Novel psychoactive substances-related presentations to the emergency departments of the European drug emergencies network plus (Euro-DEN plus) over the six-year period 2014–2019. (2nd December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Crulli, Benjamin; Dines, Alison M.; Blanco, Georgina; Giraudon, Isabelle; Eyer, Florian; Liechti, Matthias E.; Miró, Òscar; Hovda, Knut E.; Heyerdahl, Fridtjof; Yates, Christopher; Vallersnes, Odd Martin; Wood, David M.; Dargan, Paul I.
• Other Names: Anand Lukasz collaborator.; Anseeuw Kurt collaborator.; Badaras Robertas collaborator.; Bonnici Jeffrey collaborator.; Brvar Miran collaborator.; Caganova Blazena collaborator.; Calýskan Feriyde collaborator.; Ceschi Alessandro collaborator.; Chamoun Karam collaborator.; Daveloose Laurence collaborator.; Galicia Miguel collaborator.; Geith Stefanie collaborator.; Gorozia Ketevan collaborator.; Grenc Damjan collaborator.; Gresnigt Femke collaborator.; Hondebrink Laura collaborator.; Jürgens Gesche collaborator.; Konstari Jutta collaborator.; Kutubidze Soso collaborator.; Laubner Gabija collaborator.; Liakoni Evangelia collaborator.; Liguts Viesturs collaborator.; Lyphout Cathelijne collaborator.; MacMahon Thomas collaborator.; Mégarbane Bruno collaborator.; Moughty Adrian collaborator.; Nitescu Gabriela Viorela collaborator.; Noseda Roberta collaborator.; O'Connor Niall collaborator.; Paasma Raido collaborator.; Perez Juan Ortega collaborator.; Perminas Marius collaborator.; Persett Per Sverre collaborator.; Põld Kristiina collaborator.; Puiguriguer Jordi collaborator.; Radenkova-Saeva Julia collaborator.; Rulisek Jan collaborator.; Schmid Yasmin collaborator.; Scholz Irene collaborator.; Stašinskis Roberts collaborator.; Surkus Jonas collaborator.; van den Busken Wesley collaborator.; van den Hengel-Koot Irma collaborator.; Vigorita Federico collaborator.; Waldmanm Wojciech collaborator.; Waring William Stephen collaborator.; Zacharov Sergej collaborator.;
• Is Part Of: Clinical toxicology. Volume 60:Number 12(2022)
• Page Start: 1318
• Page End: 1327
• Publication Date: 2022-12-02
• Subjects: Acute toxicity -- recreational drugs -- novel psychoactive substances -- cathinones -- synthetic cannabinoids; Toxicology -- Periodicals; Toxicological emergencies -- Periodicals; 615.9
• DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2022.2137524
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1556-3650

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) have been increasingly reported in the last 15–20 years. We aimed to describe presentations to the emergency department (ED) with acute recreational drug toxicity involving NPS. Methods: Data were extracted from the European Drug Emergencies Network (Euro-DEN) Plus database for all presentations to ED (36 EDs in 24 European countries) with acute toxicity between January 2014 and December 2019. Patient demographics, agents involved, and clinical outcomes were described and the subgroup of presentations involving NPS was compared with the rest of the cohort. Results: Out of 43, 633 Euro-DEN Plus presentations, 3304 (7.6%) involved at least one NPS. Agents were identified mainly based on self-report or clinical presentation, with analytical confirmation being performed only in 17.9% of NPS presentations. The proportion of NPS presentations varied by centre (0–48.8%). For centres where data were available for all 6 years, NPS-related presentations peaked in 2015 (11.9%). In 2014, 78.4% of NPS agents reported were cathinones, while only 3.4% were synthetic cannabinoids (SCs); conversely, in 2019 only 11.6% of NPS agents reported were cathinones, while 72.2% were SCs. NPS-related presentations involved younger patients (median 30 (23–37) vs. 32 (25–40) years, p < 0.001) and more males (84.8 vs . 75.8%, p < 0.001) compared with the rest of the cohort. Patients presenting to ED after using NPS were more likely to self-discharge (22.8 vs. 15.1%), less likely to be admitted to critical care (3.6 vs . 6.1%) but had a longer length of stay in hospital (median 5.1 (2.7–18.7) vs. 4.7 (2.5–9.2) h, p < 0.001). Death occurred in 0.5% of all presentations involving NPS and in 0.4% of non-NPS presentations. Conclusions: This large multicentre series of NPS presentations to European EDs showed marked geographical variation and changes over time in the proportion of presentations to ED involving NPS, as well as the proportion of NPS subgroups.