Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology (대한임상독성학회지)

Korean society of Clincal Toxicology (대한임상독성학회)
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Narcotics and Psychostimulants in Acute Overdose-Suspected Patients in Emergency Departments in Korea: Analysis of Toxicological Laboratory Data

응급실 내원 중독의심환자에서 마약류 검출: 중독분석실 생체시료 분석결과

  • Yoonsoo Kim (Department of Emergency Medicine, National Medical Center) ;
  • Jiwon Lee (Department of Emergency Medicine, National Medical Center) ;
  • Suncheun Kim (National Forensic Service) ;
  • Arum Lee (Emergency Medicine Center, National Medical Center) ;
  • Misuk Kim (Emergency Medicine Center, National Medical Center) ;
  • Yun Hee Kim (Emergency Medicine Center, National Medical Center) ;
  • Jung-In Ko (Department of Emergency Medicine, National Medical Center) ;
  • Bum Jin Oh (Department of Emergency Medicine, National Medical Center)
  • 김윤수 (국립중앙의료원 응급의학과) ;
  • 이지원 (국립중앙의료원 응급의학과) ;
  • 김선춘 (국립과학수사연구원) ;
  • 이아름 (국립중앙의료원 중앙응급의료센터) ;
  • 김미숙 (국립중앙의료원 중앙응급의료센터) ;
  • 김윤희 (국립중앙의료원 중앙응급의료센터) ;
  • 고정인 (국립중앙의료원 응급의학과) ;
  • 오범진 (국립중앙의료원 응급의학과)
  • Received : 2024.11.11
  • Accepted : 2025.01.18
  • Published : 2025.06.30
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Abstract

Purpose: Narcotic use and associated overdose deaths pose a serious public health threat worldwide. The use of psychostimulants, amphetamines and their derivatives, methamphetamine, ecstasy, or 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) is a significant challenge to the emergency department (ED). Although cases of illicit psychostimulant use have been reported in Korea, no reports with confirmative laboratory analyses have been reported. The objective of this study was to present data on ED patients who have used psychostimulants. Methods: We used the 2019-2022 toxicological laboratory database of the National Medical Center, which includes data from six nationwide toxicological laboratories that support suspected acute poisoning patients in the ED. We analyzed demographics (age and sex), presenting mental status, and ethanol co-ingestion. The psychostimulant group was compared with the narcotic group, which contained patients who consumed narcotic drugs but not psychostimulants. Results: Among 4,366 patients, narcotic drugs were detected in 2,239 patients (51.3%): 2,176 in the narcotic group, one who used cannabis, and 60 in the psychostimulant group. Psychostimulant cases were reported from 2019 to 2022 (13, 11, 25, and 11 each year). The psychostimulant group was younger (39.3±14.3 vs. 55.3±21.5 years), contained more female patients (45.0% vs. 21.1%), and had poorer mental status than the narcotic group (p<0.01). The cases of psychostimulant use were treated in 26 hospitals throughout Korea. Conclusion: This is the first study reporting results from confirmative analyses of narcotic drug use in ED patients. Psychostimulant-related ED visits were observed throughout Korea.

Keywords

References

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