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Marchei E, Graziano S, Varì MR, Minutillo A, Aquilina V, Pichini S, Rotolo MC. NPS-EQA PART I: Four years' experience in external quality assessment program in Italy for classical and new psychoactive substances analysis in oral fluid. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 243:116084. [PMID: 38452420 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2024.116084] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
In 2019, Italian National Institute of Health established an external quality assessment program (EQA) to evaluate the performance of oral fluid testing for classical and new psychoactive substances by laboratories participating in the National Early Warning System collaborative centres. This report presents the results of four rounds between 2019 and 2023. Eleven oral fluid specimens, including 3 blank samples, were prepared by adding different classes of and new psychoactive drugs at known concentrations to pre-screened drug-free oral fluid. False-negative and false-positive results were calculated for the qualitative data evaluation. The quantitative evaluation measured the imprecision and accuracy of the results, in terms of coefficient of variation (CV%) and percent error (ERR%), respectively, with respect to a mean value obtained by reference laboratories. Z-score values were then calculated. Over the years, there has been a significant improvement in false-negative results (from 42.7% in the first year to 19.4% in the last year), but not in false-positive results (from 33.3% in the first year to 22.2% in the last one). In addition to the classic drugs of abuse (e.g. cocaine, amphetamine, methadone), the substances found in false positive samples belonged to the class of synthetic cannabinoids (e.g 5-fluoro CUMYL-PINACA and 5-fluoro-EDMB-PICA), synthetic opioids (e.g butyrylfentanyl) and tryptamines (e.g. 5-methoxy-N-methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine). The four rounds yielded a mean ERR% of approximately 22.1% and a mean CV% of around 41.5%. The participating laboratories demonstrated variable performances in relation to the class of analysed psychoactive substances, as evidenced by the calculated Z-scores. Between 25% and 60% of the reported results in all rounds should be considered satisfactory. EQA is a crucial element of laboratory quality management systems. It promotes continuous improvement and maintains high standards in the field of forensic and clinical drug testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Marchei
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Graziano
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Varì
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Adele Minutillo
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Aquilina
- Investigation, Crime and International Security, Università degli Studi Internazionali di Roma - UNINT, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Pichini
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
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Li J, Wang Y, Liu A, Liu S. Sensitive detection of synthetic cannabinoids in human blood using magnetic polydopamine molecularly imprinted polymer nanocomposites. Analyst 2023; 148:4850-4856. [PMID: 37622412 DOI: 10.1039/d3an01135f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are a series of artificial chemical substances with pharmacological properties similar to those of natural cannabinoids and their abuse poses a great risk to social security and human health. However, the highly sensitive detection of low concentrations of SCs in human serum remains a great challenge. In this work, we developed a highly sensitive, rapid and highly selective method for the detection of SCs in human serum. Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) nanocomposites were prepared through self-polymerization of dopamine and template molecules on the surfaces of magnetic beads. 9H-Carbazole-9-hexanol (9CH) was used as a template molecule because of its long chain structure shared with six synthetic cannabinoids and its ability to provide specific recognition sites. With these magnetic MIP nanoparticles, six SCs could be rapidly and effectively extracted from human blood. The concentrations of six SCs could be accurately determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.1-0.3 ng mL-1. The proposed method is characterized by high sensitivity and selectivity, and has great potential for application in the analysis of practical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Li
- Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Smart Carbon-Rich Materials and Device (CMD), Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-medical Research, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, P. R. China.
| | - Yong Wang
- Institute of Forensic Science and Technology of Nanjing Public Security Bureau, Nanjing, 210012, P. R. China
| | - Anran Liu
- Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Smart Carbon-Rich Materials and Device (CMD), Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-medical Research, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, P. R. China.
| | - Songqin Liu
- Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory of Smart Carbon-Rich Materials and Device (CMD), Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-medical Research, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, P. R. China.
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Shin H, Yuniar CT, Oh S, Purja S, Park S, Lee H, Kim E. The Adverse Effects and Nonmedical Use of Methylphenidate Before and After the Outbreak of COVID-19: Machine Learning Analysis. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e45146. [PMID: 37585250 PMCID: PMC10468706 DOI: 10.2196/45146] [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: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methylphenidate is an effective first-line treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, many adverse effects of methylphenidate have been recorded from randomized clinical trials and patient-reported outcomes, but it is difficult to determine abuse from them. In the context of COVID-19, it is important to determine how drug use evaluation, as well as misuse of drugs, have been affected by the pandemic. As people share their reasons for using medication, patient sentiments, and the effects of medicine on social networking services (SNSs), the application of machine learning and SNS data can be a method to overcome the limitations. Proper machine learning models could be evaluated to validate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on drug use. OBJECTIVE To analyze the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of methylphenidate, this study analyzed the adverse effects and nonmedical use of methylphenidate and evaluated the change in frequency of nonmedical use based on SNS data before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. Moreover, the performance of 4 machine learning models for classifying methylphenidate use based on SNS data was compared. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, SNS data on methylphenidate from Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram from January 2019 to December 2020 were collected. The frequency of adverse effects, nonmedical use, and drug use before and after the COVID-19 pandemic were compared and analyzed. Interrupted time series analysis about the frequency and trends of nonmedical use of methylphenidate was conducted for 24 months from January 2019 to December 2020. Using the labeled training data set and features, the following 4 machine learning models were built using the data, and their performance was evaluated using F-1 scores: naïve Bayes classifier, random forest, support vector machine, and long short-term memory. RESULTS This study collected 146,352 data points and detected that 4.3% (6340/146,352) were firsthand experience data. Psychiatric problems (521/1683, 31%) had the highest frequency among the adverse effects. The highest frequency of nonmedical use was for studies or work (741/2016, 36.8%). While the frequency of nonmedical use before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 has been similar (odds ratio [OR] 1.02 95% CI 0.91-1.15), its trend has changed significantly due to the pandemic (95% CI 2.36-22.20). Among the machine learning models, RF had the highest performance of 0.75. CONCLUSIONS The trend of nonmedical use of methylphenidate has changed significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the machine learning models using SNS data to analyze the adverse effects and nonmedical use of methylphenidate, the random forest model had the highest performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hocheol Shin
- Evidence-Based Clinical Research Laboratory, Department of Health Science and Clinical Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Cindra Tri Yuniar
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia
| | - SuA Oh
- Evidence-Based Clinical Research Laboratory, Department of Health Science and Clinical Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sujata Purja
- Evidence-Based Clinical Research Laboratory, Department of Health Science and Clinical Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sera Park
- Evidence-Based Clinical Research Laboratory, Department of Health Science and Clinical Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Haeun Lee
- Evidence-Based Clinical Research Laboratory, Department of Health Science and Clinical Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunyoung Kim
- Evidence-Based Clinical Research Laboratory, Department of Health Science and Clinical Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Regulatory Science Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Daziani G, Lo Faro AF, Montana V, Goteri G, Pesaresi M, Bambagiotti G, Montanari E, Giorgetti R, Montana A. Synthetic Cathinones and Neurotoxicity Risks: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076230. [PMID: 37047201 PMCID: PMC10093970 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
According to the EU Early Warning System (EWS), synthetic cathinones (SCs) are the second largest new psychoactive substances (NPS) class, with 162 synthetic cathinones monitored by the EU EWS. They have a similar structure to cathinone, principally found in Catha Edulis; they have a phenethylamine related structure but also exhibit amphetamine-like stimulant effects. Illegal laboratories regularly develop new substances and place them on the market. For this reason, during the last decade this class of substances has presented a great challenge for public health and forensic toxicologists. Acting on different systems and with various mechanisms of action, the spectrum of side effects caused by the intake of these drugs of abuse is very broad. To date, most studies have focused on the substances’ cardiac effects, and very few on their associated neurotoxicity. Specifically, synthetic cathinones appear to be involved in different neurological events, including increased alertness, mild agitation, severe psychosis, hyperthermia and death. A systematic literature search in PubMed and Scopus databases according to PRISMA guidelines was performed. A total of 515 studies published from 2005 to 2022 (350 articles from PubMed and 165 from Scopus) were initially screened for eligibility. The papers excluded, according to the criteria described in the Method Section (n = 401) and after full text analyses (n = 82), were 483 in total. The remaining 76 were included in the present review, as they met fully the inclusion criteria. The present work provides a comprehensive review on neurotoxic mechanisms of synthetic cathinones highlighting intoxication cases and fatalities in humans, as well as the toxic effects on animals (in particular rats, mice and zebrafish larvae). The reviewed studies showed brain-related adverse effects, including encephalopathy, coma and convulsions, and sympathomimetic and hallucinogenic toxidromes, together with the risk of developing excited/agitated delirium syndrome and serotonin syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Daziani
- Department of Excellence Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60121 Ancona, Italy; (G.D.); (A.F.L.F.); (G.G.); (M.P.); (G.B.); (E.M.); (R.G.)
| | - Alfredo Fabrizio Lo Faro
- Department of Excellence Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60121 Ancona, Italy; (G.D.); (A.F.L.F.); (G.G.); (M.P.); (G.B.); (E.M.); (R.G.)
| | - Vincenzo Montana
- Dipartimento di Anestesia, Rianimazione e Emergenza-Urgenza, Fondazione IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy;
| | - Gaia Goteri
- Department of Excellence Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60121 Ancona, Italy; (G.D.); (A.F.L.F.); (G.G.); (M.P.); (G.B.); (E.M.); (R.G.)
| | - Mauro Pesaresi
- Department of Excellence Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60121 Ancona, Italy; (G.D.); (A.F.L.F.); (G.G.); (M.P.); (G.B.); (E.M.); (R.G.)
| | - Giulia Bambagiotti
- Department of Excellence Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60121 Ancona, Italy; (G.D.); (A.F.L.F.); (G.G.); (M.P.); (G.B.); (E.M.); (R.G.)
| | - Eva Montanari
- Department of Excellence Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60121 Ancona, Italy; (G.D.); (A.F.L.F.); (G.G.); (M.P.); (G.B.); (E.M.); (R.G.)
| | - Raffaele Giorgetti
- Department of Excellence Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60121 Ancona, Italy; (G.D.); (A.F.L.F.); (G.G.); (M.P.); (G.B.); (E.M.); (R.G.)
| | - Angelo Montana
- Department of Excellence Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60121 Ancona, Italy; (G.D.); (A.F.L.F.); (G.G.); (M.P.); (G.B.); (E.M.); (R.G.)
