Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the mortality rate among injecting drug users compared to non-users of the same age and sex?
What is the mortality rate among injecting drug users compared to non-users of the same age and sex?
Which of the following conditions is a leading cause of death among injecting drug users?
Which of the following conditions is a leading cause of death among injecting drug users?
Which substance is an effective treatment for opiate overdose?
Which substance is an effective treatment for opiate overdose?
What risk factor correlates with the high incidence of hepatitis A among drug users?
What risk factor correlates with the high incidence of hepatitis A among drug users?
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What type of infections are common in injecting drug users due to non-sterile equipment usage?
What type of infections are common in injecting drug users due to non-sterile equipment usage?
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Which of the following factors contributes to the morbidity associated with injecting drug use?
Which of the following factors contributes to the morbidity associated with injecting drug use?
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Which of the following sexually transmissible infections is commonly found among drug users?
Which of the following sexually transmissible infections is commonly found among drug users?
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What is a consequence of poly-drug use among injecting drug users?
What is a consequence of poly-drug use among injecting drug users?
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Which of the following health conditions is often associated with opioid users?
Which of the following health conditions is often associated with opioid users?
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Which health risk is 9 times greater among injecting drug users compared to non-users?
Which health risk is 9 times greater among injecting drug users compared to non-users?
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Which factor does NOT contribute to the increased morbidity associated with injecting drug use?
Which factor does NOT contribute to the increased morbidity associated with injecting drug use?
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Which infection is particularly prevalent among injecting drug users due to unsafe practices?
Which infection is particularly prevalent among injecting drug users due to unsafe practices?
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Which aspect of overdose risk is directly associated with the use of poly-drug combinations?
Which aspect of overdose risk is directly associated with the use of poly-drug combinations?
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Which of the following is NOT a common symptom of opiate overdose?
Which of the following is NOT a common symptom of opiate overdose?
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What cardiovascular condition can occur as a result of injecting drug use?
What cardiovascular condition can occur as a result of injecting drug use?
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Which of the following statements is true regarding the social sequelae of illicit drug use?
Which of the following statements is true regarding the social sequelae of illicit drug use?
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What is a typical long-term psychological outcome of chronic injecting drug use?
What is a typical long-term psychological outcome of chronic injecting drug use?
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What is a significant risk factor for the transmission of sexually transmissible infections among drug users?
What is a significant risk factor for the transmission of sexually transmissible infections among drug users?
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Study Notes
Drug Taking - Medical Complications
- A drug is any substance that, when absorbed into a living organism, alters normal bodily function. Drugs are chemicals that change how a person's body works by affecting emotions and thoughts.
Drug Definition
- Drugs are any substances, other than food, designed to induce specific physiological changes in the body. These changes are often used for treatment, cure, diagnosis, mitigation, prevention, or to promote well-being.
- Medications and medicines are other names for such agents used for these specific purposes.
- Some drugs are used for pleasure, rather than medicinal purposes. These recreational or club drugs are often illegal and commonly lead to addiction.
Categories of Drugs
- Prescription Drugs: Require a doctor's approval.
- Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs: Used for self-diagnosis.
- Recreational Drugs: (Alcohol, tobacco, caffeine).
- Illicit Drugs: (Stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, designer drugs, marijuana, and oils).
- Herbal Preparations: Lack FDA regulations.
- Commercial Preparations: (Cleansers, tar, nail polish, industrial by-products).
Rational Use of Drugs/Medicines
- Patients should receive medications appropriate to their needs, in proper doses, for the correct timeframe, and at the lowest cost to them and their community (WHO, 1985).
- Safe, effective, appropriate, and economic use are key.
Drug Abuse and Misuse
- Drug abuse is the consumption of any psychoactive substance without medical or health care instruction.
- Drug misuse involves the inappropriate use of medications (prescription or OTC), or using a legal prescription drug for an unintended purpose, or taking a non-prescribed drug.
- Examples include taking more of a drug than prescribed or not taking the correct dosage for the correct timeframe.
Drug Misuse
- Taking a drug for a purpose not consistent with medical guidelines.
- Taking more of a medication than prescribed, or taking a medication that wasn't prescribed at all.
- Using very high quantities, which can be dangerous to health.
Types of Drug Abuse
- Overdose: A major cause of death in injecting drug users. Typical symptoms include pinpoint pupils, shallow respiration, a low pulse rate, hypotension, and unconsciousness. Naloxone is effective.
