Lappin JM, et al. – This research was performed to investigate whether methamphetamine was a putative cause of strokes among younger people. The physicians found a preponderance of haemorrhagic strokes correlated with methamphetamine use in young people, and methamphetamine–related stroke was associated with poor clinical outcomes. Hypertension, vasculitis, direct vascular toxicity and vasospasm were included as mechanisms of methamphetamine–associated stroke. The incidence of methamphetamine–related stroke would increase in a period of rising worldwide methamphetamine use, with a consequent increase in the burden of disease contributed to such events.

• The physicians conducted a review of methamphetamine-related strokes.
• Until February 2017, they searched bibliographic databases for articles related to methamphetamine and stroke.
• They considered both haemorrhagic and ischaemic strokes.

• A total of 370 articles were screened.
• Out of which, 77 were selected for inclusion.
• In this study, there were 81 haemorrhagic and 17 ischaemic strokes reported in case reports and series.
• Both types were about twice as common in males.
• For haemorrhagic stroke, route of administration was typically oral or injecting.
• However, for ischaemic stroke inhalation was most common.
• Haemorrhagic stroke was correlated with vascular abnormalities in a third of cases.
• Following haemorrhagic stroke, 1/4^th of individuals completely recovered, and a third died.
• Following ischaemic stroke, 1/5^th completely recovered, and one-fifth died.