Identifying methamphetamine patient's in your office

Are you aware of another type of “Special Population?” Have you any general or dental knowledge to identify a methamphetamine addict or a recovered methamphetamine addict? The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2004, stated approximately 11.7 million (4.9%) Americans ages 12 and older reported trying amphetamine's at least once during their lifetimes. Methamphetamine is growing out of control across the nation. It has drifted from the west coast eastward. If it's not in my backyard, we'll just bury our heads and hide. Most dental professionals know little or nothing about this drug. One needs to understand both the psychological and physiological effects of metamphetamine's regarding dental patients. A brief history of metamphetamine's will be reviewed with discussion of characteristics, nomenclature/ street names, allure of the drug, body effects, description of the typical user, consequences of use, and treatment. Trends, production and trafficking, availability, and distribution patterns will be outlined. The most important part of the discussion will be the dental consequences from methamphetamine use. Dental considerations are xerostomia, decay, perio disease, crazing, dental erosion, and bruxism. Key “profile” identifiers will be presented. Long term consequences will be reviewed with probabilities of methamphetamine rehab patients in your practice. Awareness for dealing with potential patients or family members, specifically children, will be identified. This is a “dangerous” population in our society that dental professionals need to be able to identify quickly and be aware of the associated oral health treatments and considerations necessary for dental care.