Buprenorphine abuse in a series of 50 drug addicts hospitalized at a Drug Dependence Evaluation hospital in Marseille
Arditti, J.; Bourdon, J.H.; Jean, P.; Landi, H.; Nasset, D.; Jouglard, J.; Thirion, X.
Therapie 47(6): 561-562
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0040-5957 PMID: 1301649 Document Number: 396081
Buprenorphine, a synthetic central analgesic, marketed since 1987, was rapidly suspected to be subject to abuse. We tried to confirm this abuse in the context of our analytical activity at the Drug Dependence Evaluation and Information Centre. The study was based on 50 drug addicts admitted to Marseille Hospital between June and October 1992. Buprenorphine and its N-dealkylated metabolite were identified in the urine by high performance liquid chromatography equipped with a diode array detector. Nine (18%) of the 50 samples analysed were positive for buprenorphine and/or norbuprenorphine, with a confidence interval of 8 to 28%, which confirms the existence of abuse of this analgesic.