Ahmed dawoud, a psychiatrist and a specialist in drug rehabilitation, explains that there is a wide range of rehabilitation centres in egypt, divided into those which are publicly and privatelyowned. Tramadol is addictive, acts as stimulant and can produce a feeling of intense euphoria comparable to heroin even at a single dose of 75mg. Abuse and misuse of tramadol among the youth in the wassa. For starters, we wanted to go over some of the key components of tramadol. Painkiller tramadol most abused drug among egyptians. It is readily soluble in water and ethanol and has a pka of 9. Nov 05, 2017 the brother of the british woman detained in egypt for bringing nearly 300 tramadol pills into the country has said that it was an innocent, honest mistake laura plummer, 33, was arrested. The tablets available on prescription in the uk were found in her suitcase when it was examined at hurghada international airport on egypt s red sea coast on october 9.
Ingredient matches for tramadol retard eg tramadol. Mamdouh is a casual user of the more quote acceptable drugs in egypt such as hash and tramadol. The opioid medication rewires your brain in responding differently to pain. The pharmaceutical painkiller tramadol is the number one drug abused by addicts calling into the drug control funds hotline since january, egypt s minister of social solidarity ghada wali said on. Reports free fulltext cannabis and tramadol are prevalent. While its considered to be less habit forming than other prescription opioids, users can still develop an addiction to tramadol. In egypt, university students are very important category that an liable to is depend on the drugs. Painkiller tramadol most abused drug among egyptians looking. Conference room paper submitted by the arab republic of egypt on. Nov 08, 2017 an englishwoman named laura plummer is in jail in egypt on suspicion of drug trafficking 290 tramadol tablets. Laura plummer jailed for three years for taking drugs into egypt. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and associated correlates of tramadol use and abuse among school students in egypt. Substance abuse is a growing problem in egypt, as in many developing countries 1.
Most tramadol addicts have been using more than one substance so their detoxification can be complicated. At least 103 64% patients reported criteria for addiction ie, for feeling of psychological well being, unable to cease taking the drug, more than two weeks of tramadol use. The molecular weight of tramadol hydrochloride is 299. Drug control and addiction treatment has developed a national. The next step is dealing with psychological addiction to tramadol. Most of the patients used multiple drugs, followed by addiction to tramadol, a synthetic opioid that appeared in egypt primarily as a drug for pain relief and later on as an addictive drug. Tramadol retard eg is a medicine available in a number of countries worldwide. In egypt, university students are very important category that an liable to. Tramadol hydrochloride a derivative of tramadol is reported as an ingredient of tramadol retard eg in the following countries. What is tramadol, how dangerous is it and where is it. Commenting on a study conducted which revealed that 68% of patients seeking treatment in government facilities for addiction in egypt did so because of. Abuse of tramadol is reported by egypt, gaza, jordan, lebanon, libya, mauritius, saudi arabia and togo. Opioid use disorders attributed to tramadol oudt is a public health problem in egypt.
Tramadol is one of the most popular and potent prescription painkillers than have been widely prescribed for longterm management of severe pain. Since the observatory has been established the treatment seeking population in egypt named tramadol as their primary substance of abuse and the reason for. Mar 01, 2020 tramadol is a narcoticlike pain reliever used to treat moderate to severe pain. Tramadol addiction treatment begins with detoxification or the withdrawal in which you allow yourself to become physically free of drugs. Tramadol is a narcoticlike pain reliever used to treat moderate to severe pain. The aim of the present study was to investigate, through hair analysis, nmpou in this group and, specifically, tramadol use. Of 162 patients or someone on their behalf who had sought tramadol from a pharmacy, 92 56% patients did not have a prescription.
Patterns of drug abuse have been changed in upper egypt since the appearance of tramadol. Egypts national council on fighting and treating addiction reported in 20 that 30 percent of adults abused drugs. Part of egypts strategy for tackling the drug problem. Commenting on a study conducted which revealed that 68% of patients seeking treatment in government facilities for addiction in egypt did so because of tramadol abuse, he disclosed. Am atef joins addicts in their rooms at the rehab centre photo by ethar shalaby dr. The national survey for addiction included also the prevalence of. Most of the patients use combination of tramadol and others like alcohol, cannabis, other opioids, but 25% use tramadol alone.
An epidemiological study of tramadol hcl dependence in an outpatient addiction clinic at heliopolis psychiatric hospital. Table 3 shows the type of abused drug, doses according to aadis adolescent alcohol and drug involvement scale, and the most common methods used by patients. Nonmedical use of antihistaminergic anxiolytics and other prescription drugs among persons with opioid dependence, journal of addiction medicine, vol. Adolescent tramadol use and abuse in egypt am j drug alcohol. Tramadol is widely available via the internet without a prescription. What is tramadol, what are the side effects of the drug and. Pdf adolescent tramadol use and abuse in egypt researchgate. Psychiatric comorbidity among egyptian patients with. Abuse of tramadol has become a serious problem in egypt.
