A descriptive study of an epidemic of poisoning caused by heroin adulterated with scopolamine

Objective: Adulterants, contaminants, and diluents are all examples of addi tives to street drugs. Some of these additives may be pharmacologically act ive; however, it is unusual for them to cause toxic side effects. In the sp ring of 1995, a new form of heroin appeared in New York City, spreading to other East Coast cities, that was adulterated with scopolamine. It caused s evere anticholinergic toxicity in heroin users with patients often presenti ng to emergency departments in great numbers, This is a report of the demog raphics and clinical characteristics of the epidemic, Methods: A combinatio n of prospective and retrospective data collection from the New York City, New Jersey, Delaware Valley, and Maryland Poison Centers. The primary measu rements were age, sex, route of drug use, vital signs, signs and symptoms, disposition, and treatment. Results: Of the 370 cases reported to the parti cipating poison centers, 129 were excluded from the final analysis because of insufficient data. Of the patients who used this product, 55% presented with signs and symptoms of heroin toxicity but then became severely agitate d with anticholinergic symptoms when naloxone was used to reverse respirato ry depression. Nasal insufflation was the route of administration in 34% of the cases. Seizures were rare (3%). Ninety percent required admission, and half were admitted to a critical care unit. Conclusions: Adulteration of s treet drugs can lead to toxic epidemics. Poison centers are essential for i dentification of these trends and are the primary source of information on diagnosis and treatment.