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Stephenson L, Van Den Heuvel C, Byard RW. Socioeconomic and psychosocial determinants of substance misuse - a national perspective. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2023:10.1007/s12024-023-00702-6. [PMID: 37682517 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-023-00702-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Accurate estimates of population drug use and an understanding of the factors that influence substance choice are essential for the development of appropriate and targeted prevention strategies and campaigns. This review aims to provide an overview of the socioeconomic and psychosocial factors that influence substance use patterns within the Australian population through exploration of current and historical examples of substance misuse. Australia's comparatively large online drug market is reflective of the country's relative geographic isolation and high local drug prices. Legislation, particularly relating to cannabis cultivation and personal use, has evolved significantly in response to increased scientific and commercial applications and changing attitudes towards medical and personal use. Methylamphetamine use is disproportionately high, attributed to Australia's geographic location, high rates of local manufacture, steady cost, and increased purity. Despite the increased cost of cocaine over time, the profile of users appears to dictate rates of use. The prevalence of injecting drug use is driven by a lack of education, perceived risk, stigma, and other social factors. Additionally, psychosocial factors also contribute to substance misuse among specific population subgroups such as petrol sniffing among Indigenous Australians. Understanding the reasons for geographical variability in illicit drug use assists in the interpretation of substance-associated behavior in specific groups/populations and in guiding future intervention efforts and predictions of emerging trends. In addition, an understanding of factors influencing local drug usage may assist forensic practitioners in evaluating the occurrence and effects of particular substances that may emerge as significant factors in drug-related deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilli Stephenson
- School of Biomedicine, Level 2 Helen Mayo North, The University of Adelaide, Frome Road, Adelaide, 5005, SA, Australia.
| | - Corinna Van Den Heuvel
- School of Biomedicine, Level 2 Helen Mayo North, The University of Adelaide, Frome Road, Adelaide, 5005, SA, Australia
| | - Roger W Byard
- School of Biomedicine, Level 2 Helen Mayo North, The University of Adelaide, Frome Road, Adelaide, 5005, SA, Australia
- Forensic Science SA (FSSA), Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
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2
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Rousis N, Bade R, Romero-Sánchez I, Mueller JF, Thomaidis NS, Thomas KV, Gracia-Lor E. Festivals following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions: Prevalence of new psychoactive substances and illicit drugs. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108075. [PMID: 37399770 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
The market for illicit drugs and new psychoactive substances (NPS) has grown significantly and people attending festivals have been identified as being at high risk (high extent and frequency of substance use). Traditional public health surveillance data sources have limitations (high costs, long implementation times, and ethical issues) and wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) can cost-effectively support surveillance efforts. Influent wastewater samples were analyzed for NPS and illicit drug consumption collected during New Year period (from 29-Dec-2021 to 4-Jan-2022) and a summer Festival (from 29-June-2022 to 12-July-2022) in a large city in Spain. Samples were analyzed for phenethylamines, cathinones, opioids, benzodiazepines, plant-based NPS, dissociatives, and the illicit drugs methamphetamine, MDA, MDMA, ketamine, heroin, cocaine, and pseudoephedrine by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. High consumption rates of specific NPS and established illicit drugs were identified at the peak of each event. Furthermore, a dynamic change in NPS use (presence and absence of substances) was detected over a period of six months. Eleven NPS, including synthetic cathinones, benzodiazepines, plant-based NPS and dissociatives, and seven illicit drugs were found across both the New Year and summer Festival. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were seen for 3-MMC (New Year vs summer Festival), eutylone (New Year vs summer Festival), cocaine (summer Festival vs normal week and summer Festival vs New Year), MDMA (New Year vs normal week and summer Festival vs normal week), heroin (summer Festival vs New Year) and pseudoephedrine (summer Festival vs New Year). This WBE study assessed the prevalence of NPS and illicit drugs at festivals following the reduction of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions highlighting the high use of specific substances at the peak of each event. This approach identified in a cost-effective and timely manner without any ethical issues the most used drugs and changes in use patterns and, thus, can complement public health information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Rousis
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia; Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece.
| | - Richard Bade
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia.
