Recreational use of benzydamine as a hallucinogen among street youth in Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the recreational use of benzydamine, an anti-inflammatory drug, among street youth in Brazil.


METHODS



METHODS
a descriptive, cross sectional survey.


METHODS
93 welfare services for the street youth in 27 Brazilian capitals.


METHODS
2807 street youth, 10 to 18 years old.


METHODS
demographic characteristics, drug use pattern (lifetime use, use in the past 30 days, frequency, and characteristics of use in the past month) and effects of benzydamine through the use of a questionnaire.


RESULTS
78 reported lifetime recreational benzydamine use (67 cases identified only in three capitals). Among the 30 respondents reporting drug use in the last month (the month preceding the survey), 66.7% (n = 20) used the drug on 4 or more days (in the month preceding the survey). The most frequently (50%) pleasure effects reported were hallucination and nonspecific sensory changes described as 'trips'. Unwanted effects were reported by 75% of respondents, they were especially nausea and vomiting (21.4%). In the majority of the cases, drug was obtained from drugstores without a medical prescription.


CONCLUSIONS
This study identifies the recreational use of benzydamine among street youth, mainly in the Northeast of Brazil, and also indicates the need for special controls on the dispensation of this substance.
Brazilian Center of Information on Psychotropic Drugs, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. emerita@psicobio.epm.br
Emérita Sátiro
ES
Opaleye
Ana Regina
AR
Noto
Zila van der Meer
Zv
Sanchez
Yone Gonçalves de
YG
Moura
José Carlos Fernandes
JC
Galduróz
Elisaldo Araújo
EA
Carlini
D000293:Adolescent; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001591:Benzydamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D057181:Pleasure; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D006213:Hallucinogens; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D001591:Benzydamine