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Scottish Advisory Committee On Drug Misuse: Psychostimulant Working Group Report

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SCOTTISH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DRUG MISUSE: Psychostimulant Working Group Report

ANNEX B: THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF USE

POTENTIAL HEALTH PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH AMPHETAMINE USE

PHYSICAL

PSYCHIATRIC

General

Early

  • rapid heart rate

  • agitation

  • irregular heartbeat

  • anxiety

  • increased blood pressure

  • panic

  • stroke

  • increase in body temperature

With chronic or high dose

  • convulsions

  • cognitive impairments

  • diminished appetite and nutrition

  • suspiciousness

  • increased risk of infections

  • severe anxiety

  • repetitive meaningless motor activities

Intravenous use

  • cellulitis

Amphetamine Psychosis

  • inflammation and blood clots in veins

  • paranoid delusions of persucution

  • abscesses

  • hallucinations

  • septicaemia

  • confusion

  • occlusive blood clots in arteries

  • sudden acts of violence

  • infection of heart lining and valves

  • kidney problems

On stopping use

  • lead poisoning

  • depressive symptoms

  • low energy

Sharing of Injecting Equipment

  • craving

  • risk of Hepatitis B and C, HIV & AIDS

  • insomnia followed by hypersomnia

POTENTIAL HEALTH PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH COCAINE USE

PHYSICAL

PSYCHIATRIC

General

Early

  • premature ageing-cardiovascular system

  • restlessness

  • abnormal heart rhythm and rate

  • grandiosity

  • heart attack

  • impaired judgement

  • elevated blood pressure

  • indulging in high risk behaviours

  • stroke

  • combativeness

  • muscle breakdown

  • anxiety

  • acute kidney failure

  • panic attacks

  • increase in body temperature

  • paranoia

  • convulsions

  • depressive symptoms

  • epilepsy

  • suicide

  • tics

  • disturbed speech and movement

Psychosis

  • altered hormone levels

  • paranoid delusions

  • impotence

  • hallucinations (voices & "cocaine bugs")

  • breast growth

  • hyperactivity

  • stopping of periods

  • agitation

  • infertility

  • confusion

  • diminished appetite and nutrition

  • "excited delirium"

  • increased risk of infections

  • violent behaviour

Intranasal use

Cognitive deficits

  • sinusitis

  • impaired attention

  • loss of sense of smell

  • impaired concentration

  • destruction of nasal passage lining

  • new learning difficulties

  • hoarseness

  • visual and verbal memory problems

  • swallowing difficulties

Oral use

  • death of bowel tissue

  • gangrene of the bowel

Smoking

  • burns to the mouth and throat

  • breathlessness

  • chest pain

  • asthma

  • coughing up blood

  • fluid in the lungs

  • pneumonia

  • respiratory failure

  • 'Crack Lung'

  • severe chest pains

  • breathing problems

  • high temperature

  • respiratory failure

Intravenous use

  • cellulitis

  • inflammation and blood clots in veins

  • abscesses

  • septicaemia

  • occlusive blood clots in arteries

  • infection of heart lining and valves

  • kidney problems

Sharing of Injecting Equipment

  • risk of Hepatitis B and C, HIV & AIDS

Poisoning - chemicals used in manufacture

  • acetone

  • ammonia

Using with alcohol

  • forms cocaethylene

  • more toxic

  • more rapid ageing-cardiovascular system

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Page updated: Friday, June 24, 2005