Patterns of new psychoactive substance in substance users at a tertiary care treatment centre based on urinalysis

Abstracts are archived here from prior International Forums. Abstracts were reviewed by NIH staff for appropriateness to present at the Forum but are not peer-reviewed.

Raka Jain

All Authors:

R. Jain, R. Kumar Chadda, R. Quraishi, R. Lal, R. Rao, S. Rana, R. Raghav, A. Kumar, S.Kumar. National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India

Background

Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS, legal highs) are emerging at an unprecedented rate worldwide and pose a significant risk to public health. The study aims to evaluate the patterns of NPS among substance users in an addiction treatment setting, based on urinalysis.

Method

A total of 1000 male patients, fulfilling ICD-10 criteria for harmful use or dependence syndrome, seeking treatment at a tertiary de-addiction treatment centre of North India for psychoactive substance use in 2018 and 2019 were included. Basic sociodemographic and substance use history was recorded followed by a collection of urine (5ml). The samples were assessed for the presence of conventional drugs of abuse and thereafter screened for NPS by Bioarray Chip technology (BAT). All the positive samples of different groups of NPS were further confirmed by liquid chromatography-QTOF-mass spectrometry (LC–QTOF-MS).

Result

Mean age of the participants was 28.2 (S.D. 8.4) years. Urinalysis results were indicative of multiple drug use and combination pattern. The percentage of NPS positive tests varied from 01.0% to 79.3% among different categories of drug types. These include Synthetic cannabinoids: AB-CHIMNACA, AB-PINACA, JWH-018; Stimulants: 1-Phenylpiperazine, 2-Phenylpiperazine, Benzylpiperazine; Synthetic Cathinones: mephedrone, Alpha-PVP, Fentanyl analogs: Actetylfentanyl, Ocfentanil, Carfentanil; Benzodiazepine analog: Etizolam; Other Synthetic Opioids: AH-7921, MT-45, W-19; Plant-based products: Mescaline, (Hallucinogen), Mitragynine, (Stimulant), Salvinorin A (Dissociative).

Conclusion

This is the first study from India to report the NPS objectively in an addiction treatment setting. The urinalysis findings have important policy implications. (Supported by Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India, New Delhi, India).

Abstract Year: 
2023
Abstract Region: 
South Asia
Abstract Country: 
India
Abstract Category: 
Treatment
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