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Turcu TA, Lescaie A, Grama AR, Strătulă AC, Vincene AI, Grigoraș LM, Jităreanu C, Babeu AM, Gafencu M, Crăciun MD, Chivu CD, Baconi DL, Mihai CM, Ulmeanu CE, Nițescu GV. Patterns and Emerging Trends in Acute Poisoning with Substances of Abuse Used for Recreational Purposes in Adolescents: A Six-Year Multicentre Study. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:1033. [PMID: 39202775 PMCID: PMC11355456 DOI: 10.3390/life14081033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
This six-year multicentre study investigated acute intentional poisoning with substances of abuse in adolescents to identify changes and patterns in substance use. Data from 562 adolescents were collected from three paediatric poison centres in Romania between January 2017 and December 2022. This study analysed the epidemiological and sociodemographic characteristics of the adolescents, including age, gender, place of residence, history of substance abuse, psychiatric history, and history of institutionalised care. The findings revealed that cannabis and new psychoactive substances (NPSs) are the most commonly implicated substances, each with distinct profiles among adolescents. Cannabis was involved in 46.1% of cases, with a significant association with urban residency. NPSs were identified as the second most prevalent substance, accounting for 39.3% of cases. These were more prevalent in rural areas and among patients with psychiatric disorders. Cannabis and NPSs were also the most commonly implicated substances in acute intentional poisoning cases with substances of abuse. These substances have distinct profiles among adolescents, including age, gender, residency area, history of substance abuse, psychiatric history, and institutional care. These findings underscore the necessity of targeted public health interventions and integrated care approaches to address substance use and related mental health issues in adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teodora-Adela Turcu
- Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (T.-A.T.); (A.R.G.); (A.-C.S.); (A.-I.V.); (L.-M.G.); (C.E.U.); (G.V.N.)
- Pediatric Poison Centre, “Grigore Alexandrescu” Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children, 017443 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andreea Lescaie
- Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (T.-A.T.); (A.R.G.); (A.-C.S.); (A.-I.V.); (L.-M.G.); (C.E.U.); (G.V.N.)
- Pediatric Poison Centre, “Grigore Alexandrescu” Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children, 017443 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andreea Rodica Grama
- Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (T.-A.T.); (A.R.G.); (A.-C.S.); (A.-I.V.); (L.-M.G.); (C.E.U.); (G.V.N.)
- Pediatric Poison Centre, “Grigore Alexandrescu” Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children, 017443 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andreea-Cătălina Strătulă
- Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (T.-A.T.); (A.R.G.); (A.-C.S.); (A.-I.V.); (L.-M.G.); (C.E.U.); (G.V.N.)
| | - Andreea-Iasmina Vincene
- Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (T.-A.T.); (A.R.G.); (A.-C.S.); (A.-I.V.); (L.-M.G.); (C.E.U.); (G.V.N.)
| | - Laura-Maria Grigoraș
- Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (T.-A.T.); (A.R.G.); (A.-C.S.); (A.-I.V.); (L.-M.G.); (C.E.U.); (G.V.N.)
| | - Cristina Jităreanu
- Pediatric Poison Centre, “Saint Mary” Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children, 700309 Iași, Romania;
- Department of Pediatrics, Apollonia University, 700511 Iași, Romania
| | - Alina Maria Babeu
- Emergency Department, “Louis Turcanu” Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children, 300011 Timișoara, Romania;
| | - Mihai Gafencu
- Pediatric Poison Centre, “Louis Turcanu” Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children, 300011 Timișoara, Romania;
- Department of Pediatrics, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Maria-Dorina Crăciun
- Department of Epidemiology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 010221 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-D.C.); (C.-D.C.)
- Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Grigore Alexandrescu Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children, 011743 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Carmen-Daniela Chivu
- Department of Epidemiology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 010221 Bucharest, Romania; (M.-D.C.); (C.-D.C.)
- Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Grigore Alexandrescu Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children, 011743 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Daniela Luiza Baconi
- Department of Toxicology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Cristina Maria Mihai
- Department of Pediatrics, “Ovidius” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 900470 Constanta, Romania
- Pediatric Poison Center, County Clinical Emergency Hospital of Constanta, 900470 Constanta, Romania
| | - Coriolan Emil Ulmeanu
- Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (T.-A.T.); (A.R.G.); (A.-C.S.); (A.-I.V.); (L.-M.G.); (C.E.U.); (G.V.N.)
