Methamphetamine Use In Patients Research Articles

Frequency of Methamphetamine Use in Patients Admitted to an Addiction Center and Clinical Factors Associated With Methamphetamine Use

We aimed to determine the frequency of methamphetamine (METH) use and the clinical factors associated with METH use. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 788 patients who applied to an addiction treatment center in Turkey. Patients diagnosed with primary psychotic disorder and/or bipolar disorder were excluded from the study. It was found that 48.9% of patients ( n = 385) used METH, and 24.4% of them ( n = 94) used it every day. Visual hallucinations were present in 34.3% of METH users, auditory hallucinations in 38.2%, paranoid delusions in 55.6%, and agitation in 39.7%. Additionally, 40.8% of patients had spontaneous skin wounds unrelated to scratching after METH use. Oral mucosa and dental lesions (METH mouth) were detected in 37.1% of patients. The incidence of these conditions increased with the frequency of METH use ( p < .001 for all). Regression analysis revealed that the use of pregabalin and poly-substance use independently predicted METH use.

Temporal Trends in Methamphetamine Use in Patients Admitted to the Hospital: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Although methamphetamine use is common, the scope of methamphetamine use and outcomes for patients admitted to the hospital is unclear. This study aims to identify the prevalence of methamphetamine use from January 2012 to January 2022, coingestions, hospital course, and readmission rate of admitted patients. This was a retrospective cohort study conducted on patients admitted to our center with the following inclusions: age older than 18 years, positive/"pending confirm" value for methamphetamine on urine drug screen, and/or an International Classification of Diseases , Tenth Revision , code related to stimulant use disorder as an active issue. Urine drug screen data are reported as methamphetamine +/- and polysubstance (PS) +/-. Patient demographics, admission diagnosis, and hospital course were extracted. Statistical tests used included t tests and Mann-Whitney U tests. A total of 19,159 encounters were included, representing 12,057 unique patients. The median (interquartile range) age was 43 (33-54) years. Of all encounters, 35.3% were methamphetamine + and PS -, and 46.3% were methamphetamine + and PS +. Hospitalizations increased from 883 in 2012 to 2532 in 2021. The median (IQR) hospital stay was 48 (48-120) hours. Of all encounters, 16.8% included an intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and the median ICU stay was 42 (21-87) hours. A total of 2988 patients (24.7%) were readmitted within the study period, and 4988 (71.5%) returned within 1 year of the previous encounter. In context of all emergency department admissions from 2013 to 2022, 13.1% had a urine drug screen + for methamphetamine. Hospitalizations with recent methamphetamine use doubled at our institution from 2012 to 2022. In addition, 1 in 4 is readmitted (typically within 1 year), and a minority requires ICU care.

Clinical profile and non-recreational methamphetamine abuse (shabu) among stroke patients in the Philippine population

Chronic non-recreational use of methamphetamine (shabu) is increasing among the Filipino population in Barcelona. The Asian population presents a different stroke pattern, with a higher incidence of haemorrhage, and different vascular risk factors and health behaviours. The objective of this study is to describe the stroke profile and incidence of methamphetamine use in patients of Filipino origin admitted to our centre. Demographic data, vascular risk factors, clinical data and prognosis were recorded. Methamphetamine exposure was analysed in plasma samples collected on admission, which were then analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Of a total of 6,418 stroke patients, 73 (1.1%) were identified as being of Filipino origin. The mean age was 54.4 ± 12.1 years, 54% were male and the stroke was ischaemic in 64.4% of cases. Arterial hypertension was the main risk factor. Ten (13.7%) patients tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine. These results confirm recent substance use prior to the stroke, mostly in men (80%). In patients who were consumers, 60% had a haemorrhagic stroke, with a poor functional prognosis at three months in 55.6% of patients. In our setting, patients of Filipino ethnicity admitted for stroke related to the consumption of shabu belonged a younger age bracket, with a lower prevalence of vascular risk factors and a predominance of the haemorrhagic subtype. Methamphetamine testing in Filipino stroke patients is recommended due to the high prevalence of methamphetamine use in our country.