- Correspondence:
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Perelló M, Rio-Aige K, Rius P, Bagaría G, Jambrina AM, Gironès M, Pérez-Cano FJ, Rabanal M. Changes in prescription drug abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic evidenced in the Catalan pharmacies. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1116337. [PMID: 36866090 PMCID: PMC9971931 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1116337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The impact of a pandemic on the mental health of the population is to be expected due to risk factors such as social isolation. Prescription drug abuse and misuse could be an indicator of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Community pharmacists play an important role in addressing prescription drug abuse by detecting signs and behaviors that give a clearer indication that a drug abuse problem exists. Methods A prospective observational study to observe prescription drug abuse was conducted from March 2020 to December 2021 to compare with data obtained in the previous 2 years, through the Medicine Abuse Observatory, the epidemiological surveillance system set up in Catalonia. Information was obtained through a validated questionnaire attached on a web-based system and data collection software. A total of 75 community pharmacies were enrolled in the program. Results The number of notifications during the pandemic period (11.8/100.000 inhabitants) does not indicate a significant change compared with those from pre-pandemic period, when it was 12.5/100.000 inhabitants. However, the number of notifications during the first wave when lockdown was in place stood at 6.1/100,000 inhabitants, significantly lower than in both the pre-pandemic and the whole of the pandemic periods. Regarding the patient's profile, it was observed that the proportion of younger patients (<25 and 25-35) rose in contrast to older ones (45-65 and >65). The use of benzodiazepines and fentanyl increased. Conclusions This study has made it possible to observe the impact of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 on the behavior of patients in terms of use of prescription drugs through analysis of the trends of abuse or misuse and by comparing them with the pre-pandemic period. Overall, the increased detection of benzodiazepines has pointed out stress and anxiety generated by the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Perelló
- Council of the Pharmacist's Association of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain,Physiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Karla Rio-Aige
- Physiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institute of Research in Nutrition and Food Safety (INSA), Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Pilar Rius
- Council of the Pharmacist's Association of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Guillermo Bagaría
- Council of the Pharmacist's Association of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna M. Jambrina
- Physiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Directorate-General for Healthcare Planning and Regulation, Ministry of Health, Government of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Montse Gironès
- Council of the Pharmacist's Association of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco José Pérez-Cano
- Physiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institute of Research in Nutrition and Food Safety (INSA), Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain,*Correspondence: Francisco José Pérez-Cano ✉
| | - Manel Rabanal
- Physiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institute of Research in Nutrition and Food Safety (INSA), Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain,Directorate-General for Healthcare Planning and Regulation, Ministry of Health, Government of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
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New Psychoactive Substances Intoxications and Fatalities during the COVID-19 Epidemic. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12020273. [PMID: 36829550 PMCID: PMC9953068 DOI: 10.3390/biology12020273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
In January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, declaring the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic in March 2020. Stringent measures decreased consumption of some drugs, moving the illicit market to alternative substances, such as New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). A systematic literature search was performed, using scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and institutional and government websites, to identify reported intoxications and fatalities from NPS during the COVID-19 pandemic. The search terms were: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, coronavirus disease 2019, intox*, fatal*, new psychoactive substance, novel psychoactive substance, smart drugs, new psychoactive substance, novel synthetic opioid, synthetic opioid, synthetic cathinone, bath salts, legal highs, nitazene, bath salt, legal high, synthetic cannabinoid, phenethylamine, phencyclidine, piperazine, novel benzodiazepine, benzodiazepine analogue, designer benzodiazepines, tryptamine and psychostimulant. From January 2020 to March 2022, 215 NPS exposures were reported in Europe, UK, Japan and USA. Single NPS class intoxications accounted for 25, while mixed NPS class intoxications represented only 3 cases. A total of 130 NPS single class fatalities and 56 fatalities involving mixed NPS classes were published during the pandemic. Synthetic opioids were the NPS class most abused, followed by synthetic cathinones and synthetic cannabinoids. Notably, designer benzodiazepines were frequently found in combination with fentalogues. Considering the stress to communities and healthcare systems generated by the pandemic, NPS-related information may be underestimated. However, we could not define the exact impacts of COVID-19 on processing of toxicological data, autopsy and death investigations.
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Coffee Consumption during the COVID Pandemic in a Portuguese Sample: An Online Exploratory Study. Foods 2023; 12:foods12020421. [PMID: 36673513 PMCID: PMC9858285 DOI: 10.3390/foods12020421] [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: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages worldwide and is part of the Portuguese lifestyles. This study aims to describe coffee consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, the change in consumption, the relation between work and familiar pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic and coffee consumption, and the reasons for this consumption pattern. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study conducted by an online questionnaire (n = 463) between March and June 2020. During the data collection phase, information about coffee consumption and socio-demographic characteristics were gathered. RESULTS All respondents were and are coffee consumers. The coffee average intake before the COVID-19 pandemic was 2.40 ± 0.84 cups of coffee per day, and the average consumption during the COVID-19 confinement was 2.68 ± 0.88 cups. Consumption increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a correlation between the consumption changes and the familiar or work pressure was not found. The general reasons for the increase in the coffee consumption were "social/cultural" (27%), "the search for energy "boost"" (22.9%), "to feel awake" (22.7%), "to deal with stress" (22.7%) and "the taste" (21.8%). CONCLUSIONS The results suggest the ever-increasing popularity of coffee consumption. Respondents also highlighted that some situations make them more prone to consume coffee consumption, such as when they face stress and the need to control tiredness. The COVID pandemic depleted a change in behaviors.
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Bradley H, Austin C, Allen ST, Asher A, Bartholomew TS, Board A, Borquez A, Buchacz K, Carter A, Cooper HLF, Feinberg J, Furukawa N, Genberg B, Gorbach PM, Hagan H, Huriaux E, Hurley H, Luisi N, Martin NK, Rosenberg ES, Strathdee SA, Jarlais DCD. A stakeholder-driven framework for measuring potential change in the health risks of people who inject drugs (PWID) during the COVID-19 pandemic. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2022; 110:103889. [PMID: 36343431 PMCID: PMC9574463 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People who inject drugs (PWID) have likely borne disproportionate health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. PWID experienced both interruptions and changes to drug supply and delivery modes of harm reduction, treatment, and other medical services, leading to potentially increased risks for HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and overdose. Given surveillance and research disruptions, proximal, indirect indicators of infectious diseases and overdose should be developed for timely measurement of health effects of the pandemic on PWID. METHODS We used group concept mapping and a systems thinking approach to produce an expert stakeholder-generated, multi-level framework for monitoring changes in PWID health outcomes potentially attributable to COVID-19 in the U.S. This socio-ecological measurement framework elucidates proximal and distal contributors to infectious disease and overdose outcomes, many of which can be measured using existing data sources. RESULTS The framework includes multi-level components including policy considerations, drug supply/distribution systems, the service delivery landscape, network factors, and individual characteristics such as mental and general health status and service utilization. These components are generally mediated by substance use and sexual behavioral factors to cause changes in incidence of HIV, HCV, sexually transmitted infections, wound/skin infections, and overdose. CONCLUSION This measurement framework is intended to increase the quality and timeliness of research on the impacts of COVID-19 in the context of the current pandemic and future crises. Next steps include a ranking process to narrow the drivers of change in health risks to a concise set of indicators that adequately represent framework components, can be written as measurable indicators, and are quantifiable using existing data sources, as well as a publicly available web-based platform for summary data contributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Bradley
- Georgia State University School of Public Health, 140 Decatur Street SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
| | - Chelsea Austin
- Georgia State University School of Public Health, 140 Decatur Street SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Sean T Allen
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Alice Asher
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA
| | - Tyler S Bartholomew
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1600 NW 10(th) Avenue, #1140, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Amy Board
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA
| | - Annick Borquez
- University of California San Diego School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Kate Buchacz
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA
| | - Anastasia Carter
- Georgia State University School of Public Health, 140 Decatur Street SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Hannah L F Cooper
- Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, 1518 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Judith Feinberg
- West Virginia University Health Sciences, 1 Medical Center Drive, #1000, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Nathan Furukawa
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA
| | - Becky Genberg
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Pamina M Gorbach
- University of California Los Angeles, Fielding School of Public Health
| | - Holly Hagan
- NYU School of Global Public Health, 708 Broadway, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Emalie Huriaux
- Washington State Department of Health, 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA, 98501, USA
| | | | - Nicole Luisi
- Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, 1518 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Natasha K Martin
- University of California San Diego School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Eli S Rosenberg
- University at Albany School of Public Health, SUNY, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USA; Office of Public Health, New York State Department of Public Health, Corning Tower, State Street, Albany, NY, 12203, USA
| | - Steffanie A Strathdee
- University of California San Diego School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Don C Des Jarlais
- NYU School of Global Public Health, 708 Broadway, New York, NY, 10003, USA
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Molecular Insights and Clinical Outcomes of Drugs of Abuse Adulteration: New Trends and New Psychoactive Substances. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314619. [PMID: 36498947 PMCID: PMC9739917 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Adulteration is a well-known practice of drug manufacturers at different stages of drug production. The intentional addition of active ingredients to adulterate the primary drug may enhance or mask pharmacological effects or may produce more potent drugs to increase the number of available doses and the dealer's profit. Adulterants found in different drugs change over time in response to different factors. A systematic literature search in PubMed and Scopus databases and official international organizations' websites according to PRISMA guidelines was performed. A total of 724 studies were initially screened, with 145 articles from PubMed and 462 from Scopus excluded according to the criteria described in the Method Section. The remaining 117 records were further assessed for eligibility to exclude articles without sufficient data. Finally, 79 studies were classified as "non-biological" (n = 35) or "biological" (n = 35 case reports; n = 9 case series) according to the samples investigated. Although the seized samples analyses revealed the presence of well-established adulterants such as levamisole for cocaine or paracetamol/acetaminophen for heroin, the reported data disclosed new adulteration practices, such as the use of NPS as cutting agents for classic drugs of abuse and other NPS. For example, heroin adulterated with synthetic cannabinoids or cocaine adulterated with fentanyl/fentalogues raised particular concern. Notably, adulterants play a role in some adverse effects commonly associated with the primary drug, such as levamisole-adulterated cocaine that may induce vasculitis via an autoimmune process. It is essential to constantly monitor adulterants due to their changing availability that may threaten drug consumers' health.
