Substance Use Disorders in the Surgical Patient

Large bodies of evidence link alcohol consumption and substance use disorders (SUDs) with motor vehicle collisions, as well as life-threatening intentional injury.  According to the substance use and mental health estimates from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 24.6 million individuals age 12 or older were current illicit drug users in 2013, including 2.2 million adolescents age 12 to 17, and 60.1 million individuals age 12 or older were binge drinkers in the past month.  Many people with SUDs become patients; therefore, the surgeon must be able to recognize and manage many of the related issues that can ensue. This review details the definition of SUDs, basic principles of toxicology, acute management of the patient with suspected substance use intoxication or withdrawal, managing life-threatening syndromes in patients with SUDs, overdose and withdrawal syndromes of opioids, stimulants, and depressants, surgical complications of SUDs, perioperative and postoperative considerations in patients with SUDs, and consultation and referral to a toxicologist and poison control center. Figures show first- and zero-order kinetics;  pupillary examination, laboratory and radio