Combating the Methamphetamine Epidemic: Education alone is Insufficient

Objectives: As in many other areas of the country, methamphetamine use and dependence has been perceived by [blinded for peer review] County as a significant and progressively worsening, yet unmeasured scourge to the community. In an attempt to combat this epidemic, [blinded for peer review] County decided to study the efficacy of education on diminishing the impact of methamphetamine on our community. Our goal was to study the prevalence of methamphetamine use in patients seeking emergency medical care and what impact, if any, education would have. Methods: As a part of a county-wide program in [blinded for peer review] County to study the impact of methamphetamine use on our community, a cross-sectional study in 2008 measured the prevalence of methamphetamine use as well as other epidemiologic factors of the users in our emergency department. An educational campaign was subsequently launched across the county and focused primarily on raising public awareness in order to prevent abuse and recruit more abusers into existing treatment programs. The educational campaign targeted businesses, media, family-wellbeing, and school-aged children. A post-intervention study was once again conducted in 2014 to assess the effectiveness of the educational campaign. Results: Between 2008 and 2014, the prevalence of patients who self-reported methamphetamine usage at least once during their lifetime remained relatively unchanged at 31.5% (107/340, 95% CI: 26.8%-36.6%) vs. 31.8% (55/173, 95% CI: 25.3%-39.1%) respectively. The largest group admitting to having used methamphetamine in both surveys was Caucasian males in the 26-45 year old category. The only difference seen between the two years was a decrease in the prevalence of methamphetamine users having sought treatment (42/107, 39.3% to 15/55, 27.3%, p=0.3). However, this change was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Education alone is likely insufficient to affect the prevalence of methamphetamine use. In the future, a multifaceted approach including a greater emphasis on treatment and rehabilitation programs will likely be more effective. In addition, future studies aimed specifically at populations at risk of methamphetamine abuse may give us a deeper understanding of this epidemic.

Methamphetamine-associated psychosis: Clinical presentation, biological basis, and treatment options.

Methamphetamine associated psychosis (MAP) represents a mental disorder induced by chronic methamphetamine use in a subset of users. The prevalence of the disorder has increased in several countries in Europe and Asia where methamphetamine use has increased. MAP remains difficult to distinguish from primary psychiatric disorders, especially schizophrenia, creating complications in prescribing treatment plans to patients. This narrative review sought to summarize difficulties related to MAP diagnosis and highlight the need for a better treatment model. Current best practices are described and potential novel therapies and future research suggested. Results suggest that clear biological and clinical differences appear between patients presenting with MAP and schizophrenia and that there may exist distinct subgroups within MAP itself. MAP-specific treatment studies have been few and have focused on the use of antipsychotic medication. Antipsychotic treatment has been shown to alleviate the psychotic symptoms of MAP but produce debilitating adverse effects and fail to adequately address methamphetamine use in patients. Continued identification of subgroups within the heterogenous MAP population may lead to better diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes for patients. Psychosocial therapies should be explored in addressing the cooccurring substance use and psychosis in the treatment of MAP.

Study of Methamphetamine Use in Patients Referred to Emergency Ward of a General Hospital at North of Iran in 2017.

BackgroundAcute use of methamphetamine affects the sympathetic system and causes symptoms like tachycardia, hypertension (HTN), tachypnea, peripheral blood vessels constriction, hyperthermia, and mydriasis that can lead to many medical complications. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the use of methamphetamine, clinical symptoms, and admission causes in patients referred to emergency ward of Imam Khomeini General Hospital in Sari, Iran.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 3263 patients were enrolled in the census. The population was patients referred to emergency ward of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari, in 2017. Clinical signs and symptoms, test results, primary and definite diagnosis, and patients' status during discharge or referral were extracted from medical records. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.FindingsA total of 3263 people were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of positive methamphetamine test in patients referred to the emergency department was 1.2%, which was significantly higher in men (P = 0.017). The mean age was 39.9 ± 17.2 years. Methamphetamine users were more likely to be traumatized than the general population. There was a statistically significant difference in seizure (P = 0.003), chest pain (P < 0.001), tachycardia (P < 0.001), palpitation (P < 0.001), HTN (P = 0.002), tachypnea (P = 0.001), visual hallucinations (P = 0.001), auditory hallucinations (P = 0.001), paranoia (P = 0.001), grandiosity (P = 0.035), talkativeness (P = 0.001), suicidal ideation (P < 0.001), homicidal ideation (P = 0.001), violence (P < 0.001), and disorientation (P < 0.001) in positive methamphetamine test group.ConclusionMethamphetamine use is more frequent in young men in the second and third decades of life. The most common clinical symptoms in these patients were HTN, chest pain, palpitations, tachycardia, seizure, aggression, anxiety, delusions, and hallucinations.

Methamphetamine use in patients presenting to emergency departments and psychiatric inpatient facilities: what are the service implications?

The aim of this study is to understand better the service implications of patients presenting to an inner city Australian Emergency Department (ED) and Acute Psychiatric Inpatient Service (AIS) with a history of recent crystal methamphetamine use. An audit was taken of all patients with recent crystal methamphetamine use presenting to St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne ED and AIS over the month of September 2017. Recorded information included patient demographics, diagnosis, aggressive episodes, restrictive interventions and other risk incidents. Methamphetamine was related to 21.7% of AIS admissions. Of these individuals, half were involved in aggression towards staff. In the ED, 65.7% of patients with amphetamine use were aggressive to staff and 50% were aggressive towards other patients. There were high rates of physical (69.2%) and mechanical restraint (61.5%) in the ED setting. Methamphetamine use in the AIS was commonly associated with enduring psychotic disorders, whilst those managed exclusively in the ED were most commonly in an acute intoxicated state. Methamphetamine use presents a significant challenge to EDs and acute mental health services. Additional resources are required to manage these patients and their impact on the health system needs to be factored into future service planning.

