Drug and alcohol review
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Drug and alcohol review · Jan 2014
Case ReportsFrom oxycodone to heroin: two cases of transitioning opioid use in young Australians.
The non-medical use of pharmaceutical opioids is associated with a range of negative health consequences, including the development of dependence, emergency room presentations and overdose deaths. ⋯ These cases represent the first documented reports of transitions from the non-medical or recreational use of oxycodone to intravenous heroin use in Australia. As such, they represent an important starting point for the examination of pharmaceutical opioids as a pathway to injecting drug use among young Australians and highlight the need for further research designed to identify pharmaceutical opioids users at risk of transitions to injecting and to develop interventions designed to prevent or delay these transitions.
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Drug and alcohol review · Jan 2014
Multicenter StudyViolence-related injury and gender: the role of alcohol and alcohol combined with illicit drugs.
The positive relationship between alcohol use, gender and violence-related injury is well established. However, less is known about injuries when alcohol is used in combination with other drugs. ⋯ The positive association between alcohol and violent injury does not appear to be altered by the added use of drugs. Additional work is needed to understand the interpersonal, contextual and cultural factors related to substance use to identify best prevention practices and develop appropriate policies.
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Drug and alcohol review · Jan 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyRegaining control: the patient experience of supervised compared with unsupervised consumption in opiate substitution treatment.
Supervised consumption of opiate substitution treatment is standard practice in the UK yet little is known about the patient experience of this treatment modality. This study aimed to assess the patient experience of receiving supervised compared with unsupervised consumption of methadone or buprenorphine. ⋯ This study provides an important patient perspective and is the first in-depth qualitative investigation directly comparing supervision with unsupervised treatment to consider both patient and professional perspectives. Overall, our qualitative findings suggest that flexibly timed discontinuation of supervision may have positive benefits.
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Drug and alcohol review · Jan 2014
The role of off-licence outlets in binge drinking: a survey of drinking practices last Saturday night among young adults in Australia.
To examine where young adults purchase their alcohol on Saturday nights and how this relates to binge drinking. ⋯ Off-licence outlets were a major source of alcohol in this sample of young Australian adults, many of whom binge-drank in private homes.
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Drug and alcohol review · Jan 2014
Diversion of prescribed opioids by people living with chronic pain: results from an Australian community sample.
There has been an increase in prescription of opioids for chronic non-cancer pain, and concern exists over possible diversion of prescription opioids to the illicit marketplace. Recent media coverage suggests that elderly patients sell their prescribed opioids for additional income. This study investigated the extent to which an Australian community sample of chronic pain patients prescribed opioids reported supplying their prescribed opioids to others. ⋯ Few people with chronic non-cancer pain divert their opioids to others. Media reports of elderly patients selling their opioids to supplement their income may be reflective of exceptional cases. Future studies may investigate the extent to which other patient groups divert prescription opioids to the illicit marketplace.