Addiction & Health
Volume:10 Issue: 3, Summer 2018

Stress, anxiety, and depression have been reported as very common comorbidities in smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study was aimed to investigate the effectiveness of smoking cessation on stress, anxiety, and depression in smokers with COPD. Three block-randomized controlled trial groups with a block size of 6 and 9 including guided self-change (GSC) (n = 19), nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) (n = 19), and combined GSC-NRT (n = 19) with a follow-up of 29 weeks were considered in this research. Participants included elderly adult smokers with COPD. The patients carried out 5 weekly GSC counseling sessions and NRT for smoking cessation. Transtheoretical Model (TTM) questionnaire, Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) as well as the exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) were evaluated over the baseline and 12 and 29 weeks following treatments. COPD participants with mean of 23 daily cigarette smoking completed the current study. The odds ratio (OR) of smoking cessation in GSC and GSC-NRT groups decreased more than NRT group. In addition, DASS, FTND, and the exhaled CO in GSC and GSC-NRT groups showed a better performance compared with the NRT group. The results showed that GSC and combined GSC-NRT therapy were significantly more effective than NRT alone. Also, the findings showed that GSC, NRT, and combined GSC-NRT were effective on stress, depression, and anxiety decreasing in smoking cessation. It seems that reducing smoking is associated with recovery in stress, anxiety, and depression in smokers with COPD.

Various studies have tested quality of life (QOL) among drug addicts, however very few have reported any association between oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) and mode of drug administration among drug addicts. Hence, the present study was conducted aiming to evaluate the impact of mode of administration of drugs on OHRQOL among drug addicts. Data was collected using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method among 313 male drug addicts in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India, using self-administered questionnaires on oral hygiene aids and drug addiction history. OHRQOL was recorded using Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire. The chi-square test, t-test, and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for statistical analysis. In this study, 56.2% of the drug addicts reported practicing oral hygiene aids. The main drugs abused were heroin, cocaine, and amphetamines as 51.4%, 35.1%, and 13.4%, respectively. Most of the drug addicts were employed (82.4%) and studied up to primary education (46.3%). The highest mean values of community periodontal index (CPI) and decayed, missing, filled surface (DMFS) were found among the cocaine addicts and amphetamine abusers with rates of 3.11 ± 0.98 and 6.69 ± 8.52, respectively. Poor OHRQOL was observed among addicts who consumed drugs in inhalation since a long time irrespective of the type of the drug, but among them heroin addicted subjects had the poorest OHRQOL. OHRQOL was poor among the drug addicts in comparison to general population. Preventive strategies on oral health and other health promotion programs for this vulnerable group can be unified.

Opioids are amongst the most common abused drugs. Pathologic studies on opioid abuse are limited since the evaluation of inflammation and regeneration in brain tissue is not as simple as other tissues of the body. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the relationship between the dependence on morphine and inflammatory and regenerative processes. In this experimental study, 48 male wistar rats were divided into 6 groups. The dependent groups (3 groups) received 0.4 mg/ml morphine in drinking water for 7, 28, and 56 days. The control groups (3 groups) received sucrose solution in drinking water for the same period. The histopathological studies of the brain sample were done. The slides were stained by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining method. The areas of brain were evaluated in terms of lymphocytic infiltration and glial scar. A significant difference was observed in the mean number of cells in the glial scar of the dependent group 3 (dependent for 56 days) among the control group (P = 0.040). Further, a significant relationship was reported between the increased duration of morphine use and the number of created scar glial cells. Furthermore, a significant increase in the number of astrocytes was observed in the affected areas. After long-term use, opioids can result in increased number of astrocytes and creating glial scar centers in the affected areas in response to the inflammation.

The data on the prevalence of substance abuse in Iranian pregnant women is scarce in the current literature. This study investigated the prevalence of and the factors associated with substance abuse among pregnant women, and compared self-reported use with urine test results. This cross-sectional study included data for 2000 pregnant women admitted to a tertiary care hospital in the southeast of Iran. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics and the patterns of substance use. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with opiate use. A subsample (200 women) was randomly selected to provide urine samples for toxicological screening. The lifetime prevalence of substance abuse and tobacco smoking was 15% and 31%, respectively. Overall, 3.3% of the participants reported using at least one substance during the previous month. One third of pregnant women reported using substances as a home remedy for treatment of pregnancy related health problems. Overall, 23% of the urine screening tests were positive. The agreement between self-reported substance abuse and the results of the urine tests was poor. Factors associated with opiates use in pregnant women were age at the first pregnancy of less than 20 years, living in rural areas, unwanted pregnancy, lack of healthcare during pregnancy, and having a spouse and/or first-degree family member with substance abuse. This study showed a high prevalence of substance abuse among the studied women. Thus, a multidisciplinary approach to provide preventive educational programs during pregnancy, and interviews and urinary screening of all pregnant women is recommended.

