Trends in Drug Tests among Children: A 22-Year Retrospective Analysis

Ochoa, Carolina; Kilgore, Phillip; Korneeva, Nadejda L.; Clifford, Eric; Conrad, Steven A.; Trutschl, Marjan; Bowers, Jacquelyn M.; Arnold, Thomas C.; Cvek, Urška

doi:10.3390/pathophysiology30020019

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 48 publications

(57 reference statements)

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“…As central nervous system (CNS) stimulants, the effects of amphetamines on a developing brain are both beneficial in specific therapeutic scenarios and potentially harmful if misused ( Mental Health Services Administration, 1999 ). The global prevalence of amphetamine use in 2019 was estimated to be 0.5% in children as an antipsychotic medicine and 12% in pregnant mothers ( Ochoa et al, 2023 ). This extensive utilization, predominantly in the medical treatment of conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), underscores the importance of a thorough review of clinical trials focusing on children and amphetamines ( Frölich et al, 2012 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amphetamines in child medicine: a review of ClinicalTrials.gov

Alalalmeh,

Hegazi,

Shahwan

et al. 2023

Front. Pharmacol.

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Background: Globally, the use of amphetamines as therapeutic agents in pediatric medicine is a crucial area of concern, especially given the population’s vulnerability.Methods: On 6 August 2023, a search was conducted on ClinicalTrials.gov using “amphetamine” as the keyword. Two independent examiners screened trials against set criteria, including a focus on amphetamine, completion status, an interventional approach, and included children. Ongoing or observational studies were excluded. Data extracted from the qualified trials encompassed primary objectives, participant counts, study duration, and outcomes, with the aim of analyzing children disorders treated by amphetamine.Results: On 6 August 2023, a search of the ClinicalTrials.gov database with the term “amphetamines” identified 179 clinical trials. After extensive exclusion criteria, 19 trials were ultimately selected for analysis. The predominant condition under investigation was attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), present in 84.2% of studies. Key study characteristics included: phase 4 trials (36.8%), randomized allocation (63.2%), and the parallel intervention model (42.1%). Masking techniques varied, with no masking in 42.1% of studies, and double and quadruple masking both accounting for 21.1%. Geographically, 78.9% of the studies’ participants were from the United States.Conclusion: This study highlights the notable therapeutic potential of amphetamines in pediatric ADHD populations and emphasizes the importance of recognizing potential side effects and addiction risks. As pharmacogenomics offers the prospect of personalized treatments, there is potential to increase therapeutic efficacy and decrease adverse reactions. It is vital to balance these benefits against the inherent risks, understanding the need for continued research to optimize the use of amphetamines in medicine.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amphetamines in child medicine: a review of ClinicalTrials.gov

Alalalmeh,

Hegazi,

Shahwan

et al. 2023

Front. Pharmacol.

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Prevalence of Psychoactive Substance Use During Pregnancy in Argentine Women: A Pilot Study Testing Maternal Hair

Vieiros,

Mirahi,

Villarreal

et al. 2024

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring

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Background: The use of psychoactive substances (PSs) during pregnancy is a major public health concern because of their increasing prevalence worldwide. This study examined the understudied issue of gestational PS consumption in a cohort of Argentine delivering mothers. Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study involving 51 women receiving delivery care was conducted at the Santa Rosa Hospital in La Pampa, Argentina. Information on maternal sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy history, and drug use was obtained through standardized interviews. Maternal hair samples were analyzed for alcohol, tobacco, licit, illicit, and prescription substance biomarkers using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry and gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Results: During pregnancy, 49.0% of participants reported alcohol consumption, 25.5% reported tobacco use, and 23.5% reported cannabis use. Hair samples from 56.9% of the women were positive for illicit PSs, with the most frequent being cocaine (41.2%) and cannabis (15.7%). Among the women, 47.1% consumed alcohol during pregnancy. Of the 24 women with hair ethyl glucuronide ≥5 pg/mg, 33.3% drank until the end of gestation and 58.3% started a social drinking habit in the second half. The analysis also detected prescription substances (anticonvulsants, antidepressants, methadone, opioids, antihistamines, antiemetics, and analgesics), caffeine (70.6%), lidocaine, and levamisole, some of which were cocaine or opioid adulterants. Conclusions: This is the first study to objectively assess the consumption of licit and illicit PSs during pregnancy in Argentina. In contrast to most nearby countries, cocaine was the most detected illicit PS in this cohort of Argentine delivering women. This finding highlights the importance of regular monitoring of local trends in PS use during pregnancy.

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Trends in Drug Tests among Children: A 22-Year Retrospective Analysis

Cited by 2 publications

References 48 publications

Amphetamines in child medicine: a review of ClinicalTrials.gov

Amphetamines in child medicine: a review of ClinicalTrials.gov

Prevalence of Psychoactive Substance Use During Pregnancy in Argentine Women: A Pilot Study Testing Maternal Hair

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