Medical Comorbidities with Opioid Dependence
Medical complications can result from the opioid itself, as well as from the way it is administered. The main medical complications among the opioid-dependent population are related to injecting heroin.
You should routinely test these high-risk individuals for blood-borne and infectious diseases including the following:
- HIV
- Hepatitis B and C
- Tuberculosis
- Syphilis
You should also consider running these tests:
- CBC to detect occult infection
- Genital examination for chlamydia, gonococcal disease, and human papilloma virus
- Skin examination for cellulitis (Kleber et al, 2006)
Kleber H, Weiss R, Anton R, et al. Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with substance use disorders, 2nd edition. Am J Psychiatry. 2005; 163(8): 5-82. Available at: http://www.ncps.org/Publications/misc/sub_guideline_0405.pdf
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