Prevalence and Factors Associated with Psychoactive Substance Misuse among Heavy Goods Vehicle Drivers in Cotonou, Benin

Introduction: In Benin, Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers play an essential role in the logistics chain, facilitating the transportation of goods within the country or between other countries in the sub-region. HGV drivers are professionals who experience adverse working conditions, exposing them to risky behaviours, including Psychoactive Substance (PAS) misuse, leading to particularly severe road accidents. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PAS misuse among HGV drivers and identify associated factors in Cotonou, Benin. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey involving HGV drivers at parking areas in Cotonou from 26 March to 10 April 2023. The dependent variable was the PAS misuse by HGV drivers, and the independent variables were related to their socio-demographic characteristics, health status and lifestyle habits, and professional characteristics. Data analysis involved determining the prevalence of PAS misuse with a 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI). Subsequently, we identified factors associated with PAS misuse among the participants using multivariate logistic regression. We presented the final regression results as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% CI. Results: The study included 425 HGV drivers. Among them, 53 (12.47%, 95% CI = 9.64 - 15.98) were misusing PAS. Compared to drivers aged 35 and older, those aged under 25 (aOR = 10.67, 95% CI = 3.56 - 32.03) and those aged 25 to 34 (aOR = 3.47, 95% CI = 1.37 - 8.82) had higher odds of PAS misuse. Drivers with a primary education were less likely (aOR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.19 - 0.97) to misuse PAS than those with no formal education. Drivers suffering from cardiovascular diseases were also three times more likely (aOR = 3.08, 95% CI = 1.08 - 8.81) to misuse PAS than others. The odds of PAS misuse were also higher among drivers who reported taking breaks than those claiming not to (aOR = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.57 - 6.18). Conclusion: Driving under the influence of PAS is a risk factor for road accidents, associated with other factors highlighted in this study. Addressing these factors in prevention strategies through integrated approaches could lead to more effective results.

Psychoactive Chemical Constituents of Carissa edulis (Forssk.) Vahl Roots and Its Safety Limits in Folk Treatment: Benzodiazepines Analogous

Carissa edulis Vahl is well known in Sudanese herbal medicine,commonly used for treatment of epilepsy,headache,chest pains,rheumatism,skin lesions,mania and other psychoactive diseases.The investigations of the safety use for psychoactive purposes in Sudanese healing traditions and identifying secondary metabolites of the plant extracts are the key steps towards determination of appropriate medicinal doses.Therefore,one of the chemical constituents was isolated and structurally identified by 1H-NMR and LC-MS.With the aim of evaluating Carissa edulis folk random uses,the isolated compound was compared with reference artificial drugs Lormetazepam,a potentially toxic compound.Structure investigations confirm that the isolated product was benzodiazepines analogous 7-chloro 1,4-benzodiazepine-2-ones.It is important to know the potential toxicity of certain plant in order to assess the therapeutic effect of it,as these are slight distinctions between the medicinal and toxic doses.In general the results obtained justify the use of the roots of Carissa edulis in traditional medicine for the treatment of some psychiatric diseases.

Anxiety-Depressive Profile in Adolescent Consumers of Psychoactive

Adolescence is a period of pivotal change in brain development. It accompanied by profound cognitive-behavioral, somatic and psychic changes with increased vulnerability to risk taking. This work explores the current state of consumption of the main psychoactive substances (PAS), (tobacco, cannabis, alcohol) among schoolchildren, their interrelationships and the possible links with psychological suffering of anxious or depressive type. The study is a descriptive and analytical transversal type, carried out by a self-questionnaire and two neuropsychological tests evaluating depressive symptomatology: Adolescent Depression Rating Scale (ADRS) patient version in 10 items, and The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), among 714 high school students aged 15 to 21 years, in Kenitra, Morocco. The results show that the population of adolescents who use psychoactive substances appears to be more depressed and more anxious than non-users. The prevalence of regular consumption of the three psychoactive substances is significant between girls and boys (p < 0.000), and shows that for: tobacco is 16.38% (14.52% girls, 85.47% boys);cannabis is 6.72% (1.7% girls, 95.83% boys);and alcohol is 5.88% (2.56% girls, 92.86% boys). These results encourage an emphasis on the school’s role in early detection of adolescent-specific pathologies such as anxiety and depression. As well as the development of strategy of prevention of consumption of the PAS, and the care of the pupils presenting anxious or depressive symptomatology. In addition, further longitudinal studies would be needed to establish causal links among anxiety, depression, and PAS use.

