A Methodological Review of Drug-Related Toxicological Studies in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study aimed to conduct a methodological review of drug-related toxicological studies in Saudi Arabia. A systematic review and a methodological analysis were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Medline and Embase were searched for all types of studies reporting toxicological studies in the English language published until January 10, 2022. The search was conducted using both keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms. The methodological analysis of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A total of 3,750 studies were extracted and screened. Of these, 30 observational studies (seven cohort studies and 23 crosssectional studies) met the inclusion criteria. The methodological scores ranged from five to seven out of 10 possible points. Twelve studies had high quality, and 18 studies had moderate quality. Eight studies focused on adverse drug reactions, eight explored poisoning, four explored drug-related hospitalizations, nine explored drug-induced toxicity, and one explored drug overdose. This research project revealed that most of the drug-related toxicological studies conducted in Saudi Arabia were observational studies of moderate quality. Future studies should focus on the quality of the design and reporting.

Parents’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices toward Methamphetamine Abuse among Youth and its Risk Factors in Saudi Arabia

“…Based on data provided by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, it has been estimated that over 275 million individuals engage in the consumption of illegal drugs, including but not limited to cannabis, amphetamines, opioids, and cocaine. [ 1 ] According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the total number of fatalities resulting from drug overdose in 2015 was recorded at 168,000. The primary cause of these deaths, as identified by WHO, was overdose related to the use of opioids.…”

“…The primary cause of these deaths, as identified by WHO, was overdose related to the use of opioids. [ 1 2 ] Psychological or mental dependence results in impaired control over substance use, leading to tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. [ 3 4 ]…”