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Khairinisa MA, Alfaqeeh M, Rafif SN, Muljono FO, Colin MN. Cannabis and Other Substance Misuse: Implications and Regulations. TOXICS 2023; 11:756. [PMID: 37755766 PMCID: PMC10534492 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11090756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Abusing controlled substances, including cannabis and various drugs, can result in severe intoxication and even death. Therefore, a comprehensive postmortem analysis is crucial for understanding the underlying causes of such fatalities. This narrative review discusses the characteristics of commonly abused controlled substances, the methodologies employed in postmortem analysis, lethal dosage levels, mechanisms of toxicity, side effects, and existing regulations. The focus centers on seven prevalent groups of controlled substances, namely cannabis, opioids, amphetamine-type stimulants, cocaine, new psychoactive substances, and hallucinogens. These groups have been linked to an increased risk of fatal overdose. Most substances in these groups exert neurotoxic effects by targeting the central nervous system (CNS). Consequently, strict regulation is essential to mitigate the potential harm posed by these substances. To combat abuse, prescribers must adhere to guidelines to ensure their prescribed medications comply with the outlined regulations. Through an enhanced understanding of controlled substance abuse and its consequences, more effective strategies can be developed to reduce its prevalence and associated mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miski Aghnia Khairinisa
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Padjadjaran University, Sumedang 45363, Indonesia; (S.N.R.); (F.O.M.); (M.N.C.)
| | - Mohammed Alfaqeeh
- Master Program in Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Padjadjaran University, Sumedang 45363, Indonesia;
| | - Syauqi Nawwar Rafif
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Padjadjaran University, Sumedang 45363, Indonesia; (S.N.R.); (F.O.M.); (M.N.C.)
| | - Fajar Oktavian Muljono
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Padjadjaran University, Sumedang 45363, Indonesia; (S.N.R.); (F.O.M.); (M.N.C.)
| | - Michelle Natasha Colin
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Padjadjaran University, Sumedang 45363, Indonesia; (S.N.R.); (F.O.M.); (M.N.C.)
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Hartmayer LT, Hoffmann F, Bachmann CJ, Jobski K. Characteristics and outcomes of cases with methylphenidate abuse, dependence or withdrawal: an analysis of spontaneous reports in EudraVigilance. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 2023; 38:169-178. [PMID: 36728576 DOI: 10.1097/yic.0000000000000451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Methylphenidate (MPH) is a central nervous stimulant, which is mainly used in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. In recent years, rising MPH prescription volumes have drawn attention to possible misuse. We analyzed data on suspected MPH abuse, dependence or withdrawal reported to the EudraVigilance database (1996-2019), comparing case characteristics (e.g. age, indications and outcome). In 1531 cases from 35 countries (median: 29 years, 57.6% male), 42.3% had been diagnosed with ADHD and 8.0% with narcolepsy. Narcolepsy cases were older than ADHD cases (mean age: 47 vs. 22 years), and used co-medications more frequently (79.4 vs. 47.8%). Intravenous MPH administration was most common among individuals not diagnosed with ADHD or narcolepsy. A history of abuse, dependence or withdrawal of any substance was more often documented in fatal than in nonfatal cases (49.0 vs. 22.5%), whereas differences regarding the route of administration were less pronounced. Minors, who presumably received MPH for ADHD treatment, presented less frequently with serious outcomes than older cases or those without an approved indication. Prescribers should exercise caution in adult MPH users and should make a thorough co-medication assessment. Finally, more research on substance abuse in narcolepsy patients is required, which should include comorbidities and co-medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara T Hartmayer
- Department of Health Services Research, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg
| | - Falk Hoffmann
- Department of Health Services Research, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg
| | - Christian J Bachmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Kathrin Jobski
- Department of Health Services Research, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg
