DRUGS-FACILITATED STREET AND TRAVEL RELATED CRIMES: A NEW PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE

Background: Trends in poisoning are changing in our country. Street and Travel related poisoning is emerging as a new public health issue. This is the first study in this region to know the types of drugs used for street travel related poisoning and to know the mode of poisoning. Material Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, from July 2010 to July 2011. A total of 100 cases were enrolled after exclusion criteria. After clinical examination and all relevant investigations their urine, blood and stomach samples were sent for chemical and toxicological analysis. Results: A total of 100 patients between 15-65 years were included in this study, 84(84%) were males and 16(16%) females. Among the drugs benzodiazepines were 60%, opium derivatives 32%, phenobarbitone 4%, while 2% each were rat killer poison, mixed benzodiazepines and opium derivatives. The mode of delivery of drugs were soft drinks 54%, fruits 38% and food in 8% cases. Among the victims there were passengers 60%, pedestrians 20%, Taxi drivers 8%, marriage function attendants 6% (females) and others 6%. Conclusion: Street and travel related poisoning is emerging as a new social and public health issue in our country. The mode of poisoning is usually drinks, fruits and food mixed with benzodiazepines and opium derivatives. This often happens due to low level of education, lack of awareness, poor law and order situation, easy availability of drugs, poor drugs rules implementation due to corruption, un-employment and attitude of the people