[Poisonings by selected drugs: analysis of 1995-1999 data files of the Clinic of Acute Poisonings Institute of Occupational Medicine in Łódź].

Over the period of 1995-1999 a total number of 439 cases were admitted to the Clinic of Acute Poisonings, Łódź, Poland, due to poisoning with opiates, opioids, amphetamine, cannabis products, LSD and cocaine. Most of the patients were males, the male to female ratio was 1:1.5 (266 to 173). The distribution by age indicated the persons aged 21-30 yr as the highest risk group, then those aged 14-21 yr. Over the period under study the structure of poisonings changed significantly. Since 1997 the number of poisonings with amphetamine and cannabis products increased dramatically, while that of opiate poisonings declined. Approximately 84% of cases were found to be addicted to a combination of drugs and psychotropic agents, mostly benzodiazepine and ethyl alcohol. Drug addiction was reported by over 80% patients with opiate poisoning, 44.8% with tetrahydrocannabinole poisoning and only 9.5% with amphetamine poisoning. The efficacy of treatment in cases of drug addiction is very low. Repeated treatment was reported by almost 100% of patients who had attempted to quit drug abuse. Among opiate poisoning cases, only 8 out of 45 patients did not question the effectiveness of the withdrawal treatment.