Increasing methamphetamine use trends alert among patients in Mexico

ABSTRACTRecent years have seen significant growth in methamphetamine use among patients at Youth Integration Centers (Centros de Integración Juvenil) in Mexico. Previous studies identified a cycle of expansion of cocaine use in patients with these characteristics: it began in the North Western Region, spread to the Western and Central regions and subsequently to the rest of the country. It took about a decade to cover national territory, with lifetime prevalence tending to stabilize at 70%. This study conducts national and regional linear and nonlinear trend analyses of a cycle of expansion of lifetime prevalence of methamphetamine use and the proportion of methamphetamine as a main impact drug between 2010 and 2016, and makes projections for the period between the 2016 and 2019. Results show linear and quadratic increases at the national and regional levels. The most pronounced trends are present in western, north-western, south-central, north-central, north-eastern and central regions. For the second half of this decade, sustained growth of methamphetamine use in patients is predicted; with methamphetamine consolidate its place as the second main drug for which treatment is sought. Findings may enable professionals to be better prepared to address this problem. This phenomenon could subsequently spread to the general population.

Clinical outcomes of methamphetamine use in patients presenting with intracerebral hemorrhage (P2.254)

Clinical outcomes of methamphetamine use in patients presenting with intracerebral hemorrhage (P2.254)

Characteristics and impact of methamphetamine use in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methamphetamine (MA) use has increased in the United States in the last 20 years and is a risk factor for hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics and HCV infection outcomes of patients with a history of MA use. Subjects consisted of newly entered patients in the Veterans Affairs (VA) HCV registry at a single VA medical center from January 1, 2004, to June 30, 2004, and from January 1, 2007, to June 30, 2007. Univariate and multivariate analyses related to HCV infection antiviral treatment outcomes through 2010 was performed. A total of 198 consecutive eligible HCV registry patients were analyzed, and 40% had a history of MA use. Of patients with MA use history, 46% (36/79) had active use (within 6 months) at initial contact. Active MA users were significantly younger (mean age, 45.5 years), with more concomitant drug use (86%), compared with patients without MA use (mean age, 53.5 years; 42% minority; 29% other drug use). Overall, 71% of the 198 patients reported a history of problematic alcohol use, and 47% of those reported active abuse. Logistic regression analyses indicated that MA use did not significantly adversely affect antiviral treatment initiation, completion, or sustained virological response rates compared with that in patients without MA use. Active alcohol users had lower treatment initiation than patients without alcohol use. MA use is common in recent US veterans with HCV infection and occurs in younger patients with polysubstance use. Prior history or active MA use does not seem to adversely affect HCV infection clinic treatment compared with that in HCV-infected patients without MA use.

Abstract 3117: Role of Methamphetamine use on Severity of Initial Presentation and Clinical Outcomes in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Introduction: Methamphetamine is believed to have an effect on cerebral vasculature through its vasoactive properties. It has been linked to multiple medical complications, including subarachnoid hemorrhage in patients of a younger population. We hypothesized that methamphetamine use in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) would be associated with more severe clinical presentations, adverse neurologic outcomes, and an increased incidence of vasospasm. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients who were admitted to the OHSU Neurosurgery service with aSAH between January 2005 and January 2011. The cases included patients who used methamphetamine, as documented by personal or family report and toxicology screening. We performed a multivariate analysis to examine the role of age, Hunt and Hess and Fisher grade on presentation, length of stay and Glascow outcome score. Results: An analysis of 374 patient charts included by criteria of having aSAH. Of these, 28 (7%) had a history of or were currently using methamphetamine as documented by a positive toxicology screen. On average the methamphetamine users were ten years younger (45.2 vs 55.9, p &lt; 0.001). Despite the young age they had significantly higher Hunt and Hess grades (3 vs 2.5 and 2, p &lt;0.001) than non-methamphetamine users and age-matched controls, respectively. Methamphetamine users had significantly higher rates of vasospasm (92.9% vs 71.1%, p= 0.015) than non-users, but there was no difference when compared to age-matched controls (92.9% vs 89.3%, p= 0.639). Methamphetamine users also had significantly lower Glascow outcome scores than age-matched non-user counterparts (3 vs 5, p&lt;0.001) but not compared to the entire non-meth user group (3 vs 4, p=0.170). There was no difference in the length of stay (18 vs 16, p=0.431 and 18 vs 14, p= 0.250) for the methamphetamine user group verses both all non-users and age-matched controls. Conclusion: Methamphetamine use is associated with more severe clinical presentation and worse neurologic outcome compared to age-matched controls. Young patients have similar rates of vasospasm regardless of methamphetamine use.

M1778 Characteristics and Impact of Methamphetamine Use in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

M1778 Characteristics and Impact of Methamphetamine Use in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C