[Analysis of intoxication with novel psychoactive substance (NPS) in Pomeranian region, from January to July 2015].

INTRODUCTION

During initial months of the year 2015 we observed the increase number of patients intoxicated with NPS in Poland. In our work we analysed the scale of this phenomenon in Pomeranian region.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study was carried out on period from 1 January 2015 to 31 July 2015. Analysis was based on records derived from Electronic Poison Information Database developed and used on a daily basis on Pomeranian Centre of Toxicology (PCT), data obtained from Centre for Monitoring of Adverse Effects of Medicaments and Chemical Substances based in PCT and on information gathered from patients treated in Pomeranian Centre of Toxicology for NPS intoxication.

RESULTS

Our study has shown slow, continuous rise in the number of intoxications with NPS in analysed period. The most frequent cause of intoxication were synthetic compounds. 99 cases needed treatment in Clinical Toxicology Unit due to their severe state. The youngest exposed person was 13 y.o., while the oldest was 53 y.o. Mean age was 22.5 y.o. with median 20 years. Majority of intoxications were among males (80.54%). 61.53% of all patients came from Tricity agglomeration. Ethanol was the prevalent coingestant. The most commonly used substance was generic NPS (70.59% of cases), followed by unknowns psychoactive substance (16.29% of cases), herbal mixture (16.29% of cases) and dextrometorphan (5.88% of cases). The study did not find one drug name that would be prevalent over others, with the most frequent commercial name being "Mocarz", found in 4 cases. Most dangerous substances found in NPS were PMA, PMMA, 25C-NBOMe and 251-NBOMe. There were no deaths of patients treated in PCT because of acute intoxication with NPS.