Signal identification in addictovigilance: the functioning of the French system.

The French addictovigilance network (addictovigilance: surveillance of addiction), composed of 13 Addictovigilance Centres, was set up in 1990 in order to achieve reliable surveillance and evaluation of abuse and dependence cases due to psychoactive substances (alcohol and tobacco excepted). The detection of safety signals is one of the roles of the addictovigilance centres. Signals from spontaneous reports need to be analyzed before further communication.

Role of Methadone in Induction and/or Exacerbation of Cluster Headache in Patients Treated for Opioid Addiction.

Methadone is a potent opioid agonist widely used in opioid maintenance therapy. In some countries, methadone is available for pain treatment. We report the cases of two patients with history of substance abuse (mainly heroin), who presented with cluster headache possibly related to high-dose methadone.

[Necrotizing fasciitis related to injections of morphine (Skénan(®)) in a HIV-infected patient].

We report here a case of necrotizing fasciitis occurred because of intravenous misuse of morphine sulfate (Skénan (®)). Several factors are pertinent: the type of infection, rare but severe, the double localization of the necrotizing fasciitis, complicated by sepsis, the patient profile (HIV-infected) and the injected substance (opiate).

[Opioid therapy for chronic noncancer pain: retrospective analysis of patients hospitalized for withdrawal].

Objective: The prescription of opioids for the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is not recommended for all of them, and can expose the patients to a benefit/risk ratio unfavorable. The objective of this study was to evaluate the management of patients hospitalized at the centre for evaluation and treatment of pain for opioid withdrawal, their outcome during hospitalization.

Method: This is a retrospective descriptive study.

Necrosis of the intranasal structures and soft palate as a result of heroin snorting: a case series.

Background: The link between nasal inhalation of cocaine and nasal and palatal necrosis is well documented. In contrast, few data are available concerning nasal mucosa necrosis related to heroin snorting. The authors report here the retrospective analysis of 24 cases of orofacial lesions in patients with nasal heroin usage, collected between 2006 and 2012.

Misuse of anabolic products in sport: a retrospective study of phone calls at the Écoute Dopage anti-doping hot-line.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the calls concerning anabolic products (AP), received at Écoute Dopage, a French anti-doping hot-line.

Methods: We reviewed all phone calls handled between 2000 and 2008, among them 214 concerned AP. Information collected include demographic data, reason for the phone call, name of AP, characteristic of consumption, adverse reactions.

[Harm reduction centers ("CAARUD"): privileged places for warning signal detection in addictovigilance].

This study aims to describe profile and consumptions of subjects suffering a substance use disorder recruited in harm reduction centers (HRC, French "CAARUD", 156 included subjects in 7 centers) for the 2010 OPPIDUM survey, performed by the French CEIP-Addictovigilance network, in order to compare them to subjects included in ambulatory care centers (ACC, French "CSAPA", 3549 subjects included in 80 centers). Subjects recruited in HRC are younger and more precarious; they consume more illicit drugs, and prescription drugs known to be diverted (methylphenidate, morphine, ketamine,…). They consume less opiate maintenance treatment, antidepressants and psychotics.

[Psychiatric disorders associated with high-dose methadone (>100 mg/d): a retrospective analysis of treated patients].

Background: Recent studies show that high-dose methadone (>100 mg/d) allow a better control of the consumptions of illicit opiates by treated patients.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze data of patients requiring high-dose methadone (>100 mg/d) as well as associated factors.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed charts of treated patients with high-dose methadone followed in the maintenance methadone treatment center between 01/01/07 and 01/07/10.