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What are street drugs?
Street drugs typically refer to drugs sold illegally for recreational
use. The most commonly abused drugs are heroin, marijuana, inhalants
and cocaine. Methamphetamine (i.e., meth, crystal meth and crank),
a highly addictive stimulant taken orally, snorted as a powder,
injected or smoked, is another illicit drug. Its popularity has
risen among teenagers, especially those who use drugs recreationally
at raves, dance clubs, parties, college campuses and other venues.
According to the 1996 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA)
4.9 million people aged 12 and older had tried methamphetamine at
least once. Cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine are likely to
have the most harmful effects on oral health.
How do street drugs adversely affect oral
health?
Bad breath, rotting teeth, hair loss and changes in pigmentation
are telltale signs of methamphetamine abuse. A 30-year-old hardcore
meth user may look more like a
senior citizen than a young adult, and could be a candidate for
dentures because the drug so severely rots teeth that a dentist
may need to remove them. In teenagers, dentists have noted a condition
called "meth mouth," which is characterized by significant
tooth decay, gum disease and cracks in the tooth surface. The drug
also dries out the glands that produce saliva, which combats plaque
on your teeth by acting as a buffer against acids.
If you smoke crack cocaine, you may develop
fungal infections in your mouth, or blisters, sores and cuts on
the lips and mouth. You also may experience a decrease in salivary
secretions, abnormal toothwear patterns and acute gum inflammation.
A few cases of oral ulcers resulting from crack cocaine use also
have been documented. If you abuse both alcohol and cocaine, you
may show signs of dry mouth, decayed and missing teeth, advanced
gum disease and severe tooth grinding (also called bruxism). Chronic
marijuana users tend to have an increased incidence of decayed,
missing, stained teeth and larger amounts of plaque, resulting in
gingivitis.
Are street drugs harmful to overall health?
Using street drugs even once can harm your body and brain and possibly
kill you.
If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, using these
drugs can harm your unborn baby. Many of these drugs have powerful
effects on the central nervous system. High doses of methamphetamine
or chronic use of this drug carry the risk of stroke, heart failure
or prolonged psychosis. Smoking cocaine allows extremely high doses
to reach the brain quickly, producing an instant and intense euphoria.
However, chronic use can cause mood swings, depression, sleep problems,
memory loss and social withdrawal. Marijuana may impair motor skills
and diminish your ability to concentrate.
What signs and symptoms of drug abuse may
your dentist notice?
Red eyes, facial puffiness, spider angioma (an abnormal collection
of blood vessels near the surface of the skin), husky voice, slurred
speech and disheveled appearance, as well as abnormal vital signs
– all can provide initial clues to help a dentist identify
whether you are misusing or abusing drugs.
Why it is important to discuss drug use if
a dentist asks for a medical history?
If you are a new patient, a first dental exam will include questions
about your medical history including all drugs, prescription or
otherwise, that you are taking. It's
important to provide complete, accurate information.
Failure to disclose all drugs you are taking
could increase the likelihood of dangerous drug interactions (for
example, between cocaine and epinephrine), or an adverse reaction
such as excessive bleeding during a dental procedure. A recovering
alcoholic who has degenerative liver disease should not be prescribed
large doses of acetominophen to relieve pain. If you are addicted
to heroin you should not be prescribed an opiate for pain because
of the increased likelihood of relapse.
What kinds of question will my dentist ask
regarding my drug or alcohol use?
Possible questions may include:
• How often do you drink alcohol?
• How many drinks do you have on a typical day?
• How often do you smoke marijuana and how does it make you
feel?
• Have you ever used cocaine?
• Are you using it now?
• Have you used other illicit drugs?
How can my dentist help me get treatment for drug abuse?
If you have become addicted to a drug and
have not sought treatment, your dentist may be able to point to
treatment resources.
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