Behavioral disorders and new psychoactive substances abuse, a French case series

Abstract

Introduction

Range of drugs has largely increased the past few years, especially with the emergence of the New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) sold online. In front of serious risks they cause on human health, they are more and more regulated by the law.

Objectives

To describe cases of extreme behavioral disorders and highlight risks of potential forensic complications linked to these consumptions.

Methods

We present a case series of serious auto or hetero-aggressive behavioral disorders related to NPS abuse and notified to the Parisian addictovigilance center.

Results

Twenty cases were identified between 2010 and 2015. Users were exclusively men, with mean age of 35.5 years (min: 20, max: 51). Synthetic cathinones are the predominant class of reported NPS (65%). An association between NPS and sexuality is found in 60% of cases (12); among them cathinones are used by 11 men. We observed 6 deaths among which, 5 were associated to sexual practice. Two cases of consumptions of cathinones induced torture and barbarian acts. Concerning aggressive behavioral disorders, we quote 3 cases of hetero-aggressivity (one by stab wound and 2 others developed an hypersexuality ± exhibitionism) and 9 cases of auto-aggressivity characterized by genital mutilations (1), defenestration (3), suicidal attempt (3), and acute psychiatric disorder with endangering life (2). Only four cases have been confirmed by toxicological analysis.

Conclusion

Behavioral disorders inducing forensics complications exist with NPS and particularly with cathinones. The problematic is certainly undervalued. A collaboration between addictovigilance and forensic services has to be improved.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.