The Handmade Chemical Compounds and Medical Herb Sellers: Drug Treatment or Induction of Addiction; a Descriptive Case Series Study

The current study aimed at evaluating the growing numbers of clients referred to drug treatment centers claimed to suffer from addiction following consumption of handmade chemical compounds bought from medicinal herb sellers for medical reasons.
From April 2012 to September 2015, the clients referred to a drug addiction treatment center with a history of recent consumption of handmaid chemical compounds sold by medicinal herb sellers were interviewed more precisely in terms of drug abuse and qualitative assessment of the solved pills, and urine samples were done using rapid assessment kit with urinal dip stick.
Amongst the 182 clients, 69 persons (4 females, 65 males) reported a recent history of handmade chemical compounds. Urinal analysis indicated the presence of tramadol in 64 (93%), morphine in 11(16%), methamphetamine in 6 (8%), methadone in 3 (4%), and cannabinoids in 2 (3%) persons. Tramadol found in 67(97%) and methadone in 2 (3%) evaluated pills.
Most of the handmade compounds contained tramadol and thus, led to drug addiction in the subjects referred to medicinal herb sellers for other medical complains.