Criminal intoxications

Criminal poisonings affect all levels of a population (social, cultural and economic), and mainly public health. Psychoactive substances are several natural or synthetic compounds, which act on the nervous system alter functions that regulate thoughts, emotions, and behavior. The importance for the specialty of emergency medicine lies in the knowledge of the epidemiology, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the substances used, and clear the initial approach and appropriate treatment to improve the survival of patients. Among the substances most used for the which purposes we will deal with the following: ethyl alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, ketamine, scopolamine, benzodiazepines and oxybic acid (GHB). The use of psychoactive substances always implies a degree of risk of suffering adverse consequences on different organs and systems, which can occur in the short term, as in the case of intoxication, which increases the risk of injury from accidents or aggression, as well as sexual behaviors in unsafe conditions.