Drug and alcohol dependence
December 1, 2015
Johanna J Nugteren-Van Lonkhuyzen, Antoinette J H P van Riel, Tibor M Brunt et al.
48 citations
The number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) on the illicit drug market has increased markedly. Users often perceive their risk as medium or low, but these substances can pose serious health risks and have been linked to drug-related deaths. In Europe, frequently detected NPS include 2C-B, 4-fluoroamphetamine (4-FA), and benzofurans (5-APB/6-APB). A review of existing literature found that the clinical effects of these NPS are comparable to common illicit drugs like amphetamine and MDMA, suggesting that NPS toxicity can be managed using existing treatment guidelines based on clinical effects rather than the specific drug. However, information on health risks is limited to case reports complicated by confounders.
Annals of emergency medicine
September 1, 2020
Johanna J Nugteren-Van Lonkhuyzen, Dylan W de Lange, Antoinette J H P van Riel et al.
12 citations
Most poisonings from the psychedelic drug 2C-B result in moderate toxicity, even at high doses up to 192 mg. Among 59 patients for whom a poison center was consulted, 32 were followed up; 53% reported high doses (over 20 mg). Moderate poisoning occurred in the majority of both low-to-moderate and high-dose groups. Common symptoms included dilated pupils, agitation or aggression, hallucinations, confusion, anxiety, high blood pressure, and rapid heart rate. No severe cases were observed. The clinical course was usually short-lived (up to 24 hours) and typically involved hallucinations along with mild physical effects.
Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)
June 17, 2025
Antoinette J H P van Riel, Wouter M H van der Sanden, Laetitia M O de Kort
4 citations
Recreational ketamine use in the Netherlands has risen sharply from 2018 to 2024, with poison center calls about ketamine intoxication increasing from 33 to 139 per year. A dedicated urology clinic saw patients with ketamine-induced bladder damage grow from zero to 137 over the same period. Long-term, high-dose use (over 1 gram daily for a median of 35 months, median 18 grams per week) was linked to urological complaints. Most affected users were men in their twenties, and the majority also used other drugs or alcohol. Severe cases required surgery, including bladder removal in three patients. The findings highlight a growing public health concern requiring awareness among users and healthcare providers.
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
July 7, 2026
Johanna J Nugteren-Van Lonkhuyzen, Irma S Van den Hengel-Koot, Claudine C Hunault et al.
Between 2012 and 2025, the annual rate of poisonings from new psychoactive substances (NPS) reported to the Dutch Poisons Information Center rose by 19% per year, with the number of poisonings increasing from 32 to 829. Among 19,316 total recreational drug poisonings, 4,289 involved NPS. Cathinones, phenethylamines, and benzodiazepines accounted for 83% of NPS poisonings, though the dominant category shifted over time: benzodiazepines in 2012 and 2024, phenethylamines from 2013 to 2018, and cathinones from 2019 to 2023 and 2025. The most frequently reported NPS were 3-MMC, bromazolam, 4-FA, 2C-B, and mephedrone. Poisonings with other NPS categories were rare, and none involved aminoindanes or piperazines.