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Hawdon J, Parti K, Dearden T. Changes in Online Illegal Drug Buying during COVID-19: Assessing Effects due to a Changing Market or Changes in Strain using a Longitudinal Sample Design. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE : AJCJ 2022; 47:712-734. [PMID: 36407841 PMCID: PMC9649405 DOI: 10.1007/s12103-022-09698-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This research uses longitudinal data to investigate if illegal online drug purchases changed over time during the COVID-19 pandemic, and if these changes were primarily driven by users adjusting to market conditions or by a heightened level of pandemic-induced strain that could drive a greater demand for drugs. Data were collected across four waves between fall 2019 and fall 2021 using an online survey. Data showed an increase in reported online drug purchases across the waves, but the online drug purchases remained consistent for the first year of the pandemic, but increased by approximately 44% between the fall 2020 and fall 2021 when over 13 percent of the sample admitted to buying illegal drugs online. Strain was also related to buying illegal drugs online as those respondents who made illegal online purchased had an average of 5.2 strain events in the past 12 months compared to only 2.4 events among those who did not report purchasing illegal drugs online. However, the influence of strain on online purchases remained consistent across time. These results suggest that the increase in online drug purchases was primarily driven by users adapting to changing market conditions rather than the cumulative strains associated with the pandemic producing a greater effect on purchases. Policy implications are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Hawdon
- Virginia Tech, 495 Old Turner St. 205a Norris Hall MC 0911, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| | - Katalin Parti
- Virginia Tech, 495 Old Turner St. 205a Norris Hall MC 0911, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| | - Thomas Dearden
- Virginia Tech, 495 Old Turner St. 205a Norris Hall MC 0911, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
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Carfora A, Petrella R, Ambrosio G, Fracassi I, Festinese S, Feola A, Campobasso CP. Toxicological Analysis of Illicit Drugs Seized in Naples (Italy) and First Detection of Synthetic Cannabinoids during COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10081488. [PMID: 36011145 PMCID: PMC9408475 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10081488] [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: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has consistently raised the number of drug seizures, in United States as in Europe. The COVID-19 pandemic has also changed the typology of seizures from “more traditional” drugs to New Psychoactive Substances (NPSs), depending on geographical area. In Europe, the most frequent NPSs are synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) and cathinones, nonetheless synthetic opioids and phenethylamines are widely used. The aim of the study is the detection of NPS and other substances of abuse available in the black market, by quali/quantitative methods in LC-MS/MS and GC-MS. From 2018 to 2021, 268 seizures occurred in total and were analyzed by the Forensic Toxicology Laboratory (FTL) of Naples (Italy). The distribution of analyzed seizures over the years is the following: 53 in 2018, 61 in 2019, 89 in 2020 and 65 during the first semester of 2021. Cannabis was the most detected drug both in hashish and marijuana seizures, followed by cocaine > heroine > prescribed drugs > ketamine−amphetamine MDMA. No NPSs were seized until June 2021, when NPSs were found in two different seizures: Case #1 showed a bar of Cannabis resin containing a low level of Δ9THC = 0.57% associated to SC AB-FUBINACA in 4.5%; Case #2 showed a vegetal resinous substance (Δ9THC = 0.27%) with SC 5F-APINACA (4.1%) associated with methadone (1.0%). The detection of NPSs is alarming evidence that can lead to an increase in the risk of overdose or other negative and unpredictable consequences, such as violent or self-harming behavior in unaware users of cannabis derivatives considered of “natural” origin.
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New Psychoactive Substances Consumption in Opioid-Use Disorder Patients. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11050645. [PMID: 35625373 PMCID: PMC9138226 DOI: 10.3390/biology11050645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary We applied a toxicological screening on 187 urine samples collected from patients with opioid-use disorder treated with opioid agonists in Barcelona and Badalona addiction care services, Spain. We found that 27.3% of urine samples were positive for any type of new psychoactive substance and 8.6% of samples were positive for a new synthetic opioid (NSO). These results show a new trend of consumption in patients with opioid-use disorder that requires social and political actions to stem associated health threats. Abstract (1) Background: Since the beginning of the 21st century, the large number and wide chemical variety of new psychoactive substances (NPS) that enter the market every year has become a public health problem. Given the rapidity with which the drug market is changing, many NPS are not clinically investigated and their effects and health risks are unknown. Drug testing is a very useful tool for this purpose, but, unfortunately, it is not very widespread in individuals with opioid-use disorder under detoxification treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate the use of illicit drugs and NPS in opioid-use disorder (OUD) patients on opioid agonist treatment. (2) Methods: A multicenter, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at two addiction care services in Barcelona and Badalona, Spain. Urine samples were collected from OUD individuals attending these two centers, who anonymously donated a urine sample at the time of a periodical visit. Samples were analyzed by high-sensitivity gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high –resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). (3) Results: Out of the 187 collected and analyzed urine samples, 27.3% were positive for any type of NPS and 8.6% were positive for new synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and its derivatives (NSO). Other frequently detected substances were benzodiazepines in 46.0% of samples, antipsychotics in 27.8% of samples, or cocaine and cannabis in 23.5% of samples. (4) Conclusion: A wide number of NPS, including NSO, have been detected in urine samples from an OUD population. A lack of NPS detection in standard drug screening among drug users can hide the identification of a potential public health problem.
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Garus-Pakowska A, Kolmaga A, Gaszyńska E, Ulrichs M. The Scale of Intoxications with New Psychoactive Substances over the Period 2014-2020-Characteristics of the Trends and Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Example of Łódź Province, Poland. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:4427. [PMID: 35457295 PMCID: PMC9031094 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Legal highs are new psychoactive substances (NPSs) which pose a high risk for human health, and the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has changed peoples’ behaviours, including the demand for NPS. The aim of the study was to assess both the frequency of intoxication with NPS in Łódź province over the period 2014−2020, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on developing this trend. An analysis was carried out of data on intoxications in Łódź province in the years 2014−2020 reported by hospitals. The medical interventions rate (MI) per 100,000 people in the population was calculated. The frequency of intoxications was compared taking sociodemographic variables into account, and the effect of seasonal influence on intoxications was calculated using the Holt−Winter multiplicative seasonal method. In the period considered, there were 7175 acute NPS poisonings in the Łódź province and 25,495 in Poland. The averaged MI rate between 2014−2020 was 9.45 for Poland and 38.53 for the Łódź province, and the lowest value was found during the COVID pandemic in the year 2020 (respectively, 2.1 vs. 16.94). NPS users were mainly young men of 19−24 years old from a big city. Most cases were registered at weekends and in summer months. The majority of intoxications were caused by unidentified psychoactive substances of legal highs (chi2 = 513.98, p < 0.05). The actual number of NPS-related poisonings in the Łódź province in 2020 was lower than the value extrapolated from trend analysis of data between 2014−2019. NPS use in Poland decreased during the pandemic. It should be noted that a decrease in the number of drug-related incidents can have more than one reason, e.g., preventive programs, increased awareness, or changes in the law. This paper advocates that, in addition to monitoring NPS-related intoxications, there is further investigation into the social, cultural, and behavioural determinants of NPS to facilitate targeted prevention programmes and the development of new medical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Garus-Pakowska
- Department of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-752 Lodz, Poland; (A.K.); (E.G.)
