Drug intoxications and their treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Although drugs are used for prevention, amelioration or treatment of certain diseases, they represent a certain risk for those who use them. The consumption of drugs has grown tremendously and continues to grow worldwide, so it is virtually impossible not to overuse drugs and self-medication, generating a range of negative effects, represented by adverse reactions, drug poisoning, which complete a new disease of civilization - „drug disease". Purpose and objectives: Achieving a complex study on the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and principles of treatment of drug intoxication. Patients: This study included 2260 patients’ data files with diagnosis of drug intoxications during the years 2011, 2012, 2013. Methods: Findings of epidemiological characteristics, etiology, clinical features of acute drug intoxication addressed to the Republican Center of Toxicology. Evaluating statistics for 3 years and highlighting the prevalence of drugs, age and sex more frequently involved in drug intoxication. Results: During the years 2011-2013 were recorded 2260 cases of intoxications. Every year their number is constantly growing (666 cases in 2011,744 cases in 2012 and 850 in 2013). Men frequently suffer from poisoning (due to alcohol consumption), but in 2013 the number is equivalent to that of women. Drug intoxications are found more frequently in women (185 cases in 2013). The highest rate of drug poisoning was represented by neuroleptics, antihistamines and benzodiazepines. We observed a significant increase of intoxications with NSAD in the years 2011, 2012. Serious complications or deaths were not recorded, due to qualified therapeutic care and resuscitation. The causes of drug intoxications are evident for our country. Most of the patients lack financial resources, don’t seek specialized medical services and have free access to drugs, this facts increasing the rate of self-treatment, that include multiple risks for their life. A significant part of drug intoxications were due to suicide. Conclusion: Drug poisoning is the result of self-management and uninformed use of drugs, frequently for suicide. There should be a culture of drug use and fastest possible resolution of the serious consequences that involve them. This problem should include a multidisciplinary approach, both therapeutic as well as psychosocial.