Disease-a-month : DM
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Disease-a-month : DM · Jan 2025
Ecstasy, molly, MDMA: What health practitioners need to know about this common recreational drug.
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; commonly referred to as "ecstasy" or "molly") is a substituted amphetamine drug that is used recreationally for its acute psychoactive effects, including euphoria and increased energy, as well as prosocial effects such as increased empathy and feelings of closeness with others. Acute adverse effects can include hyperthermia, dehydration, bruxism, and diaphoresis. Post-intoxication phenomena may include insomnia, anhedonia, anxiety, depression, and memory impairment, which can persist for days following drug cessation. ⋯ This review provides background on the legal status of MDMA and its use patterns, including proposals for its use as an adjunct in psychotherapy. It also discusses the pharmacological properties, mental and physical health effects, and interactions of MDMA with other drugs, with special focus on harm reduction strategies. This information will help healthcare providers assess adverse health effects related to MDMA/ecstasy use in order to facilitate appropriate treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.
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Disease-a-month : DM · Jan 2025
Opioid use and abuse in adolescents and young adults; dealing with science, laws and ethics: Charming the COBRAS.
The subject of substance use disorders in the pediatric population remains a disturbing conundrum for clinicians, researchers and society in general. Many of our youth are at risk of being damaged and even killed by drug addictions that result from the collision of rapidly developing as well as vulnerable central nervous systems encountering the current global drug addiction crisis. A major motif of this chemical calamity is opioid use disorder in adolescents and young adults that was stimulated by the 19th century identification of such highly addictive drugs as morphine, heroin and a non-opiate, cocaine. ⋯ Themes covered in this article include the history of addictive drugs in humans, diagnostic terms in use, the role of neurobiology in drug addiction, and current psychopharmacologic approaches to opioid overdose as well as addiction. Our youth are continuously confronted by dangers of high-risk behaviors including death and injury from opioid use disorders due to their central nervous system neuroplasticity as well as the widespread availability of these harmful chemicals. Healthcare professionals should actively assist our youth who unknowingly and even innocently encounter this deadly menace in the 21st century.
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Disease-a-month : DM · Jan 2025
Cannabis use and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease outcomes: A meta-analysis of multinational cohort data.
While an association between cannabis use and the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) has been reported numerous times, it remains inconclusive as to whether this link is causal in nature. We sought to consolidate data from observational studies to explore the association between ever use of cannabis and ASCVD outcomes, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and a combined measure of any adverse cardiovascular events in comparison to non-users or controls. ⋯ The evident statistical correlations between cannabis use and adverse cardiovascular outcomes underscore its potential as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, suggesting plausibility for a causal relationship between cannabis use and ASCVD. With rising trends in medical cannabis use and cannabis use disorder across age demographics, heightened risk awareness and informed decision-making regarding cannabis consumption are critical priorities in healthcare and public health initiatives.