Eyes on drugs: smartphone detection and tailored analgesics

Abstract

In this thesis, I first described a novel smartphone application for detecting drug use and studied its applicability following administration of several drugs of abuse (e.g. an opioid, amphetamine, benzodiazepine, and an inhaled cannabis variety) in healthy volunteers. Since the PrevictDrugs app makes videos of the participants’ eyes (iris and pupil, at rest and during eye movements) we tested individuals with a variety of eye colours, from fair to intensely dark. The goal of my studies was to examine

whether transforming the current way of detecting drug use (via urine, saliva or blood specimens), particular in the realm of substance use disorder (SUD) and illicit use, by

using the PrevictDrugs app to detect the presence of a series of drugs and distinguish them, is practically and quantitatively feasible. Secondly, I discussed a novel sodium channel blocker and a protocol to study the analgesic effect of 2% THC oil in chronic

neuropathic pain patients.