Acute Neurological Emergencies in Drug Abusers in India

Abstract

The USA alone spent nearly 25 billion dollars on its federal drug control programme in 2015 with little to show for all its efforts [1]. In spite of this avalanche of money and effort, drug abuse has escalated all over the globe and is spiralling out of control in India. All strata of society are affected, although the economically weaker sections suffer the most due to lack of access to medical help, deaddiction and rehabilitation facilities. In India the largest category of substances that is abused is alcohol [2]. With increasing disposable incomes, the global drug trade is beginning to target India and a wide variety of drugs are now available in India. An acute neurological emergency may be the presenting feature of drug abuse and it is important to keep up to date with these presentations. Unless one has a high index of suspicion, this category of illness will not readily come to mind. As most drugs of abuse have a short half-life, it is important to consider these disorders at the initial presentation and order the appropriate investigations. Although the vast majority of such cases occur in young adult males, there is increased incidence of drug abuse in women and children. As the neurological consequences of alcohol abuse are well known and documented, this review will concentrate on other newer drugs of abuse.