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Clinical effect of ethanol co-use in patients with acute drug toxicity involving the use of central nervous system depressant recreational drugs. Eur J Emerg Med 2022; 29:291-300. [PMID: 35404314 DOI: 10.1097/mej.0000000000000932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE Patients who use recreational drugs frequently co-ingest ethanol, which is considered a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. The clinical relevance of this in acute toxicity involving other CNS depressants is not well described. OBJECTIVE To assess the clinical impact of ethanol co-use in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute toxicity involving the use of CNS depressant drugs. DESIGN, SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS A retrospective multicentre study using data from the Euro-DEN Plus database from January 2014 to December 2019. OUTCOMES MEASURE AND ANALYSIS Comparison of epidemiologic and clinical characteristics, ED and hospital management of patients with CNS depressant intoxication with or without ethanol co-use. MAIN RESULTS Although 7644 (17.5%) of the 43 633 presentations were included, ethanol was co-ingested in 3811 (49.9%). In total 53.3% required medical treatment, 14 patients died. Patients with ethanol co-use more frequently presented with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤8 (34.1% vs. 22.4%; P < 0.001), vomiting (8.1% vs. 4.6%; P < 0.001), anxiety (12 % vs. 6.4%; P < 0.001), agitation/aggression (22% vs. 14.7%; P < 0.001), seizures (3.8% vs. 2.4%; P < 0.001) and hypotension (7.5% vs. 4.6%; P < 0.001). They more often required ambulance transport (85.5% vs. 76.5%; P < 0.001), medical treatment (57.3% vs. 48.0%; P < 0.001), hospitalization (27.7% vs. 18.9%; P < 0.001), and admission to intensive care (12.2% vs. 4.0%; P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that GCS ≤8 was particularly common in patients who combined ethanol with opioids or gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)/gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). CONCLUSION Co-use of ethanol with CNS-depressant drugs appears to increase the risk of adverse effects and is associated with a higher need for medical treatment, especially when ethanol is combined with opioids or GHB/GBL.
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Ricci G, Busardò F, Gibelli F, Sirignano A, Brunetti P. Evaluating the risk of toxicity and adverse drug interactions involving recreational GHB use and prescribed drugs. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2022; 17:1445-1454. [DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2021.2029404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Ricci
- Section of Legal Medicine, School of Law, University of Camerino, Via Andrea D’Accorso 16, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Francesco Busardò
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University of Ancona, Via Tronto 10, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Filippo Gibelli
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Ascanio Sirignano
- Section of Legal Medicine, School of Law, University of Camerino, Via Andrea D’Accorso 16, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Pietro Brunetti
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University of Ancona, Via Tronto 10, 60126 Ancona, Italy
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Zaami S, Graziano S, Tittarelli R, Beck R, Marinelli E. BDZs, designer BDZs, and Z-drugs: pharmacology and misuse insights. Curr Pharm Des 2021; 28:1221-1229. [PMID: 34533440 DOI: 10.2174/1381612827666210917145636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are a widely prescribed class of sedative-hypnotics compounds for the treatment of a broad range of conditions as anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders, phobias, sleep related problems associated with insomnia and for the management of alcohol and GHB withdrawal. Zolpidem, zopiclone and zaleplon, commonly known as Z-drugs are non-benzodiazepine hypnotic drug with pharmacology similar to BDZs. Despite their usefulness, BDZs and Z-drugs present a potential for abuse and dependence. Moreover, the non-medical use of BDZs is a well-known phenomenon and represents an increasingly widespread public health problem since is associated with an elevated risk of serious health consequences or fatal overdose, especially among specific group of users. The spectrum of BDZs and Z-drugs misuse is extended by new synthetic BDZs, which may pose high risks to users, since the majority have never undergone clinical trials or tests and consequently their pharmacology and toxicology is largely unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Zaami
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Graziano
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Renata Beck
- Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Policlinico "AUO Riuniti", Foggia, Italy
| | - Enrico Marinelli
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