| | - Iván Romero-Sánchez
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Nikolaos S Thomaidis
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Emma Gracia-Lor
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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Shao XT, Yu H, Lin JG, Kong XP, Wang Z, Wang DG. Presence of the ketamine analog of 2-fluorodeschloroketamine residues in wastewater. Drug Test Anal 2021; 13:1650-1657. [PMID: 34021972 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Ketamine (KET) analogs are increasingly emerging as new psychoactive substances (NPS). The present report describes the first detection of the KET analog, 2-fluorodeschloroketamine (2F-DCK), in influent samples collected from nine wastewater treatment plants in seven major Chinese cities from 2018 to 2020 by wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE). An analytical method based on solid-phase extraction and subsequent gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed for the detection of 2F-DCK and KET. The stability experiments showed that 2F-DCK and KET remained stable in wastewater for 15 days at room and frozen temperatures, and at two pH values (pH = 7 and pH = 2), with residue amounts between 90% and 110%. KET was detected in all samples, whereas 2F-DCK was detected in only four samples: from Guangzhou in 2018, Shenzhen in 2019, and Quanzhou and Nanning in 2020, indicating that 2F-DCK has been used as early as 2018 in China. The renal clearance of 2F-DCK was predicted based on the quantitative structure-pharmacokinetic relationship model, which was used to calculate an excretion factor of 3.7. The 2F-DCK consumption in four cities ranged from 3.71 ± 0.05 to 55 ± 0.09 mg/day/1000 inh, and KET ranged from 1.3 ± 0.04 to 76.5 ± 4.63 mg/day/1000 inh. This is the first study to investigate 2F-DCK by WBE, which provides relevant real-time data on the growth of NPS use, as well as useful information for the government to develop new policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Ting Shao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, China
| | - Han Yu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, China
| | - Jian-Guo Lin
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, China
| | - Xiang-Peng Kong
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, China
| | - Zhuang Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
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4
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Ordak M, Nasierowski T, Muszynska E, Bujalska-Zadrozny M. Increasing the Effectiveness of Pharmacotherapy in Psychiatry by Using a Pharmacological Interaction Database. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10102185. [PMID: 34070064 PMCID: PMC8158110 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10102185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that the knowledge of pharmacological interaction databases in global psychiatry is negligible. The frequency of hospitalizations in the case of patients taking new psychoactive substances along with other drugs continues to increase, very often resulting in the need for polypharmacotherapy. The aim of our research was to make members of the worldwide psychiatric community aware of the need to use a pharmacological interaction database in their daily work. The study involved 2146 psychiatrists from around the world. Participants were primarily contacted through the LinkedIn Recruiter website. The surveyed psychiatrists answered 5 questions concerning case reports of patients taking new psychoactive substances along with other drugs. The questions were answered twice, i.e., before and after using the Medscape drug interaction database. The mean percentage of correct answers given by the group of psychiatrists who were studied separately in six individual continents turned out to be statistically significantly higher after using the pharmacological interaction database (p < 0.001). This also applies to providing correct answers separately, i.e., to each of the five questions asked concerning individual case reports (p < 0.001). Before using the drug interaction database, only 14.1% of psychiatrists stated that they knew and used this type of database (p < 0.001). In the second stage of the study, a statistically significant majority of subjects stated that they were interested in using the pharmacological interaction database from that moment on (p < 0.001) and expressed the opinion that it could be effective in everyday work (p < 0.001). Using a pharmacological interaction database in psychiatry can contribute to the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Ordak
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland;
- Correspondence:
| | - Tadeusz Nasierowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Elzbieta Muszynska
- Department of Medical Biology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland;
| | - Magdalena Bujalska-Zadrozny
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland;
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5
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Jurásek B, Čmelo I, Hájková K, Kofroňová E, Kuchař M. Counterfeit benzodiazepines-A phantom menace. Int J Clin Pract 2020; 74:e13575. [PMID: 32506734 DOI: 10.1111/ijcp.13575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bronislav Jurásek
- Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan Čmelo
- CZ-OPENSCREEN: National Infrastructure for Chemical Biology, Department of Informatics and Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Hájková
- Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Edita Kofroňová
- Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Kuchař
- Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague 6, Czech Republic
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6
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Deligianni E, Daniel OJ, Corkery JM, Schifano F, Lione LA. Impact of the UK Psychoactive Substances Act on awareness, use, experiences and knowledge of potential associated health risks of novel psychoactive substances. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2020; 86:505-516. [PMID: 31495968 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS The risk of potential harms prompted the UK government to introduce the Psychoactive Substances Act in 2016. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of this new legislation on patterns of novel psychoactive substance (NPS) awareness, use, experiences and risk awareness in a self-selected sample of UK consumers to inform education and policy. METHODS The Bristol Online Survey was advertised on the Bluelight drug forum and social media Facebook pages and University email between 7 January and 7 February 2015 (168 responses) and 9 March to 18 September 2017 (726 responses). UK country of residence responses were extracted for analysis (SPSS). RESULTS In a predominantly university-educated, young (< 25 years) self-selecting sample, 1 year after introduction of the legislation, NPS use (in males, under 18s, those educated to school/college level, P < .001) has increased, whilst health risk awareness has not changed and remains poor. Users are switching to sourcing NPSs via street dealers (49%) and the darknet (31%) and showing an increase in preference for the herbal NPS Salvia divinorum (P < .05). The main reasons for NPS use remain the influence of friends (69%) in a social setting and to get high (76%) usually in combination with alcohol, cannabis or ecstasy. CONCLUSION Regulation alone, so far, has not impacted on health risk awareness, NPS drug demand and culture in our UK survey sample. Alongside regulation, NPS health promotion education (particularly in schools, colleges) is needed that addresses resilience and both the risks and beneficial effects of NPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Deligianni
