[Change in health-related problems of cocaine consumption in Catalonia, Spain].
BACKGROUND
Our aim was to study the evolution of cocaine-related health problems in Catalonia, Spain.


METHODS
Analysis of first treatment admissions, emergency-room episodes, and mortality recorded by information systems on drug abuse in Catalonia and the city of Barcelona (Spain) in 1999.


RESULTS
In 1999, cocaine was the illegal drug most frequently reported among drug-related emergency-room episodes (1,093 episodes in the city of Barcelona). In addition, cocaine was the illegal drug most frequently found among fatal drug overdoses (80% of all deaths in the last quarter of 1999) and the one that caused the highest number of treatment admissions (1,547 cases in Catalonia).


CONCLUSIONS
There is an increase in cocaine-related health problems which means that it is needed health to improve the diagnosis, health education, treatment and prevention of complications associated with the use of this substance.
Suelves
J M
JM
Departamento de Sanidad y Seguridad Social, Generalitat de Catalunya.
Brugal
M T
MT
Caylà
J A
JA
Torralba
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology