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Bergström MA, Andersson ME, Larsson SB. Detection of drugs and hepatitis C virus in used syringes from a needle exchange in Gothenburg, Sweden. Drug Test Anal 2023. [PMID: 38044807 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
People who inject drugs (PWID) are exposed to serious health risks such as lethal overdoses, addiction and infections. The patterns of drug use and the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection vary greatly between and even within countries. Data on drugs used for injection are important to inform PWID of risks and adapt healthcare. This study aimed to determine which substances are injected in Gothenburg, Sweden, and estimate the risk of HCV transmission. A total of 150 syringes handed in at the needle and syringe exchange program (NEP) in Gothenburg over a week in November 2021 were analysed for drug content using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Using a dose-adjusted comparison, the main drug(s) injected was distinguished from the impurities in the syringes containing several drugs. HCV RNA was quantified by real-time PCR in an additional set of 150 syringes. Drugs were detected in >99% of analysed syringes, and the most common drugs were amphetamine (81%), followed by buprenorphine (8.0%), heroin (6.7%) and alprazolam (4.6%). Less common findings were testosterone (2.7%), methylphenidate (2.0%), MDMA (0.7%), trenbolone (0.7%) and zopiclone (0.7%). Eleven syringes (7.3%) contained more than one drug. HCV RNA was detected in 13% of the syringes, and one in 10 contained enough to potentially transmit an infection. This study underlines the importance of access to NEPs for PWID to reduce the risks associated with drug injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moa Andresen Bergström
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Maria E Andersson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Simon B Larsson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Addiction and Dependency, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden
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Zamengo L, Frison G, Bettin C, Badocco D, Ghezzo N, Di Pino G, Favaretto A, Pani A. Predicting heroin potency from the analysis of paraphernalia: A tool for overdose prevention projects. Forensic Sci Int 2023; 352:111834. [PMID: 37806165 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, fatal and non-fatal heroin-related overdoses have increased in northeastern Italy, and the change in potency of heroin available at street level has been identified as a prominent factor associated with acute toxicity. Two very different products, high-potency and low-potency heroin were becoming available on the street, and no clear morphological characteristics could be used to easily distinguish them. A theoretical model for predicting heroin potency from rapid analysis of cigarette filters was developed as part of an overdose prevention project. The model was derived from the analysis of real heroin samples and exploits the common presence of caffeine in heroin as an adulterant. It was tested on laboratory prepared filters, real filters used to prepare heroin injections, and other paraphernalia. The model showed strong predictive ability and was used to implement a rapid alert system to inform drug users and healthcare institutions about the potency of heroin or other psychoactive substances circulating in the area. Cigarette filters were used as standard material, but other paraphernalia were successfully tested. The developed model is a dynamic tool whose parameters can be updated according to the market characteristics, so it can be useful for laboratories involved in drug analysis and similar prevention programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Zamengo
- Laboratory of Clinical and Forensic Toxicology, DMPO Department, AULSS 3, Venice, Italy.