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, Department of Clinical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
| | - Omari J Daniel
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, Department of Clinical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
| | - John M Corkery
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, Department of Clinical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
| | - Fabrizio Schifano
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, Department of Clinical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
| | - Lisa A Lione
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, Department of Clinical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
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7
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Strandberg AK, Elgán TH, Feltmann K, Jayaram Lindström N, Gripenberg J. Illicit Drugs in the Nightlife Setting: Changes in Employee Perceptions and Drug Use over a Fifteen-Year Period. Subst Use Misuse 2020; 55:2116-2128. [PMID: 32811266 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2020.1793365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Illicit drug use is common in nightlife settings and associated with various public health-related problems, making this an important arena for prevention. Purpose/objectives: To assess perceived prevalence of illicit drug use in the Stockholm nightlife setting, use of and attitudes toward illicit drugs among employees at licensed premises. Also, to make comparisons with two identical measurements from 2001 and 2007/08, and to explore potential differences related to own drug use, type of licensed premise, age or gender. Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were conducted at three time-points: 2001, 2007/08, and 2016/17, comprising employees at licensed premises in Stockholm participating in STAD's Responsible Beverage Service training program. A total of 665 persons (mean age 28 years, 53% women) were included in the 2016/2017 measurement. Results: A majority of the respondents reported having observed patrons intoxicated by illicit drugs in the last six months, and agreed that patrons intoxicated by illicit drugs should be asked to leave licensed premises. The belief that one had observed patrons intoxicated by illicit drugs was more common among respondents who had themselves been using illicit drugs during the last year, and also among employees at nightclubs. Furthermore, comparisons with previous time-points showed a significant increase in the proportion of employees using illicit drugs. Almost half of the respondents in the youngest age group (18-24 years) reported illicit drug use during the last year. Conclusions/importance: Observation and use of illicit drugs are common among employees in the Stockholm nightlife setting and has increased significantly during the past decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K Strandberg
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, STAD, Stockholm Prevents Alcohol and Drug Problems, Stockholm, Sweden.,Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, SE, Sweden
| | - Tobias H Elgán
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, STAD, Stockholm Prevents Alcohol and Drug Problems, Stockholm, Sweden.,Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, SE, Sweden
| | - Kristin Feltmann
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, STAD, Stockholm Prevents Alcohol and Drug Problems, Stockholm, Sweden.,Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, SE, Sweden
| | - Nitya Jayaram Lindström
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, SE, Sweden
| | - Johanna Gripenberg
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, STAD, Stockholm Prevents Alcohol and Drug Problems, Stockholm, Sweden.,Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, SE, Sweden
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8
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New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), Psychedelic Experiences and Dissociation: Clinical and Clinical Pharmacological Issues. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40429-019-00249-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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9
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This place is like the jungle: discussions about psychoactive substances on a cryptomarket. DRUGS AND ALCOHOL TODAY 2018. [DOI: 10.1108/dat-03-2018-0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse dynamics amongst members to better understand in what terms and to what extent marketplace forums can be seen as new forms of harm reduction.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a qualitative analysis focused on conversations about psychoactive substances on the forum community of AlphaBay Market. A sample consists of 100 online threads. The data, collected in July 2016, were analysed by applying the grounded theory approach with the support of Atlas.ti.
Findings
Conversations in the marketplace forum focus mostly on the purchase. Concerns and disputes are voiced in a significant proportion of them, and interactions are affected by a climate of distrust where stigmatisation processes can emerge between users of different drug categories. This casts a certain amount of doubt on the thesis that marketplace forums – like online forums – are new forms of harm reduction and peer-led communities.
Research limitations/implications
The study focuses on only one marketplace forum. Other such forums should be analysed to corroborate its findings.
Practical implications
Harm reduction interventions in the online environment should take different form according to the forum type, and take the differences and boundaries that separate users of different substances into account.
Originality/value
Thanks to its infrequently used qualitative approach, the study provides a more thorough understanding of the relationships on marketplace forums.
