Cardiovascular effects of cocaine abuse

According to the 1988 National Household Survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, cocaine use among the total population has decreased. This same survey also reported an increase in cocaine use among chronic abusers of the drug. As cocaine use has increased among the abuser population, so has the number of emergency room admissions for cocaine-related complaints; moreover, these patients were admitted with primarily cardiovascular complaints. It is important for the nurse practitioner to recognize the cardiotoxic effects of cocaine abuse. Cocaine abuse should be part of the differential diagnosis in patients with cardiovascular complaints.