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VetBooks.ir Chapter 22

Toxicity of Drugs of Abuse

Karyn Bischoff

INTRODUCTION emergency order to remove them from the market in
Louisiana. Around the same time, a variety of synthetic
Potential for exposure to illegal drugs exists for many
cannabinoids became popular.
companion animals, horses, and even other livestock on
occasion. Forty-seven percent of graduating American
high-school students surveyed had used illegal drugs in Illicit Drugs and Small Animals
some form (Latimer and Zur, 2010). The illegal drug
trade in the United States peaked in the late 1970s, Among companion animals, dogs are the most susceptible
declined in the 1980s and early 1990s, and increased to poisoning with illicit substances, though toxicoses occa-
again through the late 1990s only to stabilize by 2000 sionally arise in cats, ferrets, birds, or other household
(Compton et al., 2005). Morbidity and mortality related to pets. Exposure may be through voluntary ingestion,
drug use began to rise after 2000, in a large part because malicious poisoning, or other forms of animal abuse
of increased abuse of prescription opioids and heroin (Kisseberth and Trammel, 1990). There are reports of ado-
(Martins et al., 2015). lescents entertaining themselves by intoxicating dogs, cats,
Marijuana is one of the most prevalent recreational and birds with second-hand marijuana smoke (Schwartz
drugs in the world and is legal as either a medical therapy and Riddle, 1985; Buchta, 1988). Legalization of mari-
or for recreational use in a little more than half of US juana in some states has led some to take a more cavalier
states as of this writing. Ethanol and nicotine, legal attitude towards the substance, and carelessness has
throughout the United States, are even more prevalent allowed more access to this drug to companion animals.
(Janczyk et al., 2004; Compton et al., 2005; Johnson Police dogs are at particular risk for ingestion of ille-
et al., 2005; Vitale and van de Mheen, 2005; Latimer and gal drugs. They can contact large quantities of the high-
Zur, 2010). Cocaine was, for a long time, second to mari- purity chemicals in the line of duty (Dumonceaux and
juana in popularity in some areas of the United States and Beasley, 1990; Kisseberth and Trammel, 1990). They
Europe (Kisseberth and Trammel, 1990; Dumonceaux, sometimes ingest whole bags of drugs, which must be
1995; Queiroz-Neto et al., 2002; Vitale and van de removed surgically or via endoscopy with extreme cau-
Mheen, 2005). Since the 1980s, the term “club drugs” has tion to prevent rupture and massive exposure. Police dogs
come into use, representing drugs frequently found at are also likely to be at increased risk for malicious poi-
nightclubs and all-night “rave” parties. Club drugs are a sonings. A news report in the early 2000s documented the
continuing trend (Smith et al., 2002; Banken, 2004). use of dogs as “drug mules” to move bags of heroin,
Many are stimulants, though depressants may be used to which were surgically implanted. Deaths of several of the
counter the effects of the stimulants or given covertly to dogs were attributed to secondary infections.
sedate a victim prior to theft or assault. Hallucinogens Illegal drug ingestion in small animals presents a
are also used. Some of the most common club drugs diagnostic challenge, and often an ethical challenge, to
include ketamine, 3,4-methylene-dioxymethamphetamine the clinician. Pet owners may not be aware of what the
(MDMA), commonly called “ecstasy,” flunitrazepam animal was exposed to, as in the case of animal intoxica-
(Rohypnol), the “date rape drug,” and γ-hydroxybutanoic tion by adolescents (Schwartz and Riddle, 1985; Buchta,
acid (GHB). Beginning in late 2010, the abuse of the sub- 1988). Jones (1978) reports that a dog ingested illicit
stances mephedrone, methylenedioxypyrovalerone, and substances from a neighbor’s garbage can. Violence is
others, which were legal at that time and marketed as intrinsic to the drug culture in poor neighborhoods
“bath salts,” has come into vogue, prompting an (Johnson and Myron, 1995). It can take the form of

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