study of the genotoxic effects of some drugs of abuse

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out to investigate the potential mutagenicity of somecommon drugs of abuse [opiates, alcohols, benzodiazepines and cannabis] inaddicts. Forty male addicts were included in the study. The frequency ofSister Chromatid Exchanges [SCEs] and structural chromosomal aberrations wereused as genetic bioassays in this work. The study revealed that the threequarters of the addicts [75.0%] were in age group 20-40 years. Astatistically significant increase in the frequencies of SCEs and structuralchromosomal aberrations were observed in addicts of opiates, alcohols andbenzodiazepines than the controls, while no such significant increase wasobserved in cannabis users. The study proved the mutagenic potentially ofopiates, alcohol and benzodiazepines, while no definite prove was drawn asregard the effect of cannabis