engleski

Clinical-toxicology network in suspected new psychoactive substance (NPS) intoxications as a part of “I-EE Project

The spread of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) is increasing, as is the care for consumer health. The results of a research conducted on the Internet have shown increased NPS consumption in Croatia. Medical doctors from the Emergency Departments often treat patients with a typical clinical pictures of unknown intoxications. Furthermore, there are information on several death cases surely connected to NPS consumption available. Therefore, there is a need for a new joint form of intervention, better monitoring, information exchange on NPS intoxications, as well as detection of NPS in biological samples. One of the tools is the European project I-SEE for the strengthening of information exchange between Italy and South East Europe neighbouring countries on New Psychoactive Substances. The partners in this project are: Croatia (the University of Split, School of Medicine), Slovenia and Italy (the University of Florence) as the coordinator. In Croatia, it was proposed to build up a clinical-toxicology network, which would include all institutions that are in some way in contact with NPS. These are: health facilities (hospitals, ERs, primary health care out patient clinics, institutes for public health), chemical-toxicology laboratories (classified as per their equipment), non-governmental organisations (NGO's), the Poison Control Centre and law enforcement. All NPS related information is to be exchanged in accordance with the proposed algorithm ; mutually, with the Office for Combating Drug Abuse of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, and with European centers and databases within the Early Warning System. In conclusion, this network could accelerate information exchange based on clinical-toxicology evidence and assist health professionals in better management of NPS intoxications.

case of events ; clinical-toxicology network ; early warning system, information exchange ; I-SEE project ; new psychoactive substances

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