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Brumboiu I, Porrovecchio A, Peze T, Hurdiel R, Cazacu I, Mogosan C, Ladner J, Tavolacci MP. Neuroenhancement in French and Romanian University Students, Motivations and Associated Factors. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:3880. [PMID: 33917251 PMCID: PMC8068007 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18083880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the use of neuroenhancers, the motivations and factors associated with their use in French and Romanian university students. Students from two universities in France (Rouen and Opal Coast University) and one in Romania (Cluj-Napoca) were asked to complete a self-administered anonymous questionnaire, either online or on paper, about the use of three different categories of substance: Prescription drugs (methylphenidate, modafinil, and beta-blockers), drugs of abuse (alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, and amphetamines), and soft enhancers (coffee, vitamins, caffeine tablets, and energy drinks). In total, 1110 students were included: The users were 2.2% for prescription drugs, 4.3% for drugs of abuse, and 55.0% for soft enhancers. Students used neuroenhancement to stay awake for study (69.3%), to improve concentration (55.5%), to decrease stress (40.9%), and to improve memory (39.6%). Neuroenhancement was considered to meet expectations by 74.4% of users. The factors associated with the use of drugs of abuse were frequent binge drinking (Adjusted Odds Ratio-AOR: 6.49 [95% CI: 2.53-16.6]), smoking (AOR: 5.50 [95% CI: 2.98-10.14]), having a student job (AOR: 2.42 [95% CI 1.13-5.17]), and being male (AOR: 2.23 [95% CI:1.21-4.11]). No significant associations with eating disorders were detected for any of the three categories of substances. University students reported neuroenhancement with prescription drugs, drugs of abuse, and mainly soft enhancers. These substances were used mainly to increase the waking hours. Educational programs in universities seem to be required in order to increase student awareness of the problems caused by neuroenhancements, and to decrease the associated risks by changing students' attitudes and beliefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Brumboiu
- Cluj-Napoca Unit—The Net-Work of International Francophone Clinical Epidemiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400000 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (I.B.); (I.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Alessandro Porrovecchio
- Univ. Littoral Côte d’Opale, Univ. Lille Artois ULR 7369—URePSSS—Unité de Recherche Pluridiscipli-Naire Sport Santé Société, F-59375 Dunkerque, France; (A.P.); (T.P.); (R.H.)
| | - Thierry Peze
- Univ. Littoral Côte d’Opale, Univ. Lille Artois ULR 7369—URePSSS—Unité de Recherche Pluridiscipli-Naire Sport Santé Société, F-59375 Dunkerque, France; (A.P.); (T.P.); (R.H.)
| | - Remy Hurdiel
- Univ. Littoral Côte d’Opale, Univ. Lille Artois ULR 7369—URePSSS—Unité de Recherche Pluridiscipli-Naire Sport Santé Société, F-59375 Dunkerque, France; (A.P.); (T.P.); (R.H.)
| | - Irina Cazacu
- Cluj-Napoca Unit—The Net-Work of International Francophone Clinical Epidemiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400000 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (I.B.); (I.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Cristina Mogosan
- Cluj-Napoca Unit—The Net-Work of International Francophone Clinical Epidemiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400000 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (I.B.); (I.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Joel Ladner
- Clinical Investigation Center 1404 and INSERM 1073, Rouen University Hospital and Rouen Normandie University, 76000 Rouen, France;
| | - Marie-Pierre Tavolacci
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion and INSERM 1073, Rouen University Hospital and Rouen Normandie University, 76000 Rouen, France
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Wood DM, Dargan PI. Regional, national and international datasets: How they improve our understanding of the acute harms associated with prescription medicine misuse. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2020; 87:1654-1659. [PMID: 33118204 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Prescription medicine misuse is a significant problem in many areas of the world. Understanding the acute and chronic harms related to misuse of prescription medicines allows healthcare professionals, drug addiction treatment services and legislative authorities to determine what interventions may be beneficial to reduce these harms and protect individuals and society. However, it is difficult to obtain systematic data on the harms associated with prescription medicine misuse because of how patient visits to clinics and hospitals are recorded and coded in regional or national databases. In this review, we discuss how regional, national and international sources of information can help develop a greater understanding of the prevalence and pattern of acute harms related to prescription medicine misuse using data from ambulance attendances, emergency department presentations and poisons information services.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Wood
- Clinical Toxicology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's Health Partners, London, UK.,Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Paul I Dargan
- Clinical Toxicology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's Health Partners, London, UK.,Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
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