Determination of Methadone and Eight New Psychoactive Substances in Hair Samples by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Many new psychoactive substances(NPSs)with different chemical structures have emerged in the illicit drug market in the last decade.The present work was aimed at the development of a simple method in gas chromatography/mass spectrometry(MS)for the determination of NPS of different classes,the use of cannabinoids,and,at the same time,the evaluation of methadone therapy in hair matrix,within our routine analysis control for methadone treatment or from autopsy cases.The determination of synthetic cannabinoids and methadone therapy used an extraction method based on incubation in concentrated sodium hydroxide(NaOH)solution,providing a dissolution of the keratin matrix.The described method was applied on 15 authentic specimens from our cases:five showed the presence of methadone and 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine(EDDP).The described method can be useful not only in the forensic investigation of NPS-related addiction histories but also in epidemiological and retrospective studies on the spread of NPS among specific safety-sensitive social workers.The GC instrument was an Agilent 7820A(Agilent Technologies,Santa Clara,CA,USA),and the detection system was an Agilent 5977B single quadrupole MS operating in selective ion monitoring mode.Wlidation parameters such as limit of detections(LODs),limit of quantifications(LOQs),repeatability,accuracy,and linearity were satisfactory for its application on real specimens.LODs,LOQs,2?2,%CY standard deviation,and the mean concentration for the analyzed compounds are reported in Table lb.Accuracy and repeatability were acceptable for all the analytes at their respective LOQs.Recovery experiments varied from 58.3%to 103.0%,thus allowing the application on authentic specimens.The described method can be useful not only in the forensic investigation ofNPS-related addiction histories but also in epidemiological and retrospective studies on the spread of NPS among specific safety-sensitive social workers,such as drivers.

Effect of clinician-patient communication on compliance with flupentixol-melitracen in functional dyspepsia patients

AIM: To explore whether clinician-patient communication affects adherence to psychoactive drugs in functional dyspepsia(FD) patients with psychological symptoms. METHODS: A total of 262 FD patients with psychological symptoms were randomly assigned to four groups. The patients in Groups 1-3 were given flupentixol-melitracen(FM) plus omeprazole treatment. Those in Group 1 received explanations of both the psychological and gastrointestinal(GI) mechanisms of the generation of FD symptoms and the effects of FM. In Group 2, only the psychological mechanisms were emphasized. The patients in Group 3 were not given an explanation for the prescription of FM. Those in Group 4 were given omeprazole alone. The primary endpoints of this study were compliance rate and compliance index to FM in Groups 1-3. Survival analyses were also conducted. The secondary end points were dyspepsia and psychological symptom improvement in Groups 1-4. The correlations between the compliance indices and the reductions in dyspepsia and psychological symptom scores were also evaluated in Groups 1-3.RESULTS: After 8 wk of treatment, the compliance rates were 67.7% in Group 1, 42.4% in Group 2 and 47.7% in Group 3(Group 1 vs Group 2, P = 0.006; Group 1 vs Group 3, P = 0.033). The compliance index(Group 1 vs Group 2, P = 0.002; Group 1 vs Group 3, P = 0.024) with the FM regimen was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Groups 2 and 3. The survival analysis revealed that the patients in Group 1 exhibited a significantlyhigher compliance rate than Groups 2 and 3(Group 1 vs Group 2, P = 0.002; Group 1 vs Group 3, P = 0.018). The improvement in dyspepsia(Group 1 vs Group 2, P < 0.05; Group 1 vs Group 3, P < 0.05; Group 1 vs Group 4, P < 0.01) and psychological symptom scores(anxiety: Group 1 vs Group 2, P < 0.01; Group 1 vs Group 3, P < 0.05; Group 1 vs Group 4, P < 0.01; depression: Group 1 vs Group 2, P < 0.01; Group 1 vs Group 3, P < 0.01; Group 1 vs Group 4, P < 0.01) in Group 1 were greater than those in Groups 2-4. The compliance indices were positively correlated with the reduction in symptom scores in Groups 1-3. CONCLUSION: Appropriate clinician-patient communication regarding the reasons for prescribing psychoactive drugs that emphasizes both the psychological and GI mechanisms might improve adherence to FM in patients with FD.

