Consumo de drogas emergentes en Medellín, Colombia / Use of Emerging Drugs in Medellín, Colombia

Resumen Introducción: La continua aparición de nuevas sustancias sintéticas que se puede utilizar como drogas de abuso supone un desafío constante para la salud pública. Drogas emergentes es el término acuñado en este trabajo para definir la aparición de nuevas sustancias psicoactivas en un momento dado y un contexto y un grupo particulares, la reaparición de otras que en los estudios epidemiológicos habían perdido su prevalencia y el aumento repentino en las prevalencias de drogas que se mantenían en consumos bajos. Método: Bajo un enfoque empírico-analítico, se planteó un estudio con un enfoque mixto. Conformaron la muestra de conveniencia 510 drogodependientes que en 2011 asistieron a centros de tratamiento, en la modalidad de internamiento, en el municipio de Medellín, en quienes se exploró el consumo de drogas emergentes. A todos los usuarios de drogas se les aplicó un instrumento ad-hoc para detectar consumo de las que el estudio consideraba drogas emergentes. Detectados los consumidores y seleccionados por la frecuencia del consumo y la prevalencia en el último año y el último mes, se les solicitó una entrevista semiestructurada, que indagaba por detalles de la sustancia y las características del consumo. Resultados: Del grupo estudiado en el caso de Medellín, el 82,2% son varones y el 17,8%, mujeres. El 58,2% cursa secundaria y el 26,8% tiene estudios superiores técnicos o de universidad. El 1,4% no ha ido a la escuela. Solo un 27,8% trabaja con un empleo fijo, ocasional o independiente. El 40,7% son estudiantes y el 8,9%, amas de casa. El 76,3% son solteros y el 17,8% tiene pareja estable. En la muestra están representados todos los estratos socioeconómicos. Entre las drogas emergentes halladas, se destacan las prevalencias de las benzodiacepinas flunitrazepam y clonazepam: prevalencia de vida (PV), 97,5%; prevalencia en el último año (PA), 67,9%, y prevalencia en el último mes (PM), 46,7%. Les siguen las drogas de síntesis (LSD, «éxtasis¼, anfetaminas, HGB, «éxtasis vegetal¼, fenciclidina, metanfetamina, ketamina, 2CB): PV, 96,5%; PA, 44,5%, y PM, 23,5%. Luego aparecen las cocaínas fumables (basuco, crack y free-base): PV, 80%; PA, 52,1%, y PM, 31,7%. Siguen los derivados opiáceos (heroína, morfina, opio, codeína, dextrometorfano, meperidina, fentanilo): PV, 61,4%; PA, 26,7%, y PM, 16%. Los alucinógenos como los hongos, el cacao sabanero y el yagué también aparecen entre los consumos: PV, 73,5%; PA, 23,2%, y PM, 12,2%. Hay también consumo de inhalantes como el popper y el diclorometano («Dick¼): PV, 87,9%; PA, 37,6%, y PM, 21,6%. Conclusiones: Estos resultados alertan sobre la necesidad de hacer seguimiento a las denominadas drogas emergentes por los riesgos que pueden implicar para la salud pública.

Abstract Introduction: The ongoing emergence of new synthetic substances that are used as drugs is a constant challenge to public health. Emerging drugs is the concept used in this research project to define the emergence of new psychoactive substances at a given time, a specific context and group, the reemergence of others that some epidemiologists considered had lost their prevalence, and the sudden prevalence of drugs that had low levels of consumption. Method: This research project was carried out using an empirical-analytical approach using a mixed methods study. The convenience sample was made up of 510 drug dependents institutionalized in treatment centers in Medellin in the year 2011. The examination was carried out related to the consumption of emerging drugs. An ad hoc tool was applied to all the drug users in order to identify which of the drugs of this study they considered to be emergent. Once the consumers were identified and selected based on the frequency of consumption, and the prevalence in the last year and last month, a semi-structured interview was carried out to find out details on the substances and their consumption characteristics. Results: Based on the new drug consumers in Medellin, 82.2% were male and 17.8% female. As regards education levels, 58.2% were in high school, 26.8% hold higher technical or college degrees, and 1.4% had no schooling. Only 27.8% held a steady job, occasional employment, or were independent business owners, 40.7% were students and 8.9% were housewives. More than three-quarters (76.3%) were single, and 17.8% had a steady partner. The sample represented all social classes. Of all the emerging drugs found in this study, the prevalence of benzodiazepines stands out (flunitrazepam and clonazepam), life prevalence (LP), 97.5%; last year prevalence (LYP), 67.9%, and last month prevalence (LMP), 46.7%. These were followed by the synthetic drugs (LSD, Ecstasies, amphetamines, GHB, Vegetable Ecstasies, Phencyclidine; Methamphetamine, Ketamine, 2CB), with LP, 96.5%; LYP, 44.5%, and LMP, 23.5%. Then there was smokable cocaine (Crack and Free-Base), with LP, 80%, LYP, 52.1%, and LYP=31.7%. The opiate derivatives (heroine, morphine, opium, codeine, dextromethorphan, meperidine, fentanyl) had an LP, 61.4%; LYP, 26.7% and LMP, 16%. The consumption statistics of the hallucinogens such as mushrooms, scopolamine and "yague", had an LP, 73.5%; LYP, 23.2% and LMP, 12.2%. Finally, use of inhalants such as popper and dichloromethane (Dick) had an LP, 87.9%; LYP, 37.6% and LMP, 21.6%. Conclusion: These results are an alert to the need to track the development of these so called emergent drugs due to the risks they pose for public health.

Migraine in the triptan era: progresses achieved, lessons learned and future developments / Migrânea na era dos triptanos: progressos alcançados, lições aprendidas e desenvolvimentos futuros

Triptans, serotonin 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonists, more than revolutionizing the treatment of migraine, stimulated also ground breaking research that provided insights into the anatomy, physiology, and molecular pharmacology of migraine. This knowledge, in turn, is stimulating research on new mechanisms of action for the treatment of migraine. Accordingly, it is opportune to critically review the main advances in migraine science that happened in the triptan era. Herein we first review and conceptualize some of the progresses achieved in migraine science during the triptan era. We then review the class of the triptans - mechanism of action and clinical evidence. We close by briefly discussing the class of CGRP receptor antagonists, which is currently being developed for the acute treatment of migraine.

Os triptanos, agonistas serotoninérgicos 5-HT1B/1D, revolucionaram o tratamento da migrânea promovendo pesquisas que evidenciaram aspectos da anatomia, fisiologia e farmacologia molecular deste tipo prevalente de cefaléia primária. Esse conhecimento, por sua vez vem estimulando ainda mais a descoberta de novos mecanismos de ação para drogas anti-migranosas. Assim, é oportuno rever de forma crítica, os maiores avanços na ciência das cefaléias ocorridos durante a era dos triptanos. Inicialmente reveremos e conceituaremos alguns dos progressos obtidos nesta fase seguido de uma revisão profunda dos mecanismos de ação e evidências clínicas para o uso desta classe de fármacos. Finalmente, discutiremos a nova classe dos antagonistas dos receptores do peptideo geneticamente relacionado à calcitonina (CGRP) atualmente em desenvolvimento.