heroin has been researched along with Heroin-Dependence* in 1595 studies
88 review(s) available for heroin and Heroin-Dependence
Article | Year |
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Functional neuroanatomy of craving in heroin use disorder: voxel-based meta-analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) drug cue reactivity studies.
Topics: Brain; Craving; Cues; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neuroanatomy; Opioid-Related Disorders | 2023 |
A method of diamorphine (heroin) administration for harm reduction.
As societal attitudes toward narcotics have changed, harm reduction strategies have emerged which make it safer to inject intravenous drugs. Diamorphine (heroin) is commonly sold as its free base-better known as brown-which has extremely poor aqueous solubility. As such, it needs to be chemically modified (cooked) to enable administration. Needle exchange programmes commonly supply citric or ascorbic acids which facilitate intravenous administration by increasing heroin solubility. If heroin users mistakenly add too much acid, the low solution pH can cause damage to their veins and, after repeated injury, could result in the loss of that injection site. Currently, advice cards supplied with these exchange kits suggest that the acid should be measured in pinches, which could result in considerable error. This work employs Henderson-Hasselbalch models to analyse the risk of venous damage by placing solution pH within the context of the buffer capacity of the blood. These models also highlight the significant risk of heroin supersaturation and precipitation within the vein, an event that has the potential to cause further harm to the user. This perspective closes with a modified administration method which could be included as part of a wider harm reduction package. Topics: Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2023 |
Heroin and its metabolites: relevance to heroin use disorder.
Heroin is an opioid agonist commonly abused for its rewarding effects. Since its synthesis at the end of the nineteenth century, its popularity as a recreational drug has ebbed and flowed. In the last three decades, heroin use has increased again, and yet the pharmacology of heroin is still poorly understood. After entering the body, heroin is rapidly deacetylated to 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM), which is then deacetylated to morphine. Thus, drug addiction literature has long settled on the notion that heroin is little more than a pro-drug. In contrast to these former views, we will argue for a more complex interplay among heroin and its active metabolites: 6-MAM, morphine, and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G). In particular, we propose that the complex temporal pattern of heroin effects results from the sequential, only partially overlapping, actions not only of 6-MAM, morphine, and M6G, but also of heroin per se, which, therefore, should not be seen as a mere brain-delivery system for its active metabolites. We will first review the literature concerning the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of heroin and its metabolites, then examine their neural and behavioral effects, and finally discuss the possible implications of these data for a better understanding of opioid reward and heroin addiction. By so doing we hope to highlight research topics to be investigated by future clinical and pre-clinical studies. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives | 2023 |
Heroin assisted treatment for key health outcomes in people with chronic heroin addictions: A context-focused systematic review.
Randomised controlled trials in Europe and Canada have shown that supervised heroin assisted treatment (HAT) is an effective treatment option for people with long-term heroin addictions for whom the standard opioid substitution treatments (OST) have not been effective. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of supervised HAT and analyse the significance of context and implementation in the design of successful HAT programmes.. PubMed, CENTRAL, Embase, and Web of Science were searched to identify randomised controlled trials (RCT) and systematic reviews evaluating supervised HAT compared to any other OST. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were published in English, evaluated a supervised form of HAT, and included illegal drug use and/or health as a primary outcome measure. There were no restrictions on publication date. The following outcomes of the included studies were analysed using narrative synthesis and meta-analysis where possible: retention, street drug use, health, and social functioning.. Nine randomised controlled trials spanning eight studies (n = 2331) and three systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. Seven of the eight studies compared HAT to methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). One study compared HAT to injectable hydromorphone in a double-blind non-inferiority trial. Meta-analysis was performed on pooled results of retention across all included studies and found that HAT has a statistically significant effect on retention [Z = 7.65 (P > 0.0001)]. Five of the eight included studies found that supervised HAT reduces participants' use of illegal drugs more significantly than MMT. Evidence of improved health in participants receiving supervised HAT compared to other OSTs was inconsistent; positive effects were observed in three of the included studies (n = 1626).. When compared to methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), heroin assisted treatment (HAT) more consistently retains people with heroin addictions in treatment and reduces their consumption of illicit drugs.. PROSPERO registration: CRD42022341306. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Methadone; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Treatment Outcome | 2023 |
Does heroin-assisted treatment reduce crime? A review of randomized-controlled trials.
Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conclude that heroin-assisted-treatment (HAT) has a larger benefit-cost ratio than oral methadone because HAT more reliably and substantially reduces participants' criminal activity. This review: (1) summarizes results from RCTs concerning the comparative effectiveness of HAT for reducing criminal activity and (2) examines the role of different mechanisms for explaining changes in crime.. Systematic search of five databases for RCTs evaluating comparative effectiveness of HAT on participant crime outcomes and potential mediators of crime. Narrative synthesis with tabular comparisons of outcomes extracted across RCTs.. Europe and Canada.. Twenty studies, spanning 10 RCTs with 2427 participants, met inclusion criteria.. HAT compared to other treatments for opioid use disorder, primarily oral methadone.. The primary outcome was criminal activity. Mediator outcomes included illicit heroin use, drug expenditures, employment and earnings and social functioning.. All trials found significantly reduced criminal activity among HAT participants, and four found significantly larger reductions for HAT compared to control condition [median odds ratios (ORs) = 0.45]. Reductions in crime are concentrated in drug-related and property offenses (ORs range from 0.14 to 0.90 and from 0.12 to 1.89, respectively). Comparative efficacy of HAT for reducing illicit heroin use probably explains reductions in drug possession offenses, but does not show consistent correlation with drug dealing or property offenses. While three trials showed reductions in drug expenditures as possibly driving crime reductions, others did not report expenditures. There is little evidence that treatment effects on economic and social functioning outcomes explain within-trial changes in criminal activity.. Existing literature suggests that heroin-assisted treatment reduces criminal activity, but trials varied in whether these effects exceeded those from oral methadone treatment. Inconsistency in outcome measures across trials complicates understanding drivers of heterogeneity. More detailed information on legal and illegal income, drug expenditures and social interactions could improve our understanding of the causal mechanisms underlying the effect of heroin-assisted-treatment on crime. Topics: Crime; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic | 2022 |
The suitability of oral diacetylmorphine in treatment-refractory patients with heroin dependence: A scoping review.
