Methamphetamine Has Changed the Profile of Patients Utilizing Psychiatric Emergency Services in Iran

Abstract

There is increasing evidence of rapidly growing serious, pervasive, and expensive methamphetamine problems in Iran in recent years-a malicious social phenomenon with widespread psychological, familial and economic adversities-which contribute to theft, murder, suicide, violence, and divorce. Substantial cases of acute psychiatric problems are increasingly seen following amphetamine use in the emergency departments. Paranoid patients are more prominent. Many of these cases are characterized by anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances, hallucinations, and out-of-control rages with extremely violent behavior and homicidal ideas. This serious tragedy which is one of the most important Iranian societyís problems is called for effective multidimensional control policies.