SOFT 2004 Meeting Abstracts - Society of Forensic Toxicologists

P41
SURVEY OF ABUSED DRUGS IN PERIOD 1986-2003 IN WEST BOHEMIA (MIDDLE EUROPE)
V. Petrov;i*, D. Petr, M. Balvin
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University Hospital in Pilsen, Czech Republic
West Bohemia's area is about 11 000 km 2 and has a population of850 000 people. The center of the region
is Pilsen. After the fall of Communistic regime in 1989, the number and spectrum of drug abuse cases has
been gradually increasing. Before 1989, abuse of volatile substances (like toluene) and opiates (especially
codeine) was prevalent. After 1989, the production and abuse of methamphetamine (pervitin) has
significantly increased. The amphetamine derivatives are the most frequent abused drugs in this region as
well as in the whole country. The number of cases has increased seven fold in the last decade to a total of
620 cases .. Most of deaths connected with drug abuse and overdosage are caused by methamphetamine.
Occurrence of opiates (mostly heroin) and cocaine is less common - often in Asiatic communities (202
cases of opiates and 12 of cocaine). In the last two years, occurrence of cannabinoids has also increased;
reports have doubled from 2001 to 2003 to a 388 cases. The overall increase in drug abuse has also caused
an increase in drugged drivers. From statistics it follows that the most dangerous drug in traffic are
cannabinoids. Four fatal road accidents caused by drivers under the influence of THC were reported in the
year 2003 (three drivers and three other road users died). There was one fatal road accident caused by
methamphetamine (the driver and his front passenger died) in 2003).The first and so far unique case of
lethal paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) intoxication in the Czech Republic was recorded in our laboratory
in 200 I. It was a 21 year old man who had a blood PMA concentration of 1.3 mg/I. Included in these cases
are two veterinary surgeons (39 and 41 years) who died in connection with ketamine abuse. The first one
had been abusing this substance for a long time and shot himself. The other one committed suicide with
combined ketamine, succinylcholine and alcohol intoxication.
Keywords: paramethoxyamphetamine, methamphetamine, cannabinoids
Page 376