To review the scientific literature on the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical efficacy and safety of (supervised) oral diacetylmorphine for patients with severe heroin dependence.. The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and PsycINFO databases were searched. Eleven published studies were identified and selected based on defined eligibility and exclusion criteria.. Four pharmacokinetic studies reported negligible plasma concentrations of diacetylmorphine and its active metabolite 6-monacetylmorphine. Among six pharmacodynamic studies, three trials showed that oral diacetylmorphine reduced opioid withdrawal symptoms, one open-label pilot study reported that two patients experienced a modest 'rush' after oral diacetylmorphine and two studies found that patients could not distinguish between oral diacetylmorphine, methadone, or morphine. Regarding the clinical studies, a Swiss prospective cohort study in patients with heroin dependence showed high retention rates of oral diacetylmorphine treatment with few serious adverse events, whereas in the Canadian SALOME trial, oral diacetylmorphine treatment was prematurely discontinued because treatment retention of oral diacetylmorphine was lower than injectable diacetylmorphine maintenance treatment. Finally, two case studies illustrate the limitations and potential problems of oral diacetylmorphine in the treatment of treatment-refractory heroin dependent patients.. Based on all published data, it is unlikely that oral diacetylmorphine produces a substantial 'rush'. Prescription of oral diacetylmorphine might therefore be effective only for treatment-refractory patients with heroin dependence (i) as maintenance treatment for those who never injected or inhaled opioids; (ii) as maintenance treatment for those who want to switch from injection to oral administration of diacetylmorphine; and/or (iii) to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. Topics: Administration, Oral; Canada; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Pilot Projects; Prospective Studies | 2021 |
Cocaine dependence: "Side effects" and syndrome formation within 1-12 months after first cocaine use.
This project offers new epidemiological estimates for DSM-IV cocaine dependence among sub-groups of newly incident cocaine users in the United States (US), including estimated attack rates for 21 dependence-related cocaine side effect problems and experiences occurring <12 months after onset.. In 2002-2016, US National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) sampled, recruited, and assessed cocaine experiences of non-institutionalized civilians. Unweighted estimates for year-pairs (2002-3,…,2015-16) are from 3488 cocaine powder-only initiates and 275 powder-then-crack initiates (all evaluated <12 months after onset). Analysis-weighted attack rate estimates are incidence proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CI), summarized via meta-analysis.. Evaluated <12 months after onset, meta-analysis summaries show 5% of powder-only initiates developed cocaine dependence (95% CI = 4%, 6%) versus 22% of powder-then-crack initiates (95% CI = 17%, 29%). For several cocaine side effect problems and experiences (e.g., 'loss of control' indicators) there is a statistically robust crack-associated excess risk.. Three interpretations of observed crack-associated excess risk are especially cogent and deserving of continued inquiry: (1) Powder-then-crack initiates start with heightened dependence risk susceptibilities (i.e., pre-dating onset); (2) Powder-using initiates become cocaine dependent and then start using crack; (3) The cocaine delivery variant of 'crack-smoking' is more toxic than powder insufflation. For powder-then-crack initiates, the cocaine dependence risk (22%) is modestly lower but statistically undifferentiable from a recently estimated risk of heroin dependence <12 months after heroin onset (30%). Clinicians can use these side effect estimates in an evidence-based diagnostic workup when patients disclose new onsets of cocaine use. Topics: Adult; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Female; Health Surveys; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Powders; Syndrome; Time Factors; United States | 2020 |
Modulation of drug choice by extended drug access and withdrawal in rhesus monkeys: Implications for negative reinforcement as a driver of addiction and target for medications development.
Chronic drug exposure is hypothesized to recruit negative reinforcement processes that increase the magnitude and alter the mechanisms of drug reinforcement. Candidate substrates of negative reinforcement include increased signaling via stress-related neurotransmitters such as corticotropin releasing factor (CRF, acting at CRF receptors) or dynorphin (acting at kappa opioid receptors) and/or decreased signaling via reward-related neurotransmitters such as dopamine. Determinants of drug reinforcement can be examined with choice procedures, in which subjects choose between a drug of interest (e.g. heroin or cocaine) and a non-drug alternative reinforcer (e.g. food). This review summarizes evidence collected from studies of drug choice in rhesus monkeys to address the negative reinforcement hypothesis. In monkeys choosing between heroin and food, chronic heroin exposure and subsequent withdrawal produces a robust increase in heroin choice. This withdrawal-associated increase in heroin choice is blocked by morphine and by other mu opioid agonists used to treat opioid use disorder (methadone, buprenorphine); however, withdrawal-associated increases in heroin choice are not reliably blocked by antagonists of CRF or kappa opioid receptors or by an indirect dopamine agonist. In monkeys choosing between cocaine and food, chronic cocaine exposure and withdrawal fail to increase cocaine choice or alter sensitivity of cocaine choice to treatment with candidate therapeutics including an indirect dopamine agonist and a kappa opioid receptor antagonist. These results support a role for negative reinforcement in self-administration of heroin but not cocaine. The constellation of neurobiological changes that constitutes the negative reinforcing stimulus in opioid-dependent rhesus monkeys remains to be determined. Topics: Animals; Choice Behavior; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Disease Models, Animal; Food; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Macaca mulatta; Narcotic Antagonists; Opioid-Related Disorders; Reinforcement, Psychology; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2018 |
Heroin in Malaysia and Singapore.
Clandestine heroin laboratories have been a feature of the Malaysian illicit drug scene since soon after the abuse of heroin emerged in 1972. The first few clandestine heroin laboratories which synthesised heroin via the acetylation of imported morphine were uncovered in 1973 and 1977. By the mid-1980s, this type of laboratory was replaced by heroin-cutting laboratories whereby imported high-grade heroin was cut to street heroin. This was to meet the rising demand for the drug owing to the rapid escalation of the number of drug users. Over the years, the most significant change in the composition of the street heroin is the decrease in its purity from 30%-50% to 3%-5%. Caffeine has remained the major adulterant and chloroquine is detected in virtually all recent seizures. Topics: Drug Contamination; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Malaysia; Singapore | 2018 |
Confirmation of recent heroin abuse: Accepting the challenge.
Confirmation or exclusion of recent heroin consumption is still one of the major challenges for forensic and clinical toxicologists. A great variety of biomarkers is available for heroin abuse confirmation, including various opium alkaloids (eg, morphine, codeine), street heroin impurities (eg, 6-acetylcodeine [6-AC], noscapine, papaverine) as well as associated metabolites (eg, 6-monoacetylmorphine [6-MAM], morphine glucuronides). However, the presence of most of these biomarkers cannot solely be attributed to a previous heroin administration but can, among other things, also be due to consumption of poppy seed products ('poppy seed defense'), opium preparations or specific medications, respectively. A reliable allocation is of great importance in different contexts, for instance in the case of DUID (driving under the influence of drugs) investigations, in driving licence re-granting processes, in workplace drug testing (WDT), as well as in post-mortem identification of illicit opiate use. Additionally, differentiation between illicit street heroin abuse and pharmaceutical heroin administration is also important, especially within the frame of heroin-assisted treatments. Therefore, analysis of multiple biomarkers is recommended when illicit opiate consumption is assumed to obtain the most reliable results possible. Beyond that, interpretation of positive opiate test results requires a profound insight into the great variety of biomarkers available and their validity regarding the alleged consumption. This paper aims to provide an overview of the wide variety of heroin abuse biomarkers described in the literature and to review them regarding their utility and reliability in daily routine analysis. Topics: Biomarkers; Codeine; Glucuronides; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine Derivatives; Opium; Reproducibility of Results; Substance Abuse Detection | 2018 |
The Emerging Role of Inhaled Heroin in the Opioid Epidemic: A Review.
