Introduction: Drug abuse is common and is on the rise. Addiction usually occurs among younger people. The risk of dealing with drug addicts is high.
Aim: The purpose is to analyze the risks, importance and guidelines in management when dealing with drug addicted individuals, which determines the approach and specifics of their treatment.
Materials and Methods: A critical analysis has been made on the available scientific literature over the past 10 years. The results of articles published in Pubmed, Google Scholar, PubMed Central, and ScienceDirect were analyzed and compared. Our own study was conducted among 47 patients on methadone treatment.
Results: Opiate addiction, most commonly heroin, is one of the forms of drug abuse that is considered to be potentially harmful. Other commonly used drugs are the stimulants amphetamines, cocaine and methamphetamines. Dependent individuals lead a chaotic lifestyle, neglecting nutrition, health and personal hygiene, incl. oral hygiene. Very often, drug users are at great risk, such as overdose, infectious diseases and subsequent complications of non-treatment.
Conclusion: A proper approach to drug addicts is needed to protect doctors and patients, and in order to achieve a better physical, mental and emotional, incl. oral health. Recognizing drug addicts and treating them properly are key points in good management.
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