Drug craving, the main cause of relapse and a major motivator for drug use, is a challenging obstacle in substance use treatment. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive neuromodulatory technique, has shown promising outcomes in treating different neuropsychiatric disorders such as drug addiction, more specifically on drug craving. The aim in the current study was to examine the effects of applying tDCS on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in reducing drug cravings in former crystalline-heroin users enrolled in methadone maintenance (MMT) programs. The present study was a semi-experimental, crossover study with pre/post-test, and a control group. 40 right-handed men were selected from former crystalline-heroin users enrolled in MMT programs in Tehran, Iran. They were then divided into two matched groups based on age, education, and age of onset crystalline-heroin abuse. Desire for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ) was administered two times to all of the subjects, before first brain stimulation, and at the end of the last session. Experimental group received TDCS on DLPFC, and sham stimulation was applied on control subjects. The data were analyzed by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) method using SPSS software. The study results indicated anodal tDCS over right and cathodal TDCS over left DLPFC, and in parallel with sham, significantly decreased drug cravings among former crystalline-heroin users (P < 0.050). This study showed that applying TDCS on DLPFC of former crystalline-heroin users reduces drug craving. The findings of this study expanded the results of previous studies on effects of this neuromodulatory technique for drug craving reduction in other drug type settings.

Regarding the negative effects of androgenic anabolic steroids (AASs) abuse, the long-term effect of nandrolone decanoate with/without two intensities of endurance exercise training was investigated on heart tissue and electrocardiogram (ECG) in rats. The experiment was conducted on 63 male Wistar rats, which were 4 months old. The rats were divide into groups of control (CTL), arachis oilasnandrolone solvent (Ar), nandrolone (Nan) (received a dose of 5 mg/kg twice/week for 8 weeks), mild swimming exercise training (mEx), severe exercise (sEx), sEx + Nan, mEx + Nan, mEx + Ar, and sEx + Ar. During the 8 weeks of swimming exercise, the animals carried dumbbells equivalent to 2% of their body weight, which was gradually increased and reached 5% and 8% in the 6th week for mild and severe exercises, respectively. Finally, ECGs recording and samplings were done. Both types of exercise, without nandrolone, significantly reduced the heart rate and increased the RR interval of ECG. Nandrolone alone and with mild (P < 0.050) and intense exercise (P < 0.010 vs. CTL) increased the left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) index. Left ventricular volume was significantly higher in the Nan group (P < 0.050) compared to the CTL group and all exercise groups (P < 0.010) compared to the Nan, CTL, and Ar groups. Myocytes volume increased in the presence of both of mild and high-intensity exercise plus nandrolone (P < 0.050 vs. CTL and Ar groups). Hydroxyproline value of the heart was significantly higher in the nandrolone group compared to all other groups (P < 0.001). Exercise prevented the effect of nandrolone on hydroxyproline. Both levels of swimming exercise prevent the effect of nandrolone on the production of hydroxyproline and fibrotic cardiac remodeling.

The interaction of ethanol consumption and sexual behavior has been evaluated over the past three decades; however, some studies have assessed how ethanol consumption affects the general behavioral aspects of the copulatory cycle patterns in male rats. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic ethanol consumption on adult male Wistar rats' sexual motivation and behavior alteration in pre-copulatory, copulatory, and executive phases of the copulatory cycle. Male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to two groups (control and ethanol treated groups). After 42 days of treatment, male rats were given access to adult female rats for 2 hours and their sexual behavior were recorded in a fully dark room using an infrared camera. Chronic ethanol consumption caused a significant increase in anogenital sniffing and mounting, intermission, and ejaculation latencies periods, as well as a significant decrease in the sexual activity index (SAI) and copulatory efficiency (CE) compared to the control group. It is suggested that chronic ethanol consumption suppresses sexual behavior and reduces male rats' tendency toward sexual interaction with female rats as manifested by the enhanced latency periods in the copulatory phases and reduced SAI of ethanol treated animals.

Opium addiction is a global problem which has implicated many societies. Opium addiction and drug abuse is related to harmful consequences which affect life style, biochemical factors, and vitamins values, and also is considered as a risk for heart diseases. Folate and B12 levels are related to homocysteine and studies about their levels in opium addicts are controversial; therefore, we designed this study to evaluate B12 and folate values in opium addicts. From the Kerman Coronary Artery Disease Risk Study (KERCADRS) which is a population-based study, we randomly selected 340 men and entered them into two groups: case (n = 170) and control group (n = 170). Then vitamin B12 and folate levels were measured. Opium addiction did not change B12 and folate levels significantly in opium addicts compared to non-addict control subjects. However, only some variables including blood pressure (BP) and diabetes positively and cigarette smoking, triglyceride (TG), alcohol, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) history negatively affected folate, and none of clinical and demographic variables influenced the B12 levels (P > 0.050). TG had significant effects on B12 and folate levels although opium addiction did not show any impact. High TG levels were accompanied by low levels of B12 and folate. Reduced B12 and folate values are accompanied by serum homocysteine elevation. As TG elevates in opium addicts, it can be considered as an important factor which affects vitamins levels and reduces their absorption. Opium addiction elevates homocysteine level, since we can conclude that homocysteine elevation in opium addicts is independent of B12 and folate levels