Illicit Methamphetamine and Cocaine Use Linked to Higher Risk of Ventricular Arrhythmia and Death: Study

A new study published in the European Heart Journal showed that individuals who used illegal stimulants, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, were more likely to die and experience ventricular arrhythmia (VA).

Arrhythmias are a major source of morbidity and a prevalent cause of SCD. Implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs), autonomic modulation, antiarrhythmic drugs, surgical and catheter ablation, revascularization treatments for ischemic heart disease, and other successful therapies have been developed for the treatment of VA and prevention of SCD. The usage of illegal drugs is becoming a bigger worldwide health issue.

Approximately 269 million individuals, or 5.3% of the global population aged 15–64, abused pharmaceuticals for non-medical purposes in 2018, and 1 in 6 suspected SCDs are caused by occult overdose. Many sudden cardiac fatalities are caused by ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, although little is known about the typical lifestyle variables that predispose people to these conditions. This study was to evaluate the relationship between ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and mortality with the most often used illegal stimulants, cocaine and methamphetamine.

Adults over 18 years old who received hospital-based care in California between 2005 and 2019 were identified using healthcare databases. Diagnoses and the usage of illegal stimulants were identified using ICD codes. The results included all-cause mortality and VA incorporating ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and cardiac arrest.

At some point, 6,90,737 (2.3%) and 2,90,652 (1.0%) of the 2,95,93,819 people (mean age 44.9 years, 53.8% female) used methamphetamine and cocaine, respectively. Both cocaine and methamphetamine use were linked to higher risk of incident VA and death after controlling for age, sex, race and ethnicity, cannabis and opiate use, and other cardiovascular risk factors.

For both cocaine and methamphetamine, the risk of VA was greater in females and younger people (less than 65 years old), whereas for cocaine usage, it was higher in Blacks and lower in Whites and Hispanics, and for methamphetamine use, it was higher in Asians and lower in Blacks.

Overall, both cocaine and methamphetamine use were linked to higher incident VA and mortality risks, with varying associations across demographic categories. Steer clear of these drugs to lower your risk of VA and mortality.

Reference:

Noubiap, J. J., Dewland, T. A., Montenegro, G. C., Oo, H. H., Tseng, Z. H., & Marcus, G. M. (2025). Illicit stimulants and ventricular arrhythmias: a longitudinal cohort study. European Heart Journal. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf282