title: [Cocaine base paste: experience from the Montevideo Poison Control Center].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Uruguay, cocaine base paste (CBP, pasta base) is a widely used form of cocaine. The aim of our study is to determine the main clinical characteristics of CBP abusers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, single-center study of consultations at the Montevideo Poison Control Center between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and thirteen consultations were included, with an average age of 22 years (+ - 0.5 years) and a female-male sex ratio of 1:4.3. The consultations were related to drug overdose (77%), suicide attempt (16.8%), and wanting to give up CBP use (6.2%). In 48.1% the time elapsed since inhalation of CBP was less than 6 hours. Doses varied between 0.5 gr. and 25 gr. Use of other drugs at the same time, such as alcohol, marijuana or benzodiazepines, was common (51 cases). The symptoms most frequently observed were neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular, followed by respiratory symptoms. In 16.8% of patients, reason for the consultation was intentional acute ingestion of drugs, considered as a suicide attempt, occurring within a few hours of drug consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBP users are mostly young males. Although clinical findings are compatible with those for cocaine abuse, euphoria is a major clinical feature in CBP abusers. The presence of respiratory symptoms reflects the complications associated with the ingestion route. Suicide attempts occurring within a few hours of CBP confirm the high prevalence of suicidal ideation reported by other authors. cocaine base paste, clinical features, suicide attempts.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Información y Asesoramiento Toxicológico, Hospital de Clínicas, Montevideo, Uruguay. dr_antoniopascale@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascale
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Negrin
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laborde
mesh_terms: D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009824:Ointments; D011039:Poison Control Centers; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014583:Uruguay; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009824:Ointments