EXAMINATION of NARCOTIC DRUGS and ETHYL ALCOHOL AMONG the SOLDIERS in LITHUANIA

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EXAMINATION of NARCOTIC DRUGS and ETHYL
ALCOHOLAMONG the SOLDIERS in LITHUANIA

• Robertas Obrikis
• Darius Jankauskas

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Introduction

• Life of Lithuanian people is changing as
  quickly as economics and social sphere. Very
  serious problem - using of narcotic drugs today
  stands already beside other social habits
  smoking and alcohol abuse. Today there are almost
  no problems to obtain narcotic drugs illegal
  offer and supply of narcotic drugs increase,
  demand of narcotic drugs comes into existence.
• Narcotic drugs could be described as natural or
  chemical substances, which are included in the
  approved lists of controlled substances of the
  Ministry of Health, using of which causes severe
  health disorder due to their harmful effect,
  evoking psychological and physical dependence or
  danger for humans health.

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Statistics

• Since 2001, 69 968 patients who suffer from
  dependence have been registered in the medical
  care institutions. 4087 of them are dependent on
  narcotic drugs.
• Distribution of addicts according age
• till 14 years old 0,1 (5)
• 15-19 years old 11,3 (461)
• 20-24 years old 28,0 (1142)
• 23-24 years old 37,0 (1513)
• 35 years old and elder 23,6
  (966)
• Distribution of addicts according gender and
  residence
• In town 94,0 male 81,5
• In village 6,0 female 18,5
  

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Research target

• Trying to decrease using of narcotic drugs and
  alcohol in the country, its necessary to
  identify the persons using alcohol, narcotic and
  toxic drugs and medicinal substances.
• Referring of epidemiologic examination executed
  among conscripts of Lithuanian army and soldiers
  of initial compulsatory army service, it was
  determined that a problem of using narcotic drugs
  and alcohol exists in some department of army.
  Using of the above mentioned substances menaces
  on physical and mental health of soldiers, could
  cause illness of dependence, due to which a
  soldier could not be able to carry our his
  commitments.

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Research object

• From 2002 until 2004 years neurological
  reactions as well as blood and urine
  toxicological analysis of 318 soldiers in
  Lithuania army have been evaluated. Soldiers
  belonging to supervision group have been tested
  first. These are persons, who either are under
  major risk of using narcotic drugs, or those who
  have some disorder because of using narcotic or
  psychoactive substances, but who were adjudged as
  proper to serve in the army.

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• Testing means identification either a person
  uses narcotic drugs and alcohol. Its reliable
  medical method to determine which kind of
  substances are used.
• According to the tenth revision of the
  International Statistical Classification of
  Diseases and Related Health Problems, the
  following groups of substances that affect psyche
  have been determinated during testing
• - ethyl alcohol
• - opiates
• - cannabinoids (marijuana, hashish, grass)
• - tranquilizers and sedatives (tranquilizers,
  barbiturates)
• - cocaine
• - stimulants (amphetamine, extasy, ephedrine
  compounds)
• - psychoactive substances and narcotics used
  simultaneously.

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• 100 ml of urine into special platic containers
  has been taken from persons in supervision and
  randomly selected groups. Preference was alloted
  to determination of narcotic drugs and medicines.
  Ethyl alcohol has been searched in all cases.
• For persons, who were tested using
  symptomatical method, blood from elbow vein (vena
  ulnares), urine or both objects, depending on
  what substance was used (blood for determination
  of ethyl alcohol and its concentration urine for
  determination of narcotic drugs and medicines),
  have been taken after evaluation of medical
  examination and neurological symptoms.

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Research methods

• Persons have been tested referring to approved
  order of physical examination for intoxication
  appearance of exploratory, changes in behaviour,
  consciousness, orientation at the point of time
  and place, memory, speech, walking, coordination
  of movement, mime, neurological and somatic
  condition, vegetal reactions (breathing, pulse,
  blood pressure), subjective and objective
  information about using of alcohol and other
  intoxicating substances, results of additional
  tests and laboratory analyses.
• Ethyl alcohol was identified by gas
  chromatography method using gas chromatograph
  Chrom-4.

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Research results and their consideration

• 318 soldiers have been tested during 2002-2004
  years. Average term of observation 9 monts. 25
  cases of using alcohol and narkotic drugs were
  determined (it composes 7,86 of all
  exploratory).

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• Using methods of toxicological analysis it was
  determinated that 17 soldiers used ethyl alcohol,
  5 soldiers ethyl alcohol and heroine, 2
  soldiers amphetamine derivatives, 1 soldier
  carbamazepine.

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• All exploratory have been divided into three
  groups.
• Supervision group contained 20 persons. No
  facts of using ethyl alcohol and narcotic drugs
  were found during testing.
• 272 soldiers have been randomly selected for
  testing. 9 positive cases were found 8 cases
  concerned ethyl alcohol and 1 using of medicine
  carbamazepine (this medicine was not prescribed
  by doctor according to medicinal indications).
• 26 case was examined using symptomatic method
  16 results were positive
• 2 persons used narcotic drugs only amphetamine
  and metamphetamine (0,63 of all exploratory)
• intoxication during service was determined to 5
  conscripts of initial compulsatory army service.
  While testing it was determined that they used
  ethyl alcohol and heroin simultaneously (1,57
  of all exploratory)
• 9 soldiers used ethyl alcohol only (2,83 of all
  exploratory)
• No cases of using of narcotic drugs have been
  found testing soldiers of professional service.

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• Taking all positive cases of using ethyl
  alcohol, subclinical drunkness (0,18 0,35 )
  was determined in 12 cases, slight drunkness
  (0,64- 0,92 ) in 6 cases, middle drunkness
  (2,19- 2,41 ) in 3 cases and severe drunkness
  (2,53 ) in 1 case.

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Conclusions

• Executed examination allows making the
  conclusion that the soldiers abused ethyl
  alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychoactive
  substances in separate cases only. The
  above-mentioned substances have been used once or
  twice and they did not cause permanent mental
  disorder or change in behaviour. As ethyl alcohol
  could be obtained easily, it was used most
  frequently (in 22 cases from 25). There are no
  conditions for such harmful habits in the army.