'Designer drugs': update on the management of novel psychoactive substance misuse in the acute care setting.
Christopher D Smith, Stefanie Robert
Clinical medicine August 1, 2014 DOI: 10.7861/clinmedicine.14-4-409 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Humans Substance-related disorders Sodium oxybate Alkaloids Piperazines Psychotropic drugs Designer drugs Cannabinoid receptor agonists Management Complications Legal highs Novel psychoactive substances |
| Key findings | Argues that misuse of novel psychoactive substances can cause severe or prolonged side effects requiring acute or critical care, and that these complications can be life threatening if misdiagnosed or mismanaged. The authors provide a literature-based summary of management for substances with serious complication potential, aimed at physicians who may have less experience with such patients than emergency department colleagues. |
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.
Citations in the library
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