Emerging and Underrecognized Complications of Illicit Drug Use.
Illicit drug use can result in a wide range of medical complications. As the availability, synthesis, and popularity of illicit drugs evolve over time, new syndromes associated with their use may mimic infections. Some of these symptoms are anticipated drug effects, and others are complications of adulterants mixed with drugs or complications from the method of using drugs. Some illicit drugs are associated with rare infections, which are difficult to diagnosis with standard microbiological techniques. The goal of this review is to orient a wide range of clinicians-including general practitioners, emergency medicine providers, and infectious diseases specialists-to complications of illicit drug use that may be underrecognized. Improving awareness of infectious and noninfectious complications of illicit drug can expedite diagnosis and medical treatment of persons who use drugs and facilitate targeted harm reduction counseling to prevent future complications.
Department of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine.
Alysse G
AG
Wurcel
Medicine, Tufts Medical Center.
Elisabeth A
EA
Merchant
Department of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Roger P
RP
Clark
Department of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases.
David R
DR
Stone
D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
D013287:Illicit Drugs
altered mental status; illicit drug use; injection drug use; skin and soft-tissue infections; substance abuse