PULMONARY COMPLICATIONS IN YOUNG ADULTS WITH DRUG USE: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS

Abstract

The aim of the work was to analyze possible variants of pulmonary complications in the use of illicit drugs (drugs) using computed tomography, based on literature data and our own observations. Drug abuse continues to rise steadily throughout the world, and the majority of drug addicts are young people, including adolescents. Complications arising from the use of drugs can affect any organs and systems. Respiratory complications can occur when using all groups of narcotic substances (opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, marijuana and many others), the nature of which largely depends on the drug used, the impurities in it and the route of administration. Pulmonary complications can affect the upper respiratory tract, lung parenchyma, pulmonary vasculature, pleura and occur in both acute and chronic forms. The absence of pathognomonic clinical, laboratory, radiological and histological signs of lung damage caused by the use of narcotic substances significantly complicates the diagnosis. Awareness of the visualization features of drug induced pulmonary complications, the most common forms and rare lesions is important for the radiologist, since the underlying cause may not be known, and various complications may be combined.