Background: Our aim was to study the evolution of cocaine-related health pr
oblems in Catalonia, Spain.
Methods: Analysis of first treatment admissions, emergency-room episodes, a
nd mortality recorded by information systems on drug abuse in Catalonia and
the city of Barcelona (Spain) in 1999.
Results: In 1999, cocaine was the illegal drug most frequently reported amo
ng drug-related emergency-room episodes (1,093 episodes in the city of Barc
elona). In addition, cocaine was the illegal drug most frequently found amo
ng fatal drug overdoses (80% of all deaths in the last quarter of 1999) and
the one that caused the highest number of treatment admissions (1,547 case
s in Catalonia).
Conclusions: There is an increase in cocaine-related health problems which
means that it is needed health to improve the diagnosis, health education,
treatment and prevention of complications associated with the use of this s
ubstance.