Habitual, toxic, and lethal concentrations of 103 drugs of abuse in humans.
BACKGROUND
Poisoning caused by drugs of abuse or commonly used addictive medicines occurs with relative frequency and often leads, either directly or indirectly, to death. The interpretation of the blood and urine concentrations is, however, a complex and difficult problem.


METHODS
We have reviewed the published data and subjected them to selection and unification on the basis of conservative criteria and our own experience.


RESULTS
A compilation of the concentrations of 103 drugs of abuse in whole blood, serum/plasma, and urine, during habitual or therapeutic use and as found in toxic or lethal poisoning is given.


CONCLUSIONS
The table presented can be helpful in interpretation of the drug concentrations encountered in clinical, toxicological, and forensic cases.
Repetto
M R
MR
National Institute of Toxicology, Seville, Spain.
Repetto
M
M
D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D016482:Urinalysis
D013287:Illicit Drugs