فهرست مطالب

High Risk Behaviors & Addiction - Volume:7 Issue: 1, Mar 2018

International Journal of High Risk Behaviors and Addiction
Volume:7 Issue: 1, Mar 2018

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1397/01/30
  • تعداد عناوین: 11
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  • Sayed Soran Ghafori, Masoumeh Zirak Javanmard*, Abbas Ahmadi, Tahmineh Peirouvi, Mojtaba Karimipour, Sima Modirkhamene Page 1
    Background
    MDMA (Ecstasy; 3, 4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine), an illicit drug that has been increasingly abused by young people, affects target organs including reproductive system induced by oxidative stress. In biological systems, lipid peroxidation is probably reduced effectively by Vitamin E, a strong antioxidant inhibiting free radicals.
    Objectives
    The current study was an attempt to assess the protective effects of Vitamin E on serum biochemical indices and sperm quality parameters in MDMA treated mice.
    Materials And Methods
    In the present study, 28 male albino mice were randomly assigned to four equal groups. Group 1 (control) received saline by gastric gavage and i.p.; Group 2 (MDMA) received MDMA (10 mg/kg) i.p. and saline by gastric gavage; Group 3 (MDMA Vitamin E) received MDMA (10 mg/kg) i.p.and vitamin E (150 mg/kg) by gastric gavage; and Group 4 (olive oil) received virgin olive oil (150 mg/kg) by gastric gavage and saline i.p. MDMA was injected with single daily dose, three sequential days/week for 5 weeks (35 days). Blood samples were collected, and then the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Animals’ cauda epididymis were dissected and used for analyzing and evaluating sperm parameters including sperm count, motility, viability, DNA damage, nuclear maturation, and sperm morphology.
    Results
    Comparison of the MDMA group with the other groups indicated a significant (P
    Conclusions
    The results of the present study showed that MDMA caused induced toxicity in sperm parameters, reduced TAC, and increased MDA level. However, Vitamin E was proven to decrease effectively the deleterious and harmful effects of MDMA on sperm parameters.
    Keywords: Ecstasy, Lipid Peroxidation, Malondialdehyde, N-Methyl-3, 4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Oxidative Stress, Vitamin E
  • Yousef Khani, Hojatoolah Barati, Abolfaz Mollajan, Mahshid Mojtahedzadeh Faghihi, Shahnaz Rimaz * Page 2
    Background
    Determining the trend and severity of withdrawal symptoms is considered as the first stage of addiction treatment.
    Objectives
    Therefore, The purpose of this study was to investigate the trend and severity of withdrawal symptoms in methamphetamine (meth) addicts.
    Patients and
    Methods
    This cross-sectional study was conducted on all the clients admitted to quit methamphetamine abuse in a residential treatment center for homeless addicts in Alborz province. According to the average daily intake, the clients were divided into two groups: mild and severe. To collect the data for this study; methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms assessment scale, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and a demographic information questionnaire were used. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done for repeated measures through the SPSS software version 16 and at a significance level of 0.05.
    Results
    The findings showed that methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms including anxiety, abuse craving, and fatigue in the first 24 hours and the first, the second, and the third weeks as well as the symptoms of depression within three weeks after the withdrawal began to decline significantly (P
    Conclusions
    The hardest stage to quit methamphetamine addiction was the first 24 hours after withdrawal with a downward trend; however, abuse craving especially in severe addicted group persisted even after the third week of withdrawal which could be a risk factor for recurrence and re-abuse. Thus, it was suggested that therapists were required to pay more attention to this issue in the treatment of this group of addicted individuals.
    Keywords: Methamphetamine, Craving, Withdrawal, Depression
  • Nada O. F Kassem*_Noura O. Kassem_Sandy Liles_Sheila R. Jackson_Alexander Ivan B. Posis_Dale A. Chatfield_Melbourne F. Hovell Page 3
    Background
    Nicotine, an addictive drug, is present in all forms of tobacco products, including hookah tobacco, which is not yet regulated in the United States.
    Objectives
    This study aimed to investigate the uptake of nicotine in hookah smokers and non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) at indoor hookah social events in natural settings where hookah tobacco was smoked exclusively.
    Patients and
    Methods
    We quantified cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine, in the urine of 105 hookah smokers and 103 non-smokers. Participants provided spot urine samples the morning of and the morning after attending an indoor hookah-only smoking social event at a hookah lounge or in a private home.
    Results
    Following a social event where exclusively hookah tobacco was smoked, urinary cotinine levels increased significantly 8.5 times (geometric mean (GM): 16.0 ng/mg to 136.1 ng/mg) among hookah smokers, and 2.5 times (GM: 0.4 ng/mg to 1.0 ng/mg) among non-smokers exposed exclusively to hookah tobacco SHS. Among hookah smokers, the highest increase in urinary cotinine levels post a hookah event was found in occasional hookah smokers in which GM levels increased significantly 31.2 times post smoking (from 2.0 ng/mg to 62.3 ng/mg). Reported reasons for preference to smoke hookah at home by hookah smokers who attended a hookah social event in a private home included recreational purposes, socializing with friends and family, ‘Me’ time and relaxing at home, more comfortable to smoke hookah at home, owning a hookah and hookah tobacco, eating and drinking while smoking hookah, and saving money by smoking at home and not going to hookah lounges.
