Factors which may influence adverse effects with recreational drugs
| *In my practice, the most common single neurological adverse effect of drug addiction is head trauma (for example, from baseball bats or gunshot wounds). | |
| AVM, arteriovenous malformation. | |
| Directly due to drug | |
| • A high dose | –sometimes because of an unusual source |
| • The speed of entry | –especially intravenous or when smoked |
| • Individual sensitivity | |
| • Chronic/repeated use | –for example, cocaine, leads to longer half life |
| • Interaction with other compounds in the drugs | |
| • Interaction with other drugs, including alcohol | |
| • Interaction with pre-existing pathologies | –hypertension, AVM, aneurysm, right to left cardiac shunt |
| Indirectly due to drug | |
| • Secondary effects of coma or fits | –especially if aspiration occurs |
| • Infection risks | –easy portal of entry for pathogens |
| –impairment of the immune system | |
| –exposures to pathogens such as HIV | |
| • Accompanying lifestyle changes | –alcoholism |
| –homelessness | |
| –prostitution | |
| –trauma* | |