Addiction and Health
Year:2021 | Volume:13 | Issue:1|Papers Count:8

Coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19) disease, which is now a global health problem, might endanger some vulnerable groups including addicts at a higher risk. Apart from that fact, there are currently some misconceptions around the relationship between addiction and chance of becoming infected by new corona virus, with some supporting the idea of protective effect of addiction against Covid-19 disease. In this letter, we have attempted to make the situation clear by providing related evidence on the vulnerability of addicted people against this disease....

Background: Opium addiction is associated with multiple physical, psychological, and social problems. The aim of this study was to compare the risk of morbidity and mortality in opium-addicted and non-addicted trauma patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) of trauma center of Kerman Province, Iran. Methods: In this cohort study, a total of 200 addict and non-addicted patients who were admitted due to trauma in ICUs of Shahid Bahonar Hospital in Kerman during 9 months of 2018 were included. Patients were compared in terms of mortality, incidence of pressure ulcers, incidence of organ failure, duration of mechanical ventilation, and duration of hospitalization. Data were analysed using Fisher's exact test and independent t-test at P < 0. 05. Findings: Out of 197 examined patients, 161 (81. 7%) individuals were men and 36 (18. 3%) were women. Moreover, 98 (49. 7%) patients had a history of opium abuse, while 99 (50. 2%) patients had no history of opium addiction. The addicted and non-addicted groups had no significant differences in terms of age (P = 0. 650) and gender (P = 0. 580). In addicted patients, mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation (P = 0. 027), the incidence of pressure ulcer, and organ failure were significantly higher (P < 0. 001), but mean ICU stay and hospitalization time was the same in both groups. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated higher mortality and morbidity in opium-addicted patients admitted to ICU than non-addicted ones. This suggests that various systems of the body are affected by opium and, in certain circumstances such as severe diseases, this will cause problems for patients. Therefore, experts should pay attention to complications and side effects of addiction in the management of critical patients with a history of opium abuse.

Background: Religious beliefs can assist with the success of treatment in persons with substance abuse problems by providing social support, confidence, and hope. Methods: As such, a secondary analysis using 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), of 20219 participants with self-identified illicit substance use problems was conducted. Survey was weighted bivariate and multivariate regression analysis was used to adjust for potential confounders. Findings: Approximately, 15. 0% of the study sample were between ages of 18-25 years and 71. 5% were Non-Hispanic Black, 11. 3% were Non-Hispanic White, and 12. 1% were Hispanic. About 10. 3% had less than a high school education, 28. 0% graduated high school, 30. 0% had some college education, and 32. 0% were college graduates. Only 1. 3% reported receiving substance abuse treatment in the past 12 months and 5. 4% perceived a need for substance abuse treatment in the last 12 months. 65. 0% reported that religious beliefs were an important part of their life and 62. 5% reported that their religious beliefs influenced their decision making. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, both the importance of religious beliefs and the influence of religious beliefs on decision making were associated with increased odds of having treatment [odds ratio (OR) = 1. 56, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1. 14-2. 14 and OR = 1. 51, 95% CI: 1. 11-2. 05, respectively]. However, there was no association between the importance of religious beliefs or the influence of religious beliefs on decision making and perceived need for substance abuse treatment. Conclusion: These findings suggest that religious beliefs may be an important determinant in receiving treatment among substance abusers and also have implications for exploration of faith-based and faith-placed interventions.

Background: Poly drug use is a public health threat causing morbidity and mortality all over the world. Combined use of licit and illicit drugs is among the possible causes of death. In this retrospective analytical study, we evaluated forensic toxicology analysis results from 2011 to 2016 in Tehran province, Iran. Methods: All deaths related to poly drug use and referred to the Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran during the 6-year study period were evaluated. Postmortem samples were analyzed to detect alcohols, and prescription and illicit drugs using headspace gas chromatography (HSGC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in a forensic toxicology laboratory. Manner of death, demographic characteristics, and different drug categories in postmortem samples were analyzed. Findings: A total of 1388 poly drug use-associated deaths were investigated during the 6-year study period. Overall, victims were mostly young men of 20-40 years of age (56. 8%). The male to female ratio was 7: 16. Methadone (n = 660; 47. 6%) and amphetamine type stimulants (ATS) (n = 657; 47. 3%) were in the highest category for poly drug use-associated deaths. Moreover, in some cases, opium (n = 458; 32. 9%), tramadol (n = 389; 28. 0%), and tricyclic antidepressants (n = 151; 10. 9%) had been used with other drugs. Conclusion: The present study provides information about poly drug use-associated deaths in Tehran and highlights the major role of substance abuse in death.

