Illicit drugs seizures as an indicator of drug abuse pattern in upper Egypt from 2003 to 2009

الملخص EN

rug abuse may lead to homicide, suicide, domestic violence, sexual assaults, traffic accidents and decrease learning and productive abilities.

The present work aimed to analyze and report the pattern of drug abuse in the Upper Egypt governorates through retrospective study of positive cases of drug seizures that examined by Assiut Medicolegal Laboratory of Ministry of Justice during the period from 2003 to 2009, which is under reported.

Data obtained were analyzed as regard to the numbers, types, geographical, annual and monthly distribution of seizures as well as gender distribution of the assailants and seizures pattern in the prison.

The results demonstrated that the highest percentage of seizures was found in EL-menia and Assiut governorates and the lowest was found in New Valley.

Most of the offenders were males.

The percentage of seizures increased from 2005 to 2009.

Cannabis as a plant or hashish was the most widely seized drugs, followed by opium either as a plant, crude or derivatives (tramadol, heroin, morphine, fentanyl), then sedatives (barbiturates and benzodiazepines) trihexyphenidyl (parkinol) then stimulants (cocaine, amphetamine) which represented the lowest percentage of seizures.

The highest percentage of seizures was in September and October.

The highest seizures in prisoners were in 2005 and 2008, mostly parkinol and benzodiazepines.

Control of drug abuse can be achieved by efforts of law enforcement agencies for prohibiting their cultivation, synthesis, trading and transport, raising social awareness and continuation of studies on drug abuse pattern in Egypt.