Recent Trends of Drug Abuse and Drug‐Associated Deaths in Korea

Abstract

Methamphetamine is the most abused drug in Korea followed by cannabis and opiates. Recent characteristics of the drug problem in Korea include increased drug smuggling from abroad, drug trafficking by organized gangs, varieties of drug smuggling, foreigners engaged in drug smuggling, and spread among drug abusers and areas. New drugs such as MDMA, Yaba, and LSD are found in greater proportion in the seizure records, indicating diversification of smuggled drugs in Korea. In addition, there is a growing tendency for the abuse of common medicines among young people in Korea because they are easily available. Methamphetamine is so seriously abused that fatalities from its overdose have occurred; since 1985, 20 such fatalities have been reported. Many deaths from the abuse of noncontrolled substances, especially dextromethorphan, zipeprol, and carisoprodol, which are taken for their hallucinogenic effects, were also reported. Recently, there was even a fatality related to smuggling of cocaine by body-packing.

Potentiation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor-mediated neuronal injury during methamphetamine withdrawal in vitro requires co-activation of IP3 receptors

“…However, the relevance of this high concentration of METH to the study of recreational METH use has not been fully addressed. Chung et al (2004) did report that plasma levels of METH reached high μM to low mM in a sample of South Korean individuals suffering acute lethality associated with METH use (ie. from traumatic injury or cardiac arrhythmia).…”

A survey of the use of veterinary anesthetics in Korea

“…Under Article 15 of the Controlled Substance Law in Korea, drug handlers have to keep narcotic drugs separate from other common medicines and use a solid cabinet with lock for storage [4]. The improvement of storage systems is necessary because there is high probability of loss and theft of anesthetics and sedatives, even those not designated as drugs.…”

“…However, previous education has dealt with these problems ineffectually [5,6]. Under Article 50 of the Controlled Substance Law in Korea [4], drug-handlers, including those who establish animal hospitals or become clinical veterinarians, are required to take a 2-h training the year following the receipt of their medical drug-handler license. Given these situations, training and education on the management of drugs in Korea is likely to be both insufficient and ineffective.…”

“…In contrast to the United State and European countries, Korea was named "a country free from drugs" by the United Nations, owing to low incidence of related crimes in past as well as recent years. However, problems associated with drug abuse and illicit trafficking have rapidly grown [12], as evidenced by the continual increases in the number of drug offenders arrested in Korea from 4 In the past, the majority of drugs abused in Korea were methamphetamines [9]; however, new substances, including veterinary anesthetics and analgesics, have since been distributed in Korea. Some anesthetics, including Zoletil , are classified as schedule 3, and are strictly regulated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.…”

Neuropsychotoxic and Neuroprotective Potentials of Dextromethorphan and Its Analogs

“…However, its neuroprotective effect is only seen at a dosage much higher that that used for cough suppression. The psychotropic effects that can result from the clinical use of high doses of DM (2,3) and the fact that DM has been recognized as the object of drug-seeking behavior in several countries (4,5) have hampered its pharmacologic development as a useful neuroprotective agent. In this review, we will discuss the complex behavioral effects of DM; demonstrate its neuroprotective effects; and discuss its analogs, such as dimemorfan (DF, 3-methyl-17-methylmorphinan) and 3-hydroxymorphinan (3-HM), which have neuroprotective effects with improved safety profiles.…”