Abstract
AIM OF THE STUDY: Because of significant changes in recent years, cases of illicit drug exposure reported to the Poisons Information Centre (PIC) Erfurt during the last 10 years were investigated. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of above-mentioned cases from 2011 to 2020 according to substance classes, symptom severity, age groups, and gender. RESULTS: Cases of illicit drug exposure (4,963, 2.8% of all exposures) increased from 316 in 2011 to 614 in 2015, decreased to 514 in 2017, and rose again to 578 in 2019. In 2020, a drop to 549 cases was observed. The ratio of multiple to single drug exposure cases, however, increased from 1.0 to 1.7 in 2020. Cases of exposure to psychostimulants almost doubled from 168 in 2011 to 319 in 2020. Cases of exposure to new psychoactive substances (NPS) rose from 21 in 2011 to 126 in 2015 and fell to 16 in 2020. 320 cases (6.5%) of illicit drug exposures resulted in severe, 1902 cases (38.3%) in moderate and 2139 cases (43.1%) in minor or no symptoms. Age groups mainly involved were adults of middle age (72.7%) and unknown age (12.7%) as well as adolescents (12.1%). Men (69.9%) were more often involved than women (26.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Illicit drug exposures reported to the Poisons Information Centre (PIC) Erfurt discontinuously increased from 2011 to 2020 mainly by increase in mixed consumption. The intermittent decrease in 2016 and 2017 was caused by the fall of NPS exposures. Data of substance abuse from PICs could supplement official annual drug reports in aspects of Clinical Toxicology.