    Conclusions
    Hookah tobacco smoke is a source of substantial nicotine exposure. Our results call for protecting hookah smokers’ and non-smokers’ health by requiring accurate hookah tobacco labels, raising taxes on hookah tobacco, reducing the spread of hookah lounges, and encouraging voluntary bans on smoking hookah tobacco in private homes.
    Keywords: Hookah Smoking, Waterpipe Smoking, Cotinine, Nicotine, Secondhand Smoke
  • Hossain Farshidi, Teamur Aghamolaei, Zahra Hosseini *, Amin Ghanbar Nejad, Fatemeh Alsadat Hosseini Page 4
    Background
    Cigarette smoking by adolescents is increasing and being popularized. However, when smoking is initiated at a young age, the risks of heavy smoking increases.
    Objectives
    The aim of this study was to predict smoking based on the prototype Willingness model in male high school students of Bandar Abbas, Iran.
    Patients and
    Methods
    In this cross-sectional study, 422 students were selected through the multistage sampling method. Constructs of Prototype Willingness Model were measured by a questionnaire. The items for measuring the prototype Willingness model constructs were designed on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Out of 422 questionnaires that were distributed among students, 394 questionnaires were filled out completely and analyzed (response rate = 93.4%). Data were analyzed by the SPSS 19 software. To analyze the chance of smoking experience through prototype/willingness model constructs, binary logistic regression was used.
    Results
    The mean age of the subjects was 16.4 years (SD = 1.1), ranging from 14 to 18 years. Overall, 15.2% of subjects had smoking experience. Intention to not smoke, willingness to smoke, and negative attitude toward smoking were predictors of smoking experience. Negative attitude toward smoking and intention to not smoke were negative predictors and willingness to smoke was a positive predictor of smoking experience. Willingness to smoke in comparison to other variables was a stronger predictor for smoking experience (P
    Conclusions
    Willingness to smoke increased the chance of smoking experience more than the intention of smoking. To prevent smoking in adolescents, it is recommended that they should be taught regarding refusal skills of cigarettes.
    Keywords: Smoking, Student, Prototype Willingness Model
  • Ahmad Ali Eslami, Zohre Fathian Dastgerdi *, Fazlollah Ghofranipour, Firoozeh Mostafavi Page 5
    Background
    Using cultural-adapted scales and inventories is important both in research and treatment. There is not an Iranian version of social cognitive scales related to substance use behavior.
    Objectives
    The aim of this research was to examine factorial validity and reliability of the Iranian version of social cognitive scales related to adolescent substance use behavior.
    Patients and
    Methods
    This study was cross-sectional research using astratified, two stage, cluster sampling based on the popuation of different areas of Isfahan city in Iran. 720 adolescents aged 14 to 18years old completed the questionnairs: European Drug Abuse Prevention (EUDAP) and The Peer Influence Scale. The translation and back-translation, and cultural adaptation with face and content validity, were done in the first step. Factorial and construct validity were assessed in 3 steps, including: item analysis, explanatory analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was also assessed with Cronbach's alph.
    Results
    In the cultural adaption, some of the items were changed or removed according to the experts’ view. The EFA in the cross sectional study showed appropriate loading items and revealed a 23-item scale with 5 factors including: refusal self-efficacy, negative and positive outcome expectancies, intention, and peer influence, which was in line with the original questionnaires. The result of confirmatory factor analysis showed appropriate fit indices for 5 factor model including (x2 = 522, df = 144, x2/ df = 3.6, RMSEA = 0.06, CFI = 0.94, IFI = 0.94, and NFI = 0.92). Internal consistency was found to be in the range of 0.74 to 0.89 for all subscales.
    Conclusions
    The results of this study indicate that the Persian version of social cognitive determinant appears to be a psychometrically robust instrument and could significantly predict substance use behavior in Iranian adolescents.
    Keywords: Reliability, Validity, Adolescent, Substance Abuse
  • Mahmood Sheikh Fathollahi, Zeinab Gorgi, Reza Vazirinejad, Mohsen Rezaeian * Page 6
    Background
    Self - burning is known as an extremely violent means of suicide.
    Objectives
    This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of self - burning in Iranian townships covered by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences during years 2009 to 2012.
    Patients and
    Methods
    This cross - sectional research was performed on 250 self - burning cases and 181 self - burning attempts. Data was collected from the Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program Checklist. To analyze the data, the chi - square test and logistic regression model were utilized.
    Results
    Most self - burning cases were observed in females (70.4%), married individuals (60.4%), an age group of 15 to 24 years (38%), and rural residents (60.8%). Moreover, the highest and lowest self - burning cases had occurred during spring (31.2%) and fall (17.6%) (P = 0.736).
    Conclusions
    The findings are indicative of a high occurrence of self - burning among young married females. Therefore, it is vital to provide this at risk group with the necessary prevention programs.
