Patients presenting with complications from new and emerging drugs are appearing in the hospital system. Currently, there is little known about how best to treat them. Presentations include requests for detoxification, as well as crisis, e.g. acute psychiatric complications. No practical screening system is in place, so this is an example of how we have to adapt to the circumstances. Dr Alexander presents a case study.

1. New & Emerging Drugs
At the Coal Face: The Victorian
Experience
Dr Keri Alexander
Addiction Medicine Specialist
Turning Point Eastern Health
YSAS

2. The Big Unknown
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Patients aren’t screened
Patients / carers aren’t divulging
No monitoring from the hospitals
Anecdotal from professional networks eg
VAILA (hospital D&A nurses and specialists)
• Unknown drug content

3. What about monitoring from DACAS?
• Inherently biased/ opportunistic calls
• Ad hoc reporting
• Nil strategic research data collection and
analysis

4. How to treat
???

5. Case of SW
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22yr old man
6 year history of cannabis use
First two years were marijuana
Past 4 years were synthetic cannabis

7. Case SW cont
• Reported escalating tolerance to each brand/
product over time, relieved by switching
brands
• History of withdrawal symptoms, which varied
between brands (possibly co-incidental)
• Costs $400 per week ie $20,000 per year