Toxic relationship and drug addicted? – a case series of teenagers with behavioural disorders

Abstract

Poland is among the infamous leaders among countries when it comes to the percentage of suicide attempts among young people. Methadone is a long-acting opioid agonist, which is mainly used as substitution treatment for heroin and morphine addiction. There is a typical triad for methadone overdose consisting of respiratory failure, myopic pupils and central nervous system depression. It may also lead to QT prolongation with following torsade de pointes. We present two teenager patients, who were poisoned with methadone. They were both under the influence of their boyfriend who was drug addicted. What is more, the girls both were in toxic relationship with the same man, who had similar influence on them. First patient was 18 years old. She was admitted to Department of Toxicology and Cardiology because of intravenous methadone overdose. The treatment used improved the general condition. No abnormalities were seen in the clinical examination. Teenager was examined by psychiatrist and psychologist. Second patient, 16 years old, was hospitalized twice. Teenager admitted that she got methadone from her boyfriend who is being treated for drug addiction. At the time of admission, the patient was emotionally disturbed, tearful, and periodically aroused. After two days of hospitalization girl was discharged home under mother’s protection. Three months later, 16 years old patient was admitted to the hospital again, because of intoxication with psychoactive substances and self-injuries. After three days of hospitalization, she was transferred to psychiatric hospital for further therapy. We can indicate methadone use not only as methadone’s level in urine, but also as EDDP, methadone’s metabolite concentration in urine. Every person with symptoms of behavioural disorder should be as fast as possible be examined by psychiatrist and psychologist, to avoid suicide attempts.

Keywords

• methadone
• self injuries
• drugs
• addiction
• behavioural disorder