Tramadol is an opioid painkiller used to treat moderate pain. A total of 204 students, aged 18 years, from six schools in zagazig, egypt, were screened for tramadol use using the drug use disorders identification test and a urine screen for tramadol. Impact of familial risk factors on the severity of addiction in a sample. The use of tramadol as a recreational drug is on the rise across central africa. Unemployment and lack of police monitoring contribute to the drug problem, with most being addicted to glue sniffing, hashish and tramadol.
Thus, indian exports to egypt continued to rise and tramadol is the most abused drug in egypt today. Adolescent tramadol use and abuse in egypt, the american journal of drug and alcohol. This audio documentary is about drug use and abuse in egypt, mainly cairo. Tramadol abuse is an increasingly alarming phenomenon among egyptian community especially among workers and drivers. The participants were interviewed using structured clinical interview for dsm disorders scidi and scidii, addiction severity index scale patients, and urine screening for drugs. Tramadol abuse addiction sweeping egypt as part of the. Substances with the potential to be abused may have direct or indirect effects on physiologic mechanisms that lead to. In a study done in egypt, where tramadol abuse is prevalent. Pdf opioid use disorders attributed to tramadol among egyptian. What is tramadol, how dangerous is it and where is it illegal.
I take tramadol to minimise the pain of animal bites and to be able to work long hours at a time, mohamed says. Research article open access tramadol for premature. Shes reported to have been given them by a colleague to treat her egyptian husbands sore back and has said. The drug abuse warning network dawn reported that an. A brit holidaymaker jailed in egypt for carrying painkillers in her suitcase will be freed in the next two days. At least 103 64% patients reported criteria for addiction ie, for feeling of psychological well being, unable to cease. Brit laura plummer, 33, will be freed from hellhole egypt. Nov 07, 2017 painkiller abuse and addiction is a major problem in the us. An increasingly alarming phenomenon of tramadol drug abuse has been demonstrated in the egyptian community. As the countrys travails drag on, more and more egyptians are turning to tramadol to dull the pain of a stalled economy.
Cairo, egypt abstract the use of illicit drugs has become a worldwide health problem. To explain what this means and answer the question, is tramadol addictive, we felt it important to offer helpful insight. Long term use of tramadol can induce endocrinopathy. In egypt, which has significant data about its national crisis, a 2015. Effect of tramadol addiction alone and its coabuse with cannabis on urinary excretion of copper, zinc, and calcium among egyptian addicts. In the egyptian community, tramadol abuse is considered an increasingly alarming phenomenon. Laura plummer jailed for three years for taking drugs into. The age of 2years old is the age of adult which is mostly affected.
From each target group 300 males were chosen randomly. Tramadol is a synthetic drug used to treat moderate to severe pain. Study profile and factors affecting tramadol abuse among industrial workers in midnile delta region. Tramadol is similar to an opioid, narcotic analgesics and works in the brain to change how the brain feels about pain, this drug mostly has a lifetime of 6. Tramadol abuse has dramatically increased in egypt. Apr 30, 2018 tramadol is similar to an opioid, narcotic analgesics and works in the brain to change how the brain feels about pain, this drug mostly has a lifetime of 6. Tramadol abuse among workers in an industrial city in mid. The tablets available on prescription in the uk were found in her suitcase when it was examined at hurghada international airport on egypts red sea coast on october 9. Drug addiction in gaza and the illicit trafficking of tramadol ncbi. Tramadol is a synthetic, centrally acting analgesic. Because of increasing rate of abuse, egypt has upscheduled tramadol in 2009.
Websites provide many user reports on the nonmedicinal use of tramadol. Dec 26, 2017 laura plummer jailed for three years for taking drugs into egypt this article is more than 2 years old family of 33yearold hull woman say she brought 290 tramadol tablets into country for. Nonmedical prescription opioid use nmpou is a growing problem and tramadol has been suggested as an emerging problem in young treatmentseeking individuals. Nile delta city of mahalla, describes his painful addiction to tramadol, a pharmaceutical painkiller which has, in recent years, become one of the. Tramadol abuse addiction sweeping egypt as part of the world. Laura plummer jailed for three years for taking drugs into egypt this article is more than 2 years old family of 33yearold hull woman say she brought 290 tramadol tablets into country for. Tramadol is available on prescription in the uk, but some countries have strict laws regarding the drug. Kastelic, who serves also as the president of global addiction association, the president of south eastern european adriatic addiction treatment network and the general secretary of european opiate addiction association has finalized the report. One potential reason india does not regulate tramadol, or other opioids, is the lack of domestic concern about addiction.
