Symposium: accidents and poisoningPoisoning with illicit drugs

It is estimated that approximately one quarter of adults in the European Union will have used illicit drugs at some point in their lifetime for recreational purposes. Cannabis is the most commonly used drugs by a significant margin. Illicit drug use in younger teenagers appears to have fallen in the UK over the last 10 years. However the level of use in 16-19 year olds remains one of the highest compared with other age groups, with hospital admission due to poisoning also common in this group.Assessment and management of the young person with evidence of toxicity due to illicit drugs is based upon meticulous attention to resuscitation and supportive care, combined with risk assessment dependent upon the suspected causative drug. Good knowledge of the pharmacology of the implicated drug allows early identification and avoidance of complications.