    Keywords: Self - Burning_Epidemiology_Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
  • Gamal Sadek, Zack Cernovsky*, Simon Chiu Page 7
    Background
    Feelings of hopelessness could be a potential sign of relapse in opiate addiction.
    Objectives
    We investigated statistical relationship of self-reports of hopelessness by patients in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) to concurrent drug abuse.
    Patients and
    Methods
    Fifty-two MMT outpatients (34 men, 18 women, mean age 33.6, SD = 9.7) completed the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) to describe how they felt within the last 7 days. Results of urine screening tests for opiates, cocaine, oxycodone, and benzodiazepines were also recorded for the last 7 days.
    Results
    67.3% of the patients scored within the normal BHS range (scores 14). On urine tests, 23.1% of the patients tested positive for opiates at least once in the last 7 days, 19.2 % for cocaine, and 17.3% for oxycodone. These three urine tests were neither significantly correlated (P > 0.05) with hopelessness scores, nor with gender or age. Only 4 patients tested positive for benzodiazepines (7.7 %).
    Conclusions
    Mild to moderate reports of hopelessness among MMT patients were unrelated to their concurrent abuse of opiates, cocaine, and oxycodone.
    Keywords: Methadone, Depression, Cocaine, Oxycodone, Opioid-Related Disorders
  • Nastaran Eizadi-Mood, Leila Sharifi, Ahmad Yaraghi, Azadeh Moghaddas, Ali Soleimanpour, Ali Mohammad Sabzghabaee * Page 8
    Background
    Opioid use makes the largest contribution to drug abuse mortality, while it is increasing in the world, especially in Iran.
    Objectives
    The current study aimed at obtain the typical features of corpses under methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and opium intoxication in Isfahan, Iran.
    Patients and
    Methods
    The current cross sectional study was conducted on 742 opioid overdose deaths from March 2008 to March 2014; data on drug overdose death in forensic center affiliated to Iranian ministry of health and medical education were recorded by checklist.
    Results
    Most of the opioid corpses were young (32.18 ± 10 years), male (76.4%), and single (58.2%). They had low income, low education and were found at home; injection was the most common way of drug abuse (47.2%). In toxicological findings, morphine was the most common drug and more than 40.7% of the corpses had the symptoms of chronic hepatitis. Pulmonary edema was the most common pathological finding.
    Conclusions
    According to the current study findings, the low-educated and low-income young males were the most high-risk population for drug overdose death in Iran. The essential role of education and job-creation policies to prevent addiction and opium-related death was clarified.
    Keywords: Addiction, Opioids, Mortality, Overdose Drug, Autopsy, Methadone
  • Gamal Sadek, Zack Cernovsky*, Simon Chiu, Yves Bureau, Sandra Mekhaiel Page 9
    Background
    Pain and impaired sleep are often reported by patients in opiate substitution therapy.
    Objectives
    We compared sleep and pain ratings by patients treated with methadone to those treated with suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone combination).
    Patients and
    Methods
    Sixty-eight patients (44 men, 24 women) undergoing opiate substitution treatment were treated with methadone (mean dose = 42.2 mg, SD = 24.6) or suboxone (mean dose = 9.7 mg, SD = 5.0). Their ratings of current level of pain on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (extreme pain), their sleep ratings on the Pittsburgh sleep quality index, and outcomes of their urine screening tests for cocaine, oxycodone, opiates, and benzodiazepines were recorded.
    Results
    Sleep quality was rated as “fairly bad” by 42.0% and as “very bad” by 8.2% of our patients. Moderate to severe levels of pain (pain ratings > 3 points) were reported by 55.9% of our patients. Neither the dose of suboxone nor the dose of methadone correlated with pain and sleep ratings (rho, P > 0.05). Suboxone patients did not differ from those on methadone in their sleep and pain ratings (Mann-Whitney, P > 0.05).
    Conclusions
    Suboxone and methadone patients did not differ in their ratings of pain and sleep.
    Keywords: Sleep, Pain, Methadone, Buprenorphine
  • Hamidreza Mashreghimoghadam, Nahid Azdaki *, Toba Kazemi Page 10
    Introduction
    Opiate dependence is among the main contributors to diseases worldwide, imposing heavy costs on the healthcare system. As an established approach, substitution therapy by methadone has been long considered as the most effective therapeutic method.
    Case Presentation
    Herein, we present the case of a 40-year-old man, who was referred to the hospital with complaints of sudden and transient loss of consciousness and a history of opiate dependence under methadone therapy, showing recurrent ventricular tachycardia and resistant torsade de pointes.
    Conclusions
    Poisoning is among the major adverse effects of methadone use, which involves different systems of the body, including the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Furthermore, effective drugs on QT interval show interferences. Therefore, it is suggested to incorporate relevant recommendations in the new version of the national opiate-dependence therapy protocol.
    Keywords: Methadone Poisoning, Cardiac Arrhythmia, Torsade de Pointes, Therapy
  • Leila Hosseini, Alireza Heidari-Bakavoli, Najmeh Shahini, Sara Mashhadinezhad, Sara Hosseini * Page 11