Work

Acute effects of drugs of abuse

Year: 2003

Type: article

Abstract: The terms 'recreational drugs' and 'drugs of abuse' are, to some extent, societal.Substances known to be toxic (eg ethanol) may be legal and culturally accepted in some countries but illegal in others.Similarly, therapeutic use of heroin (diamorphine) as an analgesic or a cannabinoid as an antiemetic is deemed legal and acceptable.Drugs of abuse are widely available.Data from the British and Scottish crime surveys suggest that 22% of 16-29 year olds have used cannabis within the previous 12 months but that opiate use is much rarer. 1,2Exact quantification of acute drug abuse deaths remains difficult due to the methods of classification, but several hundred people die acutely from drugs of abuse each year in England and Wales and the number is rising for heroin.

Source: Clinical Medicine

DOI: 10.7861/clinmedicine.3-2-123

Author: John P Thompson

Institutions: University Hospital Llandough, Cardiff University, University of Wales

Language: English

Topic: Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis

Subfield: Toxicology

Field: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,500