Opioid addiction affects approximately 2.4 million Americans. Nearly 1 million individuals, including a growing subset of 21 000 minors, abuse heroin. Its annual cost within the United States amounts to $51 billion. Inhaled heroin use represents a global phenomenon and is approaching epidemic levels east of the Mississippi River as well as among urban youth. Chasing the dragon (CTD) by heating heroin and inhaling its fumes is particularly concerning, because this method of heroin usage has greater availability, greater ease of administration, and impressive intensity of subjective experience (high) compared with sniffing or snorting, although it also has a safer infectious profile compared with heroin injection. This is relevant owing to peculiar and often catastrophic brain complications. Following the American Medical Association Opioid Task Force mandate, we contribute a description of the pharmacology, pathophysiology, clinical spectrum, neuroimaging, and neuropathology of CTD leukoencephalopathy, as distinct from other heroin abuse modalities.. The unique spectrum of CTD-associated health outcomes includes an aggressive toxic leukoencephalopathy with pathognomonic neuropathologic features, along with sporadic instances of movement disorders and hydrocephalus. Clinical CTD severity is predominantly moderate at admission, frequently unmodified at discharge, and largely improved in the long term. Mild cases survive with minor sequelae, while moderate to severe presentations might deteriorate and progress to death. Other methods of heroin use may complicate with stroke, seizure, obstructive hydrocephalus, and (uncharacteristically) leukoencephalopathy.. The distinct pharmacology of CTD correlates with its specific clinical and radiological features and prompts grave concern for potential morbidity and long-term disability costs. Proposed diagnostic criteria and standardized reporting would ameliorate the limitations of CTD literature and facilitate patient selection for a coenzyme Q10 therapeutic trial. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukoencephalopathies; Narcotics | 2018 |
Resting-state Abnormalities in Heroin-dependent Individuals.
Drug addiction is a major health problem worldwide. Recent neuroimaging studies have shed light into the underlying mechanisms of drug addiction as well as its consequences to the human brain. The most vulnerable, to heroin addiction, brain regions have been reported to be specific prefrontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal regions, as well as, some subcortical regions. The brain regions involved are usually linked with reward, motivation/drive, memory/learning, inhibition as well as emotional control and seem to form circuits that interact with each other. So, along with neuroimaging studies, recent advances in resting-state dynamics might allow further assessments upon the multilayer complexity of addiction. In the current manuscript, we comprehensively review and discuss existing resting-state neuroimaging findings classified into three overlapping and interconnected groups: functional connectivity alterations, structural deficits and abnormal topological properties. Moreover, behavioral traits of heroin-addicted individuals as well as the limitations of the currently available studies are also reviewed. Finally, in need of a contemporary therapy a multimodal therapeutic approach is suggested using classical treatment practices along with current neurotechonologies, such as neurofeedback and goal-oriented video-games. Topics: Animals; Brain; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Rest | 2018 |
Supervised Injectable Heroin: A Clinical Perspective.
Six recent randomised control trials (RCTs) have suggested that supervised injectable heroin (SIH) can be effective in patients who persist in street heroin use during methadone treatment. However, short-term randomised control trials have limitations in assessing the effectiveness of treatments for addictive disorders, which are chronic and relapsing disorders of motivation. These RCTs particularly fail to capture the process of the SIH treatment and the diversity of influence and change over time.. This narrative review is based on the analysis of published data. Conclusions are drawn from a process of reflection informed by experience in delivering one of the published trials, subsequent experiences in varying the way SIH is delivered, and through consideration of possible mechanisms of action of SIH.. Many long-term, socially marginalised and demoralised people who are addicted to heroin experience few rewards from the stability afforded by methadone treatment. Supervised injected heroin is sufficiently reinforcing for many of these individuals to attend daily and participate in highly structured treatment. With an adequate daily dose of supervised methadone to avoid withdrawal dysphoria, occasional diamorphine injections-not necessarily twice daily, or even every day-is enough to hold people in treatment. Participation was associated with reduced amounts of non-prescribed drug use, a gradual change in self-image and attitude, and for some subjects, a movement towards social reintegration and eventual withdrawal from SIH.. Prescribed heroin is sufficiently motivating to hold a proportion of recidivist addicts in long-term treatment. Participation in structured treatment provides respite from compulsive drug use, and a proportion of subjects develop sufficient rewards from social reintegration to successfully withdraw from treatment. Such change, when it occurs, is slow and stuttering. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment | 2017 |
Adverse effects of subcutaneous, drug-releasing implants for the treatment of opioid drug addiction.
Topics: Adult; Device Removal; Drug Eruptions; Drug Implants; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Naltrexone; Prostheses and Implants | 2017 |
Asthma associated with the use of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana: A review of the evidence.
A review of the evidence was conducted regarding asthma associated with the use of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.. A search of the English literature was performed via PubMed/Medline and EMBASE using the search terms asthma AND cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. When pertinent articles were found, salient references in those articles were assessed.. Due to the relatively small number of studies, we included all studies and cases.. For several decades, case reports, retrospective studies, and laboratory investigations have demonstrated that inhalation of cocaine or heroin is associated with increased asthma symptoms and reduced pulmonary function. Smoking crack cocaine, nasal insufflation of cocaine or heroin, and smoking heroin increases the risk of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for asthma. Although frequent smoking of marijuana may cause symptoms of cough, sputum production, and wheezing in the general population, more studies are needed specifically in patients with asthma. Smoking marijuana with concomitant tobacco use is common and further worsens the respiratory symptoms.. Use of cocaine and heroin in patients with asthma should be avoided. Pending further studies, it would be prudent for patients with asthma to avoid smoking marijuana. Clinicians need to be vigilant regarding use of these drugs in their patients with hyperreactive airway disease. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Asthma; Cannabis; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Crack Cocaine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Marijuana Abuse; Marijuana Smoking; Respiratory Function Tests; Respiratory Sounds; Retrospective Studies; Substance-Related Disorders | 2017 |
Relationship between Nonmedical Prescription-Opioid Use and Heroin Use.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Analgesics, Opioid; Child; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Opioid-Related Disorders; Oxycodone; Prescription Drug Misuse; United States; Young Adult | 2016 |
[Substitution therapy with diamorphine].
After a long lead time the substitution with diamorphine was taken into the German catalogue of statutory health insurance in 2010. Currently about 570 patients are treated this way in 9 ambulances in Germany. The study phase as well as the clinical practice are showing the success of this therapy concerning physical and mental health of patients and their circumstances of social life. Thereby substitution with diamorphine is underlying very strict admission criteria regarding patients on the one hand and particular organizational requirements of the medical institution on the other hand. This article explains these criteria in detail as well as neurobiological information and clinical workflow is presented. Improvement of mandatory requirements could lead to a better reaching of patients who benefit from substitution with diamorphine. Topics: Germany; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders | 2016 |
A scoping review of home-produced heroin and amphetamine-type stimulant substitutes: implications for prevention, treatment, and policy.
