Comparison of cocaine and opiate exposures between young urban and suburban children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of cocaine and opiate metabolites in the urine of young urban and suburban children.


METHODS
Survey.


METHODS
Urban and suburban emergency departments and private pediatric practices.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 1469 children between 1 and 60 months of age who required a urinalysis for investigation of the chief complaint.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Urine was screened for benzoylecogonine and opiates using an enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique and a fluorescence-polarization immunoassay, both with a sensitivity of 50 ng/mL.


RESULTS
Benzoylecogonine was identified in the urine of 45 children (3.1%) (95% CI, 2.2% to 3.9%) and opiates in the urine of 38 children (2.6%) (95% CI, 1.8% to 3.4%). No difference was observed between urban and suburban health care facilities in the percentage of patients whose urine tested positive for benzoylecgonine (29 of 1011 vs 16 of 458, P = .6) or opiates (28 of 1011 vs 10 of 458, P = .6).


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to illicit drugs, as reflected by urinary metabolites, is similar for urban and suburban children.
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003042:Cocaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007223:Infant; D009294:Narcotics / Q000652:urine*; D015995:Prevalence; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D018881:Suburban Health; D014481:United States; D014504:Urban Health
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D009294:Narcotics; C005618:benzoylecgonine; D003042:Cocaine