Latest news with #drugabuse
Medscape
19 hours ago
- General
- Medscape
HIV Patient's Nose Vanishes in Extreme Itch Disorder
A 35-year-old man presented to the hospital with diffuse oral pain. He reported the pain intensity on a 10-point scale and rated it as '9' on the maxillary right and an '8' on the mandibular left. His medical history included HIV infection and chronic misuse of unidentified drugs for pain relief. During the physical examination, the patient reported experiencing tactile hallucinations, often described as itching or the sensation of insects crawling, which caused him to constantly scratch his nose. The case reported by Michele White, DDS, an associate professor of restorative dentistry at the University of Texas Health Houston School of Dentistry, Houston, and colleagues described a rare case of excessive destruction of the nasal septum due to differentially diagnosed formication and physical effects of methamphetamine use. The Patient and His History The patient presented to the dental urgent care clinic with a chief complaint of generalised oral pain of 8 and 9 on a 10-point scale 3 weeks prior. The patient's medical history included an HIV infection diagnosed 10 years ago and treated with poor HIV medication compliance over the past 5 years, as well as a history of drug and pain medication abuse. The patient reported regularly taking more than 10 extra-strength paracetamol tablets and 10 ibuprofen tablets daily for pain relief. He also stated that he may have hepatitis B. The patient was unaware of his CD4 T-cell count and HIV medication. Other family, medication, allergy, social, drug, and travel histories did not provide any relevant information. Findings and Diagnosis On admission, the patient's vital signs were as follows: Blood pressure, 144/90 mm Hg; pulse rate, 74 beats/min; respiratory rate, 26 breaths/min; and temperature, 38.3 °C. A clinical oral examination confirmed several decayed teeth with severe caries and missing teeth. His skin was dry and discoloured. Further examination revealed a deviated nasal septum and formication lesions on both arms, face, and nose. The destruction, deviation, and loss of the outer end of the nasal septum appeared to be due to excessive scratching and differentially diagnosed delusions of parasitosis. Dental intervention was not possible because of the financial constraints. Furthermore, surgery was considered risky due to his unclear medical history. 'The dental urgent care clinic at our institution attends to persons with urgent dental needs. However, patients present with comorbid medical conditions that may affect the ability to safely receive dental care at that time and, consequently, require medical consultation,' the authors wrote. Because the patients are not patients of record, many of them are lost to follow-up, as this patient was. The treating dental providers chose not to proceed with treatment and opted for referral to the local county hospital, where the patient could be provided dental treatment with medical support. The patient was lost to follow-up. Discussion 'Many healthcare providers, including family physicians, general dentists, med-peds, ear nose and throat, emergency room physicians, and ophthalmologists, are well positioned to recognise and report orofacial perforations and other possible associated signs of cocaine and methamphetamine abuse such as cardiovascular effects. This is important to assist patients in making appropriate referrals that aim to optimise patients' healthcare. Goals should be to establish or support patients by seeing their medical or dental providers regularly, rather than through an urgent care clinic setting,' the authors concluded.
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Musk dismisses NYT drugs claim
Elon Musk has denied allegations of drug abuse following a New York Times report detailing his purported heavy use of controlled substances during Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. On Friday, the NYT released an article alleging that the mogul was using the substances 'far more intensely than previously known.' In a post on X on Saturday, Musk brushed off the allegations, writing: 'Also, to be clear, I am NOT taking drugs! The New York Times was lying their ass off.' He added that he had 'tried prescription ketamine a few years ago' and had publicly disclosed this fact. 'This [is] not even news. It helps for getting out of dark mental holes, but haven't taken it since then,' Musk stressed. The Times had alleged that Musk was taking so much ketamine that it was affecting his bladder, a known effect of chronic use. The article also claimed, citing sources familiar with the matter, that Musk took ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms and traveled with a daily medication box containing about 20 pills including the stimulant Adderall. The NYT stated that it is unclear whether Musk was taking drugs when he joined the Trump administration as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was tasked with slashing the federal bureaucracy. However, it mentioned that during his tenure as a public servant, the businessman 'exhibited erratic behavior,' insulted cabinet members, and at one point made a controversial gesture that many interpreted as a Nazi-style salute. On Thursday, Musk announced that he would no longer serve as a government employee. He thanked Trump 'for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending' while stating that DOGE would continue its operations. While Trump noted that Musk 'is really not leaving' and was 'going to be back and forth,' the announcement came amid multiple reports of a rift between the mogul and administration officials. In March, the NYT reported that Musk had clashed with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over firings in his department and with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over air traffic control regulations. Musk also recently voiced disappointment over Trump's spending bill, which he said would increase the deficit and undermine DOGE's mission.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
