ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the patient's journey through referral and treatment pathways illustrating the different ways in which the addiction nurse utilises her specialist skills in a primary care environment. The management of treatments in primary care can sometimes be characterised by hierarchical and traditional approaches. The addiction nurse is in a unique position to provide holistic care in a primary care setting. The complexity of the type of substance misuse issues managed by the addiction nurse can vary enormously from one area to another, and requires a practitioner approach that is highly flexible and specialised to meet the varied requirements of new primary care and service users. Assessment is the process that identifies the types of substances used and past experiences of treatment, in addition to understanding the person's social, physical and mental health. Risk assessment is a key part of the assessment process. It includes risk to the person themselves in addition to their family or the wider community.