| | - Giampietro Frison
- Laboratory of Clinical and Forensic Toxicology, DMPO Department, AULSS 3, Venice, Italy
| | - Chiara Bettin
- Laboratory of Clinical and Forensic Toxicology, DMPO Department, AULSS 3, Venice, Italy
| | - Denis Badocco
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Di Pino
- Harm reduction activities, Department of Social Services, Municipality of Venice, Italy
| | - Alberto Favaretto
- Harm reduction activities, Department of Social Services, Municipality of Venice, Italy
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Stam NC, Cogger S, Schumann JL, Weeks A, Roxburgh A, Dietze PM, Clark N. The onset and severity of acute opioid toxicity in heroin overdose cases: a retrospective cohort study at a supervised injecting facility in Melbourne, Australia. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2022; 60:1227-1234. [PMID: 36200988 DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2022.2126371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AIM To differentiate the severity of acute opioid toxicity and describe both the clinical and physiological features associated with heroin overdose in a cohort of witnessed overdose cases. METHODS Witnessed heroin overdose cases over a 12-month period (30 June 2018 - 30 June 2019) at the Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) in Melbourne, Australia were examined. The severity of acute opioid toxicity was classified according to the level of clinical intervention required to manage the overdose cases where an escalating level of care was provided. Heroin overdose cases were classified into one of three graded severity categories and a fourth complicated heroin overdose category. RESULTS A total of 1218 heroin overdose cases were identified from 60,693 supervised injecting visits over the study period. On the spectrum of toxicity, 78% (n = 955) of overdose cases were classified as Grade 1 severity, 7% (n = 83) as Grade 2 severity, and 13% (n = 161) as Grade 3 acute opioid toxicity severity cases, as well as 2% (n = 19) classified as complicated heroin overdose cases. The median onset time for heroin overdose cases was 17 min (IQR 11-28 min) from the time the individual was ready to prepare and inject heroin until clinical intervention was initiated. CONCLUSION We demonstrated that heroin overdose is a dynamic illness and cases differ in the severity of acute opioid toxicity. The risk of airway occlusion including positional asphyxia was an early and consistent feature across all levels of toxicity, while exaggerated respiratory depression together with exaggerated depression of consciousness was increasingly observed with greater levels of toxicity. We also demonstrated the importance of early intervention in overdose cases, where in a large cohort of heroin overdose cases there were no fatal outcomes, a very low hospitalisation rate and most cases were able to be managed to clinical resolution on-site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan C Stam
- Medically Supervised Injecting Room, North Richmond Community Health, Melbourne, Australia.,Monash Addiction Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Shelley Cogger
- Medically Supervised Injecting Room, North Richmond Community Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jennifer L Schumann
- Drug Intelligence Unit, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Anthony Weeks
- Medically Supervised Injecting Room, North Richmond Community Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Amanda Roxburgh
- Monash Addiction Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Health Risks Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University on New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Discipline of Addiction Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Paul M Dietze
- Monash Addiction Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Health Risks Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,National Drug Research Institute and enAble Institute, Curtin University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nicolas Clark
- Medically Supervised Injecting Room, North Richmond Community Health, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Addiction Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
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Trends in the severity of opioid use disorder during pregnancy over time. J Perinatol 2022; 42:1032-1037. [PMID: 35217800 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-022-01336-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Characterize severity of opioid use disorder during pregnancy over time. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective chart review of pregnant women presenting to MetroHealth's Mother and Child Dependency program from 2002-2019 was performed. Severity of opioid use disorder was assessed by multinomial multivariable logistic regression of five discrete measures. Term birth rates and MAT use were analyzed using univariate regression. RESULTS 606 women were included in this study. Duration of use, age at first use, polysubstance use, and route of administration did not significantly change over time. Significantly more women reported high use (>1 g daily) over time compared to low use (<0.5 g daily) (RRR = 1.21, p < 0.01). Buprenorphine use increased compared to methadone use (RRR = 1.54, p < 0.001). Rate of full-term delivery increased (RRR = 1.14, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Severity of opioid use disorder during pregnancy did not change over time. An increase in term births and preference for buprenorphine were observed.
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Felipe Montiel N, Parrilla M, Beltrán V, Nuyts G, Van Durme F, De Wael K. The opportunity of 6-monoacetylmorphine to selectively detect heroin at preanodized screen printed electrodes. Talanta 2021; 226:122005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2020.122005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Deji C, Li Y, Chen Y, Lai J, Wei S. Association study of Catechol-o-methyltransferase and Alpha-1-adrenergic receptor gene polymorphisms with multiple phenotypes of heroin use disorder. Neurosci Lett 2021; 748:135677. [PMID: 33577997 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Heroin use disorder is a chronic relapsing brain disease containing multiple phenotypes. These phenotypes vary among heroin users and might be influenced by genetic factors. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and alpha-1-adrenergic receptor (ADRA1A) genes are associated with heroin use disorder. However, it has not been clarified which phenotypes of heroin use disorder are related to these genes. To address this question, we recruited 801 unrelated heroin users and divided them into different subgroups according to four important phenotypes of heroin use disorder. Then 7 SNPs in the functional region of these genes were systematically screened and genotyped using a SNaPshot assay. We found that the A allele of ADRA1A rs1048101 was associated with a shorter duration of transition from first use to addiction. Subjects with the C allele of ADRA1A rs3808585 were more susceptible to memory impairment after heroin use disorder. Subjects with the G allele of COMT rs769224 were more likely to take a higher dose of heroin every day. Our study confirmed the association between polymorphisms of COMT and ADRA1A with those specific phenotypes of heroin use disorder, which will be instructive for the precise treatment of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuola Deji
- College of Forensic Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Yunxiao Li
- Department of Anatomy, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi 712046, China
| | - Yuanyuan Chen
- College of Forensic Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Jianghua Lai
- College of Forensic Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Shuguang Wei
- College of Forensic Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi 710061, China; Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Forensic Science, China.
