Using administrative health data to estimate prevalence and mortality rates of alcohol and other substance-related disorders for surveillance purposes.

Introduction: Administrative health databases (AHD) are critical to guide health service management and can inform the whole spectrum of substance-related disorders (SRD). This study estimates prevalence and mortality rates of SRD in administrative health databases.

Methods: The Quebec Integrated Chronic Disease Surveillance System consists of linked AHD.

Antipsychotics for the treatment of sympathomimetic toxicity: A systematic review.

Objective: Benzodiazepines are often recommended first-line for management of cocaine and amphetamine toxicity while antipsychotic treatment is discouraged due to the potential for lowering seizure threshold, prolonging the QT interval, and decreasing heat dissipation. We performed a systematic review including animal and human studies to elucidate the efficacy and safety of antipsychotics in managing sympathomimetic toxicity specifically evaluating the effect of treatment on mortality, seizures, hyperthermia, and cardiovascular effects.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, BIOSIS Previews, Web of Science, Scopus, CENTRAL and gray literature from inception to 31 May 2017 to answer: Can antipsychotics be used safely and effectively to treat cocaine or amphetamine toxicity? Citations were screened by title and abstract.

Levamisole in cocaine: unexpected news from an old acquaintance.

Levamisole is a pharmaceutical with anthelminthic and immunomodulatory properties that was previously used in both animals and humans to treat inflammatory conditions and cancer. Levamisole has been identified as a cocaine adulterant in the United States since 2003. By 2009, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) estimated that 69% of the cocaine seized contained levamisole.

Lipid emulsions in the treatment of acute poisoning: a systematic review of human and animal studies.

Objective: To assess the evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of intravenous fat emulsion (IFE) in the management of poisoned patients.

Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature with no time or language restriction. The electronic databases were searched from their inception until June 1, 2009 (Medline, EMBASE, ISI web of science, Biological abstract, LILACS, ChemIndex, Toxnet, and Proquest).