All articles tagged with #recreational drugs
Paris Jackson warns about the dangers of recreational drug use after suffering a perforated septum from heroin abuse, emphasizing her six years of sobriety and cautioning others about the risks of drug addiction.
A ketamine specialist suggests that actor Matthew Perry "did himself in" by taking a large amount of ketamine before his death. Toxicology testing revealed that Perry had a significant level of ketamine in his system, enough to render him unconscious. While Perry had been utilizing ketamine therapy, his last treatment was a week before his death, indicating that the drug found in his system was not from therapy. Ketamine can be dangerous when taken recreationally, potentially leading to a trance-like state and increasing the risk of drowning. The autopsy report states that Perry's cause of death was the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine (used to treat opioid use disorder) listed as contributing factors. The manner of death was ruled an accident.
A study conducted in France found that 11% of patients admitted to cardiac intensive care had taken recreational drugs such as marijuana, ecstasy, and cocaine. These patients were nearly nine times more likely to die or require emergency intervention compared to other heart patients, and the risk increased to 12 times if multiple drugs were used. Taking drugs can increase the risk of heart problems due to elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature. While testing urine samples for drugs in cardiac intensive care patients may have potential value, issues of cost, patient confidentiality, and discrimination need to be addressed before widespread screening can be recommended.
A multicentre French study found that recreational drug use was detected in more than 1 in 10 patients admitted to cardiac intensive care. Drug use was associated with significantly poorer outcomes, with users being nearly 9 times more likely to die or require emergency intervention. Cannabis was the most frequently detected substance, followed by opioids, cocaine, amphetamines, and MDMA/ecstasy. The study suggests the potential value of urine screening for selected patients with acute cardiovascular events to improve risk stratification in cardiac intensive care. However, larger studies are needed to establish a causal relationship and determine the best interventions following positive drug test results.
A man who used nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, for years has been left temporarily paralyzed and unable to walk his dogs due to nerve damage caused by the drug inactivating vitamin B12 in his body. Experts are increasingly concerned about the potential harms of nitrous oxide, particularly with the rise of super-size canisters. While it's legal to possess nitrous oxide in most countries, some have criminalized supplying it for recreational purposes. Users who develop symptoms like numbness or incontinence should stop taking it and seek help immediately.