Psychotic due to bath salts and methamphetamines:emergency cesarean section under general anesthesia

The use of ＂bath salts＂ or other new psychoactive substances,otherwise known as ＂legal highs＂,is increasing.Illicit drug use during pregnancy is not uncommon.Nevertheless,literature reporting bath salts and their effect on pregnancy is scant.Besides,there seems to be no literature about bath salts and conduct of general anesthesia.This case report describes a general anesthetic for the surgical delivery of an infant to a woman under the acute influence of bath salts and methamphetamines.

Roles of 5-HT2 receptors in effects of DOM,ketamine and methamphetamine on prepulse inhibition in Sprague Dawley rats

OBJECTIVE Prepulse inhibition(PPI)of the acoustic startle response provides a measure of sensorimotor gating system mecha⁃nisms,which is known to be impaired in schizo⁃phrenia patients.We assessed the effects of the 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist(±)2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine(DOM),the NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine,the dopamine receptor ago⁃nist methamphetamine(Meth)on PPI and the startle magnitude in SD rats.METHODS AND RESULTS Systemic administration of the three compounds all dose-dependently reduced PPI.However,as far as startle magnitude,only DOM at the doses of 3 mg·kg-1 reduced that,while both ketamine and Meth did not change the startle magnitudes.Furthermore,to determine whether 5-HT2A receptor mediate this effect,the non-spe⁃cific 5-HT2 receptor antagonist cyproheptadine,specific 5-HT2A receptor antagonist ketanserin and specific 5-HT2C receptor antagonist SB242084 were tested.Cyproheptadine,ketan⁃serin and SB242084 did not alter startle ampli⁃tude by themselves in SD rats and only ketanserin slightly increased PPI at higher dose(3 mg·kg-1).PPI impairment induced by DOM was restored by pretreatment of cyproheptadine(1 mg·kg-1)and ketanserin(1 mg·kg-1),while not by pretreat⁃ment of SB242084(1 mg·kg-1).Damage of PPI induced by ketamine and Meth was not reversed by cyproheptadine(1 and 5 mg·kg-1).CONCLU⁃SION The receptor mechanisms underlying the disruption of PPI caused by DOM,ketamine and Meth were different from each other,at least 5-HT2A receptor was not the junction receptor for which the three chemicals acted.

Substance use and substance use disorders in Africa:An epidemiological approach to the review of existing literature

The relationship between man and substances that have abuse potentials,and whose use has been associated with the development or progression of substance use disorders has continued to evolve in terms of geography,economic implications,and time.History shows that local plants with psychoactive constituents can get exported worldwide through global travel,commerce,or even conquest.Time and globalization also change people’s relationship with substances of abuse;hence,an area that was initially alien to certain substances might evolve to becoming a trafficking hub,and then a destination.A case in point is Africa where a rapidly increasing prevalence of substance use/abuse and substance use disorder among adolescents and young adults is putting enormous strain on the economy,healthcare system,and society at large.However,there appears to be a paucity of scientific literature and data on the epidemiology,risk assessment,and contributing factors to substance use and the development of substance use disorders across Africa.In this narrative review,we examine extant literature(PubMed,Google scholar,Medline)for information on the prevalence,trends,and influencers of substance use and the development of substance use disorders.This is with a view of understanding the determinants of substance use and factors that influence the development of substance use disorders in the region,and how this information can be channeled towards developing a comprehensive intervention and treatment program.