Several home-produced substances such as krokodil and boltushka are prevalent in many Eastern European countries. Anecdotal reports of its use have been circulating in Germany and Norway; however, this has not been confirmed. Its use has also been reported by the media in the USA, although only one confirmed report of its use exists. Home-produced drugs are associated with high levels of morbidity and a number of complex health issues such as the spread of blood borne viruses, gangrene, and internal organ damage. The high incidence of HIV rates amongst people who inject home-produced substances is a public health concern. The resulting physical health consequences of injecting these crude substances are very severe in comparison to heroin or amphetamine acquired in black markets. Due to this fact and the increased mortality associated with these substances, professionals in the area of prevention, treatment, and policy development need to be cognisant of the presentation, harms, and the dangers associated with home-produced substances globally. This scoping review aimed to examine existing literature on the subject of home-produced heroin and amphetamine-type stimulant substitutes. The review discussed the many implications such research may have in the areas of policy and practice. Data were gathered through the use of qualitative secondary resources such as journal articles, reports, reviews, case studies, and media reports. The home production of these substances relies on the utilisation of precursor drugs such as less potent stimulants, tranquillizers, analgesics, and sedatives or natural plant ingredients. The Internet underpins the facilitation of this practice as recipes, and diverted pharmaceutical sales are available widely online, and currently, ease of access to the Internet is evident worldwide. This review highlights the necessity of prevention, education, and also harm reduction related to home-produced drugs and also recommends consistent monitoring of online drug fora, online drug marketplaces, and unregulated pharmacies. Topics: Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Amphetamines; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Internet | 2016 |
Heroin overdose.
This narrative review aims to provide a brief history of the development of the heroin overdose field by discussing a selection of major 'classics' from the latter part of the 20th century.. Papers considered landmarks were selected from 1972, 1977, 1983, 1984 and 1999.. Findings of earlier works suggest much of what later research was to demonstrate. These include arguing that overdoses occurred primarily among tolerant older users, that most 'overdose' deaths involved low morphine concentrations, that most overdoses involve polypharmacy, that drug purity has only a moderate influence on overdose rates and that instant death following heroin administration is rare.. Landmark studies of heroin overdose from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s laid the foundations for subsequent overdose research, mainly by identifying the major demographic characteristics of overdose cases, risk factors, survival times and behaviours at overdose events. Topics: Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; History, 20th Century; Risk Factors; Time Factors | 2016 |
[The message from heroin overdoses].
Drug use can be defined as a kind of self destruction, and it is directly linked to attitudes toward death and suicide occurring in a significant number of users of different narcotics. The aim of the authors was to look for the background of this relationship between drug and death and examine the origin, development, and motives behind heroin overdose based on an analysis of previous studies. It seems clear that pure heroin overdose increased gradually over the years. The fear of the police is the inhibitory factor of the overdose prevention and notification of emergency health care service. Signs of suicide could be the own home as the chosen location for heroin overdose and the presence of partners ("moment of death companion"). Interventions should include simple techniques such as first aid, naloxone administration, resuscitation, prevention of relapse of prisoners and social network extension involving maintenance programs.. A droghasználatot önmagában is öndestrukciónak tekinthetjük, így közvetve kötődik a halállal kapcsolatos attitűdhöz, és jelentős számban fordul elő különböző, a narkotikumok által okozott suicidium a droghasználók körében. A tanulmány célja, hogy feltárja a drog–halál kapcsolat eredetét, hátterét, és azon belül a heroin okozta túladagolások okait a témával foglalkozó tanulmányok elemzésével, eredményeik összefoglalásával. A tiszta heroinos túladagolók életkora az évek folyamán fokozatosan nő. A rendőrségtől való félelem a túladagolás megelőzését és a mentők értesítését gátló tényező. Az öngyilkosság szándékosságára utaló jel lehet a saját otthon mint választott hely, vagy a társak jelenléte, ami a halál pillanatában biztosított társat jelentheti. (Azt, hogy nincsenek egyedül a túladagolás pillanatában.) Ezért a segítségnyújtás egyszerűbb technikáit kell bevezetni: elsősegélynyújtás, naloxonbeadás, újraélesztés, a börtönviseltek visszaesésének megelőzése, a szociális háló kiterjesztése, a fenntartó programokba való bevonás. Orv. Hetil., 2015, 156(9), 352–357. Topics: Drug Overdose; Emergency Medical Services; Emergency Treatment; Europe; Fear; Friends; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Police; Prisoners; Resuscitation; Suicide, Attempted; United States | 2015 |
Heroin on trial: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials of diamorphine-prescribing as treatment for refractory heroin addiction†.
Supervised injectable heroin (SIH) treatment has emerged over the past 15 years as an intensive treatment for entrenched heroin users who have not responded to standard treatments such as oral methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) or residential rehabilitation.. To synthesise published findings for treatment with SIH for refractory heroin-dependence through systematic review and meta-analysis, and to examine the political and scientific response to these findings.. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of SIH treatment were identified through database searching, and random effects pooled efficacy was estimated for SIH treatment. Methodological quality was assessed according to criteria set out by the Cochrane Collaboration.. Six RCTs met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Across the trials, SIH treatment improved treatment outcome, i.e. greater reduction in the use of illicit 'street' heroin in patients receiving SIH treatment compared with control groups (most often receiving MMT).. SIH is found to be an effective way of treating heroin dependence refractory to standard treatment. SIH may be less safe than MMT and therefore requires more clinical attention to manage greater safety issues. This intensive intervention is for a patient population previously considered unresponsive to treatment. Inclusion of this low-volume, high-intensity treatment can now improve the impact of comprehensive healthcare provision. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Treatment Outcome | 2015 |
Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, an unusual complication of heroin intoxication: a case report and review of literature.
Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) has rarely been described in patients with heroin intoxication. Here, we report a rare case of MODS involving six organs, due to heroin intoxication. The patient was a 32-year-old Chinese man with severe heroin intoxication complicated by acute pulmonary edema and respiratory insufficiency, shock, myocardial damage and cardiac insufficiency, rhabdomyolysis and acute renal insufficiency, acute liver injury and hepatic insufficiency, toxic leukoencephalopathy, and hypoglycemia. He managed to survive and was discharged after 10 weeks of intensive care. The possible pathogenesis and therapeutic measures of MODS induced by heroin intoxication and some suggestions for preventing and treating severe complications of heroin intoxication, based on clinical evidence and the pertinent literature, are discussed in this report. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Multiple Organ Failure; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome | 2015 |
[Therapy in heroin addiction].
