cocaine guidance - Royal College of General Practitioners

19Appendix 2Appendix 2Review health check for cocaine users(Adapted from 8 Point Health Check by Matthew Southwell, Traffasi)It is recommended that about every 3 to 4 months a review be undertaken to monitor the health of thedrug user.This could be set up as a template on Emis or other GP computer systemMonitoring questions1. Current drug useCurrent amount of cocaine/ crack using?Other drugs, such as benzodiazepines, opioids,currently using and amounts?2. Alcohol useHow many units do you drink in an average week?Do you drink alcohol while or immediately afterusing crack?Do you have any health problems that affectyour liver, such as hepatitis C or cirrhosis?3. Physical healthDo you inject cocaine and has this resulted inany tissue damage?Do you smoke crack and has this resulted inany burns?4. Changes in weightHave you noticed any changes in your weight?5. Lung capacityHave you experienced any breathing difficulties?Did these occur after an episode of smokingcrack or other time?7. Sexual healthDo you have any concerns about your sexualhealth at the moment?Have you had penetrative sex without a condomin the last 3 months?If yes, do you have any irritation, soreness,discharge or inflammation around your vagina,penis or back passage (as applicable)?Are you concerned about HIV or other STIs?Do you have access to condoms?Do you know how to use them?8. Mental healthHow would you describe your frame of mind beforeyou ever used cocaine?How would you describe your frame of mind now?In what ways does your cocaine use improve yourfeelings about life?Do you suffer from depression? And how often?Do you ever think about committing suicide?Do you ever see or hear things, which other peopledon’t see?Do you have experience of hearing voices orseeing non-physical images?Do you have asthma and what is your currenttreatment?6. Heart ScreeningHave you had chest pains during in or after acrack using session?Have you had a very rapidly beating heart(palpitations) during after a crack using session?