Comparison of cocaine and opiate exposures between young urban and suburban children
N. M. Rosenberg, D. Marino, K. L. Meert and R. F. Kauffman
Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Medical Center, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of cocaine and opiate metabolites in
the urine of young urban and suburban children. DESIGN: Survey. SETTING:
Urban and suburban emergency departments and private pediatric practices.
PATIENTS: A convenience sample of 1469 children between 1 and 60 months of
age who required a urinalysis for investigation of the chief complaint.
INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Urine was screened for
benzoylecogonine and opiates using an enzyme-multiplied immunoassay
technique and a fluorescence-polarization immunoassay, both with a
sensitivity of 50 ng/mL. RESULTS: Benzoylecogonine was identified in the
urine of 45 children (3.1%) (95% CI, 2.2% to 3.9%) and opiates in the urine
of 38 children (2.6%) (95% CI, 1.8% to 3.4%). No difference was observed
between urban and suburban health care facilities in the percentage of
patients whose urine tested positive for benzoylecgonine (29 of 1011 vs 16
of 458, P = .6) or opiates (28 of 1011 vs 10 of 458, P = .6). CONCLUSION:
Exposure to illicit drugs, as reflected by urinary metabolites, is similar
for urban and suburban children.
