Małgorzata Kotwica

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.

Epidemiology of acute poisonings during 2003-2007 in toxicology unit, department of occupational medicine and toxicology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland

ObjectivesThe epidemiology of acute poisonings, observed in Toxicology Unit in Łódź, is the main objective of the study. The authors present frequency of respective kinds of poisoning cases and associated mortality. They discuss also the structure of poisonings with regard to type and causative agents over a period between 2003 and 2007.Materials and methodsThe data used for the analysis were obtained from National Poison Information Center in Łódź. They were divided into two groups. The first one comprised information about patients treated at the Toxicology Unit (TU), whereas the other one included cases treated in other hospitals and only consulted by TU staff.ResultsAnalysis of the data shows that overdosage of medications was the most frequent cause of hospitalization during 2006–2007. It constituted also the leading cause of deaths due to poisoning during 2003–2005. However, it was superseded during the subsequent period of 2006–2007 by intoxication with alcohols which was associated with the highest number of deaths in the latter period. Situation changed dynamically also with regard to the intention of poisoning. Suicidal poisonings constituted the largest group in 2003, whereas poisonings caused by abuse, including dependence-related abuse, were the most frequent in subsequent years. Patients between 15 and 30 years old formed the largest group among the total number of poisonings.ConclusionsThe results of our study on epidemiology of acute poisoning in Łódź between 2003–2007 show that poisoning is a frequent cause of admission to hospital and constitutes a major health problem in Łódź district because of large number of hospital admissions, associated mortality and the high proportion of patients at young age.

The National Poison Information Center in Poland

OBJECTIVE To describe the national poison information program in Poland. RESULTS There are nine regional poison information centers in Poland associated with acute poisoning wards or diagnostic laboratories. The National Poison Information Center in Lodz prepares information materials (ITOX database, books, periodicals, leaflets, posters) on treatment and prevention to regional and other health care units treating acute poisoning cases and to the general public. The staff of the National Poison Information Center together with the physicians of the Clinic of Acute Poisonings provide a 24 h poison information service accessible to health care units, work safety services, and the general public.