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European Review For Medical and... Oct 2015Synthetic cathinones are an emerging class of designer drugs abused of due to their psychostimulant and hallucinogenic effects, similar to those of cocaine,... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Synthetic cathinones are an emerging class of designer drugs abused of due to their psychostimulant and hallucinogenic effects, similar to those of cocaine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), amphetamines and methamphetamines. Mephedrone is a cathinone analogue (4-methyl aromatic analogue of methcathinone) that was reported to be implicated in several fatalities in the media across Europe, but only a few have actually resulted in mephedrone cited as the cause of death. In this paper, we aim to systematically review analytically confirmed cases of mephedrone-related fatalities.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Relevant scientific articles were identified from Medline, Cochrane Central, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, EMBASE and Google Scholar, through May 2015 using the following keywords: "Mephedrone", "fatal intoxication," "fatalities", "acute intoxication" and "death".
RESULTS
In total, 10 citations met the criteria for inclusion, representing 18 fatal cases with analytically confirmed mephedrone in biological sample/s of the deceased. The death was attributed to mephedrone intoxication in 9 cases (range of post-mortem blood mephedrone concentration: 1.33-22 mg/L), whereas multiple drug toxicity, involving mephedrone was cited as cause of death in 6 cases (range of post-mortem blood mephedrone concentration: 0.04-1.3 mg/L).
CONCLUSIONS
Data suggest that the abuse of mephedrone remains to be a public health issue. Mephedrone appears to have a rather narrow therapeutic window that makes its use dangerous. Dosages which supposedly fall within recreational use limits could also lead to death when combined with other drugs in certain circumstances. Forensic Toxicology laboratories must assess their testing procedures to ensure they can achieve both an appropriate screening regime and targeted quantitative analysis for the detection of mephedrone in various biological matrices.
Topics: Alkaloids; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Death; Designer Drugs; Humans; Methamphetamine; Substance-Related Disorders
PubMed: 26502870
DOI: No ID Found -
International Journal of Gynaecology... Nov 2021Indigenous women are overrepresented among people who use (PWU) methamphetamine (MA) due to colonialism and intergenerational trauma. Prenatal methamphetamine exposure... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Indigenous women are overrepresented among people who use (PWU) methamphetamine (MA) due to colonialism and intergenerational trauma. Prenatal methamphetamine exposure (PME) is increasing as the number of PWUMA of childbearing age grows. Yet impacts of MA in pregnancy and effective interventions are not yet well understood.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted an environmental scan of published and grey literature (2010-2020) to determine effects of MA use in pregnancy for mothers and their offspring, effective interventions and implications for Indigenous women.
SEARCH STRATEGY
A strategic search of Ovid Medline, Embase, ProQuest-Public Health and CINAHL databases identified academic literature, while Google and ProQuest-Public Health identified grey literature.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Article selection was based on titles, abstracts and keywords. The time frame captured recent MA composition and excluded literature impacted by coronavirus disease 2019.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Data extracted from 80 articles identified 463 results related to 210 outcomes, and seven interventions. Analysis focused on six categories: maternal, neonatal/infant, cognitive, behavioral, neurological, and interventions.
MAIN RESULTS
Maternal outcomes were more congruent than child outcomes. The most prevalent outcomes were general neonatal/infant outcomes.
CONCLUSION
A lack of Indigenous-specific research on PME and interventions highlights a need for future research that incorporates relevant historical and sociocultural contexts.
Topics: Child; Female; Humans; Methamphetamine; Mothers; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
PubMed: 34358330
DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.13851 -
Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi Jun 2019Methamphetamine (MAMP) is a kind of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) which contains one chiral carbon atom in its structure. Therefore a pair of enantiomers,... (Review)
Review
Methamphetamine (MAMP) is a kind of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) which contains one chiral carbon atom in its structure. Therefore a pair of enantiomers, S-(+)-MAMP and R-(-)-MAMP exist. R type and S type methamphetamines possess similar physicochemical properties, but has largely different pharmacological and toxic effects. S-(+)-MAMP is the main component of addictive drug "Ice" at present, seriously affecting human health and public safety. The separation analysis and mechanism of toxic effects discussions on MAMP are the current research focuses. This paper reviews the research progress of separation analysis methods and toxic effects of methamphetamine enantiomers to provide reference for forensic study and forensic practice.
Topics: Central Nervous System Stimulants; Humans; Methamphetamine; Stereoisomerism; Substance Abuse Detection
PubMed: 31282632
DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2019.03.015 -
MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly... Mar 2020Methamphetamine is a highly addictive central nervous system stimulant. Methamphetamine use is associated with a range of health harms, including psychosis and other...
