Marillier M, Sec I, Deguette C, Gorgiard C, Rey-Salmon C. [Population of people placed in police custody, hidden barometer of diverted medicines].
Therapie 2020;
76:229-237. [PMID:
32854954 DOI:
10.1016/j.therap.2020.07.007]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The population of people in police custody is a sentinel niche that is poorly represented in the "usual panels" of public health studies. The aim is to make an overview of their diversion of drugs.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
A retrospective study based on cases of misuse in a sample of people in custody examined between 2015 and 2016 at the forensic medicine unit of the hospital Hôtel-Dieu-Paris.
RESULTS
Of the 5149 medical examinations, 302 were for substance use disorder or drug misuse. In 2016, the number of notifications for misuse of clonazepam increased (n=65); the user population appears to be getting younger (average age=23.5 years) and to be supplied mainly by deal (63%). Regarding opioid substitution treatments, the indicators of abuse and diversion are confirmed, while morphine sulfate stands out with a strong deal (>75%), IV injection (62%) and polydrug use, including methadone, cocaine (62%).
CONCLUSION
From our results, national surveys in general population and studies carried out in the context of deprivation of liberty, people in police custody constitute a real barometer of the parallel market for street drugs. Clinical impacts can be major; a better monitoring is needed. For caregivers, it is also a matter of better identification of misuse, substance use disorder for a future orientation of the patient.
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