Prevalence of psychotropic drug use in military police units.

The present study aimed to verify the prevalence of psychoactive drug use (amphetamines, methamphetamines, cannabinoids, cocaine, opioids and benzodiazepines) among military police officers in the state of Goiás. Data were obtained from urine samples voluntarily provided by the officers participating in the study, who were informed of the study methods and signed a free and informed consent form. The samples were subject to screening analysis by immunochromatography (Multi-DrugOneStep Test®), with positive tests confirmed by gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and data analyzed by descriptive statistics. The results indicated the presence of the following drugs: amphetamines (0.33%), cannabinoids (0.67%) and benzodiazepines (1.34%); 97.66% showed negative results. The positive cases were distributed as follows: benzodiazepines (57.1%); cannabinoids (28.6%) and amphetamines (14.3%). In conclusion, the detection of psychoactive substances in voluntary sampling of military police officers indicates the need to implement drug testing among active military officers and preventive public policies aimed at eliminating the abusive consumption of psychotropic drugs.

Prevalência do uso de drogas psicotrópicas em unidades da polícia militar / Prevalence of psychotropic drug use in military police units

Este trabalho objetivou verificar a prevalência do uso de drogas psicoativas (anfetamina, metanfetamina, canabinoides, cocaína, opioides e benzodiazepínicos) entre policiais militares do Estado de Goiás. Os dados foram obtidos a partir de amostras de urina cedidas voluntariamente pelos policiais participantes da pesquisa, os quais foram esclarecidos em relação à metodologia do estudo e assinaram o TCLE. As amostras foram submetidas à análise de triagem por imunocromatografia (Multi-DrugOneStep Test®) e, aquelas positivas, foram confirmadas por cromatografia em fase gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massa. Os dados foram analisados por estatística descritiva. Os resultados apontaram a presença das seguintes drogas: anfetaminas (0,33%); canabinoides (0,67%); benzodiazepínicos (1,34%); 97,66% foram resultados negativos. A distribuição dos casos positivos foi: benzodiazepínicos (57,1%); canabinoides (28,6%) e anfetaminas (14,3%). Conclui-se que os achados de substâncias psicoativas na amostra de policiais militares voluntários chama a atenção sobre a necessidade da implantação de testes de drogas no efetivo da polícia militar e de políticas públicas preventivas, que visem evitar as consequências do consumo abusivo de psicotrópicos.

The present study aimed to verify the prevalence of psychoactive drug use (amphetamines, methamphetamines, cannabinoids, cocaine, opioids and benzodiazepines) among military police officers in the state of Goiás. Data were obtained from urine samples voluntarily provided by the officers participating in the study, who were informed of the study methods and signed a free and informed consent form. The samples were subject to screening analysis by immunochromatography (Multi-DrugOneStep Test®), with positive tests confirmed by gas chromatography– mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and data analyzed by descriptive statistics. The results indicated the presence of the following drugs: amphetamines (0.33%), cannabinoids (0.67%) and benzodiazepines (1.34%); 97.66% showed negative results. The positive cases were distributed as follows: benzodiazepines (57.1%); cannabinoids (28.6%) and amphetamines (14.3%). In conclusion, the detection of psychoactive substances in voluntary sampling of military police officers indicates the need to implement drug testing among active military officers and preventive public policies aimed at eliminating the abusive consumption of psychotropic drugs.

Determinação simplificada de carbamazepina, fenitoína, fenobarbital e lamotrigina em plasma emonitoração terapêutica por HPLC/PDA / Simplified determination of carbamazepine, phenytoin,phenobarbital and lamotrigine in plasma and therapeuticmonitoring by HPLC/PDA

Carbamazepina, fenitoína, fenobarbital e lamotrigina são bem conhecidos como fármacos anticonvulsivantes usados para o tratamento da epilepsia. A utilização destes fármacos é associada a várias reações adversas, tornando necessário o controle terapêutico. Os ensaios foram realizados por meio de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência e o método de extração utilizado foi o líquido-líquido. Os fármacos e o padrão interno de zolpidem foram separados por uma coluna de fase reversa (ACE5, C18150x 4,6 mm d.i.). A fase móvel constituída de acetonitrila (30%) e ácido cítrico/tampão fosfato pH 5,0 (70%) foi utilizada sob gradiente de fluxo de 0,7 a 1,2 mL/min e o comprimento de onda utilizado para a detecção dos analitos foi fixado em 210 nm. A técnica apresentou linearidade ao longo do intervalo de 0,5 a 20,0μg/mL para carbamazepina/lamotrigina e de 2,0 a 64,0 μg/mL, para fenitoina/fenobarbital com coeficiente de correlação linear maior que 0,98. As amostras de sangue foram obtidas de pacientes adultos com diagnóstico de epilepsia em acompanhamento no Ambulatório Municipal de Psiquiatria de Goiânia. A média de recuperação obtida foi de 96,8% a 108,5% para carbamazepina/lamotrigina e de 93,8% a 108,8% para a fenitoina/fenobarbital. Os limites de quantificação, precisão (CV< 15,0 %)e exatidão (E > 85,0 %) demonstraram estar em conformidade com as exigências da ANVISA. Nove pacientes foram avaliados para confirmar a validade do método.

Carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital and lamotrigine are well known anticonvulsant drugs used in the treatment of epilepsy. However, these medications are associated with side effects and therefore require therapeutic monitoring. Blood samples of adult outpatients diagnosed with epilepsy at the Goiânia Municipal Psychiatry Clinic (Brazil) were collected and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The analytes and internal standard (zolpidem) were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction. A reversed phase column (ACE 5, C18, 150 x 4.6 mm i.d.) was used. The mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile (30%) and citric acid/phosphate buffer, pH 5.0 (70%). The gradient flow rate was from 0.7 to 1.2 mL/min and the detection wavelength was set at 210 nm for all analytes. The analysis revealed a linear range from 0.5 to 20.0μg/mL for carbamazepine/lamotrigine and 2.0 to 64.0 μg/mL for phenytoin/phenobarbital. Mean recovery ranged from 96.8% to 108.5% for carbamazepine/lamotrigine and 93.8% to 108.8% for phenytoin/phenobarbital. The quantification limit, precision (CV < 15%) and accuracy (A >85%) proved to be in accordance with the requirements stipulated by the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). Nine outpatients were evaluated to confirm the validity of the method.