New synthetic cannabinoid intoxications in emergency department (it's grass, it's no sin)

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate prognosis and clinical futures of the subjects who use new synthetic cannabinoid products (SCPs) with Poisoning Severity Score (PSS) in the Emergency Department (ED). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 272 cases which resorted, to our ED between 2012 and 2014. All patients' clinical, laboratory levels and the PSS were studied. Results: The average age of the subjects was 25.08 +/- 7.07 years and 97.4% of them were male. 44.11% of all SCPs patients came to hospital during Ramadan. Of the 272 patients using SCPs, 83.5% used Bonsai-18 while 16.2% of them used Jamaica gold. Agitation was the most common psychoactive finding while dizziness was the most common physical finding. The most common symptoms and findings were seen in the gastrointestinal system. Most of the patients were found to be in the moderate PSS group. There was no patient in the non PSS group. While one patient in the fatal PSS group died in the 96th hour due to failure of multiple organs, the others had been discharged. Conclusion: SCPs cases have been increasing gradually in EDs including Ramadan. Our study has shown that SCPs have different physical and psychoactive effects, changeable from minor-PSS to fatal PSS (death). Therefore ED and psychiatry physicians should have much more knowledge about these new SCPs.