Substance use & misuse
-
Substance use & misuse · Jan 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialSwitching from methadone to diamorphine: 2-year results of the german heroin-assisted treatment trial.
Several international clinical studies have found diamorphine treatment for opioid-dependent patients to show significantly better effects compared with methadone maintenance treatment. ⋯ The results of the course of methadone-diamorphine switchers are a methodologically independent contribution toward confirming the positive effects of diamorphine treatment for difficult-to-treat opioid-dependent patients. This study supports the hypothesis that changing from optimized methadone treatment under the conditions of the clinical trial to diamorphine treatment is associated with improvements in health and drug use behavior. The study's limitations are noted.
-
Media attention on the misuse of propofol increased significantly when the drug was implicated in the death of pop music superstar Michael Jackson in 2010. The misuse and abuse of propofol among healthcare providers has been reported worldwide, with some misuse resulting in death. Propofol policies guiding healthcare worker re-entry into the workplace after misusing propofol have received rare attention in the research literature. ⋯ This paper focuses on healthcare providers because they have an easy access to propofol and therefore are vulnerable to misusing or abusing the drug. To accomplish this, the pharmacology and misuse/abuse potential of propofol and the influence of the 12-step recovery paradigm in the re-entry literature are reviewed. In conclusion, existing research and policy are drawn upon to suggest employment re-entry guidelines for healthcare workers.
-
Substance use & misuse · Jan 2011
Multicenter StudyDoes concurrent cocaine use compromise 1-year treatment outcomes for opiate users?
The current study aimed to determine whether cocaine use compromises treatment outcomes for opiate users. Data were collected from 404 opiate users at treatment intake and 1-year follow-up as part of a national treatment outcome study. ⋯ Regression analysis revealed that those who used cocaine at intake were more likely to use cocaine at 1-year follow-up, to commit crime, and to be homeless. It is concluded that treatment for opiate use "works" even in the presence of concurrent cocaine use.
-
A new conditional reasoning measure was developed to evaluate the role of implicit biases in perpetuating addictive behavior. Data (N = 669) were collected in 2005 from two samples in a suburban area: individuals with a known history of chemical dependency and individuals from the general population. ⋯ Overall, findings suggest that addiction-prone individuals rely on a distinct set of cognitive biases that rationalize self-destructive behavior. The study's limitations are noted and implications and directions for future research are discussed.
-
Substance use & misuse · Jan 2011
Petrol sniffing interventions among Australian indigenous communities through product substitution: from skunk juice to opal.
Inhalation of petrol (gasoline) fumes has been prevalent in some Australian Indigenous communities since World War II, and has led to a continuing quest for an effective method of preventing the practice either by modifying the substance or by substituting nonharmful alternatives. This article traces the results of this search, beginning with the addition of ethyl mercaptan, then describing the substitution of aviation fuel for conventional vehicle fuel, and concluding with the staged introduction of Opal--a vehicle fuel containing low levels of aromatic hydrocarbons--throughout many communities from 2005. The article assesses the benefits and limitations of supply reduction methods.