Tramadol abuse in an Egyptian sample in Al- Mamoura Addiction treatment clinics: prevalence & characteristic profile

Abstract

Abuse of tramadol is a serious problem in a number of African countries, including Egypt, Libya and Mauritius. In 2011 and 2012, Egypt witnessed an upsurge in trafficking in Tramadol. While in 2011, total seizures inducing Tramadol preparations amounted to 120 million tablets, about 320 million tramadol tablets were seized in the sea ports of Alexandria, Damietta and Port Said in the first quarter of 2012. The preparations are smuggled to Egypt mainly from China and India. Prescribing data from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) indicate an increase in Tramadol prescription, with the number of Daily Defined Doses increasing from approximately 5.9 million in September 2005 to 11.1 million in September 2012. The 2009 Drug-related deaths in the UK report published by the np-SAD mentions that the proportion of deaths involving tramadol rose from 2.2% in 2004 to 3.6% in 2006 and has since remained stable. An increasingly alarming phenomenon of Tramadol abuse has been heavily demonstrated in the recent years. Although the issue of drug abuse is not a newly introduced issue to Egyptian society but the wide range of usage and illegal transactions associated with tramadol abuse making it the most easily accessible and readily provided drug at cheap cost.