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Street drug abuse leading to critical illness

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Abstract

Critical care physicians are frequently confronted with intoxicated patients who have used street drugs. In the last decade there has been an upward trend in the use of these substances, particularly amongst adolescents and young adults in large urban areas. In excess quantities all street drugs can lead to critical illness. Early and appropriate medical attention by emergency medicine physicians and intensivists can improve outcomes. In this review article we intend to familiarize critical care physicians with the most common street drugs such as amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine, gamma hydroxybutyrate, opioids, and phencyclidine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Cook County Hospital and Rush Medical Center, 1901 West Harrison Street, Suite 2818 B, Chicago, IL 60612, USA

    Babak Mokhlesi, Prasad S. Garimella & Valerie Velho

  2. Section of Critical Care Medicine, Rush Medical Center and Cook County Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA

    Aaron Joffe

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  1. Babak Mokhlesi
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  2. Prasad S. Garimella
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  3. Aaron Joffe
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  4. Valerie Velho
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Correspondence to Babak Mokhlesi.

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Mokhlesi, B., Garimella, P.S., Joffe, A. et al. Street drug abuse leading to critical illness. Intensive Care Med 30, 1526–1536 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-004-2229-1

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