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive central nervous system stimulant. Methamphetamine use is associated with a range of health harms, including psychosis and other mental disorders, cardiovascular and renal dysfunction, infectious disease transmission, and overdose (1,2). Although overall population rates of methamphetamine use have remained relatively stable in recent years (3), methamphetamine availability and methamphetamine-related harms (e.g., methamphetamine involvement in overdose deaths and number of treatment admissions) have increased in the United States* (4,5); however, analyses examining methamphetamine use patterns and characteristics associated with its use are limited. This report uses data from the 2015-2018 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs) to estimate methamphetamine use rates in the United States and to identify characteristics associated with past-year methamphetamine use. Rates (per 1,000 adults aged ≥18 years) for past-year methamphetamine use were estimated overall, by demographic group, and by state. Frequency of past-year use and prevalence of other substance use and mental illness among adults reporting past-year use were assessed. Multivariable logistic regression examined characteristics associated with past-year use. During 2015-2018, the estimated rate of past-year methamphetamine use among adults was 6.6 per 1,000. Among adults reporting past-year methamphetamine use, an estimated 27.3% reported using on ≥200 days, 52.9% had a methamphetamine use disorder, and 22.3% injected methamphetamine. Controlling for other factors, higher adjusted odds ratios for past-year use were found among men; persons aged 26-34, 35-49, and ≥50 years; and those with lower educational attainment, annual household income <$50,000, Medicaid only or no insurance, those living in small metro and nonmetro counties, and those with co-occurring substance use and co-occurring mental illness. Additional efforts to build state and local prevention and response capacity, expand linkages to care, and enhance public health and public safety collaborations are needed to combat increasing methamphetamine harms.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Methamphetamine; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; United States; Young Adult
PubMed: 32214077
DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6912a1 -
Journal of Clinical PsychopharmacologySynthetic cathinones are the most used novel psychoactive substances in Taiwan because they exhibit psychoactive effects similar to those of methamphetamine, inducing...
BACKGROUND
Synthetic cathinones are the most used novel psychoactive substances in Taiwan because they exhibit psychoactive effects similar to those of methamphetamine, inducing acute psychosis, violence, and self-harm. However, the differences in the clinical characteristics of patients with synthetic cathinone and methamphetamine intoxication admitted to psychiatric emergency departments (EDs) remain unclear.
METHODS
This study recruited patients with stimulant intoxication who were admitted to a psychiatric ED from April 2019 to May 2020. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, and psychopathological data were collected through face-to-face interviews and evaluated. Immunoassay tests and liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry were performed to detect substances in urine specimens. The patients were matched by sex and age (in 5-year intervals). The associations between the 2 groups and physical complications were analyzed through logistic regression.
RESULTS
Twenty-four patients with synthetic cathinone intoxication were identified and matched with 48 patients with methamphetamine intoxication. The 2 groups exhibited similar clinical severity of psychotic symptoms and high risks of violence and self-harm. Both groups were predominated by unmarried patients, unemployed patients, and habitual smokers and drinkers. However, family histories of substance use and criminal records were less prevalent among the patients with synthetic cathinone intoxication, but they had a higher rate of physical complications (odds ratio, 8.55; 95% confidence interval, 2.15-34.03), compared with patients with methamphetamine intoxication.
CONCLUSIONS
Compared with patients intoxicated with methamphetamine, those intoxicated with synthetic cathinones may have similar tendencies toward psychosis, violence, and self-harm but higher risks of physical complications, which are prioritized in psychiatric EDs.
Topics: Humans; Methamphetamine; Synthetic Cathinone; Case-Control Studies; Alkaloids; Substance-Related Disorders
PubMed: 36706307
DOI: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000001649 -
The Journal of Pharmacology and... Sep 2017Understanding the relationship between the molecular mechanisms underlying neurotoxicity of high-dose methamphetamine (METH) and related clinical manifestations is... (Review)
Review
Understanding the relationship between the molecular mechanisms underlying neurotoxicity of high-dose methamphetamine (METH) and related clinical manifestations is imperative for providing more effective treatments for human METH users. This article provides an overview of clinical manifestations of METH neurotoxicity to the central nervous system and neurobiology underlying the consequences of administration of neurotoxic METH doses, and discusses implications of METH neurotoxicity for treatment of human abusers of the drug.
Topics: Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Animals; Cognitive Dysfunction; Dopaminergic Neurons; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Methamphetamine; Neural Pathways; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Serotonergic Neurons
PubMed: 28630283
DOI: 10.1124/jpet.116.238501 -
Viruses Aug 2023We read with great interest the article by Rogers et al. (2023), , published in [...].
We read with great interest the article by Rogers et al. (2023), , published in [...].
