Key Points Stroke in recreational substance users can be an indirect complication—for example, endocarditis and cardioembolism in parenteral drug users. With some drugs (e.g., cocaine), stroke appears to be the result of a direct effect. For illicit drugs, epidemiologic studies…
Key Points Infarction of the territory of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) can be the result of carotid artery atherosclerosis and embolism, cardioembolism, local ACA atherosclerosis, or ACA dissection. Considerable variation describes the anatomy of the ACA and the brain…
Drug dependence is of two types. Psychic dependence (addiction) refers to craving and drug-seeking behavior. Physical dependence refers to an adaptive state in which abrupt cessation of drug use results in somatic withdrawal symptoms. Tolerance refers to the need for…