Substance use & misuse
-
Substance use & misuse · Jan 2008
Evaluation of a naloxone distribution and administration program in New York City.
Naloxone, an opiate antagonist that can avert opiate overdose mortality, has only recently been prescribed to drug users in a few jurisdictions (Chicago, Baltimore, New Mexico, New York City, and San Francisco) in the United States. This report summarizes the first systematic evaluation of large-scale naloxone distribution among injection drug users (IDUs) in the United States. In 2005, we conducted an evaluation of a comprehensive overdose prevention and naloxone administration training program in New York City. ⋯ Naloxone was administered 82 times; 68 (83.0%) persons who had naloxone administered to them lived, and the outcome of 14 (17.1%) overdoses was unknown. Ninety-seven of 118 participants (82.2%) said they felt comfortable to very comfortable using naloxone if indicated; 94 of 109 (86.2%) said they would want naloxone administered if overdosing. Naloxone administration by IDUs is feasible as part of a comprehensive overdose prevention strategy and may be a practicable way to reduce overdose deaths on a larger scale.
-
Substance use & misuse · Jan 2008
Are "physiological" and "psychological" addiction really different? well, no! ... um, er, yes?
The distinction often made between psychological and physiological addiction is a form of mind-body dualism. Therefore, it is a false distinction. However, this does not imply that behavioral and autonomic symptoms of addiction have the same brain substrates. In fact, they likely do not, although there is some overlap.
-
Substance use & misuse · Jan 2007
Aboriginal community alcohol harm reduction policy (ACAHRP) project: a vision for the future.
Four First Nation communities in Ontario, Canada, formulated alcohol management policies between 1992 and 1994. An alcohol management policy is a local control option to manage alcohol use in recreation and leisure areas. ⋯ Furthermore, having policy regulations in place did not have an adverse effect on facility rentals. Band administrators and facility staff in each community felt the policy had had a positive effect on events at which alcohol was sold or served.
-
The study, conducted in 2003-2005, was aimed at investigating the pattern of benzodiazepine (BZD) use and the attitudes and perceptions of doctors' prescribing practices by a hundred BZD-dependent patients in Singapore. Data on patients' demographic characteristics, psychiatric profiles, patterns of BZD use, and perceptions about doctors' prescribing practices were collected. A benzodiazepine dependence self-report questionnaire (Bendep-SRQ) was also administered. ⋯ Doctors need training on the assessment and management of BZD dependence. The study's limitations were noted. This project was supported by an institutional block grant received from the National Medical Research Council, Singapore.