Drug and alcohol dependence
May 1, 2024
Joseph J Palamar, Nicole D Fitzgerald, Thomas H Carr et al.
9 citations
Seizures of psilocybin mushrooms by U.S. law enforcement rose sharply between 2017 and 2022, suggesting increasing availability. The number of seizures grew from 402 in 2017 to 1,396 in 2022, a 368.9% increase, with the Midwest accounting for the most seizures (36.0%) and the West next (33.5%). The total weight seized rose from 226.0 kg to 844.0 kg, a 2,749.7% increase; the West had the greatest total weight (1,864.2 kg, 42.6%) followed by the South (1,831.9 kg, 41.8%). Significant increases occurred in all four U.S. regions. The authors call for more prevention and harm reduction education.
Current addiction reports
January 1, 2025
Nina Abukahok, Nicole D Fitzgerald, Joseph J Palamar
Tusi, or 'pink cocaine,' is a drug mixture containing ketamine and MDMA, often with additional substances like synthetic cathinones, cocaine, or methamphetamine. Its inconsistent chemical makeup complicates surveillance and harm reduction. Drug checking services have identified ketamine and MDMA as main components, with ketamine concentrations increasing over time in Spain. Surveys in Spain and Colombia show rising initiation, polysubstance use, and misclassification of tusi's contents. Harms stem largely from the polysubstance mixtures rather than any single component, yet mortality data typically focus on individual drugs. Tusi represents a novel trend: a blend of substances defined by its color and nightlife association, requiring standardized surveys, expanded drug checking, and improved toxicological monitoring.