The toxicology of New Psychoactive Substances (NSP): epidemiology of consumption b...
| Grant number: | 18/00432-1 |
| Support type: | Regular Research Grants |
| Duration: | July 01, 2018 - June 30, 2020 |
| Field of knowledge: | Health Sciences - Pharmacy |
| Principal Investigator: | José Luiz da Costa |
| Grantee: | José Luiz da Costa |
| Home Institution: | Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil |
| Assoc. researchers: | Karina Diniz Oliveira ; Marcos Nogueira Eberlin |
Abstract
The abuse of psychoactive substances is a huge social and public health problem throughout the world. The New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) represent the most relevant group of drugs of abuse today, both due to the enormous diversity of substances that make up the group and the lack of toxicological or epidemiological data. NPS are substances or mixtures of psychoactive substances produced in clandestine laboratories by chemical synthesis from precursor substances found in nature or not. They can be synthesized by small modifications in the structure of molecules that already have known biological activity. They are often used to provide the user with effects similar to those produced by "traditional" and illicit drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). NPS have become a serious public health problem, with reports worldwide of hospitalizations and user deaths following severe poisoning by these agents. Several countries have periodic or recurrent reports on NPS-type abuse substances identified in police seizures or party settings (where these substances are commonly consumed), which is not been done in Brazil yet. This information gives support not only epidemiological and statistical, but also helps to understand variations in drug trafficking and consumption by period of time (month or year) and region of the country. In addition, it may assist poisoning centers to be prepared for possible intoxications caused by these new toxic agents. This project aims to generate the first epidemiological data regarding the use of NPS in São Paulo state, through the analysis of samples of oral fluid and hair collected at parties of electronic music (the primary place where these substances are used). It is expected to obtain the first data on the consumption of this new and important group of drugs of abuse in our country in order to establish the main substances in circulation and their respective stay in the festive environment as the national legislation includes the NPS detected by the police forces in the list of banned substances. To this end, the project will also assist clinical toxicology centers in improving clinical and laboratory diagnosis of poisoning by different NPS classes, ensuring faster and safer medical treatment. (AU)