Islamabad
The emergency departments in both the public and private sector hospitals in the federal capital are receiving significant number of patients with overdose of drug crystal meth or methamphetamine, an illegal drug in the same class as cocaine and other powerful street drugs.
Data collected by ‘The News’ has revealed that Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has received well over 100 patients with crystal meth overdose in emergency during last three months including 30 in January, 34 in February and 46 in March.
Data from private hospitals operating in the federal capital is more alarming with three to four cases being presented every day in emergency departments of almost all major private healthcare facilities.
ICU Medical Specialist at PIMS Dr. Muhammad Haroon expressed this while talking to ‘The News’ on Monday on rising number of patients with crystal meth overdose being reported at Islamabad hospitals.
Crystal meth or methamphetamine is a white crystalline drug that people take by snorting it (inhaling through the nose), smoking it or injecting it with a needle. Some even take it orally, but all develop a strong desire to continue using it because the drug creates a false sense of happiness and well-being -- a rush (strong feeling) of confidence, hyper-activeness and energy. Studies reveal that the first experience might involve some pleasure, but from the start, methamphetamine begins to destroy the user’s life.
Dr. Haroon who helped ‘The News’ in collecting data on the subject of increasing number of cases of drug overdose is of the view that it is time for the concerned government authorities to take serious action for checking the menace. The use of drug as ‘dance drug,’, ‘increased intelligence,’ ‘rapid mood elevation’ has captured the youth of Islamabad and serious steps should be taken by the government authorities for checking its import and availability, he said.
He informed ‘The News’ that at least two patients have died of crystal toxicity in 2017 as reported by a private hospital in Islamabad.
He said crystal meth is used by individuals of all ages, but is most commonly used as a “club drug,” taken while partying in night clubs or at rave parties. Its most common street names are ‘ice’ or ‘glass.’ Crystal amphetamine is also called as angel dust.
Studies reveal that methamphetamine is a dangerous and potent chemical and, as with all drugs, a poison that first acts as a stimulant but then begins to systematically destroy the body. Thus it is associated with serious health conditions, including memory loss, aggression, psychotic behavior and potential heart and brain damage.
Highly addictive, meth burns up the body’s resources, creating a devastating dependence that can only be relieved by taking more of the drug. Crystal meth’s effect is highly concentrated, and many users report getting hooked (addicted) from the first time they use it.
To a query, Dr. Haroon said the signs and symptoms of methamphetamine use are chest pain, aortic dissection, myocardial ischemia/infarction or heart attack, palpitations, tachyarrhythmia dyspnea and edema hypertension, agitation, violent behavior, self-harm, coma, movement disorders, confusion, psychosis, paranoia, hypersexuality, and hallucinations, breathlessness, wheezing and lung damage. Delusional parasitosis (illusion of insects crawling on or beneath the skin), abdominal pain and constipation are also among major symptoms, he said.
He added that such patients should immediately be transported to emergency departments of tertiary care hospitals in the region for treatment and management.