- Drug interactions: Psychoactive drugs (opioids and stimulants) can interact, for example, CNS depressants can increase sedation and decrease respiration, increasing overdose risk.
- Poly-drug use: Many drug users use multiple drugs at once, presenting additional complications.
Types of Drug Abuse
- Narcotics
- Hallucinogens
- Depressants
- Stimulants
Stimulants
- Stimulants increase brain and central nervous system activity. They can also decrease appetite and increase alertness. Examples include Amphetamines, Cocaine, and Nicotine.
Cocaine (Erythroxylon coca)
- A local anesthetic and CNS stimulant.
- Common street names include Crack, Snow, Star dust, Charlie, Nose candy.
- Sign & Symptoms of Abuse: Increased agitation, disinhibition, changes in concentration/focus, common cold-like symptoms, and increased movement; chronic use can cause brain problems, sore throats, lung problems, systemic issues (fever, eosinophilia).
Nicotine (Nicotiana tabacum)
- Nicotine is a highly addictive stimulant and is most commonly used by smoking.
- It can cause various side effects, including blood clotting tendency, bronchospasm, tremor, and gastrointestinal issues.
- Nicotine is also a cause of various diseases, such as lung cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, peripheral vascular disease, and ischemic heart disease.
Depressants
- Depressants reduce normal body activity and function; examples include alcohol, barbiturates, cannabis, opioids, and benzodiazepines.
Alcohol
- Chronic alcohol use may lead to significant health complications, such as memory loss, impaired judgment, and various forms of cancer, heart disease, liver disease (cirrhosis) etc.
Benzodiazepines
- Anxiolytic drugs with sedative, hypnotic, and anti-convulsant properties.
- Examples include Benzos, Downers, and Goofballs. Common side effects (even at therapeutic levels) include dry mouth, light headaches, and confusion. High doses can lead to prolonged sleep and decreased libido.
Opioids
- Common side effects include constipation, dry mouth, sedation, and sweating. Less common but serious side effects include delirium, seizures, impaired urination, and hallucinations.
Heroin
- An extremely addictive opioid, leading to tolerance and shifts from snorting to injecting for dose escalation. Serious health consequences include thrombophlebitis, DVT, endocarditis, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, respiratory depression, abscesses, and cellulitis.
Hallucinogens
- Substances that alter sensory perception in the brain cause perceptual disturbances, changes in thought processing, and depersonalization.
- Types include psychedelics (LSD, Peyote, mescaline), dissociatives (Magic mushroom, ketamine, PCP), and deliriants (Datura/Jimson Weed.)
Marijuana
- A common illicit drug derived from the Cannabis sativa plant typically causing dizziness, dry mouth, drowsiness, and lower concentration among other effects.
- It can also lead to euphoria, blurred vision, red eyes, and headaches, and in rare cases, anxiety, ataxia, tachycardia
Causes of Drug Abuse
- Unemployment
- Financial burden
- Socio-cultural factors
- Curiosity, experimentation
- Peer pressure
- Addiction
- Sexual involvement
- Failing exams/Relationship troubles
- Depression
- Illegal Relationship
Route of Administration
- Oral
- Snorting
- Smoking
- Injection
Consequences of Illicit Drug Use
- Serious, adverse health, social, and economic consequences.
- Health outcomes, specific health outcomes, and social sequelae.
- Medical complications of drug use include a range of problems across many medical specialities.
- High rates of HIV transmission when injecting drugs is an issue.
- Other infectious diseases are highly common among users of illicit drugs.
Social Complications of Drug Abuse
- Isolation, neglect of responsibilities, academic problems, familial disruption, legal problems, occupational issues, loss of productivity, contribution to healthcare burden, and wasted potential young workforce.
Funding for Drugs
- Addicts often resort to criminal activities like begging, stealing from others, stealing from home, borrowing money from friends and family by lying to obtain money for drug use
Treatment
- Hospitalization
- Behavioral therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Environment changes
Prevention and Control
- Requires knowledge of causes, sources of drugs, drug laws, treatment programs, and community organization skills.
- Persistence and cooperation of individuals and agencies also necessary.
- Prevention is better than cure.
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Description
Explore the complexities surrounding drug use and its medical implications. This quiz covers definitions, categories, and the physiological effects of various substances, both medicinal and recreational. Increase your understanding of prescription, over-the-counter, and illicit drugs.