| | - Agnieszka Kolmaga
- Department of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-752 Lodz, Poland; (A.K.); (E.G.)
| | - Ewelina Gaszyńska
- Department of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-752 Lodz, Poland; (A.K.); (E.G.)
| | - Magdalena Ulrichs
- Department of Econometrics, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz, 90-255 Lodz, Poland;
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Piersanti V, Consalvo F, Marinelli E. Substance use disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: looking for new innovative approaches. ACTA BIO-MEDICA : ATENEI PARMENSIS 2022; 93:e2022081. [PMID: 35315387 PMCID: PMC8972859 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v93i1.12612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM The destructive impact of the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on those struggling with substance use disorders (SUD) stems from the daunting challenges which SUD patients experience in terms of coping with their condition and receiving care in a timely fashion. METHODS Patients struggling with addiction are at particularly high risk, due to the underlying vulnerabilities in their conditions and the stigmatization they often suffer. New Psychoactive Substances stand out as a critical area of concern. The authors have conducted a broad-ranging search to assess the impact of SUDs, along with their related mental, physical, and behavioral symptoms, against the backdrop of the COVID-19, taking into account how drug trafficking and consumption trends have evolved as the emergency draws out, and the cyberspace comes to play an ever-bigger role. RESULTS Given that roughly 1.5%-5% of the global burden of disease can be ascribed to alcohol abuse and substance addiction, the role of pandemic-related potential contributing factors in the exacerbation and relapse of SUDs and behavioral addiction cannot be discounted and needs targeted measures tailored to the special needs of SUD patients. Escalating environmental stressors stemming from abnormal circumstances can undermine recovery efforts and threaten the very survival of countless SUD patients, increasing the likelihood of relapsing for those in recovery. CONCLUSIONS Policymakers and legislators have not yet put in place targeted measures and adjustments in the health care delivery mechanisms in order to countervail the pandemic impact on SUD sufferers, and the ever-evolving patterns of use and trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Piersanti
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Medicolegal and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesca Consalvo
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Medicolegal and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Enrico Marinelli
- a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:104:"Department of Anatomical, Histological, Medicolegal and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome";}.
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Esposito M, Salerno M, Scoto E, Di Nunno N, Sessa F. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Practice of Forensic Medicine: An Overview. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10020319. [PMID: 35206933 PMCID: PMC8871677 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10020319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, forensic sciences, on the one hand, contributed to gaining knowledge about different aspects of the pandemic, while on the other hand, forensic professionals were called on to quickly adapt their activities to respond adequately to the changes imposed by the pandemic. This review aims to clarify the state of the art in forensic medicine at the time of COVID-19, discussing the following: the influence of external factors on forensic activities, the impact of autopsy practice on COVID-19 and vice-versa, the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in post-mortem samples, forensic personnel activities during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the global vaccination program and forensic sciences, forensic undergraduate education during and after the imposed COVID-19 lockdown, and the medico-legal implications in medical malpractice claims during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly influenced different aspects of human life, and, accordingly, the practical activities of forensic sciences that are defined as multidisciplinary, involving different expertise. Indeed, the activities are very different, including crime scene investigation (CSI), external examination, autopsy, and genetic and toxicological examinations of tissues and/or biological fluids. At the same time, forensic professionals may have direct contact with subjects in life, such as in the case of abuse victims (in some cases involving children), collecting biological samples from suspects, or visiting subjects in the case of physical examinations. In this scenario, forensic professionals are called on to implement methods to prevent the SARS-CoV-2 infection risk, wearing adequate PPE, and working in environments with a reduced risk of infection. Consequently, in the pandemic era, the costs involved for forensic sciences were substantially increased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Esposito
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95121 Catania, Italy; (M.E.); (M.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Monica Salerno
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95121 Catania, Italy; (M.E.); (M.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Edmondo Scoto
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95121 Catania, Italy; (M.E.); (M.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Nunzio Di Nunno
- Department of History, Society and Studies on Humanity, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy;
| | - Francesco Sessa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-881-736926
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Basile G. A sex and gender-differentiated approach in psychiatric care: is the time ripe? ACTA BIO-MEDICA : ATENEI PARMENSIS 2022; 93:e2022321. [PMID: 36300211 PMCID: PMC9686142 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v93i5.13700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Basile
- Trauma Unit and Emergency Department, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopedics Institute.
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17
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Di Trana A, Pichini S, Pacifici R, Giorgetti R, Busardò FP. Synthetic Benzimidazole Opioids: The Emerging Health Challenge for European Drug Users. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:858234. [PMID: 35401256 PMCID: PMC8990956 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.858234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Annagiulia Di Trana
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Simona Pichini
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Pacifici
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaele Giorgetti
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Paolo Busardò
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
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Kasahun AE, Woldeyohanins AE, kifle ZD, Abebe RB, Ergena AE, Demeke CA. Compliance of Private Pharmacy Retail Outlets to Narcotic Drug Regulations in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional and Simulated Client Study Method. INQUIRY : A JOURNAL OF MEDICAL CARE ORGANIZATION, PROVISION AND FINANCING 2022; 59:469580221090910. [PMID: 35387515 PMCID: PMC9016557 DOI: 10.1177/00469580221090910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inappropriate use of narcotic drugs is a growing worldwide health challenge. The problem is even worse in Sub-Saharan Africa where organized supply chain regulations on dispensing and stock management are poor for controlling these global challenges. METHODS A mixed method, descriptive cross-sectional and simulated client study design was used from September 10, 2020 to November 26, 2020 to assess the extent of utilization and compliance of narcotic drug dispensing in private pharmacy retail outlets of Gondar and Bahir Dar town of Amhara region, Ethiopia. A total of 107 private pharmacy outlets were on duty. But in simulated study, purposive sampling is a method that prioritizes study units having the data of interest. RESULTS A total of 107 private pharmacy retails outlets were included in the survey. The average compliance to the controlled prescription regulation of Ethiopia in all pharmacy outlets (107) of the five drugs were calculated and found to be poor, 23.9% (SD = 18.3%). Compliance to strong narcotics is extremely low, 3.3 % for pethidine and 8% for morphine. Religion of the professionals has significant association with compliance to the prescription of narcotic drugs (p < .001). DISCUSSION In the era of narcotic epidemics, as a result of growing global inappropriate use of controlled drugs, the finding of this study gives an insight for a serious and strict regulation in managing and controlling the overall distribution of the narcotic drugs. CONCLUSIONS The compliance of the private retail pharmacies of Ethiopia to the regulation of controlled drugs is low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmamaw Emagn Kasahun
- Department of Pharmaceutics and
Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Alem Endeshaw Woldeyohanins
- Department of Pharmaceutics and
Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Zemene Demelash kifle
- Department of Pharmacology, School
of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Rahel Belete Abebe
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy,
School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Asrat Elias Ergena
- Department of Pharmaceutical
Chemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, College
of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Chilot Abiyu Demeke
- Department of Pharmaceutics and
Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Di Trana A. The challenging issue of polydrug consumption: new trends of a deep-seated public health threat. ACTA BIO-MEDICA : ATENEI PARMENSIS 2022; 93:e2022311. [PMID: 36300210 PMCID: PMC9686172 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v93i5.13708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Annagiulia Di Trana
- a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:170:"Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy";}.