Visually Impaired Individuals in Brazil and Portugal and Learning about Drugs through a Board Game

Objective: To compare the learning of visually impaired individuals after the use of the educational game “Drugs: playing it clean”. Method: Quasi-experimental, comparative, before-after study. Results: The participants’ mean age in Brazil was lower than in Portugal;a significant difference in information acquisition was found between the pre and post-test for the low-complexity (Brazil p = 0.018 and Portugal p = 0.002), without a difference in the number of correct answers for the medium/high-complexity questions between the two countries (p = 0.655 and p = 0.0792);when comparing the number of correct answers before and after the game intervention, an increase was found in Brazil and Portugal, respectively (21.8% - 61.1%;11.2% - 38.9%);a significant difference was found in the number of correct answers between the low and medium/high-complexity questions (p = 0.030). Conclusion: The educational game permits information access and can be used as a teaching-learning strategy.

Evaluation of Central Nervous System Acting Effects of Plant-Derived Essential Oils Using Ambulatory Activity in Mice

Although plant-derived essential oils (EOs) have traditionally been used for treating various kinds of mental disorders, their Central Nervous System (CNS) acting effects have not yet been clarified well. The present study examined effects of 30 kinds of EOs on ambulatory activity, a kind of spontaneous motor activity, in ICR mice. Nineteen kinds of them did not produce any significant effects on the ambulatory activity of mice. Although effects of EOs of lavender, jasmine and neroli on the activity were statistically significant, their CNS acting properties remained unclear. EOs of peppermint, chamomile, thyme, tea tree, rosemary and basil significantly increased the ambulatory activity of mice as well as CNS stimulants, suggesting that they possess CNS stimulant-like effects. In contrast, an EO of myrtle significantly decreased the activity as well as CNS depressants, suggesting that it possesses a CNS depressant-like effect. An EO of palmarosa significantly increased the activity at a lower dose and decreased at a higher dose as well as some kinds of CNS depressants such as ethanol, suggesting that it also possesses a CNS depressant-like effect. These 8 kinds of EOs might be useful for treating some kinds of mental troubles and/or symptoms through their CNS acting effects.

Drug use, consequences and perceived accessibility in three Nigerian universities

Background: Use of alcohol and other psychoactive substances constitutes major public health concern, especially among adolescents and young adults. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and perceived accessibility of psychoactive substances. Method: This cross sectional study was conducted in three Nigerian universities with the use of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) student model questionnaire. Results: Five hundred and forty-nine students participated. Majority of them were females, 289 (55.2%);Christians, 382 (73.0%);of Yoruba ethnic group, 375 (79.6%), and single, 512 (94.8%). Their mean age was 20.11 years (sd = 2.36). Stimulants other than the Amphetamine-types had the highest lifetime prevalence rate (53.4%), followed by Alcohol (35.8%), tranquilizers (12%), opiates other than Heroin (11.9%) and cigarettes (11.3%). Among the illicit drugs, marijuana had the highest prevalence (7.2%). Lifetime prevalence rates of cocaine and heroin use were both 2.1%. The average age at first use of any of the substances was between 10 and 17 years. The commonest consequences of alcohol use were engaged in sex regretted the next day (2.5%) and engaged in sex without using condom (2.1%);while the commonest consequences of drug use were damages to objects or clothing (1.1%), problems in relationship with parents (1.0%) and friends (1.0%). Stimulants other than amphetamine-types, solvents, opiates other than heroin, tranquilizers and cannabis were perceived as easy to get by 57.3%, 38.7%, 32.8%, 29.4% and 22.7% of the respondents respectively. For all the substances except Amphetamine-type stimulants, ecstasy and crack, lifetime drug use was significantly associated with perceived easy accessibility to the respective substances. Conclusions and Recommendations: Drug use among the students was associated with relationship problems and unsafe sex. It is also associated with perceived accessibility of the drugs. Attention needs to be focused on safe sex practices among the students in addition to drug use prevention interventions.