- Pediatric Poison Centre, “Grigore Alexandrescu” Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children, 017443 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Gabriela Viorela Nițescu
- Department of Pediatrics, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (T.-A.T.); (A.R.G.); (A.-C.S.); (A.-I.V.); (L.-M.G.); (C.E.U.); (G.V.N.)
- Pediatric Poison Centre, “Grigore Alexandrescu” Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children, 017443 Bucharest, Romania
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Bendre M, Checknita D, Todkar A, Åslund C, Hodgins S, Nilsson KW. Good parent-child relationship protects against alcohol use in maltreated adolescent females carrying the MAOA-uVNTR susceptibility allele. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1375363. [PMID: 39104880 PMCID: PMC11298380 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1375363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Risk-allele carriers of a Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene, short-allele (MAOA-S) in males and long-allele (MAOA-L) in females, in the presence of a negative environment, are associated with alcohol misuse. Whether MAOA-S/L alleles also present susceptibility to a positive environment to mitigate the risk of alcohol misuse is unknown. Thus, we assessed the association of the three-way interaction of MAOA, maltreatment, and positive parent-child relationship with alcohol consumption among adolescents. Methods This prospective study included 1416 adolescents (females: 59.88%) aged 16 - 19 years from Sweden, enrolled in the "Survey of Adolescent Life in Västmanland" in 2012. Adolescents self-reported alcohol consumption, maltreatment by a family (FM) or non-family member (NFM), parent-child relationship, and left saliva for MAOA genotyping. Results and discussion We observed sex-dependent results. Females carrying MAOA-L with FM or NFM and a good parent-child relationship reported lower alcohol consumption than those with an average or poor parent-child relationship. In males, the interactions were not significant. Results suggest MAOA-L in females, conventionally regarded as a "risk", is a "plasticity" allele as it is differentially susceptible to negative and positive environments. Results highlight the importance of a good parent-child relationship in mitigating the risk of alcohol misuse in maltreated individuals carrying genetic risk. However, the interactions were not significant after adjusting to several environmental and behavioural covariates, especially parent's alcohol use, negative parent-child relationship, and nicotine use (smoking and/or snus), suggesting predictor and outcome intersection. Future studies and frameworks for preventive strategies should consider these covariates together with alcohol consumption. More studies with larger sample sizes are needed to replicate the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megha Bendre
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Västerås, Sweden
| | - David Checknita
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Västerås, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Aniruddha Todkar
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Västerås, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Åslund
- Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Västerås, Sweden
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sheilagh Hodgins
- Centre de Recherche Institut national de psychiatrie légale Philippe-Pinel and Département de Psychiatrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Kent W. Nilsson
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Västerås, Sweden
- School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, Division of Public Health Sciences, Mälardalen University, Västerås, Sweden
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Subramaniam M, Koh YS, Sambasivam R, Abdin E, Asharani PV, Vaingankar JA, Chua BY, Chua HC, Lee C, Chow WL, Ma S, Chong SA. Prevalence of consumption of illicit drugs and associated factors from a nationwide epidemiological survey: The Singapore Health and Lifestyle Survey. ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, SINGAPORE 2024; 53:222-232. [PMID: 38920179 DOI: 10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2023347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Introduction The primary aims of the current nationwide study were to establish the lifetime and 12-month prevalence of consumption of illicit drugs and its correlates in the general population of Singapore. Method A representative sample of 6509 Singapore residents (Singapore citizens and permanent residents) aged between 15 and 65 years were randomly selected for participation. Questionnaires were administered to assess the consumption of illicit drugs and collect information on correlates. All analyses were weighted to produce prevalence estimates for the consumption of drugs and other measured outcomes. Rao-Scott chi-square test and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics with lifetime consumption of illicit drugs. Results The study was completed with a response rate of 73.2%. The lifetime prevalence of consuming illegal drugs was 2.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9-2.8) (n=180). Compared to individuals aged 15-34, those aged 50-65 (odds ratio [OR] 0.3, 95% CI 0.2-0.7) had lower odds of lifetime drug consumption. Current smokers (OR 4.7, 95% CI 2.7-8.3) and ex-smokers (OR 5.9, 95% CI 3.2-11.1) had significantly higher odds of lifetime drug consumption than non-smokers. Individuals with hazardous alcohol use (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.7-6.5) had higher odds of lifetime drug consumption than those without hazardous alcohol use. Conclusion This is the first nationwide study to examine the prevalence of illicit drug consumption in the general population of Singapore. The results highlight the need to increase awareness of drug consumption in Singapore, especially among parents, teachers, healthcare workers and others who work with young people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mythily Subramaniam