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Napoletano S, Basile G, Lo Faro AF, Negro F. New Psychoactive Substances and receding COVID-19 pandemic: really going back to "normal"? ACTA BIO-MEDICA : ATENEI PARMENSIS 2022; 93:e2022186. [PMID: 35545997 PMCID: PMC9171884 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v93i2.13008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
To the Editor, The ongoing rise of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), i.e. psychotropic molecules devised and synthesized to replicate the effects of traditional drugs of abuse in order to circumvent banned substances schedules, has been posing a challenge of enormous magnitude to substance detection systems and law enforcement worldwide. Still, it would be remiss to ignore the role played by the unprecedented public health emergency relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in the exacerbation of the NPS crisis. The diversion of resources has in fact hindered conventional approaches to drug monitoring, surveillance, control, and public health responses. The dangerous path ahead in our struggle against NPS abuse is best exemplified by the rather recent emergence of isotonitazene, an analogue of a benzimidazole class of analgesic compounds, powerful synthetic opioid and full mu-opioid receptor agonist belonging to the 2-benzylbenzimidazole group of compounds, which comprises the structurally different clonitazene, metonitazene and etonitazene (1). Isonitazene has reportedly been detected on European markets in at least five different forms and could even supplant fentanyl derivatives (2). Currently available data on isonitazene-related abuse and fatalities seem to be emblematic of the volatile, elusive nature of NPS: deaths in which isotonitazene was involved in fact presented substantial differences from casualties arising from synthetic opioids abuse. Case reports have highlighted how flualprazolam was detected in most fatalities associated with isotonitazene whereas flualprazolam was involved in only 8% of other synthetic opioid overdose deaths (3). Rather than rising background use, such a finding seems to suggest likely co-use or co-distribution of flualprazolam and isotonitazene. The key element of polysubstance involvement is rife in synthetic opioid overdose deaths. That being said, significantly more substances were implicated in isotonitazene-related deaths than fatalities linked to other synthetic opioid overdose (4, 5). Such dynamics and mortality patterns further stress the urgency of expanding health services for those suffering from opioid addiction disorders. Fine-tuned and standardized detection mechanisms relying on specialized assays based on sensitive instrumentation are essential for the timely and accurate characterization of such novel synthetic opioids (6-8). Isotonitazene in fact cannot be detected by common fentanyl testing strips (9). Hence, the essential nature of clinical and toxicological cannot be overstated, if we are to effectively deal with the public health risks arising from new substances or classes, along with the healthcare and social costs thereof (10). As new substances appear on illicit markets and are detected, their distinctive traits can only be identified by user experience, in the early stages (11-13). Nonetheless, the pandemic scenario has brought about a profound alteration of substance abuse patterns, and opened up new avenues of supply and demand for which our surveillance/detection systems may not be fully prepared or well-suited. As the pandemic appears to recede and hopefully turn into an endemic context based on coexistence with the SARS-CoV-2 and its less harmful variants, it would be a mistake to take for granted that drug abuse/trafficking dynamics will also get back to where they were before the pandemic. Putting in place policies aimed at monitoring web-based platforms and social media can potentially constitute a valuable tool in terms of keeping in check emerging substances, given how during the COVID-19 pandemic many interactions between traffickers and buyers have moved online (14). After all, social media have been playing an increasingly relevant role as interacting platforms, which users and drug dealers can take advantage of in order to discuss drug prices, substance purity, distinctive traits of the "high" (i.e. desired drug effects) they are seeking, ways of taking the substances, dosages, and characteristics of any new NPS becoming available on such back-alley marketing channels (15). Softwares designed and specifically programmed to sift through and analyze all detectable online information in that regard may prove valuable to figure out evolving dynamics of trafficking, purchases and use. Probing social media users has proven effective tool for public health concerns, e.g. drug checking services which have been harnessed due to their harm reduction potential in places estimated to be at risk, with large crowds gathering (concerts, clubs and the like). Nonetheless, research efforts need to be directed towards the new realm of criminality, the "Dark Web", in which all sorts of illegal exchanges and interactions are known to take place. A 2020 study has highlighted the appalling risks for drug users who choose to pursue that option in order to buy drugs (16). Three dealers were selected on a specific "Dark Web" marketplace, and NPS were ordered through such a channel. All these exchanges were thoroughly documented, and an analysis was undertaken of all the substances thus bought, totaling nine samples, by NMR, HRMS, LC-UV, and two also by x-ray diffraction. It was ultimately concluded that four out of five substances bought had been labeled with NPS names that did not match the actual substance, and two out of three samples of substances sold as new (i.e. unscheduled) NPS were instead found to be already documented substances, mislabeled and peddled under false pretenses. Drug dealers were therefore either deceiving their clients or were unaware as to the actual substances which they were selling. In light of such extremely worrisome findings, it is not hard to understand the implications and the major public health risks that such new trends of trafficking and abuse may entail. It is therefore incumbent upon the scientific community and law enforcement agencies to adapt and strive to meet the new challenges brought by the new criminal ecosystems in terms of drug enforcement, first and foremost the impervious environment known as "Dark Web" relying on untraceable cryptocurrencies for illegal transactions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alfredo Fabrizio Lo Faro
- Marche Polytechnic University, Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, Unit of Forensic Toxicology, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesca Negro
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, “Sapienza”, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Nin MS, Heidrich N, Almeida FB, Izolan LR, Constant HMRM, Freese L, Gomez R, Barros HMT. Social distancing and changes in drug use: Results from a cross-sectional study during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:999372. [PMID: 36440408 PMCID: PMC9682187 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.999372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The outbreak of coronavirus disease 19 has led to measures of social distancing and quarantine worldwide. This stressful period may lead to psychological problems, including changes in substance use. In addition, sociodemographic factors are linked to changed levels of drug use and abuse observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which are also associated with increased anxiety, depression, and other disorders. Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate (i) changes in drug use during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with social distancing, and (ii) to verify factors associated with those changes. METHODS A web-based cross-sectional observational survey was completed by a self-selected adult general population in Brazil (N = 2,435) during September/October 2020 (first wave) before and throughout the pandemic. Key outcomes: social distancing, self-reported drug use (ASSIST), and emotional states (DASS-21). RESULTS High social distancing was associated with fewer chances (prevalence ratio) of increased drug use for alcohol (0.71, CI95%: 0.64-0.80), tobacco (0.72; CI95%: 0.60-0.87), cannabis (0.65; CI95%: 0.55-0.78), and others. Low social distancing presented a higher DASS-21 score for anxiety (P = 0.017). Concerning covariates analysis by a general linear model, men (alcohol: 1. 71; cannabis: 3.86), younger age (alcohol: 0.97), less education (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and cocaine/crack comparing several lower schooling categories vs. higher education), lower income (alcohol: 0.42; tobacco: 0.47; and cannabis: 0.36), and higher depression DASS-21 score (alcohol: 1.05; tobacco: 1.08; cannabis: 1.07; and cocaine/crack: 1.07) were associated with higher use prevalence of several drugs. CONCLUSIONS Individuals reporting low social distancing increased the use of most drugs during the pandemic, while high social distancing significantly decreased drug use. Anxiety and depressive states and several sociodemographic factors (men; lower income; less education) were associated with higher drug use patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurício Schüler Nin
- Institute of Basic Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brazil
| | - Nubia Heidrich
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Felipe B Almeida
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lucas R Izolan
- Graduate Program in Neurosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Hilda M R M Constant
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Luana Freese
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Rosane Gomez
- Graduate Program in Neurosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Therapeutics and Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Helena M T Barros
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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22
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Chmielowiec J, Chmielowiec K, Masiak J, Pawłowski T, Larysz D, Grzywacz A. Analysis of Relationships between DAT1 Polymorphism Variants, Personality Dimensions, and Anxiety in New Psychoactive Substance (Designer Drug) (NPS) Users. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12121977. [PMID: 34946924 PMCID: PMC8700894 DOI: 10.3390/genes12121977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of ‘new psychoactive substances’ appears to be increasingly common. The aim of this study was to examine biological and personality determinants in individuals who choose to use these substances, which may help in the prevention and treatment of psychoactive substance use disorders. The study group consisted of 374 male volunteers; all were users of ‘new psychoactive substances’ (NPS). The NPS users were recruited after they had abstained—for at least 3 months—from any substance of abuse in addiction treatment facilities. The NPS patients and the control subjects were examined by a psychiatrist using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.), the NEO Five-Factor Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scales. The real-time PCR method was used for genotyping. When we compared the controls with the study group, statistically significant interactions were found between DAT1 polymorphism, neuroticism, and NPS use. NPS use and DAT1 polymorphism were associated with a higher level of neuroticism on the NEO-FFI scale. The study group of NPS users showed a higher severity of anxiety symptoms, both in terms of trait and state, compared to the control group. The results may support the idea that neuroticism and anxiety correlate strongly with coping motives for using NPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanta Chmielowiec
- Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, 28 Zyty St., 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland; (J.C.); (K.C.)
| | - Krzysztof Chmielowiec
- Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, 28 Zyty St., 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland; (J.C.); (K.C.)
