title: 'Designer drugs': update on the management of novel psychoactive substance misuse in the acute care setting.
abstract: The use of novel psychoactive substances ('legal highs' or 'designer drugs') is increasing worldwide. Patients misusing such substances have been reported to experience severe or prolonged side effects requiring admission to acute or critical care wards. These complications can be life threatening if misdiagnosed or mismanaged. As physicians have traditionally had less involvement with the management of such patients compared with their colleagues in emergency departments an update in the management of such patients is indicated. Here we present a summary of the management of those novel substances with the potential for serious complications based on a review of current literature.
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, Whipps Cross Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK christopher.smith10@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robert
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000009:adverse effects; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects; D015198:Designer Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D000077489:Piperazine; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000506:poisoning*; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000009:adverse effects; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D015198:Designer Drugs; D010879:Piperazines; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D000077489:Piperazine; C023665:cathinone; D012978:Sodium Oxybate
keywords: Complications; designer drugs; legal highs; management; novel psychoactive substances
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