Drugs often-abused

Uni 1ke other drugs of abuse, the diagnosis of PCP intoxication is often difficult because of the wide spectrum of clinical findings that occurs with this drug. PCP toxicity sometimes can be mistaken for delirium tremens, acute psychiatric illness, sedative/ hypnotic overdosage, amphetamine intoxication, or sedative/ hypnotic withdrawal syndromes. 

Detoxification, as mentioned in Chapter 2, may involve the use of certain medications to prevent severe discomfort or even possible medical side effects related to withdrawal symptoms. These medicines can range from tranquilizers (often benzodiazepines) and antidepressants to anticonvulsives and antihypertensives, and the medical protocol for detox will depend on the drug or drugs being abused, the client s vital signs and other symptoms, and the known risk for certain withdrawal symptoms associated with the drugs being used. The duration... 

It is extremely important to identify delirium in a timely manner. Delirium is a medical emergency because untreated, it often proves fatal. Delirium generally occurs when some external factor interferes with normal brain functioning. The most common causes of delirium are infection (e.g., pneumonia or bladder infections) and the side effect of prescribed medication or drugs of abuse. 

Drug abuse and dependence Tizanidine is closely related to clonidine, which is often abused in combination with narcotics and is known to cause symptoms of rebound upon abrupt withdrawal. 

Because of this range of symptoms, people with PTSD find it very difficult to maintain jobs or relationships. They often abuse alcohol or other mood-altering drugs to help them deal with their symptoms. 

This book will focus on forensic pharmacology and drugs of abuse. Drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, PCP, benzodiazepines, and methamphetamine, are often involved in criminal and civil matters concerning personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, drug overdose, and murder, and thus, are discussed to illustrate forensic pharmacology issues and investigations. 

Injecting drugs of abuse presents special hazards. Transmission of the AIDS or hepatitis virus occurs often by using dirty needles, that is, needles with another user s blood on them. Also, many drugs contain other substances such as adulterants or... 

There are not currently any medications that have been approved for treatment of MDMA addiction. In actuality, very few drugs of abuse have possible medical (pharmaceutical) treatments. Heroin addiction is one disease that is treatable by pharmaceutical means. Heroin addiction is often treated with methadone or levo-alpha-acetyl methadol (LAAM) administration. Similarly, alcohol addiction may be treated with pharmacological tools. However, most stimulants, such as cocaine, amphetamine, and MDMA, do not have medications available for treatment of addiction. 

Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed as anxiolytics and sleep medications. They represent a moderate risk for abuse, which has to be weighed against their beneficial effects. Benzodiazepines are abused by some persons for their euphoriant effects, but most often abuse occurs concomitant with other drugs, eg, to attenuate anxiety during withdrawal from opioids. 

Stimulant drugs commonly abused in the USA include methamphetamine ("crank," "crystal"), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy"), and cocaine ("crack") as well as pharmaceuticals such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and ephedrine (as such and in the herbal agent Ma-huang) (see Chapter 32). Caffeine is often added to dietary supplements sold as "metabolic enhancers" or "fat-burners" and is also sometimes combined with pseudoephedrine in underground pills sold as amphetamine substitutes. 

The drug PCP (phencyclidine) is developed and approved as an anesthetic for use in animals only. It later becomes a drug of abuse, often producing violent outbursts in users. 

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