| | - Jolanta Masiak
- Second Department of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Medical University of Lublin, Głuska St., 20-059 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Tomasz Pawłowski
- Division of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wyb. L. Pasteura 10 St., 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Dariusz Larysz
- 109 Military Hospital with Cutpatient Cinic in Szczecin, Piotra Skargi 9-11 St., 70-965 Szczecin, Poland;
| | - Anna Grzywacz
- Independent Laboratory of Health Promotion, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 11 Chlapowskiego St., 70-204 Szczecin, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-91441-47-46
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23
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Javelot H, Straczek C, Meyer G, Gitahy Falcao Faria C, Weiner L, Drapier D, Fakra E, Fossati P, Weibel S, Dizet S, Langrée B, Masson M, Gaillard R, Leboyer M, Llorca PM, Hingray C, Haffen E, Yrondi A. Psychotropics and COVID-19: An analysis of safety and prophylaxis. L'ENCEPHALE 2021; 47:564-588. [PMID: 34548153 PMCID: PMC8410507 DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2021.08.002] [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: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The use of psychotropics during the COVID-19 pandemic has raised two questions, in order of importance: first, what changes should be made to pharmacological treatments prescribed to mental health patients? Secondly, are there any positive side effects of these substances against SARS-CoV-2? Our aim was to analyze usage safety of psychotropics during COVID-19; therefore, herein, we have studied: (i) the risk of symptomatic complications of COVID-19 associated with the use of these drugs, notably central nervous system activity depression, QTc interval enlargement and infectious and thromboembolic complications; (ii) the risk of mistaking the iatrogenic impact of psychotropics with COVID-19 symptoms, causing diagnostic error. Moreover, we provided a summary of the different information available today for these risks, categorized by mental health disorder, for the following: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, ADHD, sleep disorders and suicidal risk. The matter of psychoactive substance use during the pandemic is also analyzed in this paper, and guideline websites and publications for psychotropic treatments in the context of COVID-19 are referenced during the text, so that changes on those guidelines and eventual interaction between psychotropics and COVID-19 treatment medication can be reported and studied. Finally, we also provide a literature review of the latest known antiviral properties of psychotropics against SARS-CoV-2 as complementary information.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Javelot
- Établissement public de santé Alsace Nord, 141, avenue Strasbourg, 67170 Brumath, France; Laboratoire de toxicologie et pharmacologie neuro cardiovasculaire, centre de recherche en biomédecine de Strasbourg, université de Strasbourg, 1, rue Eugène-Boeckel, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
| | - C Straczek
- Département de pharmacie, CHU d'Henri-Mondor, université Paris Est Créteil (UPEC), AP-HP, 1, rue Gustave-Eiffel, 94000 Créteil, France; Inserm U955, institut Mondor de recherche biomédical, neuropsychiatrie translationnelle, 8, rue du Général-Sarrail, 94000 Créteil, France
| | - G Meyer
- Service pharmacie, établissement public de santé Alsace Nord, 141, avenue Strasbourg, 67170 Brumath, France; Service pharmacie, CHU de Strasbourg, 1, porte de L'Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - C Gitahy Falcao Faria
- Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), avenue Pedro-Calmon, 550 - Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-901 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - L Weiner
- Clinique de psychiatrie, hôpitaux universitaire de Strasbourg, 1, porte de L'Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - D Drapier
- Pôle hospitalo-universitaire de psychiatrie adulte, centre hospitalier Guillaume-Régnier, rue du Moulin-de-Joué, 35700 Rennes, France; EA 4712, comportements et noyaux gris centraux, université de Rennes 1, 2, avenue du Professeur Léon-Bernard, CS 34317, campus santé de Villejean, 35043 Rennes cedex, France
| | - E Fakra
- Pôle universitaire de psychiatrie, CHU de Saint-Étienne, 37, rue Michelet, 42000 Saint-Étienne, France
| | - P Fossati
- Inserm U1127, ICM, service de psychiatrie adultes, groupe hospitalier pitié Salpêtrière, Sorbonne université, AP-HP, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - S Weibel
- Clinique de psychiatrie, hôpitaux universitaire de Strasbourg, 1, porte de L'Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - S Dizet
- Centre de ressources et d'expertise en psychopharmacologie (CREPP) Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Chalon-sur-Saône, France; Service Pharmacie, CHS de Sevrey, 55, rue Auguste-Champio, 71100 Sevrey, France
| | - B Langrée
- Service pharmacie, centre hospitalier Guillaume-Régnier, rue du Moulin-de-Joué, 35700 Rennes, France; Clinique du Château de Garches, Nightingale Hospitals-Paris, 11, bis rue de la Porte-Jaune, 92380 Garches, France
| | - M Masson
- SHU, GHU psychiatrie et neurosciences, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France; GHU psychiatrie et neurosciences, université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - R Gaillard
- Conseil national des universités (CNU), 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France
| | - M Leboyer
- Inserm, DMU IMPACT, IMRB, translational neuropsychiatry, fondation FondaMental, hôpitaux universitaires « H. Mondor », université Paris Est Créteil (UPEC), AP-HP, 40, rue de Mesly, 94000 Créteil, France; CHU de Clermont-Ferrand, 58, rue Montalembert, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - P M Llorca
- Université Clermont-Auvergne, 1, rue Lucie- et Raymond-Aubrac, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Pôle hospitalo-universitaire de psychiatrie d'adultes du Grand Nancy, centre psychothérapique de Nancy, 1, rue Docteur Archambault, 54520 Laxou, France
| | - C Hingray
- Département de neurologie, CHU de Nancy, 25, rue Lionnois, 54000 Nancy, France; CIC-1431 Inserm, service de psychiatrie, CHU de Besançon, 3, boulevard Alexandre-Fleming, 25000 Besançon, France
| | - E Haffen
- Laboratoire de neurosciences, université de Franche-Comté, 19, rue Ambroise-Paré, 25030 Besançon cedex, France
| | - A Yrondi
- Unité ToNIC, UMR 1214 CHU Purpan-Pavillon Baudot, place du Dr Joseph Baylac, 31024 Toulouse cedex 3, France
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24
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Di Trana A, Brunetti P, Giorgetti R, Marinelli E, Zaami S, Busardò FP, Carlier J. In silico prediction, LC-HRMS/MS analysis, and targeted/untargeted data-mining workflow for the profiling of phenylfentanyl in vitro metabolites. Talanta 2021; 235:122740. [PMID: 34517608 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Illicit fentanyl and analogues have been involved in many fatalities and cases of intoxication across the United States over the last decade, and are becoming a health concern in Europe. New potent analogues emerge onto the drug market every year to circumvent analytical detection and legislation, and little pharmacological/toxicological data are available when the substances first appear. However, pharmacokinetic data are crucial to determine specific biomarkers of consumption in clinical and forensic settings, considering the low active doses and the rapid metabolism of fentanyl analogues. Phenylfentanyl is a novel analogue that was first detected in seized material in 2017, and little is currently known about this substance and its metabolism. We studied phenylfentanyl metabolic fate using in silico predictions with GLORYx freeware, human hepatocyte incubations, and liquid chromatography-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS). We applied a specific targeted/untargeted workflow using data-mining software to allow the rapid and partially automated screening of LC-HRMS/MS raw data. Approximately 90,000 substances were initially individuated after 3-h incubation with hepatocytes, and 115 substances were automatically selected for a manual check by the operators. Finally, 13 metabolites, mostly produced by N-dealkylation, amide hydrolysis, oxidation, and combinations thereof, were identified. We suggest phenylnorfentanyl as the main biological marker of phenylfentanyl use, and we proposed the inclusion of its fragmentation pattern in mzCloud and HighResNPS online libraries. Other major metabolites include N-Phenyl-1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinamine (4-ANPP), 1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinol, and other non-specific metabolites. Phase II transformations were infrequent, and the hydrolysis of the biological samples is not required to increase the detection capability of non-conjugated metabolites. The overall workflow is easily adaptable for the metabolite profiling of other novel psychoactive substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annagiulia Di Trana
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60126, Ancona, Italy
| | - Pietro Brunetti
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60126, Ancona, Italy
| | - Raffaele Giorgetti
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60126, Ancona, Italy
| | - Enrico Marinelli
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic, and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00198, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Zaami
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic, and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00198, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Paolo Busardò
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Jeremy Carlier
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60126, Ancona, Italy; Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic, and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00198, Rome, Italy
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25
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Ripoll J, Contreras-Martos S, Esteva M, Soler A, Serrano-Ripoll MJ. Mental Health and Psychological Wellbeing during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Longitudinal Study in the Balearic Islands (Spain). J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10143191. [PMID: 34300356 PMCID: PMC8304509 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10143191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Confining the entire population to a lockdown after the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 was an unprecedented measure designed to protect the health of those living in Spain. The objective of the present study is to assess the evolution of mental health and psychological wellbeing during lockdown. To do this, we carried out a longitudinal study, via an online survey over the eight weeks of lockdown (weekly assessments). Sociodemographic variables were recorded, along with data related to COVID-19, psychological wellbeing (anxiety, depression, psychotropic drugs, consultations made to improve mood or anxiety), life satisfaction, and self-perceived health. A total of 681 individuals participated in the study, 76.8% were women; the mean age was 43 years old (SD = 12.7). Initially, high scores were reported for anxiety, depression, and the number of consultations to improve mood, but these decreased significantly over the study period. The reverse seems to be true for life satisfaction, perceived good health, and intake of psychotropic drugs. We also identified groups whose psychological wellbeing was more susceptible to the effects of lockdown. Women, those worried about their jobs after the pandemic, and those afraid of being infected were the most affected individuals. More generally, after the initial negative effect on psychological wellbeing, various indicators improved over the lockdown period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Ripoll
- Primary Care Research Unit of Mallorca, Balearic Health Service, 07002 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain; (S.C.-M.); (M.E.); (A.S.); (M.J.S.-R.)
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Sara Contreras-Martos
- Primary Care Research Unit of Mallorca, Balearic Health Service, 07002 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain; (S.C.-M.); (M.E.); (A.S.); (M.J.S.-R.)
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
- Primary Care Research Support Unit Costa Ponent, University Institute for Primary Health Care Research Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), 08007 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Magdalena Esteva
- Primary Care Research Unit of Mallorca, Balearic Health Service, 07002 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain; (S.C.-M.); (M.E.); (A.S.); (M.J.S.-R.)
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Aina Soler
- Primary Care Research Unit of Mallorca, Balearic Health Service, 07002 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain; (S.C.-M.); (M.E.); (A.S.); (M.J.S.-R.)
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Maria Jesús Serrano-Ripoll
- Primary Care Research Unit of Mallorca, Balearic Health Service, 07002 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain; (S.C.-M.); (M.E.); (A.S.); (M.J.S.-R.)
