This strategy helps reduce the spread (and the cost to society) of HIV infection and hepatitis. Health care practitioners also use Alcoholics Anonymous other methods (such as questionnaires) to identify abuse of some drugs and other substances and to determine the extent of drug use and its effects. Urine and sometimes blood tests may be done to check for the presence of drugs.
Opioid Epidemic – Dangerous IV Drug Use Complications
I’ve taken care of patients who have been in their 20s and have lost feet and hands because of complications from IV drug use. It’s devastating and heartbreaking iv drug users complications for the patient and their family, especially at such a young age. Here are some of the serious complications from IV (intravenous) drug use that I’ve witnessed in patients as a cardiac nurse. A potential overdose needs to be addressed and treated immediately by a medical professional.
Infectious agents
Administration of drugs by injection poses multiple additional health risks when compared to other methods of consumption. The population prevalence of injected drug use is estimated at between 0.09 and 1.3% depending on geographic location 6. Multiple direct and indirect complications can occur as a result of the act of injecting itself, either locally at the injection site or elsewhere in the body. It is estimated that 17.8% of PWID are living with HIV and 52.3% are hepatitis C-antibody positive 6.
Terminology
Adulterants may be added to enhance mind-altering properties or to substitute for pure drug; their presence can make diagnostic and therapeutic decisions difficult and may increase risk of severe toxicity. Low-molecular-weight heparin is an excellent antithrombotic drug that does not need to be monitored when used correctly. However, for various reasons, the planned treatment period may not be met, and the risk of bleeding in this group is considerable. As a result, the patient should be told that the LMWH therapy should be maintained for another 12 weeks. In ambulatory settings, accurate assessment of compliance with LMWH indications is complex, and one research showed that treatment lasted between 2 and 12 weeks (on average, 6.5 weeks) 43.
Deep vein thrombosis
Those who inject IV drugs are at a higher risk of developing wound botulism, which can be life-threatening. While wound botulism is a less common illness, it is very serious and can develop when a germ known as Clostridium botulinum enters a wound or injection site and creates a toxin. When the body’s nerves are targeted, it can cause difficulty breathing and general muscle weakness. Endocarditis is an infection that develops in the heart’s inner lining or valves. Symptoms of endocarditis may develop quickly for some patients while developing more slowly for others.
- Skin or muscle popping is sometimes done deliberately to cause slower drug absorption and more long-lasting effects.
- Hepatitis B infection can be acute (short-term) and/or chronic (long-term); chronic HBV can cause serious liver damage, including cirrhosis (scarring), liver cancer, and death from liver failure.
However, there is no way to tell whether a patient is taking the medication with LMWHs, which is a worry, given that IVDU has a reputation for being a volatile patient group. In addition, no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are comparing LMWHs and coumarins in the treatment of intravenous drug users. Consequently, there are currently very little data on the optimal methods for managing this patient population 108. Drugs may be injected into a vein (intravenously), a muscle (intramuscularly), or under the skin (subcutaneously). Veins in the arms are typically used for intravenous injections, but if these areas become too scarred and damaged, some people inject drugs into other veins, including those of the thigh, neck, armpit or feet. Endocarditis can damage the heart and cause dangerous medical complications to occur.
- While AMS can often be explained by acute intoxication or withdrawal, this should be a diagnosis of exclusion.
- Choice of antibiotic therapy is dependent on the organism isolated from blood or sputum and may need to be given for a prolonged period – 4 weeks or more depending on clinical progress.
- Ultrasound is also a useful initial investigation in PWID presenting with soft tissue infection to evaluate for the presence of a subcutaneous abscess or non-radio-opaque foreign body, as well as guiding potential abscess aspiration or therapeutic drainage 8.
- These treatment programs use a variety of types of therapies and interventions, and facilities offer a range of services and amenities to suit your needs and preferences.
- The IV drug use makes skin infections more likely, and of course, IV users don’t take all the drugs they use.