Hi all,

A collegue and myself have been trying to discover whether data is collected around numbers of peolpe having amputations due to drug use (specifically injecting). We have so far come up with nothing and thought that the good members of SMMGP might be able to shed some light on this.
Any help would be muchly appreciated

Cheers

Jody

I have not seen any stats on this but I think you'll find the general view is that amputations dramatically declined when temazepam stopped being made in gelfix capsules. Hardly hear of an amputaion (in fact I haven't these days) 10 years ago there were loads and loads, although there were major local variations as temazepam injection was not prevalent everywhere.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jim Barnard,

Just did a very quick and dirty search via the NLH and only came up with these, which aren't even necessarily relevant to the question:


Regarding "Infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysm in drug addicts: The beneficial use of the internal iliac artery for arterial reconstruction".
Author(s): Georgiadis-G-S
Citation: Journal of Vascular Surgery {J-VASC-SURG} v.46; no.3; 2007; pp.613

Title: Hand injuries secondary to subcutaneous illicit drug injections.
Author(s): Thomas, W O 3rd
Thomas WO 3rdF
Almand, J D
Almand JDF
Stark, G B
Stark GBF
Parry, S W
Parry SWF
Rodning, C B
Rodning CB

Description: We present a retrospective analysis of 32 patients admitted over a 5-year period to a metropolitan regional trauma center with recently induced subcutaneous ("skin pop") illicit drug injectional injuries involving the hand.
Citation: Annals of plastic surgery v.34; no.1; January 1995; pp.27-31

Title: Necrotizing soft tissue infection masquerading as cutaneous abcess following illicit drug injection.

Author(s): Callahan, T E
Callahan TEF
Schecter, W P
Schecter WPF
Horn, J K
Horn JK

Description: OBJECTIVE: To assess factors that might predict serious necrotizing soft tissue infections following illicit drug injection. Citation: Archives of surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960) v.133; no.8; August 1998; pp.812-7; discussion 817-812-7; discussion 819


OK, so not a rigorous search and it but came back with very little.
Which maybe supports Jim's point.

Simon

Hi Jody,
Welcome to the forum. I wonder are you asking about all drugs or any particular type? Also are you asking just about the UK?

I will have a search around.

Jody,
Why not get in touch with the people who wrote this - they might be able to help
http://www.nta.nhs.uk/publications/documents/nta_visual...ug_use_2006_rb13.pdf

Thanks for the input everyone. Simon, I guess the focus has been on UK opiate and snowball injectors, but not exclusively. Any data would be great (although the general concensus from everybody I've spoken to here is that it just does not get compiled).
It was only a general enquiry so all the info given has been great

I'm not aware of any stats on this but agree that the last ones I saw where when people missed the femoral vein and hit the femoral artery and injected it with temazepam.
much more common now are orthopaedic operation for those who sustain a road traffic accident usually because they've crossed the road under the influence

I seem to remember several amputations over the years - the most distressing in a patient in whom I think the sequence of events was septicaemia, DIC and bilateral compartment syndrome, and was injecting crack and heroin into the groins.
I heard only yesterday of a man with chronic infection - I'm presuming this means osteomyelitis, who is heading for amputation, and I've known another for the same indication.

Hi there completely unaware oif any such data compiled by the drug miususe field. Suggest you approach SCAN also, just to make sure, then if draw a blank, try the Office of National Statistics, or NHS information centre?

Susi
ONS
Information Centre

Hi

Most amputees I have known in the past had strange beliefs & awful techniques.
They also tended to be older & their drug of choice combinations complex. Like
Diconal,Seconal,Tamazepam,Rohypnol or methadone & Dexedrine etc. Using illicitly
purchased pharmaceuticals in exotic mixtures. May I suggest another source of
information & potential allies might be Andrew Preston of exchange supplies &
Erin O,Mara of Blackpoppy magazine. These guys really know their stuff & are
easily approachable.

Exchange Supplies: tools for harm reduction http://www.exchangesupplies.org/

jimi