Prevalent Intravenous Abuse of Methylphenidate Among Treatment-Seeking Patients With Substance Abuse Disorders

Abstract

Objectives:Prescription rates of methylphenidate (MPH) are sharply rising in most Western countries. Although it has been reported that MPH has abuse potential, little is known about the prevalence of intravenous (IV) abuse of MPH. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of IV MPH abuse among treatment-seeking IV substance abusers in Iceland.Methods:This is a descriptive population-based study using a semistructured interview assessing sociodemographics, substance abuse history, and the method of administration of 108 IV substance abusers. During 1 year, consecutively admitted adult inpatients with substance use disorder at any detoxification center in Iceland that reported any IV substance abuse in the past 30 days were invited to participate. Abuse was defined as nontherapeutic use of a substance to gain psychological or physiological effect.Results:Prevalence of any IV MPH abuse among participants was 88% in the last 30 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82-0.94) and MPH was the most commonly abused substance (65%) and the preferred substance (63%). Around one third (30%) reported MPH as the first IV substance ever abused. However, among those reporting a shorter history than 10 years of IV abuse, 42% reported MPH as the first IV substance ever abused.Conclusions:This first nationwide study on IV abuse of MPH shows that it is common among treatment-seeking IV abusers in Iceland and suggests that MPH has high abuse potential. Therefore, both the use and possible abuse of MPH in those with high abuse potential should be monitored, especially in countries where MPH prescriptions rates are on the rise.

Nonmedical Use of Antihistaminergic Anxiolytics and Other Prescription Drugs among Persons with Opioid Dependence

“…Three subjects reported injection use of prescription stimulants. Nonmedical use of prescription stimulants is described in various subpopulations such as high school and college students in the US [11, 50, 51] and also among people with substance disorders [15, 52]. Our study indicates that prescription stimulants have a substantial abuse potential among people with opioid dependence.…”

Molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Iceland: Early introductions, transmission dynamics and recent outbreaks among injection drug users

“…Many of the IDUs in Iceland have shifted to use methylphenidate as a substance of choice, which requires more frequent injections due to its short half-life (Indridason, 2014). The cause of the increased use of methylphenidate among IDUs in Iceland is not entirely clear (Bjarnadottir et al, 2015).…”

Intravenous Use of Prescription Psychostimulants; A Comparison of the Pattern and Subjective Experience between Different Methylphenidate Preparations, Amphetamine and Cocaine

“…This may to some extent be due to factors specific for Iceland, such as availability, price and purity of cocaine or AMP and infrequent use of heroin. However, in our previous study [8] , participants reported that MPH was neither cheaper nor more easily available than cocaine or AMP. Moreover, no statistical difference was observed between those who use i.v.…”

“…Moreover, MPH is currently the most commonly used and preferred i.v. substance in Iceland [8] with 57% of the participants reporting MPH SR as their preferred i.v. psychostimulant versus 24% naming cocaine.…”

“…Participants were recruited from all 3 detoxification centers in Iceland between March 31, 2012, and March 31, 2013, as previously described [8] . Inclusion criterion was that participants had used i.v.…”