Management of injecting drug users admitted to hospital.

Full Abstract

General hospital clinicians frequently deal with injecting drug users because substance use has diverse medical and psychiatric complications. Non-specialist clinicians often initiate management when specialist consultation is not available or accepted by the patient. Here, we summarise evidence for the management of hospitalised injecting drug users. The first challenge is to engage a drug user into medical care. A non-judgmental approach towards patients and acceptance of their lifestyle choices facilitates engagement. Pragmatic clinical goals can be negotiated and achieved. We also describe common conditions of injecting drug users. Accurate diagnosis and appropriate management focus on common issues such as intoxication, withdrawal, pain management, drug seeking, psychological comorbidity, behavioural difficulties, and pregnancy. Effective management can reduce the medical and social effect of these conditions and is not difficult.

Author information

Author/s: Haber, Paul S (PS); Demirkol, Abdullah (A); Lange, Kezia (K); Murnion, Bridin (B);

Affiliation: Drug Health Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, and University of Sydney, Discipline of Addiction Medicine, Sydney, NSW, Australia. phaber(-atsign-)mail.usyd.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: Lancet (Lancet), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 374 (issue 9697) : pp 1284-93

Dates: Created 2009/10/12; Completed 2009/10/29;

PMID: 19819393, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/29/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Lancet. 2009 Oct 10;374(9697):1213. (PMID: 19819371)

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.