Prevalence of Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS) Use in Patients Admitted to Drug Detoxification Treatment
BackgroundAbout 15 years ago, a diverse group of new recreational psychotropic substances began to emerge, which were marketed for example as “legal highs,” “research chemicals,” or “designer drugs.” These substances were later subsumed under the label “Novel Psychoactive Substances” (NPS). Importan...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00569/full |
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| author | Michael Specka Thomas Kuhlmann Jürgen Sawazki Udo Bonnet Renate Steinert Monika Cybulska-Rycicki Helmut Eich Benita Zeiske Antje Niedersteberg Luzia Schaaf Norbert Scherbaum |
| author_facet | Michael Specka Thomas Kuhlmann Jürgen Sawazki Udo Bonnet Renate Steinert Monika Cybulska-Rycicki Helmut Eich Benita Zeiske Antje Niedersteberg Luzia Schaaf Norbert Scherbaum |
| author_sort | Michael Specka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundAbout 15 years ago, a diverse group of new recreational psychotropic substances began to emerge, which were marketed for example as “legal highs,” “research chemicals,” or “designer drugs.” These substances were later subsumed under the label “Novel Psychoactive Substances” (NPS). Important NPS classes are cathinones, synthetic cannabimimetics, phenethylamines, and herbal drugs. The health care system for psychotropic substance use disorders (SUDs) traditionally focused on a few substances, such as alcohol, heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, or cannabis. Users of illicit substances often engage in polydrug use. However little is known about the prevalence of NPS use within the group of “classical” illicit substance users.ObjectiveWe investigated lifetime and recent use of NPS and other drugs in patients who underwent in-patient detoxification treatment from illicit drugs in Germany.MethodsIn a multicenter study with eight participating facilities, patients admitted to treatment underwent a standardized interview at admission, concerning their past and current substance use. The interview comprised classical substances of abuse, NPS, and rarely used substances such as LSD. In addition, participating sites had the opportunity to analyze their patients’ routine drug screenings by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), which permitted detection of NPS.ResultsInterviews from 295 patients could be analyzed. Most patients were opiate dependent and multiple substance users. About 32% reported use of synthetic cannabimimetics during lifetime, but usually only a few times. An important reason for their use was that NPS were not detected by drug testing in prisons or drug treatment facilities. Cathinones, herbal drugs or other NPS had rarely been used during lifetime. NPS use during the last 30 days before admission was nearly zero. This was confirmed by urine analysis results. In contrast, lifetime and current use of opiates, alcohol, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and cannabis was high. In addition, 18% reported of regular unprescribed pregabalin use during lifetime, and 20% had recently used pregabalin.ConclusionPatients admitted to drug detoxification treatment showed multiple substance use, but this did not include NPS use. The diversion of legal medications such as pregabalin in this group is a serious concern. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T10:47:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6cc575750f8249c78f908a0c38ebe531 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T10:47:21Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-6cc575750f8249c78f908a0c38ebe5312022-12-21T23:50:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402020-07-011110.3389/fpsyt.2020.00569549087Prevalence of Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS) Use in Patients Admitted to Drug Detoxification TreatmentMichael Specka0Thomas Kuhlmann1Jürgen Sawazki2Udo Bonnet3Renate Steinert4Monika Cybulska-Rycicki5Helmut Eich6Benita Zeiske7Antje Niedersteberg8Luzia Schaaf9Norbert Scherbaum10LVR Hospital Essen Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, GermanyPsychosomatische Klinik Bergisch Gladbach, Bergisch Gladbach, GermanyLVR Clinic Viersen, Viersen, GermanyCastrop-Rauxel Evangelical Hospital, Castrop-Rauxel, GermanyLWL-Klinik Münster, Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, GermanyLVR Clinic Langenfeld, Langenfeld, GermanyClinic Maria Hilf GmbH, Moenchengladbach, GermanyAlexius/Josef Hospital, Neuss, GermanyLVR Clinic Düren, Düren, GermanyLVR Clinic Viersen, Viersen, GermanyLVR Hospital Essen Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, GermanyBackgroundAbout 15 years ago, a diverse group of new recreational psychotropic substances began to emerge, which were marketed for example as “legal highs,” “research chemicals,” or “designer drugs.” These substances were later subsumed under the label “Novel Psychoactive Substances” (NPS). Important NPS classes are cathinones, synthetic cannabimimetics, phenethylamines, and herbal drugs. The health care system for psychotropic substance use disorders (SUDs) traditionally focused on a few substances, such as alcohol, heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, or cannabis. Users of illicit substances often engage in polydrug use. However little is known about the prevalence of NPS use within the group of “classical” illicit substance users.ObjectiveWe investigated lifetime and recent use of NPS and other drugs in patients who underwent in-patient detoxification treatment from illicit drugs in Germany.MethodsIn a multicenter study with eight participating facilities, patients admitted to treatment underwent a standardized interview at admission, concerning their past and current substance use. The interview comprised classical substances of abuse, NPS, and rarely used substances such as LSD. In addition, participating sites had the opportunity to analyze their patients’ routine drug screenings by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), which permitted detection of NPS.ResultsInterviews from 295 patients could be analyzed. Most patients were opiate dependent and multiple substance users. About 32% reported use of synthetic cannabimimetics during lifetime, but usually only a few times. An important reason for their use was that NPS were not detected by drug testing in prisons or drug treatment facilities. Cathinones, herbal drugs or other NPS had rarely been used during lifetime. NPS use during the last 30 days before admission was nearly zero. This was confirmed by urine analysis results. In contrast, lifetime and current use of opiates, alcohol, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and cannabis was high. In addition, 18% reported of regular unprescribed pregabalin use during lifetime, and 20% had recently used pregabalin.ConclusionPatients admitted to drug detoxification treatment showed multiple substance use, but this did not include NPS use. The diversion of legal medications such as pregabalin in this group is a serious concern.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00569/fullnovel psychoactive substancespregabalin abusemultiple substance usedrug dependencedrug detoxificationopiate dependents |
| spellingShingle | Michael Specka Thomas Kuhlmann Jürgen Sawazki Udo Bonnet Renate Steinert Monika Cybulska-Rycicki Helmut Eich Benita Zeiske Antje Niedersteberg Luzia Schaaf Norbert Scherbaum Prevalence of Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS) Use in Patients Admitted to Drug Detoxification Treatment Frontiers in Psychiatry novel psychoactive substances pregabalin abuse multiple substance use drug dependence drug detoxification opiate dependents |
| title | Prevalence of Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS) Use in Patients Admitted to Drug Detoxification Treatment |
| title_full | Prevalence of Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS) Use in Patients Admitted to Drug Detoxification Treatment |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS) Use in Patients Admitted to Drug Detoxification Treatment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS) Use in Patients Admitted to Drug Detoxification Treatment |
| title_short | Prevalence of Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS) Use in Patients Admitted to Drug Detoxification Treatment |
| title_sort | prevalence of novel psychoactive substance nps use in patients admitted to drug detoxification treatment |
| topic | novel psychoactive substances pregabalin abuse multiple substance use drug dependence drug detoxification opiate dependents |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00569/full |
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