Historique
Article de Périodique
Synthetic opioids in Poland - A cause for concern or a media distraction? (2024)
Auteur(s) :
LOS, G. ;
MALCZEWSKI, A.
Année :
2024
Page(s) :
art. 104595
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Domaine :
Drogues illicites / Illicit drugs
Discipline :
SAN (Santé publique / Public health)
Thésaurus géographique
POLOGNE
Thésaurus mots-clés
OPIOIDES
;
DROGUES DE SYNTHESE
;
FENTANYL
;
PRESCRIPTION MEDICALE
;
CATHINONES
;
HEROINE
Résumé :
Background: The North American continent has been battling a major health crisis defined by opioids like OxyContin and fentanyl for over two decades now. In that time, it seemed that Europe is rather resilient to a similar problem, and heroin retained its position as a the most problematic opioid. This does seem to be changing and European media, including in Poland, is starting to report on growing popularity of synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
Methods: We use official data showing the number of prescriptions for synthetic opioids; data showing the percentage of people entering treatment due to different opioids; police data on drug interceptions as well as lab closures, and data on opioid related poisonings.
Results: The data demonstrates that although Polish physicians are increasingly more likely to prescribe synthetic opioids like OxyContin or Fentanyl, their problematic use remains low.
Conclusion: Poland currently does not seem to be in a position that resembles an early stage of an opioid crisis. With this article we want to calm a heated public debate that is currently taking place in Poland, and redirect attention to a much more substantial problem of synthetic cathinones. [Author's abstract]
Methods: We use official data showing the number of prescriptions for synthetic opioids; data showing the percentage of people entering treatment due to different opioids; police data on drug interceptions as well as lab closures, and data on opioid related poisonings.
Results: The data demonstrates that although Polish physicians are increasingly more likely to prescribe synthetic opioids like OxyContin or Fentanyl, their problematic use remains low.
Conclusion: Poland currently does not seem to be in a position that resembles an early stage of an opioid crisis. With this article we want to calm a heated public debate that is currently taking place in Poland, and redirect attention to a much more substantial problem of synthetic cathinones. [Author's abstract]
Affiliation :
University of West London, UK
Head of CINN (Reitox Focal Point Point), Poland
Head of CINN (Reitox Focal Point Point), Poland
Cote :
Abonnement