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), 07120 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
- Department of Psychology, University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
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26
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Vincenti F, Gregori A, Flammini M, Di Rosa F, Salomone A. Seizures of New Psychoactive Substances on the Italian territory during the COVID-19 pandemic. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 326:110904. [PMID: 34371393 PMCID: PMC8411784 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the availability and the consequent consumption of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) have proliferated at an unprecedented rate, posing a significant risk to the public health and challenging the law enforcement efforts to tackle the black market. In particular, large availability on Internet and unmonitored shipping have facilitated the diffusion of NPS on national territories. In this scenario, the forensic activity based on the process of drug detection, including investigation, seizure, recognition and analytical identification is crucial to get insights into the drug black market transformation. In this study, we describe the results obtained from the analysis of hundreds of packages seized during the months of year 2020, and suspected to contain NPS because not reacting with standard field test kits. We focused on the analysis by GC-MS and HPLC-HRMS, and NPS in particular, trying to underline the most common molecules present on the Italian territory during the COVID-19 pandemic. NPS were identified in 92.6% of the samples. The most prevalent compounds were synthetic cathinones, and 3-MMC in particular, which alone accounted for 18.6% of the total cases. Other prevalent molecules were 5F-MDMB-PICA, 2-FDCK, 1cp-LSD and 1P-LSD. Fentanyl was never detected. The information obtained from drug seizures is crucial to publish national alerts, which are in turn important to assist the legislative effort to ban new compounds and the update of toxicological and analytical methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flaminia Vincenti
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Chemistry, 00185 Rome, Italy; Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Adolfo Gregori
- Carabinieri, Department of Scientific Investigation (RIS), 00191 Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Flammini
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Fabiana Di Rosa
- Carabinieri, Department of Scientific Investigation (RIS), 00191 Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Salomone
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy; Centro Regionale Antidoping e di Tossicologia, 10043 Orbassano (TO), Italy.
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27
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Arillotta D, Guirguis A, Corkery JM, Scherbaum N, Schifano F. COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Substance Misuse: A Social Media Listening, Mixed Method Analysis. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11070907. [PMID: 34356142 PMCID: PMC8303488 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11070907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The restrictive measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic modified some previously consolidated drug use patterns. A focus on social networks allowed drug users to discuss, share opinions and provide advice during a worldwide emergency context. In order to explore COVID-19-related implications on drug trends/behaviour and on most popular psychotropic substances debated, the focus here was on the constantly updated, very popular, Reddit social platform’s posts and comments. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of r/Drugs and related subreddits, using a social media listening netnographic approach, was carried out. The post/comments analysed covered the time-frame December 2019–May 2020. Between December 2019 and May 2020, the number of whole r/Drugs subreddit members increased from 619,563 to 676,581 members, respectively, thus increasing by 9.2% by the end of the data collection. Both the top-level r/Drugs subreddit and 92 related subreddits were quantitatively analysed, with posts/comments related to 12 drug categories. The drugs most frequently commented on included cannabinoids, psychedelics, opiates/opioids, alcohol, stimulants and prescribed medications. The qualitative analysis was carried out focussing on four subreddits, relating to some 1685 posts and 3263 comments. Four main themes of discussion (e.g., lockdown-associated immunity and drug intake issues; drug-related behaviour/after-quarantine plans’ issues; lockdown-related psychopathological issues; and peer-to-peer advice at the time of COVID-19) and four categories of Redditors (e.g., those continuing the use of drugs despite the pandemic; the “couch epidemiologists”; the conspirationists/pseudo-science influencers; and the recovery-focused users) were tentatively identified here. A mixed-methods, social network-based analysis provided a range of valuable information on Redditors’ drug use/behaviour during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further studies should be carried out focusing on other social networks as well as later phases of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Arillotta
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse, and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK; (D.A.); (A.G.); (J.M.C.); (F.S.)
| | - Amira Guirguis
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse, and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK; (D.A.); (A.G.); (J.M.C.); (F.S.)
- Swansea University Medical School, Institute of Life Sciences 2, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - John Martin Corkery
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse, and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK; (D.A.); (A.G.); (J.M.C.); (F.S.)
| | - Norbert Scherbaum
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, LVR-Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstraße 174, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Fabrizio Schifano
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse, and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK; (D.A.); (A.G.); (J.M.C.); (F.S.)
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28
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Sogos V, Caria P, Porcedda C, Mostallino R, Piras F, Miliano C, De Luca MA, Castelli MP. Human Neuronal Cell Lines as An In Vitro Toxicological Tool for the Evaluation of Novel Psychoactive Substances. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22136785. [PMID: 34202634 PMCID: PMC8268582 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are synthetic substances belonging to diverse groups, designed to mimic the effects of scheduled drugs, resulting in altered toxicity and potency. Up to now, information available on the pharmacology and toxicology of these new substances is very limited, posing a considerable challenge for prevention and treatment. The present in vitro study investigated the possible mechanisms of toxicity of two emerging NPS (i) 4′-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinoexanophenone (3,4-MDPHP), a synthetic cathinone, and (ii) 2-chloro-4,5-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (2-Cl-4,5-MDMA), a phenethylamine. In addition, to apply our model to the class of synthetic opioids, we evaluated the toxicity of fentanyl, as a reference compound for this group of frequently abused substances. To this aim, the in vitro toxic effects of these three compounds were evaluated in dopaminergic-differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Following 24 h of exposure, all compounds induced a loss of viability, and oxidative stress in a concentration-dependent manner. 2-Cl-4,5-MDMA activates apoptotic processes, while 3,4-MDPHP elicits cell death by necrosis. Fentanyl triggers cell death through both mechanisms. Increased expression levels of pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase 3 activity were observed following 2-Cl-4,5-MDMA and fentanyl, but not 3,4-MDPHP exposure, confirming the different modes of cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Sogos
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (V.S.); (P.C.); (C.P.); (R.M.); (F.P.); (M.A.D.L.)
| | - Paola Caria
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (V.S.); (P.C.); (C.P.); (R.M.); (F.P.); (M.A.D.L.)
| | - Clara Porcedda
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (V.S.); (P.C.); (C.P.); (R.M.); (F.P.); (M.A.D.L.)
| | - Rafaela Mostallino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (V.S.); (P.C.); (C.P.); (R.M.); (F.P.); (M.A.D.L.)
| | - Franca Piras
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (V.S.); (P.C.); (C.P.); (R.M.); (F.P.); (M.A.D.L.)
| | - Cristina Miliano
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA;
| | - Maria Antonietta De Luca
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (V.S.); (P.C.); (C.P.); (R.M.); (F.P.); (M.A.D.L.)
| | - M. Paola Castelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (V.S.); (P.C.); (C.P.); (R.M.); (F.P.); (M.A.D.L.)
- Guy Everett Laboratory, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
- Center of Excellence “Neurobiology of Addiction”, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-070-6754065
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Is the Right to Abortion at Risk in Times of COVID-19? The Italian State of Affairs within the European Context. Medicina (B Aires) 2021; 57:medicina57060615. [PMID: 34204759 PMCID: PMC8231552 DOI: 10.3390/medicina57060615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 health emergency has thrown the health systems of most European countries into a deep crisis, forcing them to call off and postpone all interventions deemed not essential or life-saving in order to focus most resources on the treatment of COVID-19 patients. To facilitate women who are experiencing difficulties in terminating their pregnancies in Italy, the Ministry of Health has adapted to the regulations in force in most European countries and issued new guidelines that allow medical abortion up to 63 days, i.e., 9 weeks of gestational age, without mandatory hospitalization. This decision was met with some controversy, based on the assumption that the abortion pill could "incentivize" women to resort to abortion more easily. In fact, statistical data show that in countries that have been using medical abortion for some time, the number of abortions has not increased. The authors expect that even in Italy, as is the case in other European countries, the use of telemedicine is likely to gradually increase as a safe and valuable option in the third phase of the health emergency. The authors argue that there is a need to favor pharmacological abortion by setting up adequately equipped counseling centers, as is the case in other European countries, limiting hospitalization to only a few particularly complex cases.
