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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
137 articles
Newest firstPurpose This study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to examine associations between the use of four illicit drugs (cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine) and the dental caries experience among adults in the US using the Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index. Materials and methods Data from NHANES 2017-2018, a cross-sectional study that included adults…
Open article record in new tab ↗New psychoactive substances (NPS), especially synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRA), are increasingly smuggled into prisons via infused mail. Consumption of those substances by inmates in prisons is associated with increased aggression, violence, and organized crime. Onsite detection of infused mail often is challenging. Because the infused papers do not show any visible stains or olfactory changes, physi…
Semi-synthetic cannabinoids are a class of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) with structural similarities to the main psychoactive phytocannabinoid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) found in Cannabis sativa L. The first semi-synthetic cannabinoids, which were used as legal substitutes for marijuana, were Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) and hexahydrocannabinol (HHC). Δ8-THC emerged around 2019 on the recreational…
An innovative software tool for the rapid and efficient simulation of the metabolism of new psychoactive substances (NPS) was developed, based on the open-source project mzmine, and applied. NPS are compounds designed to mimic the psychotropic effects of established illicit drugs while circumventing drug legislation. These compounds are developed solely regarding their desired effects, thus possibly leading to har…
Open article record in new tab ↗Objective To assess the risk of infant exposure to illicit and prescription drug residues, from infant-ready, pooled, pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) provided by healthy, screened, voluntary non-remunerated donors to a not-for-profit milk bank. Study design A total of 150 pooled samples, representing 742 donor contributions, were analyzed for 15 illicit and prescription drug analytes using liquid chromatograph…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background With the recent industrial cannabis legalization in Ghana, there is a need to ascertain the perspectives of illegal cannabis growers on the policy discourse to inform its implementation. Aim We explored the opinions of illicit cannabis growers in Hohoe Municipality regarding the legalization of cannabis in Ghana. Methodology An exploratory qualitative study, involving 14 illicit cannabis growers recruit…
Open article record in new tab ↗The increasing global consumption of pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs, particularly new psychoactive substances, has resulted in their continuous release into aquatic environments, raising concerns regarding potential adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. In this study, a dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction using customized extraction devices was developed in combination with liquid chromatography-h…
Background Epidemiological evidence suggests associations between substance use disorders and risk of stroke, but whether these are due to confounding or are true causal relationships remains uncertain. Aims To meta-analyze the observational evidence on illicit substance use and stroke risk and apply Mendelian randomization (MR) to evaluate potential causal effects of substance dependence on stroke subtypes. Metho…
Open article record in new tab ↗The present dataset reports illicit drug consumption estimated through wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) in San Pedro de la Paz, Biobío Region, Chile. We collected 24 hour flow proportional Influent wastewater samples at the city wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Sampling during the COVID-19 period was conducted on twelve days between 9 and 29 August 2021. We collected 50 samples divided in two periods i) COVID…
Open article record in new tab ↗Transgender women and travestis (TWT) experience high rates of sexual violence and substance use, but few studies explore drug use specifically before or during sex. As such, this study investigated the association between lifetime sexual abuse and drug use before or during sex among TWT in Brazil. TransOdara was a cross-sectional study conducted in five Brazilian cities using respondent-driven sampling from 2019…
Recreational use of psychotogenic drugs has become more common in the last 30 years with consequent increase in drug-induced psychosis; 25-50% of such psychoses progress to schizophrenia within 5 years. Most cases result from abuse of methamphetamine or cannabis. The spread of methamphetamine psychosis has occurred without any liberalisation of laws; it is highly addictive and easy to make in small "kitchen" labs.…
Open article record in new tab ↗This study demonstrates the use of wastewater monitoring for opioids and other high-risk substances on a university campus, intended to inform public health surveillance and response efforts for youth and transitional age youth. Over a 14-week campaign, we collected 54 grab samples from three campus manholes, including one that isolated flows from a student housing complex, and analyzed them for 24 parent compound…
Assessment of drugs of abuse in biological fluids requires thorough knowledge of stability of the drugs under various conditions, including sample collection, handling, transportation, and analysis, to ensure accurate interpretation of results. This systematic review provides an overview of the literature on the pre-analytical stability of selected clinically relevant drugs of abuse in urine. A systematic search o…
Open article record in new tab ↗New psychoactive substances (NPS) represent a growing public health challenge in Europe. Their rapid emergence, chemical diversity and unpredictable toxicity complicate prevention, clinical management and regulatory responses. This study provides an updated overview of NPS-related harms in France using national addictovigilance data. Data were extracted from three complementary surveillance systems: (i) the NotS p…
Open article record in new tab ↗Introduction Driving under the influence of drugs is a major risk factor for road traffic collisions. While increasing harms are observed in relation to polydrug use, evidence is needed about this issue in the context of road safety. We examined polydrug use patterns in drivers providing samples for toxicological analysis in Ireland between 2019 and 2020. Methods A cross-sectional study using LC-MS toxicology resu…
Introduction Non-medical use of prescription stimulants is increasing globally, yet Australian population-level data on its prevalence and associated sociodemographic and substance use correlates remain limited. Methods We analysed cross-sectional data from the 2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (n = 21,663). Logistic regression models estimated associations between non-medical use of prescription s…
Background Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) has been used to quantify drug harms in the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand. This paper presents the result of an MCDA conducted in Canada, with the aim of informing Canadian drug policy and contributing to public understanding of drugs' relative harms. Methods A panel composed of 20 experts from six provinces determined 16 drugs to…
Introduction We are at a critical juncture for drug policy reform. Toxic drug supply is driving unprecedented deaths in North America, with countries calling for decriminalisation. Policy reform in Australia has occurred in some states (e.g., decriminalisation in the Australian Capital Territory), stalling in others (e.g., the second supervised injecting facility [SIF] in Victoria). The objectives of this paper ar…
Open article record in new tab ↗New psychoactive substances (NPS) are health-hazardous through unpredictable toxicity and effects and largely unknown epidemiology, motivating studies of the latter. Up to 138 NPS were retrospectively identified using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry data from all 34 183 oral fluid drug samples collected in one Swedish health care region 2019-2020 representing 9468 psychiatric and addiction…
Background The media has immense power in shaping public narratives surrounding sensitive topics such as substance use. Its portrayals can unintentionally fuel harmful stereotypes and stigma, negatively impacting individuals struggling with addiction, influencing policy decisions, and hindering broader public health efforts. Objective This study aimed to examine how the regional newspaper, The Philadelphia Inquire…