Misuse of atypical antipsychotics in conjunction with alcohol and other drugs of abuse

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2014.07.006
• Publication Date: 2014-07-23T20:00:37Z
• Authors: Tara Malekshahi; Nina Tioleco; Nahima Ahmed; Aimee N.C. Campbell; Deborah Haller
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Dibenzothiazepines; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; Behavior, Addictive; Alcoholism; Quetiapine Fumarate; 03 medical and health sciences; Sex Factors; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Female; Prescription Drug Misuse; Antipsychotic Agents

Non-medical use of atypical antipsychotics by substance abusers has been reported in the literature, although no detailed studies exist. Among 429 addiction treatment inpatients screened, 73 (17.0%) reported misuse of antipsychotics with alcohol, opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and/or cannabis; 39 (9.1%) within the past year. Of past year misusers, 25 (64.1%) were interviewed. Most were male (76.0%), non-Caucasian (56.0%), and polysubstance abusers (84.0%). Quetiapine, the most abused drug (96.0%), was obtained primarily from doctors (52.0%) and family/friends (48.0%). Reasons for use included to "recover" from other substances (66.7%), "enhance" the effects of other substances (25.0%), and "experiment" (20.8%). The most frequently reported positive effect was "feeling mellow" (75.0%); negative effects were consistent with antipsychotic use (e.g., feeling thirsty, trouble concentrating). Compared to a normative sample of inpatient substance abusers, ASI composite scores were higher. Findings suggest that physicians should assess for use/misuse of atypical antipsychotics among patients with addiction.