Heroin addiction is one of the most devastating and expensive of public health problems. The most effective treatment is opioid replacement therapy. Replacement of heroin, a short-acting euphoriant with methadone or other opioids that have significantly longer duration of action provides a number of therapeutic benefits. Opioid detoxification has a role in both preventing acute withdrawal and maintaining long-term abstinence. Opioid-based detoxification is based on the principle of cross-tolerance, in which one opioid is replaced with another one that is slowly tapered. For the treatment of heroin addicts a wide range of psychosocial and pharmacotherapeutic treatments are available; of these, methadone maintenance therapy has the most evidence of benefit. Methadone maintenance reduces and/or eliminates the use of heroin, reduces the death rate and criminality associated with heroin use, and allows patients to improve their health and social productivity. In addition, enrollment in methadone maintenance has the potential to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases associated with heroin injection, such as hepatitis and HIV. The principal effects of methadone maintenance are to relieve narcotic craving, suppress the abstinence syndrome, and block the euphoric effects associated with heroin. There is growing interest in expanding treatment into primary care, allowing opioid addiction to be managed like other chronic illnesses. Buprenorphine which is a long-acting partial agonist was also approved as pharmacotherapy for opioid dependence. Opioid antagonists can reduce heroin self-administration and opioid craving in detoxified addicts. Naltrexone, which is a long-acting competitive antagonist at the opioid receptors, blocks the subjective and objective responses produced by intravenous opioids. Naltrexone is employed to accelerate opioid detoxification by displacing heroin and as a maintenance agent for detoxified formerly heroin-dependent patients who want to remain opioid-free. Topics: Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; Analgesics, Opioid; Buprenorphine; Euphoria; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment | 2014 |
Long term outcomes of pharmacological treatments for opioid dependence: does methadone still lead the pack?
The aim of this review was to update and summarize the scientific knowledge on the long term outcomes of the different pharmacological treatment options for opioid dependence currently available and to provide a critical discussion on the different treatment options based on these results. We performed a literature search using the PubMed databases and the reference lists of the identified articles. Data from research show that the three pharmacological options reviewed are effective treatments for opioid dependence with positive long term outcomes. However, each one has its specific target population and setting. While methadone and buprenorphine are first line options, heroin-assisted treatment is a second line option for those patients refractory to treatment with methadone with concomitant severe physical, mental, social and/or functional problems. Buprenorphine seems to be the best option for use in primary care offices. The field of opioid dependence treatment is poised to undergo a process of reinforcement and transformation. Further efforts from researchers, clinicians and authorities should be made to turn new pharmacological options into clinical reality and to overcome the structural and functional obstacles that maintenance programmes face in combatting opioid dependence. Topics: Buprenorphine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome | 2014 |
Pharmacological maintenance treatments of opiate addiction.
For people seeking treatment, the course of heroin addiction tends to be chronic and relapsing, and longer duration of treatment is associated with better outcomes. Heroin addiction is strongly associated with deviant behaviour and crime, and the objectives in treating heroin addiction have been a blend of humane support, rehabilitation, public health intervention and crime control. Reduction in street heroin use is the foundation on which all these outcomes are based. The pharmacological basis of maintenance treatment of dependent individuals is to minimize withdrawal symptoms and attenuate the reinforcing effects of street heroin, leading to reduction or cessation of street heroin use. Opioid maintenance treatment can be moderately effective in suppressing heroin use, although deviations from evidence-based approaches, particularly the use of suboptimal doses, have meant that treatment as delivered in practice may have resulted in poorer outcomes than predicted by research. Methadone treatment has been 'programmatic', with a one-size-fits-all approach that in part reflects the perceived need to impose discipline on deviant individuals. However, differences in pharmacokinetics and in side-effects mean that many patients do not respond optimally to methadone. Injectable diamorphine (heroin) provides a more reinforcing medication for some 'nonresponders' and can be a valuable option in the rehabilitation of demoralized, socially excluded individuals. Buprenorphine, a partial agonist, is a less reinforcing medication with different side-effects and less risk of overdose. Not only is it a different medication, but also it can be used in a different paradigm of treatment, office-based opioid treatment, with less structure and offering greater patient autonomy. Topics: Buprenorphine; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Reinforcement, Psychology; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 2014 |
BDNF rs6265 polymorphism and drug addiction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
A majority of studies have shown a link between the common functional rs6265 polymorphism of the BDNF gene and susceptibility to drug dependence. However, the pattern of results is inconsistent. To precisely evaluate this association, a systematic review and meta-analysis of previous case-control reports was conducted. Data from 20 studies containing 9419 participants (4665 cases and 4754 controls) conducted between 2004 and 2013 restricted to alcohol, nicotine, heroin, substance and methamphetamine dependency were meta-analyzed. Following quality control of the results, a significant association between C allele and methamphetamine dependence remained in south Asian subjects (p = 0.004). Similar results were detected in south Asian subjects for methamphetamine dependence and in Chinese subjects for heroin dependence under an autosomal codominant genotype model (TT vs CC, p = 0.005 and p = 0.0004, respectively). In conclusion, the rs6265 polymorphism may be a risk factor for methamphetamine dependence in south Asian subjects or for heroin dependence in Chinese subjects. Topics: Alcohols; Asian People; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methamphetamine; Polymorphism, Genetic; Substance-Related Disorders | 2013 |
The use of narcotics and street drugs during pregnancy.
All prenatal care providers should offer routine voluntary substance use screening to all patients. Parturients who screen positive for illicit substances require a multidisciplinary team approach to drug rehabilitation and prenatal care. This review will examine the pharmacological properties and the neonatal consequences of the use of opioids and amphetamines. Substance-abusing parturients typically abuse multiple substances simultaneously and have other comorbidities including psychosocial instability and mental illness. These comorbidities must be effectively addressed to achieve optimal health outcomes for both mother and infant. Topics: Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Amphetamines; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Narcotics; Opioid-Related Disorders; Postnatal Care; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prenatal Care; Prescription Drugs; Substance Abuse Detection | 2013 |
Heroin maintenance treatment: from idea to research to practice.
Maintaining opiate addicts on opiates has a long history. The idea to prescribe pharmaceutical morphine as a substitute for street heroin started in USA and was abolished on the basis of prohibitionist legislation. A new approach to maintain opiate addicts on substitution therapy was initiated in USA in 1963, with the prescription of methadone. This approach found, although slowly, increasing acceptance, and is nowadays considered to be a cornerstone in the management of opiate dependence and for the prevention of HIV/AIDS in opiate injectors. Since 1975, the concept of heroin maintenance treatment was re-activated in order to reach out to treatment-resistant heroin addicts. Research projects were performed in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Canada and in England, another one is planned in Belgium. Based on the unanimously positive outcomes, heroin maintenance has become routine treatment for otherwise untreatable heroin addicts in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany and England, and Denmark has set up heroin maintenance without new research trials. Topics: Canada; Clinical Trials as Topic; Europe; Health Policy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Research Design; Treatment Outcome; World Health Organization | 2011 |
Heroin maintenance for chronic heroin-dependent individuals.
