Drug and alcohol dependence
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Jan 2013
Neonatal outcomes following in utero exposure to methadone or buprenorphine: a National Cohort Study of opioid-agonist treatment of Pregnant Women in Norway from 1996 to 2009.
In Norway, most opioid-dependent women are in opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) with either methadone or buprenorphine throughout pregnancy. The inclusion criteria for both medications are the same and both medications are provided by the same health professionals in any part of the country. International studies comparing methadone and buprenorphine in pregnancy have shown differing neonatal outcomes for the two medications. ⋯ The clinical relevance of these findings is that both methadone and buprenorphine are acceptable medications for the use in pregnancy, in line with previous studies. If starting OMT in pregnancy, buprenorphine should be considered as the drug of choice, due to more favorable neonatal growth parameters. Early confirmation of the pregnancy and systematic follow-up throughout the pregnancy are of importance to encourage the women in OMT to abstain from the use of tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs or misuse of prescribed drugs.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Jan 2013
Prevalence of DSM-IV and DSM-5 alcohol, cocaine, opioid, and cannabis use disorders in a largely substance dependent sample.
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) will soon replace the DSM-IV, which has existed for nearly two decades. The changes in diagnostic criteria have important implications for research and for the clinical care of individuals with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs). ⋯ The greatest advantage of DSM-5 for the diagnosis of SUDs appears to be its ability to capture diagnostic orphans. In this sample, changes reflected in DSM-5 had a minimal impact on the prevalence of SUD diagnoses.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Jan 2013
Prevalence of mood and substance use disorders among patients seeking primary care office-based buprenorphine/naloxone treatment.
Psychiatric comorbidity can adversely affect opioid dependence treatment outcomes. While the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity among patients seeking methadone maintenance treatment has been documented, the extent to which these findings extend to patients seeking primary care office-based buprenorphine/naloxone treatment is unclear. ⋯ Mood and substance use comorbidity is prevalent among patients seeking primary care office-based buprenorphine/naloxone treatment. The findings support the need for clinicians to assess and address these conditions.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Jan 2013
Risk for prescription opioid misuse among patients with a history of substance use disorder.
History of substance use disorder (SUD) is associated with risk for prescription opioid misuse in chronic pain patients; however, little data are available regarding risk for prescription opioid misuse within the subgroup of patients with SUD histories. ⋯ Among patients with SUD histories, those with higher risk for prescription opioid misuse reported more pain and impairment, symptoms of depression, and were more likely to have current SUD, relative to patients with lower risk for prescription opioid misuse. In adjusted analyses, pain catastrophizing was significantly associated with risk for prescription opioid misuse, but current SUD status was not a significant predictor.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Dec 2012
Inhalation exposure to smoke from synthetic "marijuana" produces potent cannabimimetic effects in mice.
Use of synthetic "marijuana" has increased in recent years, produced adverse effects and prompted the temporary DEA ban of five specific cannabinoid analogs, including JWH-018. The objectives of the current study include determining the chemical content of the herbal product, Buzz, assessing its behavioral effects upon inhalation exposure to mice, determining whether CB(1) receptors mediate its pharmacological activity, and ascertaining its biodisposition in blood and various organs. ⋯ Inhalation exposure to a product containing JWH-018 penetrates into the brain and other organs and produces CB(1) receptor-mediated behavioral pharmacological effects in mice. The increased potency of JWH-018 compared to THC, the variable amount of drug added to various herbal products, and unknown toxicity, undoubtedly contribute to public health risks of synthetic cannabinoids.