A fatal attraction: cocaine related subarachnoid hemorrhage

An alarming number of people use cocaine, a drug surrounded with myths and misconceptions. Cocaine use is associated with many medical and psychiatric problems. It is now believed cocaine use may lead to subarachnoid hemorrhage. Cocaine stimulates the release of various neurotransmitters in the brain as well as blocks their uptake, causing a temporary surge in systolic blood pressure. The constant assault on the vessels from continuous cocaine use weakens them causing hemorrhage or possibly creates an aneurysm. This article explains how cocaine affects the blood vessels and neurotransmitters of the brain, reviews two case histories in which cocaine may have contributed to aneurysmal formation and subarachnoid hemorrhage and discusses nursing implications of cocaine related subarachnoid hemorrhage.