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Peacock A, Leung J, Larney S, Colledge S, Hickman M, Rehm J, Giovino GA, West R, Hall W, Griffiths P, Ali R, Gowing L, Marsden J, Ferrari AJ, Grebely J, Farrell M, Degenhardt L. Global statistics on alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use: 2017 status report. Addiction 2018; 113:1905-1926. [PMID: 29749059 DOI: 10.1111/add.14234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 586] [Impact Index Per Article: 97.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
AIMS This review provides an up-to-date curated source of information on alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use and their associated mortality and burden of disease. Limitations in the data are also discussed, including how these can be addressed in the future. METHODS Online data sources were identified through expert review. Data were obtained mainly from the World Health Organization, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. RESULTS In 2015, the estimated prevalence among the adult population was 18.4% for heavy episodic alcohol use (in the past 30 days); 15.2% for daily tobacco smoking; and 3.8, 0.77, 0.37 and 0.35% for past-year cannabis, amphetamine, opioid and cocaine use, respectively. European regions had the highest prevalence of heavy episodic alcohol use and daily tobacco use. The age-standardized prevalence of alcohol dependence was 843.2 per 100 000 people; for cannabis, opioids, amphetamines and cocaine dependence it was 259.3, 220.4, 86.0 and 52.5 per 100 000 people, respectively. High-income North America region had among the highest rates of cannabis, opioid and cocaine dependence. Attributable disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were highest for tobacco smoking (170.9 million DALYs), followed by alcohol (85.0 million) and illicit drugs (27.8 million). Substance-attributable mortality rates were highest for tobacco smoking (110.7 deaths per 100 000 people), followed by alcohol and illicit drugs (33.0 and 6.9 deaths per 100 000 people, respectively). Attributable age-standardized mortality rates and DALYs for alcohol and illicit drugs were highest in eastern Europe; attributable age-standardized tobacco mortality rates and DALYs were highest in Oceania. CONCLUSIONS In 2015 alcohol use and tobacco smoking use between them cost the human population more than a quarter of a billion disability-adjusted life years, with illicit drugs costing further tens of millions. Europeans suffered proportionately more, but in absolute terms the mortality rate was greatest in low- and middle-income countries with large populations and where the quality of data was more limited. Better standardized and rigorous methods for data collection, collation and reporting are needed to assess more accurately the geographical and temporal trends in substance use and its disease burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Peacock
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Medicine (Psychology), University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Janni Leung
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sarah Larney
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Samantha Colledge
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Matthew Hickman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jürgen Rehm
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science (IMS), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Dresden, Germany
| | - Gary A Giovino
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert West
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Wayne Hall
- Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Addictions Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Paul Griffiths
- European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Robert Ali
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Linda Gowing
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - John Marsden
- Addictions Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Alize J Ferrari
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jason Grebely
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michael Farrell
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Louisa Degenhardt
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, WA, USA
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11
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Wadsworth E, Drummond C, Deluca P. The Dynamic Environment of Crypto Markets: The Lifespan of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) and Vendors Selling NPS. Brain Sci 2018; 8:brainsci8030046. [PMID: 29547520 PMCID: PMC5870364 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8030046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Internet has played a major role in the distribution of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), and crypto markets are increasingly used for the anonymous sale of drugs, including NPS. This study explores the availability of individual NPS and vendors on the crypto markets and considers whether crypto markets are a reliable platform for the sale of NPS. Data was collected from 22 crypto markets that were accessed through the hidden web using the Onion Router (Tor). Data collection took place bimonthly from October 2015 to October 2016 as part of the CASSANDRA (Computer Assisted Solutions for Studying the Availability aNd DistRibution of novel psychoActive substances) project. In seven snapshots over 12 months, 808 unique vendors were found selling 256 unique NPS. The total number of individual NPS and vendors increased across the data collection period (increase of 93.6% and 71.6%, respectively). Only 24% (n = 61) of the total number of NPS and 4% (n = 31) of vendors appeared in every snapshot over the 12 months, whereas 21% (n = 54) of NPS and 45% (n = 365) of vendors only appeared once throughout the data collection. The individual NPS and vendors did not remain the same over the 12 months. However, the availability of NPS and vendors selling NPS grew. NPS consistently available on crypto markets could indicate popular substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elle Wadsworth
- School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Colin Drummond
- National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8BB, UK.
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Maudsley Hospital, London SE5 8AZ, UK.
| | - Paolo Deluca
- National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8BB, UK.
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12
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Mounteney J, Griffiths P, Bo A, Cunningham A, Matias J, Pirona A. Nine reasons why ecstasy is not quite what it used to be. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2018; 51:36-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Revised: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Silicon to syringe: Cryptomarkets and disruptive innovation in opioid supply chains. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2017; 46:160-167. [PMID: 28735772 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.05.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Revised: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cryptomarkets offer insight into the evolving interplay between online black markets and cartel-based distribution. The types and forms of heroin, fentanyl, and prescription drugs show wide diversification. In this commentary we describe changes in the conceptualizations, technologies and structures of drug supply chains in the 21st Century, with special attention to the role of cryptomarkets as tools, contexts, and drivers of innovation in public health research.
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