Several types of medications have been used for stabilizing heroin users: Methadone, Buprenorphine and levo-alpha-acetyl-methadol (LAAM.) The present review focuses on the prescription of heroin to heroin-dependent individuals.. To compare heroin maintenance to methadone or other substitution treatments for opioid dependence regarding: efficacy and acceptability, retaining patients in treatment, reducing the use of illicit substances, and improving health and social functioning.. A review of the Cochrane Central Register of Trials (The Cochrane Library Issue 1, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to november 2009), EMBASE (1980 to 2005) and CINAHL until 2005 (on OVID) was conducted. Personal communications with researchers in the field of heroin prescription identified ongoing trials.. Randomised controlled trials of heroin maintenance treatment (alone or combined with methadone) compared with any other pharmacological treatment for heroin-dependent individuals.. Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data.. Eight studies involving 2007 patients met the inclusion criteria. Five studies compared supervised injected heroin plus flexible dosages of methadone treatment to oral methadone only and showed that heroin helps patients to remain in treatment (valid data from 4 studies, N=1388 Risk Ratio 1.44 (95%CI 1.19-1.75) heterogeneity P=0.03), and to reduce use of illicit drugs. Maintenance with supervised injected heroin has a not statistically significant protective effect on mortality (4 studies, N=1477 Risk Ratio 0.65 (95% CI 0.25-1.69) heterogeneity P=0.89), but it exposes at a greater risk of adverse events related to study medication (3 studies N=373 Risk Ratio 13.50 (95% CI 2.55-71.53) heterogeneity P=0.52). Results on criminal activity and incarceration were not possible to be pooled but where the outcome were measured results of single studies do provide evidence that heroin provision can reduce criminal activity and incarceration/imprisonment. Social functioning improved in all the intervention groups with heroin groups having slightly better results. If all the studies comparing heroin provision in any conditions vs any other treatment are pooled the direction of effect remain in favour of heroin.. The available evidence suggests an added value of heroin prescribed alongside flexible doses of methadone for long-term, treatment refractory, opioid users, to reach a decrease in the use of illicit substances, involvement in criminal activity and incarceration, a possible reduction in mortaliity; and an increase in retention in treatment. Due to the higher rate of serious adverse events, heroin prescription should remain a treatment for people who are currently or have in the past failed maintenance treatment, and it should be provided in clinical settings where proper follow-up is ensured. Topics: Adult; Crime; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Patient Compliance; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Young Adult | 2011 |
Developing a vaccine against multiple psychoactive targets: a case study of heroin.
Heroin addiction is a wide-reaching problem with a spectrum of damaging social consequences. Currently approved heroin addiction medications include drugs that bind at the same receptors (e.g. opioid receptors) occupied by heroin and/or its metabolites in the brain, but undesired side effects of these treatments, maintenance dependence and relapse to drug taking remains problematic. A vaccine capable of blocking heroin's effects could provide an economical, long-lasting and sustainable adjunct to heroin addiction therapy without the side effects associated with available treatment options. Heroin, however, presents a particularly challenging vaccine target as it is metabolized to multiple psychoactive molecules of differing lipophilicity, with differing abilities to cross the blood brain barrier. In this review, we discuss the opiate scaffolding and hapten design considerations to confer immunogenicity as well as the specificity of the immune response towards structurally similar opiates. In addition, we detail different strategies employed in the design of immunoconjugates for a vaccine-based therapy for heroin addiction treatment. Topics: Animals; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug Discovery; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunoconjugates; Psychotropic Drugs; Vaccines | 2011 |
[Heroin addiction].
Heroin is an illicit, highly addictive drug. It is either the most abused or the most rapidly acting member of opioids. Abusers describe a feeling of a surge of pleasurable sensation, named as "rush" or "high". Repeated administration of high doses of heroin results in the induction of physical dependence. Physical dependence refers to an altered physiological state produced by chronic administration of heroin which necessitates the continued administration of the drug to prevent the appearance of a characteristic syndrome, the opioid withdrawal or abstinence syndrome. Withdrawal symptoms may occur within a few hours after the last administration of heroin. Symptoms of the withdrawal include restlessness, insomnia, drug craving, diarrhea, muscle and bone pain, cold flashes with goose bumps, and leg movements. Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 48 and 72 hours after the last dose of heroin and subside after about a week. At this time, weakness and depression are pronounced and nausea and vomiting are common. Nevertheless, some chronic addicts have shown persistent withdrawal signs for many months or even years. Heroin addiction is considered as a behavioural state of compulsive drug use and a high tendency to relapse after periods of abstinence. It is generally accepted that compulsive use and relapse are typically associated with the status of heroin craving or heroin hunger that are difficult to define but appear to be powerful motivational significance in the addiction process. The route of administering heroin varies largely and may indicate the degree of seriousness of the individual's addiction. Intravenous administration seems to be the predominant method of heroin use, but recently a shift in heroin use pattern has been found, i.e. from injection to sniffing and smoking. Frequent injections coupled with widespread sharing of syringes increase the risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis B, C and other blood-borne infectious diseases. Long-term use of heroin has also severe medical consequences such as scarred veins, bacterial infections of blood vessels, liver and kidney diseases, and lung complications. Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Chronic Disease; Euphoria; Global Health; Haplorhini; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Powders; Recurrence; Severity of Illness Index; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 2011 |
Heroin maintenance for chronic heroin-dependent individuals.
Several types of medications have been used for stabilizing heroin users: Methadone, Buprenorphine and levo-alpha-acetyl-methadol (LAAM.) The present review focuses on the prescription of heroin to heroin-dependent individuals.. To compare heroin maintenance to methadone or other substitution treatments for opioid dependence regarding: efficacy and acceptability, retaining patients in treatment, reducing the use of illicit substances, and improving health and social functioning.. A review of the Cochrane Central Register of Trials (The Cochrane Library Issue 1, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to 2008), EMBASE (1980 to 2005) and CINAHL until 2005 (on OVID) was conducted. Personal communication with researchers in the field of heroin prescription identified other ongoing trials.. Randomised controlled trials of heroin maintenance treatment (alone or combined with methadone) were compared with any other pharmacological treatment for heroin-dependent individuals.. Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data.. Eight studies involving 2007 patients were included. Results show marginal significance in favour of heroin for remaining in treatment until the end of the study (8 studies, N= 2007, RR=1.23, 95%CI=0.96-1.57; heterogeneity P < 0.01). Adverse events are significantly more frequent in the heroin group. Heroin plus methadone prescription for maintenance treatment in adult chronic opioid users who failed previous methadone treatment attempts decreases the use of other illicit substances (3 Studies, N=1289, RR=0.63, 95%CI=0.49, 0.81, heterogeneity P=0.21), and reduces the risk of being incarcerated (2 studies, N=1103, RR=0.64, 95%CI=0.51-0.79, heterogeneity P=0.31). In addition, we also found a marginally significant protective effect of heroin prescription plus methadone for the use of street heroin (3 studies, N=1512, RR=0.70, 95%CI=0.49-1.00, heterogeneity P < 0.01) and for criminal activity (4 studies, N=1377, RR=0.80, 95%CI=0.61-1.04, heterogeneity P=0.31). There was not enough power to detect statistically significant results for the risk of death (5 studies, N=1817, RR=0.77, 95%CI=0.32-1.87, heterogeneity P=0.79).. The available evidence suggests a small added value of heroin prescribed alongside flexible doses of methadone for long-term, treatment-refractory opioid users, considering a decrease in the use of street heroin and other illicit substances, and in the probability of being imprisoned; and an increase in retention in treatment. Due to the higher rate of serious adverse events, heroin prescription should remain a treatment of last resort for people who are currently or have in the past failed maintenance treatment. Topics: Adult; Crime; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic | 2010 |
Life-threatening asthma after heroin inhalation. A case report and a review of the literature.
