Background: Psychotropic substance poisoning has emerged as a growing public health concern. This study investigated patients with psychedelic poisoning evaluated the frequency of clinical, preclinical, and prognostic findings of patients.
Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study in which the clinical findings of patients, including neurological findings, cardiovascular findings, preclinical findings, treatment measures, and prognosis of patients poisoned with psychoactive substances who were admitted to Shah Vali Hospital in Yazd and Shaheed Beheshti Hospital in Taft from ۲۰۱۴ to ۲۰۲۳, were extracted from their medical records and the Hospital Information System (HIS).
Results: In the present study, information was extracted from ۳۱۱ patients suffering from psychotropic intoxication, comprising ۱۶۴ individuals who had used stimulants and ۱۴۷ who had used hallucinogens. The highest frequency of stimulant use was related to glass, with ۱۶۰ individuals (۵۱.۴%), and the highest frequency of hallucinogen use was related to hashish, with ۱۳۸ individuals (۴۴.۴%). Notably, the majority of patients survived (۹۹.۶۷%). The most common symptoms observed were increased blood pressure (۲۸.۲%), mydriasis (۷۳.۳۱%), tachycardia (۷۷.۹%), shock (۱.۹%), seizures (۵.۵%), and agitation (۶۸.۱۶%). Elevated creatine phosphokinase levels were observed in ۳.۵۳% of patients, and the severity of intoxication was statistically significant (p=۰.۰۰۱). The results also showed a significant difference in the frequency distribution of psychoactive substances (stimulants and hallucinogens) according to the route of consumption (oral vs. inhalation). Specifically, the majority of psychoactive substances (both stimulants and hallucinogens) were inhaled rather than ingested (P<۰.۰۱). There was also a significant difference in the frequency distribution of individuals poisoned with psychedelics (stimulants and hallucinogens) according to the reason for consumption (suicide vs. abuse) (p>۰.۰۱). In this regard, the most common reason for consumption was abuse (۷۰.۱%). The frequency distribution of treatment types among patients poisoned with psychotropic drugs (stimulants and hallucinogens) showed that benzodiazepines were the most frequently used treatment (۷۳%).
Conclusion: This study of ۳۱۱ patients with psychedelic poisoning reveals a significant prevalence of substance abuse, particularly among younger males, with stimulants being the most commonly used drugs. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted prevention and intervention programs to address the critical issue of psychotropic substance misuse in at-risk populations.