Poisonings with street drugs:a review of 1993-2008 data from the toxicology unit in Poland.

OBJECTIVE: Drugs of abuse have been known in many cultures and geographical zones, and also in Poland the extent of substance abuse has been increasing.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This report refers to patients treated for poisonings with street drugs at the Toxicology Unit (TU), Łódź, Poland during the period 1993-2008. The data to be analyzed was obtained from medical files of all patients treated for street drugs or hallucinogens abuse.

RESULTS: The kind of the drugs used has changed significantly; between 1993 and 1998 the majority of patients were opiate users, in 1999-2002 the dominant drug was amphetamine and in 2003-2008 there was recurrent increase in the number of opiate poisonings. Male patients were represented in the studied group more often than female ones. The percentages of patients treated after suicidal attempts ranged from 9.3% in 1993-1994 to 15.9% in 2007-2008. During the analyzed period 1993-2008, cases of overdose were less frequent, while accidental intoxications became more common.

CONCLUSIONS: Drug abuse is a serious problem in Poland, it has expanded in recent years and it is likely to expand further in the years to come. The treatment of drug-addicted people needs to be improved and a suitable prevention program should be developed.