BMJ 1995;311:1433 (25 November)

Letters

Amphetamine misuse in southern Italy

EDITOR,--Recreational use of amphetamines has always been widespread in drug misusers referred to our service. Recently 3,4 methylenedioxy-metamphetamine (MDMA or "ecstasy") has been used in combination with other drugs, generally heroin, with a particularly powerful effect. Being new, these drugs are not familiar to our health workers, but our clients' willingness to talk has let us study the consequences of combining drugs.

We have also found an increase in the presence of amphetamine metabolites in urine specimens tested, especially in clients who have just come out of prison or those from a district prison who have been put under our care. These metabolites have also been found in specimens from patients who are being treated and are not using opiates.

Thus there seem to be two distinct populations, with two different forms of drug misuse: those addicted to heroin, and those experimenting with various drugs.

Drug misusers who are not . . . [Full text of this article]


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