Physical Illness and Drugs of Abuse: A Review of the Evidence

by Adam J. Gordon

Overview

The timely recognition of physical health problems in patients with severe mental disorders is emerging as an important priority in the medical health field. Although it is well known that persons with addictions to illicit substances often develop a variety of mental health and physical health conditions, the epidemiological associations between physical illness and addiction to illicit substances are poorly understood. This book comprehensively surveys recent literature to critically review the relationships between physical illness and drugs of abuse, describing the association between each of the principal classes of illicit drugs (cocaine, marijuana, opioids, and common hallucinogens and stimulants) and the major categories of physical illness. Clear summary tables accompany detailed discussions, providing the reader with a quick reference guide. Physical Illness and Drugs of Abuse will be essential reading for all health professionals, students, practising clinicians and policy makers with interests in mental health, public health and epidemiology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521133470
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/11/2010
Pages:	396
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Adam J. Gordon, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM is an internal medicine physician with a specialty of addiction medicine and an Associate Professor of Medicine and Advisory Dean at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, USA.

Table of Contents

Foreword 1 Norman Sartorius viii

Foreword 2 Richard A. Denisco Wilson M. Compton x

Preface xiii

Acknowledgements xiv

List of abbreviations xv

1 Introduction 1

2 Methods 5

3 Results: cocaine 7

4 Results: marijuana 156

5 Results: opioids 243

6 Results: hallucinogens, stimulants, and barbiturates 281

7 Discussion 332

References 340

Index 369

Editorial Reviews

"An important contribution to efforts to develop coordination between mental health and substance abuse services. It provides a significant review of available evidence on the relationships of mental health, physical health, and addiction to illicit drugs....This volume will be a worthwhile investment for both practitioners and students working with the substance-abusing population."
—Choice

From the Publisher