TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - Characteristics of novel psychoactive substance exposures reported to New York City Poison Center, 2011-2014
JO  - American journal of drug and alcohol abuse encompassing all addictive disorders
A1  - Palamar, Joseph J.
A1  - Su, Mark K.
A1  - Hoffman, Robert S.
SP  - 39
EP  - 47
VL  - 42
IS  - 1
N2  - BACKGROUND: Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are emerging at an unprecedented rate. Likewise, prevalence of use and poisonings has increased in recent years. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: To compare characteristics of NPS exposures and non-NPS-drug-related exposures and to examine whether there are differences between exposures involving synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) and other NPS. <br><br>METHODS: Poison control center data from the five counties of New York City and Long Island were examined from 2011-2014. We examined prevalence and characteristics of NPS exposures (classified as intentional abuse) and compared characteristics of cases involving SCRAs and other NPS. <br><br>RESULTS: Prevalence of NPS exposures was 7.1% in 2011, rising to 12.6% in 2014. Most exposures (82.3%) involved SCRA use. The second and third most prevalent classes were phenethylamines/synthetic cathinones ("bath salts"; 10.2%) and psychedelic phenethylamines (4.3%). Compared to other drug-related exposures (i.e. involving licit and illicit drugs), those who used NPS were more likely to be younger, male, and to have not co-used other drugs (ps < 0.001). SCRA exposures increased sharply in 2014 and the mean age of users increased over time (p < 0.01). Females exposed to SCRAs were younger than males (p < 0.001), and in 2014, individuals exposed to SCRAs were more likely to report concomitant use of alcohol than users of other NPS (p = 0.010). Users of other NPS were more likely than SCRA users to report concomitant use of ecstasy/3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)/"Molly" (p < 0.001). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Exposures reported to the poison center that involve NPS are increasing and the majority involve SCRAs. These findings should inform prevention and harm reduction approaches.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0095-2990
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/00952990.2015.1106551
ID  - ref1
ER  -