Topics: Cannabis; Methamphetamine; HIV Infections
PubMed: 37632096
DOI: 10.3390/v15081753 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Mar 2020The synthetic cathinones are derived from the naturally occurring drug cathinone found in the khat plant (Catha edulis) and have chemical structures and neurochemical... (Review)
Review
The synthetic cathinones are derived from the naturally occurring drug cathinone found in the khat plant (Catha edulis) and have chemical structures and neurochemical consequences similar to other psychostimulants. This class of new psychoactive substances (NPS) also has potential for use and abuse coupled with a range of possible adverse effects including neurotoxicity and lethality. This review provides a general background of the synthetic cathinones in terms of the motivation for and patterns and demographics of their use as well as the behavioral and physiological effects that led to their spread as abused substances and consequent regulatory control. This background is followed by a review focusing on their rewarding and aversive effects as assessed in various pre-clinical animal models and the contribution of these effects to their self-administration (implicating their use and abuse potential). The review closes with an overview of the consequences of synthetic cathinone use and abuse in terms of their potential to produce neurotoxicity and lethality. These characterizations are discussed in the context of other classical psychostimulants.
Topics: Alkaloids; Animals; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Humans; Methamphetamine; Psychotropic Drugs; Self Administration; Substance-Related Disorders
PubMed: 31101438
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.07.015 -
International Journal of Environmental... Sep 2020The experience of craving via exposure to drug-related cues often leads to relapse in drug users. This study consolidated existing empirical evidences of cue reactivity... (Review)
Review
The experience of craving via exposure to drug-related cues often leads to relapse in drug users. This study consolidated existing empirical evidences of cue reactivity to methamphetamine to provide an overview of current literature and to inform the directions for future research. The best practice methodological framework for conducting scoping review by Arkey and O'Malley was adopted. Studies that have used a cue paradigm or reported on cue reactivity in persons with a history of methamphetamine use were included. Databases such as Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched using key terms, in addition to citation check and hand search. The search resulted in a total of 32 original research articles published between 2006 to 2020. Three main themes with regard to cue reactivity were identified and synthesized: (1) effects of cue exposure, (2) individual factors associated with cue reactivity, and (3) strategies that modulate craving or reactivity to cues. Exposure to methamphetamine-associated cues elicits significant craving and other autonomic reactivity. Evidence suggests that drug cue reactivity is strongly associated with indices of drug use and other individual-specific factors. Future studies should focus on high quality studies to support evidence-based interventions for reducing cue reactivity and to examine cue reactivity as an outcome measure.
Topics: Craving; Cues; Humans; Methamphetamine; Recurrence; Substance-Related Disorders
PubMed: 32906716
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17186504 -
Psychopharmacology Dec 2019Methamphetamine (METH) abuse is generally attributed to the d-isomer. Self-administration of l-METH has been examined only in rhesus monkeys with a history of cocaine...
RATIONALE
Methamphetamine (METH) abuse is generally attributed to the d-isomer. Self-administration of l-METH has been examined only in rhesus monkeys with a history of cocaine self-administration or drug-naïve rats using high toxic doses.
OBJECTIVES
In this study, the ability of l-METH and, for comparison, d-METH to engender self-administration in experimentally naïve rats, as well as to decrease d-METH self-administration and food-maintained responding, was examined.
METHODS
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in 3 separate experiments. In experiment 1, the acquisition of l- or d-METH self-administration followed by dose-response determinations was studied. In experiment 2, rats were trained to self-administer d-METH (0.05 mg/kg/infusion) and, then, various doses of l- or d-METH were given acutely prior to the session; the effect of repeated l-METH (30 mg/kg) also was examined. In experiment 3, rats were trained to respond for food reinforcement and, then, various doses of l- or d-METH were given acutely prior to the session; the effect of repeated l-METH (3 mg/kg) also was examined.
RESULTS
Reliable acquisition of l- and d-METH self-administration was obtained at unit doses of 0.5 and 0.05 mg/kg/infusion respectively. The dose-response function for l-METH self-administration was flattened and shifted rightward compared with d-METH self-administration, with peak responding for l- and d-METH occurring at unit doses of 0.17 and 0.025 respectively. l-METH also was approximately 10-fold less potent than d-METH in decreasing d-METH self-administration and 2-fold lower in decreasing food-maintained responding. Tolerance did not occur to repeated l-METH pretreatments on either measure.
CONCLUSIONS
As a potential pharmacotherapeutic, l-METH has less abuse liability than d-METH and its efficacy in decreasing d-METH self-administration and food-maintained responding is sustained with repeated treatment.
Topics: Animals; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Eating; Male; Methamphetamine; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration; Stereoisomerism
PubMed: 31346628
DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05327-8