A new pattern of drug abuse among injecting drug users in Tashkent city

Abstract

This article reports on a new trend of drug abuse in Tashkent city (Uzbekistan) among injecting drug users (IDUs). Kodatset®, a combination medication of acetaminophen and codeine in the form of tablets, is applied intravenously in extremely high dosages. It is usually combined with Dimedrol® (diphenhydramine). At first, Kodatset® was used to cope with withdrawal symptoms in heroin users; now it seems to replace heroin more and more because it is much cheaper and easy to get. The main effect drug abusers want to obtain is euphoria. The high dosages and the reported rapid spreading among drug users could lead to an increase of severe or perilous kidney and liver damages in the near future.

• Acetaminophen
• codeine
• diphenhydramine
• addiction
• injecting drug users

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Correction to: A new pattern of drug abuse among injecting drug users in Tashkent city

Acknowledgement

The authors gratefully acknowledge Norman Hoffman, Claude Senneville, Andrew Blakeslee, David Koloszyc, Maja Nedeljkovic, Liza Solopieieva-Jurcikova, as well as McGill University Health services and volunteers from the McGill University residences.