problems. As a frontline care provider, the oral and maxillofacial surgeon has a responsibility to screen and refer patients for any needed specialty treatment (including substance-use treatment, violence reduction, and posttraumatic stress reduction). Recognizing and addressing these issues requires a paradigm shift that involves integration of multidisciplinary expertise.

Language: en