Alcohol, Tobacco and Tramadol Daily Consumption and Road Traffic Crashes among Motorcycle Taxi Drivers in Cotonou (Benin)

Background: In Benin, motorcycle taxi drivers make up a significant portion of road transport. The use of psychoactive substances, a behavior recognized as being at risk of road crashes, is frequent in this group. This study aimed to analyze the association between the consumption of psychoactive substances and the occurrence of road crashes among motorcycle taxi drivers. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 430 motorcycle taxi drivers selected from motorcycle taxi stands in Cotonou (Benin) using a two-stage cluster sampling technique. An interview with a structured questionnaire was used to collect data, which took place in March and April 2019. Alcohol, tramadol, and tobacco were the psychoactive substances considered in this study and their daily use was investigated. A binary logistic regression was used for the analysis. Results: Among the motorcycle taxi drivers surveyed, 27.79% (95% CI = 23.71 - 32.25) were involved in a road crash. The prevalence of psychoactive substances daily use was: 30.41% (95% CI = 26.17 - 35.00) for alcohol, 28.50% (95% CI = 24.37 - 33.02) for tramadol and 4.03% (95% CI = 2.51 - 6.42) for tobacco. Alcohol daily consumption (AOR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.27 - 3.45, p = 0.004) was associated with a significant risk of road crashes. Conclusion: Interventions aiming to reduce psychoactive substances use should, therefore, be included in road safety policies, especially for this group.

Chemsex and its risk factors associated with human immunodeficiency virus among men who have sex with men in Hong Kong

We were intrigued by Hanum et al,who published a study on the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)in homosexual,bisexual,and other men who have sex with men at sexual health clinics in England and the relationship between baseline variables and future HIV occurrence.Chemically-enhanced sexual experience(chemsex)is becoming a global phenomenon.There are increasing medical and academic concerns about chemsex,where substances are used to boost sexual satisfaction,which is prevalent in groups,especially among homosexuals.Lesbians,gays,bisexuals,transgenders,and queers have become increasingly visible,valued,and committed community.However,chemsex requires urgent attention.

Current Situation of Drug Abuse and Countermeasures in Japan

Drug abuse is a common problem that all countries in the world face. The most distinguishing characteristic of drug abuse in ｜apart is that use of stimulants, mostly methamphetamine, accounts for over 80% of the arrests. Abuse of a stimulant called Philopon was widespread after the Second World War in ]apan, but the situation was dramatically improved after 1954 because the Japanese government enacted the Stimulant Control Act and restructured the police system and Japanese society recovered from post-war unrest. The situation of drug abuse in Japan has become less serious compared to the past and to the situation in many other countries, because we are taking comprehensive and nationwide measures, including proactive disclosure of the situation, control, drug abuse prevention class, and introduction of partial suspension of sentence. On the other hand, as in many countries, the rapid spread of new psychoactive substances （NPS） in recent years became a serious social issue. The situation of NPS has been rapidly improving due to comprehensive and government-wide measures, but the means of acquisition is quickly shifting to the Internet. It is necessary to strengthen cyber patrol.

Basin-scale exposure risk of psychiatric pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs in tap water in Eastern China

A total of twenty-three psychiatric pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs were analyzed in tap water covering seven basins in Eastern China.The residual concentrations of these substances were detected up to 22.4 ng L^(-1).Among the substances,benzodiazepines were more often detected with higher median concentrations than those of illicit drugs.Generally,the higher residual levels of psychoactive substances were detected in the upstream of the basins compared with the downstream.For example,the concentrations of diazepam,temazepam,and oxazepam in the downstream were much higher than those in the upstream in OJ.Among the basins,YH was the most polluted region.Exposure assessment indicated the median exposure doses of diazepam and temazepam were from 85 to 99 and 3.5e4.1 pg kg^(-1) bw d^(-1) in the basins,respectively.Benchmark quotient for the nine detected substances was calculated in each basin with the range from 0.0001 to 0.0389,indicating low risk in the tap water for human health under current concentrations.

