Background: Substance use continues to increase in the United States. Substance use has been linked to new onset cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders which lead to hospitalizations. We aimed to assess the association of epidemiology and racial disparities of substance use disorders (SUDs) using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database. Methods: A retrospective study of the [...]

Case Presentation: A 46-year-old female with a history of amphetamine abuse, depression, and hypertension presented to the ED for acute onset of bilateral lower extremity weakness and urinary incontinence. She denied other associated symptoms. The patient’s neurologic exam was notable for symmetrically decreased lower extremities motor strength and reflexes to 2/5, decreased sensation below L1, [...]

Case Presentation: This is a 37-year-old Cambodian male with a past medical history of chronic untreated hypertension and recent methamphetamine use presents with acute onset “tearing” chest pain. Physical exam was remarkable for tachycardia and tachypnea with increased work of breathing. In addition, the patient appeared in severe distress. CT examination showed that he had [...]

Case Presentation: A 65-year-old man presented to outside hospital post-fall with weakness, back pain and fever. He had sinus tachycardia, leukocytosis, and a meth-positive urine drug screen (UDS). Chest x-ray and CT abdomen/pelvis were unremarkable. Blood and urine cultures grew MRSA. Empiric antibiotics and infectious disease (ID) consult ordered. Transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) echocardiogram [...]

Case Presentation: A 40-year-old female with morbid obesity, methamphetamine dependence, and tobacco use disorder presented with the one-day onset of diffuse and severe abdominal pain. A review of the systems was positive for nausea, vomiting, inability to tolerate food by mouth, constipation, and diaphoresis but she denied fever, diarrhea, or other related symptoms. Patient-reported using [...]

Case Presentation: A 21-year-old previously healthy female with no known medical history was brought in by ambulance from a rave party with concerns for being pale, tremulous and diaphoretic. She reportedly had consumed three shots of alcohol, marijuana, and two unknown pills. On exam she was noted to be non-interactive, febrile to 104F, and with [...]

Case Presentation: A 33-year-old male with a history of HIV, bipolar disorder and polysubstance abuse presented to the ED with one day of severe pain in his lower back and bilateral thighs. He described the pain as sharp and fiery, with radiation from the lower back to his knees bilaterally. Further history revealed that the [...]

Case Presentation: A 56-year-old man with PMH chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage II, adjustment disorder, methamphetamine (meth) abuse, last use 2 days before admission, presented with decreased urine output, “coffee-colored” urine, diffuse muscle pain, severe back pain, and fatigue for 1 day. Urine was positive for amphetamines, CPK 218,000 mcg/L, AST, and ALT were 1254 [...]

Case Presentation: A previously healthy 39-year-old female presented with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, generalized fatigue, and lightheadedness for a couple of days. The physical examination was unremarkable. Labs showed an elevated N-terminal pro-BNP, troponin T, and C-reactive protein. A urine drug screen was positive for amphetamines. ECG initially showed mild sinus tachycardia and right bundle-branch [...]