RSS | Login | Register

Substance Abuse

A young woman's myterious case of fatigue and confusion

Case and analysis by Michael S. Roscoe, MS, MPAS, PA-C, and Shawn Gage, PA-S January 21, 2010

Perhaps the patient had a viral infection or metabolic disorder. But her symptoms pointed to something more urgent.

Memory lapse and sleep disturbance in a depressed alcoholic

Michele D. Tinge, MPAS, PA-C January 04, 2010

Seeking neurologic treatment for fatigue and headaches, the patient's poor liver function pointed in another direction.

Preventing recurrent boils

August 10, 2009

Is there a way to reduce or eliminate frequent episodes of boils?

A college student's erratic behavior draws unwanted attention

Annemarie Donato, MSN, FNP-BC March 31, 2009

The young woman had a personal history of drug use and a family history significant for schizophrenia and suicide.

Looking for treatment or just drugs?

Ann W. Latner, JD January 28, 2009

A patient's claim that her husband lost her pain pills makes clinicians suspect symptoms are a ruse.

Patients' fatal mistakes soar 3,000%

Myra Dembrow November 21, 2008

Fatal medication errors (FMEs) among patients who used recreational drugs or alcohol while taking prescribed or OTC medicines increased more than 3,000% over two decades.

Recognizing illicit drug use in your patients

Joan Lippert, with Vicki Waters, MS, PA-C, and Kathleen L. Becker, MS, RN, CRNP November 10, 2008

Primary-care clinicians are being asked to diagnose substance use disorder with increasing frequency. Find out what tools are available to assist you.