Drug abuse

Question 1

What are some potential effects of IV drug abuse?

Answer 1

• death
• injection site: scarring,pigmentation, thrombosis, abscesses, ulceration
• distal septic complications: septicaemia, infective endocarditis, lung abscess, osteomyelitis, opthalmitis
• viral infections: hep B, hep C, HIV
• neurological complications: transverse myelitis, nerve trauma
• physical disability: malnutrition
• social: alienation for family, loss of employment, loss of assets, criminal activity