Heroin addiction may increase the risk of pulmonary involvement. We describe the case of a 23 year-old woman who was admitted to our unit for severe asthma attack non responsive to beta-2-agonists and acute respiratory failure, soon after heroin inhalation. The patient was successfully treated with non invasive positive pressure ventilation. Opiate inhalation can be an asthma trigger and should be considered in the care of patients with poorly controlled asthma and life-threatening asthmatic attacks. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Asthma; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Young Adult | 2010 |
Heroin anticraving medications: a systematic review.
Heroin craving is a trigger for relapse and dropping out of treatment. Methadone has been the standard medication for the management of heroin craving.. We explored the medication options other than methadone which may have heroin anticraving properties.. To be selected for the review, articles had to include outcome measures of the effect of the studied medication on subjective and/or objective opiate craving and be of the following two types: (1) randomized, controlled, and/or double-blind clinical trials (RCTs) examining the relationship between the studied medication and heroin craving; (2) nonrandomized and observational studies (NRSs) examining the relationship between the studied medication and heroin craving. Thirty-three articles were initially included in the review. Twenty-one were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. We present the results of 12 articles that met all the inclusion criteria.. Some new medications have been under investigation and seem promising for the treatment of opiate craving. Buprenorphine is the second most studied medication after methadone for its effect on opiate craving. At doses above 8 mg daily, it seems very promising and practical for managing opiate craving in patients receiving long-term opioid maintenance treatment.. In doses higher than 8 mg daily, buprenorphine is an appropriate treatment for opiate craving. More research with rigorous methodology is needed to study the effect of buprenorphine on heroin craving. Also more studies are needed to directly compare buprenorphine and methadone with regard to their effects on heroin craving. Topics: Buprenorphine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2010 |
Self-administration of cocaine, cannabis and heroin in the human laboratory: benefits and pitfalls.
The objective of this review is to describe self-administration procedures for modeling addiction to cocaine, cannabis and heroin in the human laboratory, the benefits and pitfalls of the approach, and the methodological issues unique to each drug. In addition, the predictive validity of the model for testing treatment medications will be addressed. The results show that all three drugs of abuse are reliably and robustly self-administered by non-treatment-seeking research volunteers. In terms of pharmacotherapies, cocaine use is extraordinarily difficult to disrupt either in the laboratory or in the clinic. A range of medications has been shown to significantly decrease cocaine's subjective effects and craving without decreasing either cocaine self-administration or cocaine abuse by patients. These negative data combined with recent positive findings with modafinil suggest that self-administration procedures are an important intermediary step between pre-clinical and clinical studies. In terms of cannabis, a recent study suggests that medications that improve sleep and mood during cannabis withdrawal decrease the resumption of marijuana self-administration in abstinent volunteers. Clinical data on patients seeking treatment for their marijuana use are needed to validate these laboratory findings. Finally, in contrast to cannabis or cocaine dependence, there are three efficacious Food and Drug Administration-approved medications to treat opioid dependence, all of which decrease both heroin self-administration and subjective effects in the human laboratory. In summary, self-administration procedures provide meaningful behavioral data in a small number of individuals. These studies contribute to our understanding of the variables maintaining cocaine, marijuana and heroin intake, and are important in guiding the development of more effective drug treatment programs. Topics: Cannabinoids; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Marijuana Abuse; Models, Psychological; Self Administration; Social Environment; Treatment Outcome | 2009 |
Vaccines against morphine/heroin and its use as effective medication for preventing relapse to opiate addictive behaviors.
Current pharmacotherapies for treating morphine/heroin dependence are designed to substitute or block addiction by targeting the drug itself rather than the brain. The heroin addict is still being exposed to addictive opiates, and consequently may develop tolerance to and experience withdrawal and drug's toxic effects from the treatment with high incidence of relapse to addictive drug consumption. As for other drugs of abuse, an alternative approach for morphine/heroin addiction is an antibody-based antagonism of heroin's brain entry. This review summarizes the literature examining important aspects of neurobiological and pharmacological processes involved in opiate dependence. Thereafter, classical pharmacological interventions for opiate dependence treatment and its major clinical limitations are reviewed. Finally, relevant preclinical studies are examined for comparisons in the design, use, immunogenic profile and efficacy of several models of morphine/heroin vaccine as immunologic interventions on the pharmacokinetics and behavioral of morphine/heroin in the rat as animal model. Topics: Animals; Antibodies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Rats; Secondary Prevention; Vaccines, Conjugate | 2009 |
Long-acting opioid-agonists in the treatment of heroin addiction: why should we call them "substitution"?
Many studies have documented the safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of long-acting opioids (L-AOs), such as methadone and buprenorphine, in the treatment of heroin addiction. This article reviews the pharmacological differences between L-AO medications and short-acting opioids (heroin) in terms of reinforcing properties, pharmacokinetics, effects on the endocrine and immune systems. Given their specific pharmacological profile, L-AOs contribute to control addictive behavior, reduce craving, and restore the balance of disrupted endocrine function. The use of the term "substitution," referring to the fact that methadone or buprenorphine replace heroin in binding to brain opioid receptors, has been generalized to consider L-AOs as simple replacement of street drugs, thus contributing to the widespread misunderstanding of this treatment approach. Topics: Arousal; Brain; Buprenorphine; Delayed-Action Preparations; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunocompetence; Methadone; Motivation; Narcotics; Receptors, Opioid; Treatment Outcome | 2009 |
Prescription of heroin for the management of heroin dependence: current status.
The prescription of heroin (diamorphine) for the management of heroin dependence is a controversial treatment approach that was limited to Britain until the 1990s. Since then a number of countries have embarked upon clinical trials of this approach, and it is currently licensed and available in several European countries. To date, six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with over 1600 patients and several cohort studies have examined injected (or inhaled) heroin treatment. This article reviews relevant clinical pharmacology, how heroin treatment programmes are delivered, and the evidence regarding safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness from RCTs. Heroin is usually prescribed in intravenous dosages of 300-500 mg/day, divided in two or three doses. Uncommon but serious side effects include seizures and respiratory depression immediately following injection. Despite methodological shortcomings, RCTs generally indicate that heroin treatment results in a comparable retention, improved general health and psychosocial functioning, and less self-reported illicit heroin use than oral methadone treatment. Cost-effectiveness studies indicate heroin treatment to be more expensive to deliver but to result in savings in the criminal justice sector. There has been debate regarding how heroin treatment should be positioned within the range of treatment approaches for this condition. There is increasing consensus that, in countries that have robust and accessible treatment systems for heroin users, heroin treatment is suited to a minority of heroin users as a second-line treatment for those individuals who do not respond to methadone or buprenorphine treatment delivered under optimal conditions. Topics: Cost-Benefit Analysis; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Prescriptions; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic | 2009 |
Researching a local heroin market as a complex adaptive system.
