Injecting Drug Use Treatment & Management

  • Author: Gloria J Baciewicz, MD; Chief Editor: Eduardo Dunayevich, MD   more...
 
Updated: Dec 15, 2011
 

Medical Care

  • Medical care of individuals who use injection drugs should focus on initial management of local or systemic complications of injecting drug use and then on referral to appropriate chemical dependency treatment programs.
    • Some patients may have multiple medical problems and poor socioeconomic status. They may lack medical insurance and a stable place to live, and they may have mental health problems, either preexisting or associated with chronic substance use. Therefore, each patient requires a comprehensive physical examination as well as a thorough history. The patient possibly does not know what he or she has injected because many of the street drugs are altered or laced with other substances.
    • These individuals may have undergone many poorly coordinated episodes of prior medical, mental health, and chemical dependency treatments by several different providers. Facilitating coordination of medical, mental health, and chemical dependency care can avoid duplication of services and, hopefully, assist the patient in adhering to the treatment regimen.
  • Individuals treated in hospital emergency departments for acute illness may be difficult to evaluate because of medical problems, poor nutrition, debilitation, and drug and alcohol intoxication or withdrawal. Also, at times, they may be unwilling to accept further treatment. Many localities have legal provisions for holding such individuals in the emergency department while they are intoxicated, until they can be stabilized enough for a safe discharge. Once the withdrawal symptoms and other medical symptoms are under control, referrals for chemical dependency treatment may be made.
  • Treatment of alcohol and drug dependence is generally voluntary, unless psychiatric reasons are present that justify involuntary admission to psychiatric or mentally ill, chemically addicted (MICA) units. Some countries mandate forms of inpatient and outpatient chemical dependency treatment, such as the drug court system in many parts of the United States. Such involuntary treatment can be effective.
  • Using the strengths of families and natural support systems can help engage individuals in treatment.[8] Employee assistance programs may also be helpful in treatment engagement.
  • Because addiction is a complex biopsychosocial problem, effective drug treatment must be comprehensive and must attend to the multiple needs of the individual. Comprehensive treatment might include behavioral therapy; pharmacotherapy; substance use monitoring; self-help groups; family therapy; parenting groups; case management; mental health services; medical services; screening for infectious diseases; and assistance with housing, legal problems, educational needs, and child care. Drug treatment teaches individuals to cope with drug cravings, to avoid relapse to drug use, and to deal with relapse if it occurs.
  • Addiction is a treatable disease. Treatment for drug addiction reduces the risk of HIV infection. Drug treatment reduces criminal activity and also improves the individual's chances for employment.
  • In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended use of a 28-day course of antiretroviral therapy to prevent HIV infection in those who have had substantial risk for HIV exposure via injecting drug use. The antiretroviral therapy must be initiated within 72 hours of exposure.[9]
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Consultations

  • Consultation with an expert in chemical dependency, if available, may help with collecting a complete chemical use history, determining the level of chemical dependency treatment needed, and negotiating the logistics of referral to addiction treatment facilities and self-help groups.
  • Consultation with an infectious disease specialist may be needed to determine the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases associated with injecting drug use.
  • A consultation with a psychiatrist, if psychiatric symptoms are present, helps determine whether these symptoms are preexisting or whether they are drug induced. A psychiatrist will recommend appropriate treatment for these problems.
    • Many psychiatric symptoms and mental status changes may occur in alcohol and drug intoxication and withdrawal states. Intoxication with opioids, sedative hypnotics, and alcohol produces central nervous system depression, resulting in slurred speech, ataxia, and decreased alertness. Alcohol and sedative hypnotic withdrawal may produce delirium. Stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines may cause or exacerbate mood symptoms, producing euphoria or irritability in the intoxicated state and irritability or depression in the withdrawal state.
    • Psychiatric symptoms related to alcohol and drug use generally decrease and gradually resolve in the first few days and weeks of abstinence from alcohol and drugs. However, these symptoms may be quite severe initially and may require psychotropic medication or hospitalization. Differentiating acute drug-related symptoms from symptoms related to a preexisting psychiatric disorder may be difficult. Obtaining information about past periods of alcohol and drug abstinence from the patient and family may be helpful. If during a prolonged period of abstinence, psychiatric symptoms gradually improved without medication, these symptoms might be secondary to alcohol or drug use. If the psychiatric symptoms remained consistent or worsened during the period of abstinence, an independent psychiatric illness might be present.
    • History of drug-related violence, suicidal ideation or attempts, and the presence of weapons in the home also are important areas to assess because they are related to admission, referral, and treatment decisions.
    • Alcohol and drug use may worsen the psychiatric symptoms and clinical course for patients with preexisting serious psychiatric illnesses, such as affective disorder and schizophrenia. Alcohol and drug use in patients with severe psychiatric disorders has been associated with increased unemployment, housing problems, violence, and psychiatric rehospitalization.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Gloria J Baciewicz, MD  Director of Addiction Psychiatry Program, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester

Gloria J Baciewicz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, American Psychiatric Association, and American Society of Addiction Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Barry I Liskow, MD  Professor of Psychiatry, Vice Chairman, Psychiatry Department, Director, Psychiatric Residency Program, University of Kansas School of Medicine; Director, Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic, The University of Kansas Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Harold H Harsch, MD  Program Director of Geropsychiatry, Department of Geriatrics/Gerontology, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Medicine, Froedtert Hospital, Medical College of Wisconsin

Harold H Harsch, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Psychiatric Association

Disclosure: lilly Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Forest Labs None None; Pfizer Grant/research funds Speaking and teaching; Northstar None None; Novartis Grant/research funds research; Pfizer Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Sunovion Speaking and teaching; Otsuke Grant/research funds reseach; GlaxoSmithKline Grant/research funds research; Merck Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Chief Editor

Eduardo Dunayevich, MD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati; Clinical Research Physician, Neuroscience, Lilly Research Laboratories

Eduardo Dunayevich, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Psychiatric Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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