OBJECTIVE: At present, polydrug abuse comprises, besides traditional illicit drugs, new psychoactive substances (NPS) and non-prescribed psychotropic medicines (N-PPM). Polydrug abuse was comprehensively evaluated among opioid-dependent patients undergoing opioid maintenance treatment (OMT). METHODS: Two hundred consecutively collected urine samples from 82 OMT patients (52 male) treated with methadone or buprenorphine-naloxone medication were studied using a liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry screening method. The method enables simultaneous detection of hundreds of abused substances covering the traditional drugs of abuse and many NPS as well as N-PPM. RESULTS: Ninety-two (45.8%) samples were positive for the abused substances. Benzodiazepines (29.0%), amphetamines (19.5%), cannabinoids (17.0%), NPS (13.0%), N-PPM (9.0%), and opioids (9.0%) were detected in different combinations. The simultaneous occurrence of up to three groups of abused substances was common (40.0%), and in one sample, all six groups were found. The stimulant NPS alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone was found in 10.0% and the sedative N-PPM pregabalin in 4.0% of the samples. The patients were seldom aware of what particular NPS they had abused. CONCLUSIONS: A widespread occurrence of abused substances beyond the ordinary was revealed. Identifying these patients is essential as polydrug abuse is a safety risk to the patient and may cause attrition from OMT.
OBJECTIVE: At present, polydrug abuse comprises, besides traditional illicit drugs, new psychoactive substances (NPS) and non-prescribed psychotropic medicines (N-PPM). Polydrug abuse was comprehensively evaluated among opioid-dependent patients undergoing opioid maintenance treatment (OMT). METHODS: Two hundred consecutively collected urine samples from 82 OMT patients (52 male) treated with methadone or buprenorphine-naloxone medication were studied using a liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry screening method. The method enables simultaneous detection of hundreds of abused substances covering the traditional drugs of abuse and many NPS as well as N-PPM. RESULTS: Ninety-two (45.8%) samples were positive for the abused substances. Benzodiazepines (29.0%), amphetamines (19.5%), cannabinoids (17.0%), NPS (13.0%), N-PPM (9.0%), and opioids (9.0%) were detected in different combinations. The simultaneous occurrence of up to three groups of abused substances was common (40.0%), and in one sample, all six groups were found. The stimulant NPSalpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone was found in 10.0% and the sedative N-PPM pregabalin in 4.0% of the samples. The patients were seldom aware of what particular NPS they had abused. CONCLUSIONS: A widespread occurrence of abused substances beyond the ordinary was revealed. Identifying these patients is essential as polydrug abuse is a safety risk to the patient and may cause attrition from OMT.
Authors: Pablo K Valente; Angela R Bazzi; Ellen Childs; Peter Salhaney; Joel Earlywine; Jennifer Olson; Dea L Biancarelli; Brandon D L Marshall; Katie B Biello Journal: Int J Drug Policy Date: 2020-09-07
Authors: María Alías-Ferri; Manuela Pellegrini; Emilia Marchei; Roberta Pacifici; Maria Concetta Rotolo; Simona Pichini; Clara Pérez-Mañá; Esther Papaseit; Robert Muga; Francina Fonseca; Magi Farré; Marta Torrens Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2022-08-03 Impact factor: 5.435
Authors: Deborah Dal Farra; Alice Valdesalici; Giancarlo Zecchinato; Alfio De Sandre; Diego Saccon; Pierluigi Simonato; Ornella Corazza; Giovanni Martinotti; Andrew L Smith; Marco Solmi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-01-14 Impact factor: 3.390