heroin and 3-4-methylenedioxyethamphetamine

The basic sources of information on drug use are epidemiological surveys, although they have some limitations: their results may be conditioned by the lack of veracity of the responses and the sampling method makes it difficult to detect lowprevalence behaviours in target populations. This study aimed to establish the epidemiological pattern of drug use in the population undergoing drug testing in hair, in the framework of judicial investigations, in order to provide an additional approach to the knowledge of high-risk drug use.. A cross-sectional study on drug use was conducted on the population subjected to drug testing in hair (N=5,292) in the forensic context. Prevalence of cannabis, cocaine, heroin, ketamine, amphetamine (AP), methamphetamine (MA), 3,4-methylenedioxy- methamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine (MDEA) and methadone uses were obtained. Association between drug use and demographics, and trends of prevalence over the period were analysed using the Pearson Chi-square test. Frequency distribution of drug concentrations in hair was obtained and it was assessed in relation to gender and age using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H methods.. During the period 2013-2015, prevalence of cocaine use was particularly high (49%), rating second among the population studied, after cannabis use (54%). Proportions of heroin, methadone, MDMA and amphetamine use ranged from 10% to 18%. There was a significant increase in prevalence of MDMA, heroin and amphetamine use during the period 2013-2015, as well as a significant decrease in methadone use. The rates of cannabis, cocaine and MDMA use were higher in men, whereas methadone use was higher among women.. Cannabis and cocaine are the most frequently abused drugs among the population undergoing drug testing in hair in the framework of judicial investigations over the three-year period, although the proportions of heroin, MDMA and amphetamine users show an increasing trend. Drug use patterns vary according to age and sex, with a decrease in cannabis and MDMA use and an increase in heroin and methadone use as age increased; cannabis, cocaine and MDMA use are more prevalent among men and methadone use among women.. Las encuestas epidemiológicas son las fuentes básicas de información sobre el consumo de drogas, aunque presentan algunas limitaciones en este campo: sus resultados pueden verse condicionados por la falta de veracidad de las respuestas y el método de muestreo dificulta la detección de comportamientos de baja prevalencia en las poblaciones diana. El objetivo de esta investigación fue establecer el patrón epidemiológico del consumo de drogas en la población sometida a análisis de drogas en cabello en el marco de investigaciones judiciales, con el fin de aportar una fuente de información adicional al conocimiento del consumo de drogas de alto riesgo.. Se realizó un estudio transversal de consumo de drogas en la población sometida a análisis de drogas en cabello en el contexto forense (N=5.292). Se obtuvo la prevalencia de consumo de cannabis, cocaína, heroína, ketamina, anfetamina (AP), metanfetamina (MA), 3,4-metilendioxi-metanfetamina (MDMA), 3,4-metilendioxianfetamina (MDA), 3,4-metilendioxi-N-etilamphetamina (MDEA) y metadona. Se analizó la asociación entre el consumo de drogas y los factores demográficos, así como de sus tendencias, mediante la prueba de Chicuadrado de Pearson. Se obtuvo la distribución de frecuencias de las concentraciones de drogas en cabello y se evaluó en relación con el sexo y la edad, utilizando los métodos no paramétricos U de Mann-Whitney y H de Kruskal-Wallis.. En el periodo 2013-2015, la prevalencia de consumo de cocaína fue particularmente elevada (49%) en la población estudiada, próxima a la de cannabis (54%). Las tasas de consumo de heroína, metadona, MDMA y anfetamina resultaron entre un 10% y mun 18%. Durante el período estudiado, se registró un aumento significativo del consumo de MDMA, heroína y anfetamina, así como una disminución significativa del consumo de metadona.. Cannabis y cocaína son las drogas de abuso más frecuentes entre la población sometida a análisis de drogas en cabello en el marco de investigaciones judiciales en el periodo estudiado, si bien las proporciones de consumidores de heroína, MDMA y anfetamina muestran una tendencia creciente. Los patrones de consumo varían en función de la edad y del sexo, observándose disminución del consumo de cannabis y MDMA e incremento del consumo de heroína y metadona al aumentar la edad. El consumo de cannabis, cocaína y MDMA resulta más prevalente en hombres y el de metadona en mujeres.

