Brain hemorrhage after inhaling crystal meth

This is the first young patient in Vietnam to be recorded as having inhaled crystal meth causing a brain hemorrhage, according to Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen, Head of the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital.

The patient was admitted to the hospital on August 27, initially having a headache and nausea right after inhaling crystal meth. A CT scan revealed a brain hemorrhage and brain edema.

"Tests showed that the patient was positive for synthetic drugs, especially melaphatamine, or crystal meth," said Dr. Nguyen.

Doctor Nguyen said that in terms of the nervous system, crystal meth causes patients to become agitated, struggle, have convulsions, have delusions, hallucinations, commonly known as "stoned", which is dangerous for themselves and those around them. In terms of the cardiovascular system, crystal meth causes increased blood pressure, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, acute heart failure, and patients can die outside the hospital.

Myocardial infarction in crystal meth users is the most severe and complicated type of myocardial infarction today. The infarction occurs in many parts of the body at the same time, is very severe and very difficult to treat, and can easily lead to death. Crystal meth also causes severe blood vessel constriction, causing cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, intestinal mesenteric infarction, blood clotting disorders, kidney failure, hyperthermia...

In 2015, authorities identified 292 narcotic substances and precursors in Vietnam. After 3 years, the list has increased to 559 substances and precursors, with many more dangerous, sophisticated, and difficult-to-detect drugs. New types of drugs or addictive substances such as paradise leaves (la khat), ecstasy meo meo flakka, paper stamps (tongue charms), lazy cakeake, bath salts, milk tea, and magic mushrooms are aimed at young people, especially high school students. There are even new substances that have not yet appeared on the list of narcotics in Vietnam.