According to the annual “chemical submission” addictovigilance survey conducted by the Center for Evaluation and Information on Drug Dependence-Addictovigilance (CEIP-A) in Paris, the number of case reports increased by 69% in 2022 by compared to the previous year. 1,229 statements were thus noted, among which 97 are considered probable and 786 as possible.
Psychoactive medications are incriminated in more than half (56.7%) of the reports. Benzodiazepines and related drugs unsurprisingly top the list of medicinal substances (25.2%), followed by H1-antihistamines (12.6%) and opioids (11%). Neuroleptics, pregabalin, antidepressants and other sedatives are suspected in 7.9% of cases.
Prevention options
From the start of next month, the ANSM will ask laboratories using drugs at risk of chemical submission to “put in place measures to limit their diversion” by modifying their formula to, for example, give them a color, a texture, taste or odor when dissolved or taken. This will be a voluntary approach by the laboratories but the Agency indicates that it is also working on long-term solutions, so that new drugs can “immediately integrate these characteristics to make their diversion more detectable”. In the meantime and even if tools are offered, vigilance remains essential for everyone and mainly for women, the most frequent victims, especially in festive places where almost half of cases of chemical submission occur.
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