EXAMINATION of NARCOTIC EXAMINATION of NARCOTIC DRUGS and ETHYL ALCOHOLDRUGS and ETHYL ALCOHOL

AMONG the SOLDIERS in AMONG the SOLDIERS in LITHUANIALITHUANIA

Robertas ObrikisRobertas Obrikis

Darius JankauskasDarius Jankauskas

IntroductionIntroduction Life of Lithuanian people is changing as Life of Lithuanian people is changing as

quickly asquickly as economics and social sphere. Very economics and social sphere. Very serious problem - using of narcotic drugs – today serious problem - using of narcotic drugs – today stands already beside other social habits – stands already beside other social habits – smoking and alcohol abuse. Today there are smoking and alcohol abuse. Today there are almost no problems to obtain narcotic drugs; almost no problems to obtain narcotic drugs; illegal offer and supply of narcotic drugs increase, illegal offer and supply of narcotic drugs increase, demand of narcotic drugs comes into existence. demand of narcotic drugs comes into existence.

Narcotic drugs could be described as natural Narcotic drugs could be described as natural or chemical substances, which are included in the or chemical substances, which are included in the approved lists of controlled substances of the approved lists of controlled substances of the Ministry of Health, using of which causes severe Ministry of Health, using of which causes severe health disorder due to their harmful effect, health disorder due to their harmful effect, evoking psychological and physical dependence evoking psychological and physical dependence or danger for human’s healthor danger for human’s health..

StatisticsStatistics Since 2001, 69 968 patients who suffer Since 2001, 69 968 patients who suffer from dependence have been registered in from dependence have been registered in the medical care institutions. 4087 of the medical care institutions. 4087 of them are dependent on narcotic drugs.them are dependent on narcotic drugs.

Distribution of addicts according age:Distribution of addicts according age:– till 14 years old till 14 years old – 0,1% (5)– 0,1% (5)– 15-19 years old 15-19 years old – 11,3% (461)– 11,3% (461)– 20-24 years old 20-24 years old – 28,0% (1142)– 28,0% (1142)– 23-24 years old 23-24 years old – 37,0% (1513)– 37,0% (1513)

– 35 years old and elder 35 years old and elder – 23,6% (966)– 23,6% (966)

Distribution of addicts according gender Distribution of addicts according gender and residence:and residence:

In town – 94,0%In town – 94,0% male – 81,5%male – 81,5%In village – 6,0%In village – 6,0% female – female –

18,5% 18,5%

Research targetResearch target

Trying to decrease using of narcotic Trying to decrease using of narcotic drugs and alcohol in the country, it’s drugs and alcohol in the country, it’s necessary to identify the persons using necessary to identify the persons using alcohol, narcotic and toxic drugs and alcohol, narcotic and toxic drugs and medicinal substances.medicinal substances.

Referring of epidemiologic examination Referring of epidemiologic examination executed among conscripts of Lithuanian executed among conscripts of Lithuanian army and soldiers of initial compulsatory army and soldiers of initial compulsatory army service, it was determined that a army service, it was determined that a problem of using narcotic drugs and alcohol problem of using narcotic drugs and alcohol exists in some department of army. Using of exists in some department of army. Using of the above mentioned substances menaces the above mentioned substances menaces on physical and mental health of soldiers, on physical and mental health of soldiers, could cause illness of dependence, due to could cause illness of dependence, due to which a soldier could not be able to carry which a soldier could not be able to carry our his commitments.our his commitments.

Research objectResearch object

From 2002 until 2004 years neurological From 2002 until 2004 years neurological reactions as well as blood and urine reactions as well as blood and urine toxicological analysis of 318 soldiers in toxicological analysis of 318 soldiers in Lithuania army have been evaluated. Soldiers Lithuania army have been evaluated. Soldiers belonging to supervision group have been belonging to supervision group have been tested first. These are persons, who either are tested first. These are persons, who either are under major risk of using narcotic drugs, or under major risk of using narcotic drugs, or those who have some disorder because of those who have some disorder because of using narcotic or psychoactive substances, but using narcotic or psychoactive substances, but who were adjudged as proper to serve in the who were adjudged as proper to serve in the army. army.

Groups of tested Groups of tested soldiers soldiers

Cases Cases Per cents Per cents (%) (%)

Supervision group Supervision group 2020 6,296,29

Randomly selected group Randomly selected group 272272 85,5385,53Symptomatically selected Symptomatically selected group group

2626 8,188,18

TOTALTOTAL 318318 100100

Testing means identification either a person uses narcotic Testing means identification either a person uses narcotic drugs and alcohol. It’s reliable medical method to drugs and alcohol. It’s reliable medical method to determine which kind of substances are used.determine which kind of substances are used.

According to the tenth revision of the International According to the tenth revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, the following groups of substances that affect Problems, the following groups of substances that affect psyche have been determinated during testing:psyche have been determinated during testing:

-- ethyl alcoholethyl alcohol

- opiates- opiates

- cannabinoids (marijuana, hashish, grass)- cannabinoids (marijuana, hashish, grass)

- tranquilizers and sedatives (tranquilizers, barbiturates)- tranquilizers and sedatives (tranquilizers, barbiturates)

- cocaine- cocaine

- stimulants (amphetamine, extasy, ephedrine compounds)- stimulants (amphetamine, extasy, ephedrine compounds)

- psychoactive substances and narcotics used - psychoactive substances and narcotics used simultaneously.simultaneously.

100 ml of urine into special platic containers 100 ml of urine into special platic containers has been taken from persons in supervision and has been taken from persons in supervision and randomly selected groups. Preference was alloted randomly selected groups. Preference was alloted to determination of narcotic drugs and medicines. to determination of narcotic drugs and medicines. Ethyl alcohol has been searched in all cases.Ethyl alcohol has been searched in all cases.