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Jones NS, Comparin JH. Interpol review of controlled substances 2016-2019. Forensic Sci Int Synerg 2020; 2:608-669. [PMID: 33385148 PMCID: PMC7770462 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This review paper covers the forensic-relevant literature in controlled substances from 2016 to 2019 as a part of the 19th Interpol International Forensic Science Managers Symposium. The review papers are also available at the Interpol website at: https://www.interpol.int/content/download/14458/file/Interpol%20Review%20Papers%202019.pdf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S. Jones
- RTI International, Applied Justice Research Division, Center for Forensic Sciences, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, 22709-2194, USA
| | - Jeffrey H. Comparin
- United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Special Testing and Research Laboratory, USA
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Verri P, Rustichelli C, Ferrari A, Marchesi F, Baraldi C, Licata M, Vandelli D, Palazzoli F, Potì F, Silingardi E. Seizures of illicit substances for personal use in two Italian provinces: analysis of trends by type and purity from 2008 to 2017. SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PREVENTION AND POLICY 2019; 14:41. [PMID: 31533834 PMCID: PMC6751801 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-019-0229-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of illicit substances represents one of the most difficult problems to confront in the health system. Drug use is a global problem but is not uniform throughout the world, within the same country and changes over time. Therefore, knowing the illicit substances that are used in a territory is essential to better organize health services in that specific geographical area. To this aim, we analysed 4200 samples confiscated from individuals who held them for personal use by police forces in the Italian provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia from 2008 to 2017. METHODS The suspected samples were screened by gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS); all samples were subsequently analysed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) for quantitative analyses. RESULTS Cannabis was the most seized illicit substance (70.7%). Over the study period, the number of seizures of herb with a high content of Δ9-THC increased. The number of cocaine seizures remained stable (total 16.1%), but the median purity of seized cocaine increased to 75% in 2017. Heroin seizures decreased over time, but the median purity of seized heroin reached 16.8% in 2017. In almost all the years, heroin samples with a purity exceeding the 97.5 percentile were found. Especially from 2014, the range of seized substances increased and started to include synthetic cathinones, phenylethylamines, UR-144, LSD, psilocybe, prescription opioid and hypnotics. In two cases, tramadol together with tropicamide was seized. Most of the seizures involved male subjects and 82% of the seizures were from individuals younger than 35 years of age. CONCLUSIONS The persistence of old illicit drugs and the rapid emergence of new psychoactive substances represented a serious challenge for public health in the studied Italian area. Some useful interventions might be: informing mainly young people about the possible complications of cannabis use; implementing standardized procedures to diagnose and treat cocaine-related emergencies in hospitals; increasing the distribution of naloxone to antagonize possible heroin overdoses; equipping laboratories to be able to identify the new psychoactive substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Verri
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory; Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Cecilia Rustichelli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via G. Campi, 103, 41125, Modena, Italy.
| | - Anna Ferrari
- Unit of Medical Toxicology, Headache Centre and Drug Abuse; Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Filippo Marchesi
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory; Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Carlo Baraldi
- School of Medical Toxicology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Manuela Licata
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory; Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Daniele Vandelli
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory; Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Federica Palazzoli
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory; Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Francesco Potì
- Unit of Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Volturno, 39F, 43125, Parma, Italy
| | - Enrico Silingardi
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory; Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
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