Cannabis body packing: two case reports.

INTRODUCTION: Body packing is a well-known means of narcotic carriage across international borders. The most common drugs carried are cocaine and heroin. CASE DESCRIPTIONS: We describe 2 cases of cannabis body packing which occurred the same year in the South of France, one with complications: a 45-year-old male went to emergency for abdominal pain. A plain abdominal x-ray revealed multiple foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract. It was confirmed by abdominal CT. The laparatomy confirmed peritonitis secondary to colonic perforation, and 34 filled condoms packages were extracted. After calling poison centre, toxicological analysis was performed on one package. The resin wrapped in cellophane contained 15% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The patient was discharged on day 12. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Cannabis body packing is rarely reported, and the only known complications have a mechanic etiology. Plain abdominal x-ray is the best method for detection and it can be confirmed by abdominal CT and toxicological analysis. Cannabis is the most important illicit drug used in the word. Also cannabis body packing is probably underestimated. Health care practitioners should be aware of the possibility of body packing when someone coming back from abroad complains of abdominal pain.

Evidence of clonazepam abuse liability: results of the tools developed by the French Centers for Evaluation and Information on Pharmacodependence (CEIP) network.

Recent observations suggest the existence of clonazepam abuse. To determine its importance in France, a quantitative and systematic synthesis of all clonazepam data of several epidemiological tools of the Centers for Evaluation and Information on Pharmacodependence (CEIP) network has been performed in comparison with data on others benzodiazepines (BZD). Data on clonazepam and other BZD have been analysed from different epidemiological tools: OSIAP survey that identifies drugs obtained by means of falsified prescriptions, Observation of Illegal Drugs and Misuse of Psychotropic Medications (OPPIDUM) survey that describes modalities of use and data from regional French health reimbursement system. In OSIAP survey, the proportion of clonazepam falsified prescriptions among all BZD falsified prescriptions increased. During the 2006 OPPIDUM survey, the analysis of the BZD modalities of use highlights clonazepam abuse liability (for example 23% of illegal acquisition), in second rank after flunitrazepam. Studies based on data from the French health reimbursed system show that 1.5% of subjects with clonazepam dispensing had a deviant behaviour. Among BZD, clonazepam has the second most important doctor-shopping indicator (3%) after flunitrazepam. All these data provide some arguments in favour of clonazepam abuse liability in real life and the necessity to reinforce its monitoring.

[Accidental cannabis poisoning in children: experience of the Marseille poison center]. / Intoxications accidentelles par cannabis chez l'enfant: expérience du centre antipoison de Marseille.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency and severity of accidental cannabis poisoning in children. METHODS: A retrospective study of cases of accidental cannabis poisoning in people aged under 18 years old, reported to the Marseille poison center from 1993 through 2007. We excluded cases where cannabis was definitively ruled out, and neonatal withdrawal syndromes in newborns from cannabis users. RESULTS: We collected 93 cases, including 56 boys and 37 girls, 86% of whom were younger than 3 years. The principal form was cannabis resin (hashish), reported in 80% of the cases and belonging to one of the parents or a household member. In almost all cases, the poisoning took place at the child's home. The frequency has risen in recent years, with 2/3 of the cases occurred in the second half of the study period. Five serious cases were reported, two with convulsions. CONCLUSION: Considering the observed increase in cases each year, mostly benign but potentially serious, prevention and information efforts have to be improved for drug users with young children and for healthcare professionals led to manage this kind of accident.

[Metachlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP): a new designer drug]. / La métachlorophénylpipérazine (mCPP) : une nouvelle drogue de synthèse.

Metachlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) is a psychoactive substance that appeared in 2004 on the black market of illicit substances in Europe and France. It has a strong affinity for serotoninergic receptors and the serotonin transporter. In humans, mCPP induces endocrine, neurological and psychiatric effects. Its subjective effects are similar to those of amphetamines. However, drug-users allot few positive subjective effects. Reported cases of intoxication are generally not serious but the risks of psychiatric disorders and serotoninergic syndrome must be taken into account. Risk factors of the intoxication to mCPP are the existence of predisposing psychiatric pathologies and pharmacodynamic or metabolic interactions. mCPP does not exhibit reinforcing effects. mCPP is not the subject of any international regulation: procedures of medical and social risk assessment were implemented in European and the national levels.

Poisoning by Coriaria myrtifolia Linnaeus: a new case report and review of the literature.

Coriaria myrtifolia should be recognized as one of the most neurotoxic plants in western Mediterranean area. This shrub produces a toxin, coriamyrtin, that is present in high concentrations in the berries. Ingestion of few fruits similar to blackberries may induce digestive and neurological manifestations including seizures, coma and apnea. The authors present a new case report that took place in the French Catalonia: an 8 year-old boy developed vomiting and generalized recurrent convulsions after ingestion of C. myrtifolia berries. He needed repeated diazepam administrations and was managed in the hospital. He recovered after one day of benzodiazepine treatment. In order to evaluate the consequences of C. myrtifolia poisoning, 83 cases of the literature were analyzed: the cases occurred in three countries (Spain, France and Morocco); the mean delay of the symptom development was 150 min; the neurological disturbances were the most frequent signs and 11 patients died (6 children, 5 adults) mainly in old reports.

[Abuse of licit and illicit psychoactive substances in children and teenagers in the PACA Region (Southeastern France)]. / Usage abusif des produits psychoactifs licites ou illicites chez l'enfant et l'adolescent dans la région PACA (Sud-Est de la France).

INTRODUCTION: The abuse of licit and illicit psychoactive substances in children and teenagers represents a public health problem. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of this phenomenon and its growth in the PACA (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) region (Southeastern France). The cases identified during the 10-year period 1992-2002 by the CEIP (Centre d'Evaluation et d'Information sur la Pharmacodépendance) were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-one cases were identified. In most instances, abuse involved a first experience or was sporadic. The users were often boys (70%). The substances were solvents (48.7%) used collectively (33%) during recreational activities (74%). Illicit drugs accounted for 28.2% of the cases involving a first experience (89%), with polyconsumption accounting for 50%, cannabis 57.6%, ecstasy 25.9%, and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) 12.1% of cases. Medicines were also used (16%), the most frequent being benzodiazepines (51.6%). CONCLUSION: The study confirms the abuse of licit and illicit psychoactive substances in children and teenagers and provides information regarding the substances available in this region of France.