Addiction and the Medical Complications of Drug Abuse

Addiction and the Medical Complications of Drug Abuse explores the physiological and psychological phenomenon of addiction including the nature of dependence, the dependence potential of drugs, and the importance of motivation. Contributions analyze the practice of substitute prescribing and detail the immediate and long term benefits of their use in maintenance or controlled withdrawal from opioids, stimulants, and benzodiazepines. It considers the use of methadone, buprenorphine, adrenergic agonists, and naltrexone for detoxification.

Practitioners will benefit from the expert instruction on the management of common comorbidities, including diagnosis and pharmaceutical treatment of psychological disorders. Additional information covers the physiological effects of each drug and the emergency management of several drug related disorders such as psychosis, seizures, stroke, hyperthermia, and cardiac crisis. With 29 tables and figures, expert data and extensive references, this is an indispensable book for anyone in the field of addiction or emergency medicine.