Topics: 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; Adolescent; Adult; Amphetamine; Cannabinoids; Cocaine; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Forensic Sciences; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hair; Heroin; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Ketamine; Male; Methadone; Methamphetamine; Middle Aged; N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; Prevalence; Spain; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance-Related Disorders; Young Adult

Topics: 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; Acute Disease; Designer Drugs; Heroin; Humans; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Substance-Related Disorders

To provide epidemiological information on the extent of design drug use in Spain, the characteristics of users, and the types of substances consumed.. We analyzed two surveys on drug use carried out in 1993 and 1994 (one in the general population older than 15 years and the other in heroin and/or cocaine users who were not in treatment) as well as data on designer drug seizures confiscated by the General Police Headquarters and Ministry of Health laboratories.. According to the general population survey, 4.5% of persons 16-40 years of age have tried design drugs at some time, 2.1% more than once, and 0.6% are current users. Design drug use is associated with age of 20-24 years and use of crack (odds ratio [OR] = 28.6), cannabis (OR = 12.5), cocaine (OR = 7.6) or heroin (OR = 3.8). According to the survey of heroin/cocaine users, 25% of cocaine users have used design drugs in the last 30 days, 11% of heroin users, and 18% of those who use both substances. Use is associated with the use of hallucinogens (OR = 4.8), non-use of the injected route (OR = 2), and having been interviewed in recreational areas (OR = 1.8). Police data reflect a stability in the quantities of amphetamines confiscated, a large increase in those of MDMA, and an absence of MDA and MDEA. Ministry of Health laboratories show an increase in confiscations of amphetamines and the presence of MDA, MDMA and MDEA in all years and areas studied, as well as the appearance of MBDB in 1994.. The occasional use of different design drugs has spread to some degree among young people, varies considerably by geographic region, and is associated with the use of other legal and illegal substances, specially stimulants.

Topics: 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; Adolescent; Adult; Cocaine; Designer Drugs; Female; Heroin; Humans; Male; N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; Prevalence; Spain; Substance-Related Disorders

Following the death of a British AIDS patient who was taking the protease inhibitor ritonavir when he died of an overdose of MDMA, or ecstasy, ritonavir producer Abbott Laboratories has acknowledged potentially dangerous interactions between the two drugs. The coroner said that Phillip Kay died of an MDMA overdose, with a blood level nearly 10 times that at which serious toxic effects would be expected. Kay's partner, Jim Lumb, suspected a drug interaction was the cause because he was sure that Kay would not have taken such an excessive dose. Abbott's Dr. P. Kon wrote to Lumb that "Abbott has not conducted, and does not plan on conducting any drug-drug interaction studies between ritonavir and any illegal substances, including ecstasy." However, he noted that the lab's researchers had studied the theoretical interactions between the two drugs. They found that using the two drugs together could result in a 2 to 3 fold increase in MDMA levels and, that, in 3 percent to 10 percent of the population, MDMA levels could increase to as high as 5 to 10 fold. Abbott refused to issue a warning, as Lumb had requested, but the company has made a fact sheet available to British doctors who request the information.

Topics: 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; Amphetamine; Cocaine; Drug Interactions; Fatal Outcome; Hallucinogens; Heroin; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Methadone; Ritonavir

A case of oral ingestion of large doses of both the amphetamine-derivative 3,4-methylene dioxyethamphetamine (MDEA) and heroin is reported. Despite high serum levels of both drugs, the patient did not present with the classic signs and symptoms normally seen during intoxication with these drugs. The patient recovered after symptomatic treatment. The possibility that opposite pharmacological properties of the two drugs prevented the patients death is discussed.

Topics: 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; Acute Disease; Adult; Confusion; Critical Care; Designer Drugs; Drug Antagonism; Drug Monitoring; Heroin; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Suicide, Attempted; Time Factors