Poisons experts report rise in enquiries due to cocaine abuse among young people

16 September 2008

eThese enquiries have come from health care professionals involved in dealing with the clinical management of young drug users. 

The latest annual report from the NPIS, which is commissioned by the Health Protection Agency, also reveals increases in the number of enquiries related to ketamine, methamphetamine and benzylpiperazine, although these drugs are much less commonly used.

In 2007/08, NPIS received more than 525,000 poisons-related enquiries from health care professionals in the UK. There was increased use of the NPIS online poisons information database, TOXBASE, which received 470,000 enquiries.  NPIS has encouraged the use of TOXBASE as a first point of call for information, with its telephone enquiry service being devoted to the more complex cases. Around 67 per cent of TOXBASE enquiries were from hospitals.

More than 52,000 telephone enquiries were answered in 2007/08. About a third (17,000) of these involved children under 10 years, illustrating the continuing frequency of accidental poisoning in this age group. A further 12 per cent (around 6,000) of enquiries involved the 10-19 age group.  Overall, 37% of the telephone enquiries were from hospitals.

Dr Roger Cox, Director of the Agency’s Centre for Radiation, Chemicals and the Environment said: “With poisoning accounting for over 100,000 NHS hospital admissions each year, the work of NPIS is vital in supporting the health care for this large patient group. It encourages optimal care for those with serious poisoning who need hospitalisation whilst at the same time it plays a crucial role in preventing unnecessary hospital admissions.

Professor Simon Thomas, Director of NPIS (Newcastle) said: “Exposure to potentially poisonous substances continues to be a very important public health issue in the UK, as evidenced by the large numbers of enquiries made to the National Poisons Information Service. Children are involved in a large proportion of these enquiries and it is important that those caring for children should take the necessary steps to minimise the risk of exposure to potentially harmful substances. The increases in the proportion of our workload relating to some drugs of misuse, especially cocaine, are of concern and needs addressing by the wider health community”.

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. The Health Protection Agency commissions the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS). NPIS comprises four specialist units in Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Newcastle to provide information and support on the diagnosis and management of poisoning to health care professionals in the UK. It is not a service for the general public. The NPIS provides TOXBASE online and telephone support to NHS Direct (in England and Wales) and NHS 24 (in Scotland). It is also contracted to provide poisons information in the Republic of Ireland by the provision of TOXBASE and out-of hours telephone support from both information scientists and NPIS consultants.
2. National Poisons Information Service (NPIS). Annual Report 2007/2008. ISBN 978-0-85951-625-9. Available for download and hard copies are available from: Information Office, CRCE, HPA Chilton, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0RQ, Tel 01235 822742 or 01235 822603 or email: chiltoninformationoffice@hpa.org.uk
3. Professor Simon Thomas is Consultant Physician at Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,  Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics at Newcastle University and director of NPIS(Newcastle): Contacts Tel  0191 260 6180 or 0191 222 8094/5, email simon.thomas@ncl.ac.uk
4. The Health Protection 2008 conference press office can be contacted between 9am - 5pm on 024 765 72982; out of hours on 0208 200 4400.

Last reviewed: 16 September 2008