For persons, who were tested using For persons, who were tested using symptomatical method, blood from elbow vein symptomatical method, blood from elbow vein ((vena ulnaresvena ulnares)), urine or both objects, depending , urine or both objects, depending on what substance was used on what substance was used ((blood for blood for determination of ethyl alcohol and its determination of ethyl alcohol and its concentration; urine for determination of narcotic concentration; urine for determination of narcotic drugs and medicinesdrugs and medicines)), have been taken after , have been taken after evaluation of medical examination and evaluation of medical examination and neurological symptoms.neurological symptoms.

Research methodsResearch methods

Persons have been tested referring to approved Persons have been tested referring to approved order of physical examination for intoxication: order of physical examination for intoxication: appearance of exploratory, changes in behaviour, appearance of exploratory, changes in behaviour, consciousness, orientation at the point of time and consciousness, orientation at the point of time and place, memory, speech, walking, coordination of place, memory, speech, walking, coordination of movement, mime, neurological and somatic movement, mime, neurological and somatic condition, vegetal reactions (breathing, pulse, condition, vegetal reactions (breathing, pulse, blood pressure), subjective and objective blood pressure), subjective and objective information about using of alcohol and other information about using of alcohol and other intoxicating substances, results of additional tests intoxicating substances, results of additional tests and laboratory analyses.and laboratory analyses.

Ethyl alcohol was identified by gas chromatography Ethyl alcohol was identified by gas chromatography methodmethod using gas chromatograph Chrom-4.using gas chromatograph Chrom-4.

Research results and their Research results and their considerationconsideration

318 soldiers have been tested during 318 soldiers have been tested during 2002-2004 years. Average term of 2002-2004 years. Average term of observation – 9 monts. 25 cases of using observation – 9 monts. 25 cases of using alcohol and narkotic drugs were alcohol and narkotic drugs were determined determined ((it composes 7,86 it composes 7,86 %% of all of all exploexplorratoryatory). ).

293

Negative

Positive

25

Using methods of toxicological Using methods of toxicological analysis it was determinated that 17 analysis it was determinated that 17 soldiers used ethyl alcohol, 5 soldiers – soldiers used ethyl alcohol, 5 soldiers – ethyl alcohol and heroine, 2 soldiers – ethyl alcohol and heroine, 2 soldiers – amphetamine derivatives, 1 soldier – amphetamine derivatives, 1 soldier – carbamazepinecarbamazepine..

17

5

2 1

0

5

10

15

20

Cases

Alcohol Alcohol andheroine

Amphetaminederivatives

Medicines

All exploAll explorratory have been divided into three atory have been divided into three groups.groups.

Supervision group contained 20 persons. No Supervision group contained 20 persons. No facts of using ethyl alcohol and narcotic drugs were facts of using ethyl alcohol and narcotic drugs were found during testing.found during testing.

272 soldiers have been randomly selected for 272 soldiers have been randomly selected for testing. 9 positive cases were found: 8 cases testing. 9 positive cases were found: 8 cases concerned ethyl alcohol and 1concerned ethyl alcohol and 1 using of medicine – using of medicine – carbamazepine (this medicine was not prescribed by carbamazepine (this medicine was not prescribed by doctor according to medicinal indications).doctor according to medicinal indications).

26 case was examined using symptomatic 26 case was examined using symptomatic method; 16 results were positive:method; 16 results were positive:– 2 persons used narcotic drugs only – amphetamine 2 persons used narcotic drugs only – amphetamine

and metamphetamine and metamphetamine (0,63 % of all exploratory);(0,63 % of all exploratory);– intoxication during service was determined to 5 intoxication during service was determined to 5

conscripts of conscripts of initial compulsatory army service. While initial compulsatory army service. While testing it was determined that they used ethyl alcohol and testing it was determined that they used ethyl alcohol and heroin simultaneously heroin simultaneously (1,57 % of all exploratory);(1,57 % of all exploratory);

– 9 9 soldiers used ethyl alcohol only soldiers used ethyl alcohol only (2,83 % of all exploratory)(2,83 % of all exploratory)

No cases of using of narcotic drugs have been No cases of using of narcotic drugs have been found testing soldiers of professional service. found testing soldiers of professional service.

Taking all positive cases of using ethyl Taking all positive cases of using ethyl alcohol, subclinical drunkness (alcohol, subclinical drunkness (0,18 – 0,35 ‰0,18 – 0,35 ‰) was ) was determined in 12 cases, slight drunkness determined in 12 cases, slight drunkness (0,64- (0,64- 0,92 ‰) 0,92 ‰) – in 6 cases, middle drunkness – in 6 cases, middle drunkness (2,19- (2,19- 2,41 ‰) 2,41 ‰) – in 3 cases and severe drunkness – in 3 cases and severe drunkness (2,53 (2,53 ‰) ‰) – in 1 case. – in 1 case.

1

3

1

12

6

3

10

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

0.18 - 0.35 0.64 - 0.92 2.19 - 2.41 2.53

Promils

Cases

Heroin

Alcohol

ConclusionsConclusions

Executed examination allows making the Executed examination allows making the conclusion that the soldiers abused ethyl conclusion that the soldiers abused ethyl alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychoactive alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychoactive substances in separate cases only. The above-substances in separate cases only. The above-mentioned substances have been used once or mentioned substances have been used once or twice and they did not cause permanent mental twice and they did not cause permanent mental disorder or change in behaviour. As ethyl disorder or change in behaviour. As ethyl alcohol could be obtained easily, it was used alcohol could be obtained easily, it was used most frequently (in 22 cases from 25). There are most frequently (in 22 cases from 25). There are no conditions for such harmful habits in the no conditions for such harmful habits in the army.army.