Background: The purpose of this research was to compare Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI), high early smoking, and heavy smoking with the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and further to evaluate the sensitivity of HSI, high early smoking, and heavy smoking among existing smokers. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted by using FTND questionnaire among 200 existing smokers. The cut-off point for HSI was kept at 4; high early smokers and heavy smokers were classified as those individuals who smoked within 30 minutes after waking up and individuals who smoked 30 cigarettes or more daily, respectively. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and Cohen's Kappa statistics were evaluated. Findings: A significant agreement was observed between the HSI and the FTND, having Kappa value of 0. 70, with good sensitivity of 78. 16% and specificity as high as 91. 15%. The ROC analysis confirmed that a cut-off score of 4 for HSI was suitable. Agreement between FTND and high early smoking was observed to be moderate (Kappa = 0. 47, P < 0. 001), while very low agreement (Kappa = 0. 19, P < 0. 001) was observed for FTND and heavy smoking. Conclusion: Results show that HSI is an effective tool which can be substituted for the conventional FTND by the clinicians, psychotherapists, and investigators in health research.

Background: There is an increasing concern over acute exposure of amphetamine and its derivative such as 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on male reproductive toxicity. Supplementary vitamins can reduce the oxidative stresses and repair the damages on reproductive organs. This experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effects of folic acid (FA) on reproductive indices, the antioxidant enzyme activities, and histological changes of testis on adult male rats treated by MDMA. Methods: This experimental study was conducted on adult male Wistar rats. Animals were divided into 4 groups: control, MDMA, FA, and MDMA + FA. Animals received a dose of 10 mg/kg of MDMA and 1 mg/kg of FA for 7 or 14 days. Rats were anesthetized and sperm quality parameters (number, concentration, motility, and morphology), spermatogenesis indices [the mean seminiferous tubule diameter (MSTD), spermiogenesis index (SI), repopulation index (RI), and tubular differentiation index (TDI)], changes on testicular structure, antioxidant enzyme activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) beside serum level of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone were measured. Data were analyzed, using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and SPSS software. Findings: MDMA (both 7 and 14 days) caused significant changes in sperm quality (P < 0. 001), spermatogenesis indices (P < 0. 001), testicular histopathology, and level of LH, FSH, testosterone beside the antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, and MDA) (P < 0. 001). Supplementation of FA in association with MDMA partially reversed these parameters and made them close to the control group. Conclusion: The results suggested that FA could reduce the adverse effect of MDMA on reproductive ability in adult male rats.

Background: Impulsivity and sensitivity to reward situate at the marrow of pathology of substance use disorders (SUDs). This study examined the role of impulsivity and sensitivity to reward in dropout of addiction treatment in heroin addicts. Methods: The participants of this study were 216 heroin addicts. The participants were assigned to three different groups including abstinent group (n = 104), relapsed group (n = 45), and dropped out of treatment group (n = 67). The participants completed the semi-structured interview, Carver and White Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System (BIS/BAS) questionnaires, and the Delay Discounting Task (DDT). Findings: The delay discounting (DD) and reward-seeking rates were high in relapse and dropout groups compared to the abstinence group and this difference was significant in P < 0. 01 level. Conclusion: People with substance abuse disorders have impulsive behaviors and often prefer immediate reward related to substance use than long-term and greater rewards.

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a prevalent health issue with serious social and personal consequences. SUDs are linked to numerous physical health problems. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5th Edition (DSM-V), the essential characteristic of a SUD is a collection of cognitive, behavioral, and psychological manifestations indicative of the subject’ s unbaiting substance use despite experiencing significant problems due to continued use. Several alternative interventions have been indicated. Among them, mindfulness-based therapies are receiving growing attention. This article reviews evidence for the use of third-wave cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) in addiction treatment. We have reviewed the literature published from 1990 to 2019. Further research is required to better understand the types of mindfulness-based interventions that work best for specific types of addiction, patients, and situations. Current findings increasingly support third-wave CBTs as a promising complementary therapy for the treatment and prevention of addiction.