Drug and alcohol dependence
-
Drug Alcohol Depend · Sep 2011
Prevalence of alcohol and other substances of abuse among injured patients in a Norwegian emergency department.
Studies have found a high prevalence of both alcohol and other impairing psychoactive drugs in injured patient populations. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of potentially impairing psychoactive substances in all patients admitted to a hospital emergency department with injuries from accidents, assault or deliberate self harm. ⋯ Psychoactive substances were found in nearly half the patients admitted with injuries. The most common substance was alcohol. Alcohol was particularly related to violence, whereas medicinal drugs were most prevalent in accidents at home.
-
Drug Alcohol Depend · Sep 2011
Alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms over time: a longitudinal study of patients with and without HIV infection.
The impact of alcohol consumption on depressive symptoms over time among patients who do not meet criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence is not known. ⋯ HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected hazardous and binge drinkers have depressive symptoms that are more severe than non-hazardous and non-drinkers and similar to those with alcohol abuse or dependence. Patients who switch to a higher or lower level of drinking experience a similar alteration in their depressive symptoms. Interventions to decrease unhealthy alcohol consumption may improve depressive symptoms.
-
Aroma, Spice, K2 and Dream are examples of a class of new and increasingly popular recreational drugs. Ostensibly branded "herbal incense", they have been intentionally adulterated with synthetic cannabinoids such as JWH-018 in order to confer on them cannabimimetic psychoactive properties while circumventing drug legislation. JWH-018 is a potent cannabinoid receptor agonist. Little is known about its pharmacology and toxicology in humans. This is the first research considering the effects of JWH-018 on a psychiatric population and exploring the relationship between JWH-018 and psychotic symptoms. ⋯ It seems likely that JWH-018 can precipitate psychosis in vulnerable individuals. People with risk factors for psychosis should be counseled against using synthetic cannabinoids.
-
Drug Alcohol Depend · Aug 2011
No evidence of association between 118A>G OPRM1 polymorphism and heroin dependence in a large Bulgarian case-control sample.
The μ-opioid receptor is the primary site of action of most opioids. The 118A>G (rs1799971) polymorphism in exon 1 of the μ-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) leads to an Asn40Asp amino acid change that affects a putative N-glycosylation site. It has been widely investigated for association with alcohol and drug dependence and pain sensitivity, with mixed results. ⋯ SNP genotyping was done using Real-Time PCR TaqMan technology. Association analyses were conducted, separately for Roma and non-Roma participants. Our results suggest that there is no direct effect of 118A>G genotype on the risk for heroin dependence among active heroin users.
-
Drug Alcohol Depend · Aug 2011
A qualitative study exploring the reason for low dosage of methadone prescribed in the MMT clinics in China.
Dosage of methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) is an important factor influencing retention in methadone treatment. MMT clients in China received lower dosages of methadone compared with those provided in other countries. The objective of this study is to elucidate the reason for the low methadone dosage prescribed in MMT clinics in China. ⋯ The findings of the study highlighted the necessity to formulate clear guidelines concerning individualized dosage management and to improve training among service providers' in MMT clinics in China.