The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse
-
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse · Sep 2012
Understanding the relationship between substance use and self-injury in American Indian youth.
American Indian communities compared to other US populations are challenged by the largest health disparities in substance abuse and suicidal behavior among youth ages 15-24. ⋯ Tribal-specific and culturally informed data on the co-occurrence of self-injury and substance use hold promise for reducing the combined toll of years of productive life lost among American Indian youth.
-
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse · Sep 2012
American Indians with substance use disorders: treatment needs and comorbid conditions.
American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) experience significant disparities in health status and access to care. Furthermore, only limited data are available on substance use, mental health disorders, and treatment needs for this population. Addressing such disparities and developing culturally relevant, effective interventions for AI/AN communities require participatory research. ⋯ Findings from this project provide information about the patterns of substance abuse and the importance of comprehensive assessments of trauma and comorbid conditions. Results point to the need for integrative coordinated care and auxiliary services for AI/AN clients seeking treatment for substance use disorders.
-
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse · Jul 2012
Substance use disorder prevalence among female state prison inmates.
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are prevalent among female inmates. As the female state prison population continues to increase, describing the specific clinical and demographic characteristics of female prisoners remains of paramount importance to better define women's needs in the state prison system. ⋯ SUDs in general, and illicit drug use disorders in particular, are prevalent among female inmates entering a state prison system. Membership to a particular ethnic group may identify a set of inmates at elevated risk for the presence of substance-specific dependence diagnoses.
-
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse · May 2012
Comparative StudyA comparison of attitudes toward opioid agonist treatment among short-term buprenorphine patients.
Obtaining data on attitudes toward buprenorphine and methadone of opioid-dependent individuals in the United States may help fashion approaches to increase treatment entry and improve patient outcomes. ⋯ These data contribute to our understanding of why people seek or do not seek effective pharmacotherapy for opioid addiction.
-
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse · May 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialThe combination very low-dose naltrexone-clonidine in the management of opioid withdrawal.
The management of withdrawal absorbs substantial clinical efforts in opioid dependence (OD). The real challenge lies in improving current pharmacotherapies. Although widely used, clonidine causes problematic adverse effects and does not alleviate important symptoms of opioid withdrawal, alone or in combination with the opioid antagonist naltrexone. Very low-dose naltrexone (VLNTX) has been shown to attenuate withdrawal intensity and noradrenaline release following opioid agonist taper, suggesting a combination with clonidine may result in improved safety and efficacy. ⋯ Preliminary results elucidate neurobiological mechanisms of OD and support the utility of controlled studies on a novel VLNTX + low-dose clonidine combination for the management of opioid withdrawal.