My cultural awakening: A Timothée Chalamet drama made me leave my partner – and check him into rehab
Two summers ago, I met a man on a dating app who would become my boyfriend. The red flags were there from the start, but I ignored them all. When I stayed at his, he didn't have a towel to offer me, and he never changed his sheets. It became obvious that he didn't know how to look after himself. Even though, in reality, he could survive without me (similar to how a teenage boy would survive on his own, eating burgers in bed), I felt like, if I wasn't there to buy groceries, cook and clean, he might die. He would disappear for days, on a drink- or drugs-fuelled bender, and I'd assume he'd overdosed in a basement somewhere. I lived in fear that something terrible would happen to him. I became his boyfriend and his caregiver. This was a familiar role for me: I'd done it in all my previous relationships. I needed to be needed. If the person I was dating didn't need me, then what value did I have? I found safety in taking care of someone. This started as a family dynamic: as the eldest child, I had to look out for my younger brothers, and learned to overlook my own needs. Then, when I was 14, my girlfriend died in a drug-related car accident. My therapist helped me to see the connection; that because I couldn't save her, I sought romantic relationships with men or women I thought I could save instead. One evening, after being recommended it by Netflix, I began watching Beautiful Boy, a film about the breakdown of a father's relationship with his son, who is an addict. It was about halfway through that I decided to leave my relationship. When Steve Carell's character (David) hangs up on Timothée Chalamet (Nic), saying, 'I wish I could help you, but I can't do that,' I knew I couldn't either. I admired the strength it took to end the cycle of trying (and failing) to save his son. Even though he was my boyfriend and three years older, I related to the father-son dynamic in Beautiful Boy. I felt responsible for him, and he would tell me that he would die without me, threatening to take his own life. Until then, I hadn't seen how much I was damaging myself by trying to help him. And that I would never be able to, not really. He had to learn how to take care of himself. As David says: 'I don't think you can save people.' Despite deciding to end the relationship in September 2023, I didn't take action until October, when I cheated on him. I felt I had to do something irreparable that would make it impossible for us to stay together. I told him what I'd done over the phone, then I called his mum to tell her about his drug problem. I don't think she knew: she lived in another country and he hid it from her. Finally, I called a psychiatric facility and did all of the admin to make sure that he would be taken care of, and then never spoke to him again. The guilt I felt was overpowered by the feeling that this was something I had to do. That was my last codependent relationship. I have a new boyfriend, who tells me that my company alone is enough. I'm the most peaceful I've ever been, but sometimes the voice that says I'm only lovable if I'm useful comes back. If I try to cook for my boyfriend when I'm tired and he tells me I don't have to, I can spiral. But slowly, with help, I'm building a sense of self that doesn't rely on being of service. Beautiful Boy helped me see that I don't need to take care of someone else to have value. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion You can tell us how a cultural moment has prompted you to make a major life change by filling in the form below or emailing us on Please include as much detail as possible Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you include other people's names please ask them first. Action on Addiction is available on 0300 330 0659.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Maryport home shut down over drug and violence concerns
A home has been closed off for three months over concerns about criminal property on Rydal Avenue in Maryport, Cumbria, had a negative impact on the local community for several months due to violent incidents and drug activity, police court ordered closure means anyone seen entering the building could be Sam Steel, from Allerdale Neighbourhood Policing team, said the address had been "an open sore and focal point of criminal behaviour". Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Sarikei drug sweep nets 44 arrests, ex-civil servants among 37 who tested positive for meth
SARIKEI, May 30 — A total of 37 individuals, including three former male civil servants, six women, and 28 other men, have tested positive for methamphetamine following a Special Preventive Operation conducted by the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) Sarawak. The operation took place across the Sarikei District from May 26 to 28 as part of ongoing efforts to combat drug abuse in the region. During the operation, 44 individuals were detained, screened, and subjected to urine tests. Of these, 37 tested positive for methamphetamine use. The operation was led by Sarikei District AADK Chief Dalin Nani George and involved officers from both the Sarawak State AADK and Sarikei District AADK. Support was also provided by several other enforcement agencies and departments, including the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela), and local community leaders (KMKK). All individuals who tested positive are being investigated under Section 3(1)(a) of the Drug Addicts (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983. Meanwhile, two other individuals were handed over to the police for further investigation under Section 12(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. AADK stated that it will continue to conduct regular and large-scale preventive and enforcement operations to address drug and substance abuse in Sarawak. The agency also called for cooperation from all sectors to help safeguard communities and maintain drug-free environments. — The Borneo Post
