Intoxication with new psychoactive substances - growing problem

Zlouporaba psihoaktivnih tvari i danas predstavlja velik javnozdravstveni problem. Iako se uporaba nekih starih droga, poput opioida odnosno heroina te kokaina, polako smanjuje, te smrtnost opada, danas se suočavamo sa problemom socijalno ugroženih i isključenih skupina bivših ili sadašnjih ovisnika. Kanabis je najčešće upotrebljivana droga u Europu. Novije studije pokazale su da konzumacija marihuane tijekom adolescencije može dovesti do dugoročnih promjena moždane funkcije. Zabrinjavajuća je pojava raznolikih psihoaktivnih tvari na tržištu droga kojima je cilj imitirati zabranjene tvari. Njih dijelimo u nekoliko skupina: sintetski katinoni, fentanilamini, piperazini, triptamini, sintetički kanabinoidi te druge tvari koje se ne mogu svrstati u neku od ovih skupina. Nove, posebno snažne sintetičke tvari, sintetiziraju se u tajnim laboratorijima te prodaju putem interneta. U 2013. otkrivena je 81 nova droga te sada sustav za rano otkrivanje nadzire više od 350 psihoaktivnih tvari za koje se sumnja da su otrovne ili smrtonosne. Zbog toga je ovaj sustav znatno opterećen. Europski centar za praćenje droga i ovisnosti o drogama (EMCDDA) središnji je izvor i valjano tijelo koje se bavi pitanjima povezanim s drogom u Europi. Sustav ranog upozoravanja u slučaju pojave novih psihoaktivnih tvari u sklopu EMCDDA redovito objavljuje popis novootkrivenih tvari, a profil tvari se može naći u EDND bazi (European information system and database on new drugs). Simptomi i znakovi intoksikacije novim psihoaktivnim tvarima raznoliki su, a zabilježeni su i smrtni slučajevi. Intravenska uporaba, osobito sintetičkih katinona, povezana je infekcijama mekih tkiva te s povećanim rizikom zaraze HIV-om i virusima hepatitisa.Drug abuse is still a major public health problem. Although the use of some older drugs, such as opioids (heroin) and cocaine, is slowly decreasing, and mortality rate is declining, today we are facing socially vulnerable and excluded groups of former or current drug users. Cannabis is the most widely-used drug in Europe. Recent studies have shown that consumption of cannabis during adolescence can lead to long-term changes in brain function. An alarming issue on drug market are new psychoactive substances which are trying to imitate prohibited drugs. They are classified into several groups: synthetic cathinones, fentanilamins, piperazines, tryptamines, synthetic cannabinoids and other substances that can not be classified in any of these groups. The new, particularly powerful synthetic substances are synthesized in illegal laboratories and sold on the Internet. Only in 2013, 81 new drugs were detected and now a system for early detection monitors more than 350 psychoactive substances suspected to be toxic or deadly. Therefore, this system is under great pressure. European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) is the central source and a valid body dealing with drug-related issues in Europe. Early Warning System on New Psychoactive substances of EMCDDA regularly publishes the list of newly discovered substances. The profile of the substance can be found in EDND basis (European information system and database on new drugs). Symptoms and signs of intoxication with new psychoactive substances are diverse, and death cases have been reported. Intravenous drug use, in particular synthetic cathinones, is associated with soft tissue infections and increased risk of infection with HIV and hepatitis viruses