Includes side effects, dosage guidelines, interactions and warnings. Effect of tramadol addiction alone and its coabuse with. Fatal side effects can occur if you use this medicine with alcohol, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing. China, india tramadol flood african cities in ghana. While its considered to be less habit forming than other prescription. The objective of this study was to assess the psychiatric comorbidity among patients with opioid use disorder attributed to tramadol methods. A list of us medications equivalent to tramadol retard eg is available on the drugs. An englishwoman named laura plummer is in jail in egypt on suspicion of drug trafficking 290 tramadol tablets. A cross sectional study among minibus drivers, construction and textile industries workers. The brother of the british woman detained in egypt for bringing nearly 300 tramadol pills into the country has said that it was an innocent, honest mistake laura plummer, 33, was arrested. The present work aims to investigate the effect of tramadol addiction on urinary excretion of some metals. Research article open access tramadol for premature ejaculation.
The canadian journal of addiction medicine is the official publication of the canadian society of addiction medicine. Pdf tramadol, which is a medication used for moderate and severe pains, has caused drug abuse and addiction to the egyptian community. Also, in addiction, dependence and mental health effects suffered by tramadol abusers renders them totally or partially inefficient at their daily activities, resulting in low productivity. So, the aim of this study was to analyze the adrenal insufficiency induced by long term use of tramadol in experimental animals and also to assess its withdrawal. The illegal trade and nonmedical abuse of this synthetic opioid poses alarming risks for health and security. Ultram tramadol hydrochloride tablets full prescribing.
Painkiller abuse and addiction is a major problem in the us. Tramadol retard eg may be available in the countries listed below. In agreement with these results, ferrer et al 5 noted that ed is a problem in 90 chronic noncancer pain patients, 41% of whom received tramadol. The pharmaceutical painkiller tramadol is the number one drug abused by addicts calling into the drug control funds hotline since january, egypts minister of. Two stories posted in prescription drug addiction by datreatment tramadol is a synthetic opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain, and is. Pdf tramadol abuse liability is underestimated and the evidence of abuse and dependence is emerging. Egypt fights a losing battle against drugs arab news. It is the most consumed narcotic drug that is prescribed in the world.
Although the dependence potential of tramadol is low, it is still one of the most widely abused painkillers aers 2004 7. With potency estimated to be about onetenth that of morphine. Potential for tramadol abuse by patients visiting pharmacies. The dangerous opioid from india center for strategic and. Although this medication provides narcoticlike relief, it is an opiate. Tramadol hydrochloride is a white, bitter, crystalline and odorless powder. It appears that tramadolinduced hypogonadism is underrecognized in patients with tramadol abuse or addiction. Also, in addiction, dependence and mental health effects suffered by tramadol abusers renders them totally or partially inefficient at. The alleged usages of tramadol had also contributed greatly to its popularity and massive use especially among egyptian youth as a remedy for premature ejaculatory function and for extended orgasm and increase sexual pleasure as promoted through many online drug stores and media.
Although the issue of drug abuse is not new to the egyptian society, tramadol is. Customs officials in countries such as egypt are extremely hot. What is tramadol, what are the side effects of the drug. Drug addiction has been associated with various forms of renal diseases which may be related to direct effect of the drugs themselves while others are caused by complications related to drug abuse kunis et al. Effect of tramadol addiction alone and its coabuse with cannabis on. Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the addicted individual and to those around him or her. This study included 100 patients with opioid use disorders attributed to tramadol according to dsmivtr and 100 control persons matched for age, sex. In a study done in egypt, where tramadol abuse is prevalent, elhadidy and elgilany 16 evaluated 112 tramadol dependent married men 6 months after treatment from dependency using the arabic version. The noctanolwater log partition coefficient logp is 1. Tramadol use is an overwhelming problem in egypt with.
Tramadol is widely used by manual laborers in egypt. Some medicolegal aspects concerning tramadol abuse. Psychiatric comorbidity among egyptian patients with opioid. It also makes the patient more susceptible to addiction. Abuse and misuse of tramadol among the youth in the. In a study including 73 treatmentseeking adolescents and young adults at an. The dosage that anyone uses to get by and chill for a bit as he put it. Egypt drug treatment facilities unevenly distributed. So most cases are treated by general psychiatrists without special education or experience. Substance abuse treatment falls within the province of psychiatrists in egypt, but only a small handful are trained to specialize in addiction recovery. Drug addiction in gaza and the illicit trafficking of tramadol. Nonmedical use of synthetic opiods highlighting tramadol. In 2012, the egyptian ministry of health moved tramadol from schedule 3 to 1 as a highly addictive substance 21.