Aim: Illegal drug use can lead to substantial physiological, psychological, and social consequences among Palestinians, including young adults and children. Thus, it is quite feasible that these illicit substances can make their way into the circulation of ill and hospitalized individuals who received blood units from unverified donors, endangering their lives in the process. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and the types of illicit drugs in blood donated in the north of the West Bank.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two major hospitals in Nablus. Three hundred eighty-two male blood donors were surveyed and tested for illicit substances by multi-drug urine tests (Twelve drugs).

Results: Five drugs were found to be positive in the participant's urine, and 11.8% of participants had positive results for at least one drug. 7.1%, 6.3%, 5.5%, 4.2%, and 1.8% tested positive for benzodiazepines, amphetamine, methamphetamine, tetrahydrocannabinol and barbiturates, respectively. Waterpipe smoking (OR=2.348, p-value=0.016) and e-cigarette use (OR=2.965, p-value=0.020) were significantly associated with illicit substance use. Benzodiazepines’ users were more likely to barbiturates (OR=44.783, p-value=0.004) and methamphetamine (OR=12.158, p-value=0.013) users.

Conclusions: The findings demonstrated had exceeded expectations, a significant proportion of the study's participants tested positive for at least one of five different drugs of abuse that have serious repercussions even in healthy people, much alone sick and hospitalized people. Therefore, the Palestinian policy should put more effort into blood donation regulation. Controlling and confiscating drug abuse and illegal substances requires better strategies and procedures.

Financial Support: Financial and Procurement department of the Najah National University provided us with the necessary kits and tests to carry out this research.

Title

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Publisher

Elsevier /Science Direct

Publisher Country

Ireland

Indexing

Scopus

Impact Factor

3.9

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

Volume

260

Year

2024

Pages

Supplement , 1 July 2024, 110226