The impact of Australian legislative changes on synthetic cannabinoid exposures reported to the New South Wales Poisons Information Centre

Rose Cairns; Jared A Brown; Naren Gunja; Nicholas A Buckley

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.02.008

The impact of Australian legislative changes on synthetic cannabinoid exposures reported to the New South Wales Poisons Information Centre

Int J Drug Policy. 2017 May:43:74-82. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.02.008. Epub 2017 Mar 23.

Authors

Rose Cairns¹, Jared A Brown², Naren Gunja³, Nicholas A Buckley⁴

Affiliations

¹ New South Wales Poisons Information Centre, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia; Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, Blackburn Building (DO6), The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia. Electronic address: rose.cairns@health.nsw.gov.au.
² New South Wales Poisons Information Centre, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.
³ New South Wales Poisons Information Centre, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia; Discipline of Emergency Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
⁴ New South Wales Poisons Information Centre, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia; Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, Blackburn Building (DO6), The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.

PMID: 28343112
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.02.008

Abstract

Background: The emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS), including synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) poses novel challenges for drug regulation and public health. Misconceptions of safety and legality, coupled with the fact that NPS are undetectable on routine drugs screens contributes to their popularity. Concerns over the unpredictable toxicity and abuse potential of NPS has led to a variety of legislative responses worldwide. We wish to describe Australian trends in SCRA use, examining the effects of legislative changes on calls to Australia's largest poisons centre.

Methods: A retrospective review of calls to the New South Wales Poisons Information Centre (NSWPIC). Cases occurring between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2015 with documented use of SCRAs were included.

Results: There were 146 exposures to SCRAs recorded in the NSWPIC database. Federal bans of specific SCRA compounds in 2011/2012 had little impact on call volumes. State-based legislation introduced in 2013 banning specific brand names of SCRA products was followed by a dramatic, sustained decrease in exposures. The most common symptoms reported with SCRA use were tachycardia, vomiting, drowsiness, anxiety/panic, decreased level of consciousness, chest pain, agitation, hallucinations, confusion, seizures and hypertension.

Conclusion: Banning of specific brand names of SCRA (timed with raids and social media campaigns) appears effective at reducing SCRA exposures. We postulate that this raised awareness within the community of the illegality of these substances while also reducing supply through bricks-and-mortar shops. These results could help inform future legislative responses.

Keywords: Designer drugs; Legislative changes; New psychoactive substances; Recreational poisoning; Synthetic cannabinoid; Toxicology.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists / poisoning*
Cannabinoids / poisoning*
Databases, Factual
Female
Humans
Illicit Drugs / legislation & jurisprudence
Illicit Drugs / poisoning*
Legislation, Drug
Male
New South Wales / epidemiology
Poison Control Centers / statistics & numerical data*
Retrospective Studies
Substance Abuse Detection / methods
Young Adult

Substances

Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists
Cannabinoids
Illicit Drugs