合成卡西酮类新精神活性物质4-F-3-Me-ɑ-PVP的检测

目的:建立合成卡西酮类新精神活性物质4-F-3-Me-ɑ-PVP的检测鉴定方法。方法:检材分别用GC-MS、UPLC-QTOF/MS)(溶剂为甲醇)及核磁共振波谱仪(溶剂为氘代甲醇)检测。结果:检材经UPLC-QTOF MS实测的精确质量数[M+H]^(+)为m/z 264.17592,GC-MS检测得到的质谱主要特征离子分别为:m/z 126(基峰)、109、137,经GC-MS和UPLC-QTOF/MS数据分析,得到了匹配度很高的2种同分异构体物质4-F-3-Me-ɑ-PVP和3-F-4-Me-ɑ-PVP,经进一步用NMR对其测定并解析结构,确认了检材为新的合成卡西酮类新精神活性物质4-F-3-Me-ɑ-PVP。结论:本研究建立的多技术联合方法能用于4-F-3-Me-ɑ-PVP的检测鉴定。该方法直观、明确、可靠、实用。

Methcathinone Increases Visually-evoked Neuronal Activity and Enhances Sensory Processing Efficiency in Mice

Methcathinone(MCAT)belongs to the designer drugs called synthetic cathinones,which are abused worldwide for recreational purposes.It has strong stimulant effects,including enhanced euphoria,sensation,alertness,and empathy.However,little is known about how MCAT modulates neuronal activity in vivo.Here,we evaluated the effect of MCAT on neuronal activity with a series of functional approaches.C-Fos immunostaining showed that MCAT increased the number of activated neurons by 6-fold,especially in sensory and motor cortices,striatum,and midbrain motor nuclei.In vivo single-unit recording and two-photon Ca^(2+) imaging revealed that a large proportion of neurons increased spiking activity upon MCAT administration.Notably,MCAT induced a strong de-correlation of population activity and increased trial-to-trial reliability,specifically during a natural movie stimulus.It improved the information-processing efficiency by enhancing the single-neuron coding capacity,suggesting a cortical network mechanism of the enhanced perception produced by psychoactive stimulants.

Fatalities caused by novel opioids:a review

Drugs related to morphine represent not only large range of important therapeutic applications for the relief of moderate to severe pain but also give rise to a relatively large series of novel opioids that mimic the action of this naturally occurring analgesic.Most of these are based on fentanyl structures that are much more potent,and dangerous,than fentanyl itself.This publication reviews reports of fatalities attributed to 15 novel opioids with the view to assessing mortality associated with their misuse as well as reviewing published analytical procedures that would be able to detect these and other novel opioids.These drugs include reports of deaths to acetylfentanyl,acrylfentanyl,butr(yl)fentanyl,carfentanil,2-and 4-fluorofentanyls,4-fluorobutyrfentanyl,4-fluoroisobutyrfentanyl,furanylfentanyl,a-and 3-methylfentanyls,4-methoxyfentanyl,ocfentanil,as well as AH-7921,U-47700 and MT-45.Most of these cases reporting a drug-caused death involved other drugs in addition to the opioid.No obvious minimum fatal concentration was discerned for any of the opioids for which details were provided,however,the more potent members required detection limits well under 1 ng/mL and often even well below 0.1 ng/mL requiring use of the most sensitive mass spectral detection procedures,particularly when screening specimens using a non-targeted mode.Four other novel opioids have been reported in admissions to hospitals include 4-chloroisobutryfentanyl,cyclopentylfentanyl and tetrahydrofuranfentanyl,all of which are likely to have the potential to cause death.It is also likely that other analogues will appear with time.