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Motyka MA, Al-Imam A. Representations of Psychoactive Drugs' Use in Mass Culture and Their Impact on Audiences. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18116000. [PMID: 34204970 PMCID: PMC8199904 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18116000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Drug use has been increasing worldwide over recent decades. Apart from the determinants of drug initiation established in numerous studies, the authors wish to draw attention to other equally important factors, which may contribute to augmenting this phenomenon. The article aims to draw attention to the content of mass culture, especially representations of drug use in mass media, which may influence the liberalization of attitudes towards drugs and their use. The role of mass culture and its impact on the audience is discussed. It presents an overview of drug representations in the content of mass culture, e.g., in film, music, literature, and the occurrence of drug references in everyday products, e.g., food, clothes, and cosmetics. Attention was drawn to liberal attitudes of celebrities and their admissions to drug use, particularly to the impact of the presented positions on the attitudes of the audience, especially young people for whom musicians, actors, and celebrities are regarded as authorities. Indications for further preventive actions were also presented. Attention was drawn to the need to take appropriate action due to the time of the COVID-19 pandemic when many people staying at home (due to lockdown or quarantine) have the possibility of much more frequent contact with mass culture content, which may distort the image of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marek A. Motyka
- Institute of Sociological Sciences, University of Rzeszow, 35-310 Rzeszów, Poland;
| | - Ahmed Al-Imam
- Department of Anatomy and Cellular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad 10001, Iraq
- Alumni Ambassador, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AD, UK
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +964-(0)-7714338199
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Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry and High-Sensitivity Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Screening of Classic Drugs and New Psychoactive Substances and Metabolites in Urine of Consumers. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084000. [PMID: 33924438 PMCID: PMC8069063 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of the new psychoactive substances is continuously growing and the implementation of accurate and sensible analysis in biological matrices of users is relevant and fundamental for clinical and forensic purposes. Two different analytical technologies, high-sensitivity gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) were used for a screening analysis of classic drugs and new psychoactive substances and their metabolites in urine of formed heroin addicts under methadone maintenance therapy. Sample preparation involved a liquid-liquid extraction. The UHPLC-HRMS method included Accucore™ phenyl Hexyl (100 × 2.1 mm, 2.6 μm, Thermo, USA) column with a gradient mobile phase consisting of mobile phase A (ammonium formate 2 mM in water, 0.1% formic acid) and mobile phase B (ammonium formate 2 mM in methanol/acetonitrile 50:50 (v/v), 0.1% formic acid) and a full-scan data-dependent MS2 (ddMS2) mode for substances identification (mass range 100–1000 m/z). The GC-MS method employed an ultra-Inert Intuvo GC column (HP-5MS UI, 30 m, 250 µm i.d, film thickness 0.25 µm; Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) and electron-impact (EI) mass spectra were recorded in total ion monitoring mode (scan range 40–550 m/z). Urine samples from 296 patients with a history of opioid use disorder were examined. Around 80 different psychoactive substances and/or metabolites were identified, being methadone and metabolites the most prevalent ones. The possibility to screen for a huge number of psychotropic substances can be useful in suspected drug related fatalities or acute intoxication/exposure occurring in emergency departments and drug addiction services.
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Negro F, Di Trana A, Marinelli S. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of the performance-enhancing drugs. ACTA BIO-MEDICA : ATENEI PARMENSIS 2021; 92:e2021401. [PMID: 35075058 PMCID: PMC8823578 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v92i6.12377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has been impacting the whole society in every aspect of the daily life, comprising the sport field. Several restrictive strategies have been implemented by governments in an effort to stem the spread of the disease and salvage public health. Such efforts have severely constrained access to non-essential services, leading to the closure of non-essential points of gathering and business and the enforcement of rigorous social distancing and prolonged lockdowns, in addition to masking and stay-at-home mandates. However necessary, there is no denying that such extremely rigorous, and to most people unprecedented, measures have adversely affected the global economy and the daily lives of everyone of us, including professional and amateur athletes (1). The most important sport events were postponed or cancelled, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. But how was the phenomenon of performance-enhancing drug (PED) use impacted and how was the most concerning issue affecting the integrity of sport affected by the pandemic control restrictions? The World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) was established in 1999, whereas its code was implemented in 2004 in order to articulate and enforce doping control initiatives and provide educational strategies aimed at preventing PED use (2). Nonetheless, it is worth noting that the prevalence of PED use among athletes is mostly unchanged since the foundation of WADA. Unfortunately, the use of the performance-enhancing drugs is not limited to athletic performances, but it concerns other settings as well. Nowadays, several strategies for doping control are adopted such as education, deterrence, detection, enforcement and rule of law (3), but the most important anti-dissemination strategy is constituted by information campaigns, especially addressed to youngsters, meant to raise awareness as to the serious health risks involved in PED use. Currently, the primary drivers of anabolic androgenic steroids (ASA) use are 1) the determination to improve performances and prevail no matter what the cost may be; 2) the economic benefits, popularity and fame; 3) greater stamina and resistance. This public health issue has raised particular concerns due to the recent ASA market developments, which is somewhat similar to the illicit market of narcotic drugs. Moreover, it has to be considered that the higher stress and psychosocial condition related to pandemic social restrictions has fueled and exacerbated substance use disorders (4). The prevalence of doping in sport causes unfairness and damages the very fabric of our society, especially insofar as it involves children and young adults who look up to athletes as role models. In this concern, the impact of the COVD-19 pandemic may have led to substantial modifications in substance use patterns and an increased risk of substitution, adulteration, contamination, and dilution with a potentially harmful substance (5, 6). During the COVID-19 lockdown, WADA and stakeholders suspended or scaled down doping control programs, testing and other activities. As a consequence, athletes have seen the unexpected opportunity to misuse AAS without the possible risk of testing positive (7). This has been controversial, considering the measures taken by governments to flatten the pandemic curve in order to safeguard public health. Indeed, all the technologies implemented for teleworking, such as teaching students on-line, telehealth applications, prescriptions and referrals, and treating patients in hospitals/care homes via video links can also be applied to enhance and uphold sport integrity. Conversely, anti-doping testing for professional competitive athletes has increased, due to the lockdown raising suspicion about doping opportunities. The U.S. Anti-doping Agency has put in place novel measures to combat the lack of anti-doping testing during the pandemic: these include a "in-home self-test" that requires athletes to provide urine and small blood samples at home to be tested in the anti-doping laboratory, under supervision provided by video-conference (8). As such, reports from forensic science and toxicology laboratories are crucial for the early detection and response to such events. Furthermore, toxicology laboratories should assure their continue effort in providing new methods and technologies designed to tackle the consumption of illicit substances and to monitor the constantly changing illegal drug markets (9). The most recent WADA code revision has certainly brought about important progress in the ongoing fight against PED abuse. Indeed, it has introduced the possibility to store the samples for 10 years after the first analysis, maintaining the same legal value if re-tested and use for prosecution purposes (10). In that regard, the prospect of re-testing the same sample with newly developed analytical methods based on innovative technologies may represent a strong deterrent for doping users, since anti-doping research rapidly evolves (6), largely by implementing the same approaches used to fight new psychoactive substances (NPS) use (11,12). It is worth noting that the NPS phenomenon bears several similarities with doping, especially due to the constant emergence of new substances and methods aimed at circumventing current legal restrictions. In Italy, the National Antidoping Organization (NADO-Italia) is in charge of guaranteeing compliance with WADA rules and the transposition of the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods. However, the gap between elite athletes and amateur athletes is still broad and unaddressed, since non-professional sport competitions are not adequately overseen, and neither are the competing athletes . This difference may give rise to an important public health issue, on account of the adverse effects of uncontrolled doping agents consumption. In this concern, the Italian anti-doping law created the "Section of the Technical Health Committee for Supervision and Control on Doping and for Health Protection in Sport Activities", that carries out, among its other tasks, the following activities on amateur sport: 1) updating each year the list of banned substances and practices, adapting it to the WADA list; 2) determining cases, criteria and methodologies for anti-doping controls; 3) promoting research projects and information/training campaigns meant to protect health in sports and tackle doping (13). In conclusion, regarding the highly complex dynamics triggered by the pandemic, new and unexpected challenges have come to the fore in the ongoing fight against substance abuse in its every aspect, such as NPS (14), ASA consumption by amateur athletes, or other substance abuse settings, e.g. driving under the influence of psychotropic substances (15). The current Italian antidoping approach for amateur athletes seems to be a promising strategy to bridge the gap between professional sports and amateur sports. Moreover, youngsters should be thoroughly educated as to the threats posed by such substances, so that they can realize how profoundly and severely drug abuse can affect not only their sport career, but their health and well-being overall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Negro
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Medicolegal and Orthopedic Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Annagiulia Di Trana
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health Ancona, Italy
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Catalani V, Arillotta D, Corkery JM, Guirguis A, Vento A, Schifano F. Identifying New/Emerging Psychoactive Substances at the Time of COVID-19; A Web-Based Approach. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:632405. [PMID: 33633599 PMCID: PMC7900492 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.632405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19-related disruptions of people and goods' circulation can affect drug markets, especially for new psychoactive substances (NPSs). Drug shortages could cause a change in available NPS, with the introduction of new, unknown, substances. The aims of the current research were to use a web crawler, NPSfinder®, to identify and categorize emerging NPS discussed on a range of drug enthusiasts/psychonauts' websites/fora at the time of the pandemic; social media for these identified NPS were screened as well. The NPSfinder® was used here to automatically scan 24/7 a list of psychonaut websites and NPS online resources. The NPSs identified in the time frame between January and August 2020 were searched in both the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addictions (EMCDDA)/United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) databases and on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube) as well, with a content qualitative analysis having been carried out on reddit.com. Of a total of 229 NPSs being discussed at the time of the pandemic, some 18 NPSs were identified for the first time by the NPSfinder®. These included six cathinones, six opioids, two synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs), two phenylcyclohexylpiperidine (PCP)-like molecules, and two psychedelics. Of these NPSs, 10 were found to be previously unreported to either the UNODC or the EMCDDA. Of these 18 NPSs, opioids and cathinones were the most discussed on social media/reddit, with the highest number of threads associated. Current findings may support the use of both automated web crawlers and social listening approaches to identify emerging NPSs; the pandemic-related imposed restrictions may somehow influence the demand for specific NPS classes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Catalani
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse & Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life & Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Davide Arillotta
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse & Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life & Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - John Martin Corkery
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse & Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life & Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Amira Guirguis
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse & Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life & Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom.,Swansea University Medical School, Institute of Life Sciences 2, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Alessandro Vento
- Department of Mental Health, ASL Roma 2, Rome, Italy.,Addictions' Observatory (ODDPSS), Rome, Italy.,Department of Psychology, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Schifano
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse & Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life & Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
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