A cluster of multi-drug intoxications involving xylazine, benzimidazole opioids (nitazenes) and novel benzodiazepines in South Australia.

early warning system nitazenes novel benzodiazepines toxicosurveillance xylazine

Journal

Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
ISSN: 1742-6723
Titre abrégé: Emerg Med Australas
Pays: Australia
ID NLM: 101199824

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
10 Oct 2024
Historique:
revised: 10 09 2024
received: 05 07 2024
accepted: 24 09 2024
medline: 11 10 2024
pubmed: 11 10 2024
entrez: 10 10 2024
Statut: aheadofprint

Résumé

To highlight the detection of xylazine and nitrazolam in conjunction with benzimidazole opioids (nitazenes) and other novel benzodiazepines in a cluster of patients after putative heroin use. Deidentified clinical and analytical data were gathered from patients enrolled in the Emerging Drugs Network of Australia system. In December 2023, three adults presented to the ED with sedation following putative use of heroin. Toxicological analysis of blood samples identified xylazine, protonitazene, metonitazene, bromazolam and nitrazolam. Local health authorities subsequently issued an alert. This is the first signal of xylazine and nitrazolam use in Australia. These results demonstrate toxico-surveillance programmes with analytical confirmation of drugs are invaluable in monitoring illicit drug use.

Identifiants

pubmed: 39389919
doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.14512
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Subventions

Organisme : National Health and Medical Research Council
ID : GNT2001107

Informations de copyright

© 2024 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.

Références

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Ayub S, Parnia S, Poddar K et al. Xylazine in the opioid epidemic: a systematic review of case reports and clinical implications. Cureus 2023; 15: e36864.
Smith JL, Soderstrom J, Dawson A et al. The Emerging Drugs Network of Australia: a toxicosurveillance system of illicit and emerging drugs in the emergency department. Emerg. Med. Australas. 2022; 34: 58–64.
Partridge E, Alfred S, Camilleri A et al. Establishing the protocols for the South Australian Emergency Department Admission Blood Psychoactive Testing (EDABPT) programme for drug surveillance. Emerg. Med. Australas. 2021; 33: 883–887.

Auteurs

Emma Partridge (E)

Forensic Science SA (Toxicology), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.

Peter Stockham (P)

Forensic Science SA (Toxicology), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.

Michaela Kenneally (M)

Forensic Science SA (Toxicology), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Andrew Luong (A)

Forensic Science SA (Toxicology), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Chris Kostakis (C)

Forensic Science SA (Toxicology), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Sam Alfred (S)

Emergency Department, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Classifications MeSH