Trend of drug detection in urine samples tested at the University Hospital of Modena, during a 10-year period

A retrospective analysis of data from 1997 to 2006 from over 30.000 urinalysis screening between 1997 and 2006 has been performed. Urine samples had been tested at the laboratory of the Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology service of the University Hospital of Modena by enzyme-multiplied immunoassay. All tests have been requested by the departments of the hospital, included emergency department; urine specimens have been analysed for the presence of opiates, cocaine, cannabinoids, and amphetamines. Results: as a whole the percentage of samples positive declined over the 10-year period for all drugs tested. However the pattern changed in time: in the period 1997-1999 the drugs most often detected were opiates followed cannabinoids and in the period 2004-2006 the drugs most often detected were cannabinoids followed by opiates and cocaine at the same level. The detection of opiates peaked between 1997-1999 (mean 25.47%) then decreased over the following seven year to 5.2% in 2006. Detection of cannabis also decreased from a mean of 16% of all samples during 1997-1999 to 7.6% in 2006. The percentage of urine samples that were positive for amphetamine-class drugs decreased from a mean of 4.3% to 1.09% in 2006. The detection of cocaine and its metabolites peaked between 1998-2001 (mean 10.4%) then declined to a mean of 5.9% in the period 2004-2006.Conclusions: Since 1996 implementation at the drug services units of the province of Modena of harm reduction policies, mainly methadone maintenance treatment, has been followed by a reduction of drug addicts hospitalised for health damage associated with injection practices as shown by the substantial fall of samples positive for opiates from 1997 to 2006. However, in 2006, cannabis, opiates, cocaine, and amphetamines continued to be detected in percentages ranging from 1 to 7 % of urine samples …..