Evaluation of forensic toxicological characteristics of cases under the age of eighteen with substance use: a sample from Türkiye.

BACKGROUND

Substance use is rapidly increasing in the pediatric age group worldwide. There is not enough toxicological data on substance use among children and adolescents in Türkiye. This study aims to reveal the forensic toxicological characteristics of cases under the age of eighteen with substance use detected.

METHODS

In our study, forensic toxicological reports of biological samples taken from 587 cases brought to our institution by law enforcement officers due to allegations and/or suspicions of substance abuse between January 1, 2022, and June 30, 2024 were retrospectively examined. The cases were reviewed in terms of variables such as gender, age, age group, substance type (if any), and presence of multiple substance use.

RESULTS

Out of the cases, 89.1% (n=523) of the cases were male and 10.9% (n=64) were female. The majority of cases (93.2%) were observed in the 15-17 age group, accounting for 547 individuals. Of the cases, 29.0% (n = 170) were identified as multiple substance users. Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) were present in 68.7% (n = 403) and cannabis was found in 48.2% (n = 283) of cases. It was observed that only cannabis use was significantly higher among males and only ATS use was higher among females (Cramer's V = 0.202, p < 0.001). The association between gender and substance type was statistically significant; however, the strength of the association was small to moderate.

CONCLUSION

This study assessed substance use profiles in adolescent populations through substance testing. ATS were the most frequently detected substances. The analysis revealed a significant increase in the proportion of female cases over time. While cannabis use was more prevalent among males, ATS use was more common among females. Collecting objective, valid, and definitive data will facilitate the identification of substance use issues and support the development of effective preventive policies.