| Author/s | Hill S, Cooper G, Jackson G, Lupton D, Bradberry S, Thomas S |
| Year | 2013 |
| Type of publication | Conference proceeding |
| Link | https://doi.org/10.3109/15563650.2013.785188 |
| Abstract | Objective: To describe the features of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist (SCRA) toxicity as reported to the UK National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) Methods: User sessions related to SCRA on TOXBASE®, the NPIS on-line information resource were quantified from 1st January 2010 to 30th June 2012. NPIS telephone enquiries from healthcare professionals were reviewed from 1st January 2011 to 30th June 2012. Results: Monthly TOXBASE accesses for SCRA increased over the study period. Of a total of 532 TOXBASE sessions 334 (63%) were for ‘Black Mamba’, a product containing the newer SCRA AM-22011. There were 53 telephone enquiries to NPIS related to SCRA, (39 males, 13 females, 1 not recorded), median age 20 (range 13–52). Fifty-one calls related to ‘products,’ including ‘Black-Mamba’ (n = 28), ‘Herbal-Haze’ (n = 9). Of these 43 were from hospitals, 4 from ambulance services and 6 from primary care. Smoking was the route of exposure in 41 cases (77%). Median time from exposure to NPIS enquiry was 3 hours, suggesting early symptom onset. Nine enquiries involved the use of other substances. There was one death, in a patient who had reportedly jumped from a balcony following use of a SCRA product called ‘heavy haze incense’. Conclusion: NPIS data can be used to describe patterns of presentation and reported clinical toxicity for emerging psychoactive including new products (e.g. black mamba) and chemicals. Reference:
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