Drug misuse

Abstract

While the misuse of traditional drugs remains common, the emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has changed the landscape of drug misuse in recent years. Although hundreds of NPS have been identified, opioids, including new synthetic examples, still dominate mortality. The exact substances causing toxicity are often unknown on presentation, and multiple exposures are commonly involved. Management is therefore based on a recognition of the drug group(s) involved by identifying the clinical toxidrome. Depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, cannabinoids and dissociatives represent the most frequently identified drug toxidromes.