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Yen Sin Koh
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
| | | | | | - P V Asharani
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
| | | | | | - Hong Choon Chua
- Chief Executive's Office, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore
| | - Cheng Lee
- National Addictions Management Service, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
| | - Wai Leng Chow
- Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health, Singapore
| | - Stefan Ma
- Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health, Singapore
| | - Siow Ann Chong
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
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Elisabeth Maria Pigeaud L, de Veld L, van Hoof JJ, van der Lely N. Acute alcohol intoxication in adolescents before and after the Dutch alcohol law change. Prev Med Rep 2023; 35:102310. [PMID: 37455757 PMCID: PMC10344933 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study aims to explore hospital admission data pertaining to Dutch adolescents admitted for acute alcohol intoxication between 2007 - 2019. Specific focus will be on the increase in the age limit for alcohol nationwide, from 16 to 18 years old for low alcoholic beverages, on the first of January 2014. The data of all admitted adolescents < 18 years old with acute alcohol intoxication was collected from 12 Dutch major district general hospitals (which accounts for 35% of the adolescents with acute alcohol intoxication in the Netherlands). In total, 2675 adolescents who were treated with symptoms of acute alcohol intoxication during this period were included in this study. The incidence of adolescents presenting with acute alcohol intoxication between 2007 and 2019 increased significantly (n = 78 (2007) vs. 279 (2019)). Moreover, the mean age of this population increased significantly over time. In 2007, 62,8% of the adolescents were < 16 years old, whereas by 2019 this had dropped to 40.2%. Furthermore, the proportion with positive drug screening results also increased significantly within patients with acute alcohol intoxication after the alcohol law change in 2014. The most common drug found in the drug screening was cannabis. These findings are relevant for both the central government's ongoing prevention initiatives and treatment strategies within hospitals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Elisabeth Maria Pigeaud
- Department of Pediatrics, Reinier de Graaf Hospital, P.O. Box 5011, 2600 GA, Delft, the Netherlands
- Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3062 PA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Loes de Veld
- Department of Pediatrics, Reinier de Graaf Hospital, P.O. Box 5011, 2600 GA, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Joris Jasper van Hoof
- Institute for Behavioural Research, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 EA Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Nico van der Lely
- Department of Pediatrics, Reinier de Graaf Hospital, P.O. Box 5011, 2600 GA, Delft, the Netherlands
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University Antwerp, Prinsstraat 1, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
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Tarantino G, Cataldi M, Citro V. Could Alcohol Abuse and Dependence on Junk Foods Inducing Obesity and/or Illicit Drug Use Represent Danger to Liver in Young People with Altered Psychological/Relational Spheres or Emotional Problems? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810406. [PMID: 36142317 PMCID: PMC9499369 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent data show that young people, mainly due to the pressure of some risk factors or due to disrupted interpersonal relationships, utilise greater reward value and display greater sensitivity to the reinforcing properties of “pleasurable stimuli”, specifically in those situations in which an enhanced dopamine release is present. Alcoholic beverages, foods rich in sugar and fat, and illicit drug use are pleasurable feelings associated with rewards. Research shows that there is a link between substance abuse and obesity in brain functioning. Still, alcohol excess is central in leading to obesity and obesity-related morbidities, such as hepatic steatosis, mainly when associated with illicit drug dependence and negative eating behaviours in young people. It is ascertained that long-term drinking causes mental damage, similarly to drug abuse, but also affects liver function. Indeed, beyond the pharmacokinetic interactions of alcohol with drugs, occurring in the liver due to the same metabolic enzymes, there are also pharmacodynamic interactions of both substances in the CNS. To complicate matters, an important noxious effect of junk foods consists of inducing obesity and obesity-related NAFLD. In this review, we focus on some key mechanisms underlying the impact of these addictions on the liver, as well as those on the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Tarantino
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, “Federico II” University Medical School of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Mauro Cataldi
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, “Federico II” University of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Citro
- Department of General Medicine, “Umberto I” Hospital, 84014 Nocera Inferiore, Italy
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