Epidemiological analysis of cases with confirmed presence of amphetamine and THC in the material of Department of Analytical Toxicology and Drug Monitoring UJ CM

The aim of this paper is epidemiological analysis of poisonings with amphetamine and tetrahydrocanabinols (THC), particularly in three aspects: (1) co-occurrence of other substances (mixed poisonings); (2) factors shaping dynamics in number of poisonings and 3) average age of patients. The data this paper is based on come from the data set "Duch" which is run by the Department of Analytical Toxicology and Drug Monitoring UJ CM in KrakA³w. The data were collected between 1 Dec. 2001 and 28 Feb. 2005 (1186 days). Amphetamine and THC were determined in patient's urine in semi-quantitative manner by means of EMIT and FPIA methods. RESULTS: Amphetamine: In the studied period amphetamine was confirmed in 493 patients. Other substances were confirmed in 57.6% of patients: opiates--28.6% THC--14.2%, opiates and THC--5.9%. Since the beginning of the studied period till mid Aug 2003 daily number of cases showed increasing trend (0.062% per day), then the tendency was reversed (-0.074% per day). We observed more males than females (3.24:1). Most cases were poisoned on Mondays, less during the week and least on weekends. At the beginning of the studied period males were older than females (27 vs. 20 years). As the time progressed average age of males was stable but in women average age was increasing at the rate 0.004 year per day. As a consequence of this trend in winter 2004/2005 average age of both sexes was equal. THC: We observed 410 cases with confirmed presence of THC in urine. Other substances were confirmed in 40.2% of patients: amphetamine 17.1% amphetamine and opiates 7.1, opiates 7.1%. There were 17 various substances accompanying THC. In our material the sex ratio was biased toward males (7.8 to 1). Weekly dynamics of poisonings with THC have the same pattern as the one observed in amphetamine. At the beginning of the studied period males were older than females (28 vs. 20 years). Changes in averages followed the same pattern as in amphetamine. Language: pl