TY - JOUR
T1 - From signal to alert
T2 - A cluster of exposures to counterfeit alprazolam tablets containing five novel benzodiazepines
AU - Syrjanen, Rebekka
AU - Schumann, Jennifer
AU - Hodgson, Sarah E.
AU - Abouchedid, Rachelle
AU - Rotella, Joe-Anthony
AU - Graudins, Andis
AU - Greene, Shaun L.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank Mr Matthew Di Rago, Ms Samantha Joubert and Dr Jared Castle from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine for their analytical assistance. The authors acknowledge funding from the Victorian Department of Health and the National Health and Medical Research Council (APP2001107).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.
PY - 2023/2
Y1 - 2023/2
N2 - Objective: To illustrate the toxicosurveillance role of the Emerging Drugs Network of Australia – Victoria (EDNAV) project in informing timely harm minimisation interventions. Methods: Utilisation of an ethics approved clinical registry storing de-identified clinical and analytical data on Victorian ED illicit drug-related presentations. Results: In April 2022, six adults presented to hospital with varying levels of sedation, following the use of counterfeit benzodiazepines. Comprehensive toxicological analysis identified five separate novel benzodiazepines within blood samples from each patient. A public ‘Drug Alert’ was subsequently issued, and local emergency physicians were notified. Conclusion: Toxicosurveillance projects, such as EDNAV, are critical to the continued monitoring and reporting of illicit substance use in the community.
AB - Objective: To illustrate the toxicosurveillance role of the Emerging Drugs Network of Australia – Victoria (EDNAV) project in informing timely harm minimisation interventions. Methods: Utilisation of an ethics approved clinical registry storing de-identified clinical and analytical data on Victorian ED illicit drug-related presentations. Results: In April 2022, six adults presented to hospital with varying levels of sedation, following the use of counterfeit benzodiazepines. Comprehensive toxicological analysis identified five separate novel benzodiazepines within blood samples from each patient. A public ‘Drug Alert’ was subsequently issued, and local emergency physicians were notified. Conclusion: Toxicosurveillance projects, such as EDNAV, are critical to the continued monitoring and reporting of illicit substance use in the community.
KW - early warning system
KW - novel benzodiazepines
KW - novel psychoactive substances
KW - toxicosurveillance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85140249551&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/1742-6723.14108
DO - 10.1111/1742-6723.14108
M3 - Article
C2 - 36271800
AN - SCOPUS:85140249551
SN - 1742-6731
VL - 35
SP - 165
EP - 167
JO - EMA - Emergency Medicine Australasia
JF - EMA - Emergency Medicine Australasia
IS - 1
ER -