Bioanalytical and clinical evaluation of 103 suspected cases of intoxications with psychoactive plant materials.
Kristian Björnstad, Peter Hultén, Olof Beck, Anders Helander
Clinical Toxicology July 1, 2009 DOI: 10.1080/15563650903037181 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 103 |
| Population | Mainly young people (age range 13-52 years, median 19) at emergency wards in Sweden who admitted or were suspected of ingestion of psychoactive plant materials |
| Duration | 4-year period |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Clinical toxicology Medical toxicology Poison control Drug overdose management Patient safety Public health Clinical intoxication Drug intoxication Substance intoxication Illicit drugs Recreational drugs Hallucinogens Plant-derived drugs Novel psychoactive substances Hallucinogenic mushrooms Bioanalytical methods Analytical chemistry Drug testing Laboratory diagnostics Forensic analysis Chemical analysis Drug identification Youth drug use Adolescent substance abuse Pediatric toxicology Online drug acquisition Internet drug sales Youth intoxication Adolescent intoxication |
| Citations | 35 |
| Key findings | Among 53 cases where ingestion of any of 11 plant-derived substances was admitted or suspected, 41 (77%) were confirmed bioanalytically, with psilocin from hallucinogenic mushrooms being the most frequent drug (54% of cases) and the most common means of drug acquisition being purchase over the Internet (56%). |
Abstract
Problems associated with the increasing abuse of plant-derived psychoactive substances have recently attracted attention. This study involved bioanalytical and clinical examinations of intoxication cases suspected to be linked to such plant materials. Urine samples were collected at emergency wards in Sweden from patients who either admitted or were suspected of ingestion of psychoactive plant materials. The bioanalytical investigation employed a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry multicomponent method covering 10 plant-derived substances (atropine, dimethyltryptamine, ephedrine, harmaline, harmine, ibogaine, lysergic acid amide, psilocin, scopolamine, and yohimbine) and a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for asarone. Routine testing for illicit drugs was also performed. Over a 4-year period, 103 urine samples collected from mainly young people (age range 13-52 years, median 19) were studied. Among 53 cases where ingestion of any of the 11 plant-derived substances covered in this study was admitted or suspected, 41 (77%) could be confirmed bioanalytically. Nine of the 11 substances tested for were detected, the exceptions being ibogaine and yohimbine. Psilocin, originating from ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms, was the most frequent drug accounting for 54% of the cases. The most common means of drug acquisition (56%) was purchase over the Internet. The patients using psychoactive plant materials were mainly young and commonly used the Internet for drug acquisition. Having access to bioanalytical methods for detection of plant-derived psychoactives is therefore considered important, when providing clinical toxicology service.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms. Patients with treatment-resistant depression | 2017 | Observational cohort | n = 19 |
| Psychedelic effects of psilocybin correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels Healthy volunteers | 2019 | Observational cohort | n = 8 |
| Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin Humans | 2017 | Observational study | |
| Classic psychedelic use is associated with reduced psychological distress and suicidality in the United States adult population. USA adult respondents from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008-2012) | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 190,000 |
| Prediction of Psilocybin Response in Healthy Volunteers Healthy volunteers | 2012 | Observational cohort | n = 409 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 13
- The hallucinogenic world of tryptamines: an updated review. Archives of Toxicology August 1, 2015
- "Legal highs" on the net-Evaluation of UK-based Websites, products and product information. Forensic Science International March 20, 2011
- Psychedelic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine: metabolism, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, and pharmacological actions. Current Drug Metabolism October 1, 2010
- Fatalities temporally associated with the ingestion of ibogaine. Journal of Forensic Sciences March 1, 2012
- Behavioral Changes Over Time Following Ayahuasca Exposure in Zebrafish Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience July 28, 2017
and 8 more in the library
Cites 8
- Human Pharmacology of Ayahuasca: Subjective and Cardiovascular Effects, Monoamine Metabolite Excretion, and Pharmacokinetics Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics June 18, 2003
- Hallucinogens and dissociative agents naturally growing in the United States. Pharmacology & Therapeutics May 1, 2004
- Psilocybin Mushroom (Psilocybe semilanceata) Intoxication with Myocardial Infarction Journal of Toxicology Clinical Toxicology 1998
- Presence of Phenylethylamine in Hallucinogenic Psilocybe Mushroom: Possible Role in Adverse Reactions Journal of Analytical Toxicology 1998
- Clinical toxicology of ‘magic mushroom’ ingestion Postgraduate Medical Journal September 1, 1981
and 3 more in the library