This project applies agent-based modeling (ABM) techniques to better understand the operation, organization, and structure of a local heroin market. The simulation detailed was developed using data from an 18-month ethnographic case study. The original research, collected in Denver, CO during the 1990s, represents the historic account of users and dealers who operated in the Larimer area heroin market. Working together, the authors studied the behaviors of customers, private dealers, street-sellers, brokers, and the police, reflecting the core elements pertaining to how the market operated. After evaluating the logical consistency between the data and agent behaviors, simulations scaled-up interactions to observe their aggregated outcomes. While the concept and findings from this study remain experimental, these methods represent a novel way in which to understand illicit drug markets and the dynamic adaptations and outcomes they generate. Extensions of this research perspective, as well as its strengths and limitations, are discussed. Topics: Anthropology, Cultural; Commerce; Community Mental Health Services; Community-Institutional Relations; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Needle-Exchange Programs | 2009 |
Towards evidence based emergency medicine: best BETs from the Manchester Royal Infirmary. BET 3. Training and prescription of naloxone for personal use in overdose for opiate addicts.
Topics: Drug Overdose; Evidence-Based Emergency Medicine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Self Administration | 2008 |
Do pharmacological approaches that prevent opioid tolerance target different elements in the same regulatory machinery?
In the nervous system, the interaction of opioids like heroin and morphine with the G protein-coupled Mu-opioid receptor (MOR) provokes the development of tolerance to these opioids, as well as physical dependence. Tolerance implies that higher doses of these drugs must be consumed in order to obtain an equivalent sensation, a situation that contributes notably to the social problems surrounding recreational opioid abuse. The mechanisms that promote opioid tolerance involve a series of adaptive changes in the MOR and in the post-receptor signalling elements. Pharmacological studies have consistently identified a number of signalling proteins relevant to morphine-induced tolerance, including the delta-opioid receptor (DOR), protein kinase C (PKC), protein kinase A (PKA), calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), N-methyl-D-aspartate acid glutamate receptors (NMDAR), and regulators of G-signalling (RGS) proteins. Thus, it is feasible that these treatments which diminish morphine tolerance target distinct elements within the same regulatory machinery. In this scheme, the signals originated at the agonist-activated MORs would be recognised by elements such as the NMDARs, which in turn exert a negative feedback on MOR-evoked signalling. This process involves DOR regulation of MORs, MOR-induced activation of NMDARs (probably via the regulation of Src, recruiting PKC and Galpha subunits) and the NMDAR-mediated activation of CaMKII. The active CaMKII promotes the sequestering of morphine-activated Gbetagamma dimers by phosducin-like proteins (PhLP) and of Galpha subunits by RGS proteins and tolerance to opioids like morphine develops. Future efforts to study these phenomena should focus on fitting additional pieces into this puzzle in order to fully define the mechanism underlying the desensitization of MORs in neural cells. Topics: Animals; Brain; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Tolerance; G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinases; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Mice; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Narcotics; Protein Kinase C; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Receptors, Opioid, mu; RGS Proteins; Signal Transduction; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Young Adult | 2008 |
An overview of heroin overdose prevention in the northeast: new opportunities.
Topics: Adult; Demography; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; New England; Prevalence; Prisoners; Prisons; Risk Factors | 2007 |
Heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) a decade later: a brief update on science and politics.
Since the initial Swiss heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) study conducted in the mid-1990s, several other jurisdictions in Europe and North America have implemented HAT trials. All of these studies embrace the same goal-investigating the utility of medical heroin prescribing for problematic opioid users-yet are distinct in various key details. This paper briefly reviews (initiated or completed) studies and their main parameters, including primary research objectives, design, target populations, outcome measures, current status and-where available-key results. We conclude this overview with some final observations on a decade of intensive HAT research in the jurisdictions examined, including the suggestion that there is a mounting onus on the realm of politics to translate the-largely positive-data from completed HAT science into corresponding policy and programming in order to expand effective treatment options for the high-risk population of illicit opioid users. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Canada; Europe; Health Policy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Politics; Public Opinion; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic | 2007 |
Drug use and HIV/AIDS in China.
This paper on drug use and HIV/AIDS in China follows on from the column's May 2005 article on the description of the first methadone maintenance clinic in Beijing. Methadone maintenance clinics and needle exchange programmes are now being implemented in China as a response to the rapid increase in prevalence of HIV/AIDS over the last 10-15 years. It is worth noting that in prior years methadone was available only as for short-term detoxification from opioids and for research purposes. Accordingly, the Department of Health Education and Behavioural Intervention at the National Center for AIDS Prevention and Control in China plans to establish 1,000 methadone replacement clinics within the next 5 years to treat 200,000 heroin-dependent users who are at increased risk of HIV/AIDS. Robert Ali & Rachel HumeniukEditors, Asia Pacific ColumnThe cumulative number of registered drug users in mainland China increased from 70,000 in 1990 to 1.14 million in 2004. Heroin continues to be the most commonly used drug in China; however, polydrug use is popular among heroin users. Sedatives/hypnotics (e.g. triazolam) and other uncontrolled prescription opioids (e.g. pethidine and tramadol) are used commonly in combination with heroin. The majority of drug users (79%) are young people aged between 17 and 35 years and comprise predominantly farmers (30%) and unemployed people (45%). The HIV/AIDS epidemic in China has reached expansion phase (1995-present). It is estimated that the actual number of HIV/AIDS cases reached 840,000, including 80,000 actual AIDS patients, in 2003, with injecting drug users (IDUs) making up the largest proportion of these cases. Although the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS is only 0.065% in the Chinese population overall, there is potential for an explosive spread of HIV/AIDS if preventative measures are not employed. Supported by the Chinese government and other related international organisations, harm reduction strategies such as methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and needle-syringe programmes (NSP) have commenced implementation to reduce the risk of HIV infection among heroin users. Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; China; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Methadone; Needle-Exchange Programs; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2006 |
Reinterpreting ethnic patterns among white and African American men who inject heroin: a social science of medicine approach.
Street-based heroin injectors represent an especially vulnerable population group subject to negative health outcomes and social stigma. Effective clinical treatment and public health intervention for this population requires an understanding of their cultural environment and experiences. Social science theory and methods offer tools to understand the reasons for economic and ethnic disparities that cause individual suffering and stress at the institutional level.. We used a cross-methodological approach that incorporated quantitative, clinical, and ethnographic data collected by two contemporaneous long-term San Francisco studies, one epidemiological and one ethnographic, to explore the impact of ethnicity on street-based heroin-injecting men 45 years of age or older who were self-identified as either African American or white. We triangulated our ethnographic findings by statistically examining 14 relevant epidemiological variables stratified by median age and ethnicity. We observed significant differences in social practices between self-identified African Americans and whites in our ethnographic social network sample with respect to patterns of (1) drug consumption; (2) income generation; (3) social and institutional relationships; and (4) personal health and hygiene. African Americans and whites tended to experience different structural relationships to their shared condition of addiction and poverty. Specifically, this generation of San Francisco injectors grew up as the children of poor rural to urban immigrants in an era (the late 1960s through 1970s) when industrial jobs disappeared and heroin became fashionable. This was also when violent segregated inner city youth gangs proliferated and the federal government initiated its "War on Drugs." African Americans had earlier and more negative contact with law enforcement but maintained long-term ties with their extended families. Most of the whites were expelled from their families when they began engaging in drug-related crime. These historical-structural conditions generated distinct presentations of self. Whites styled themselves as outcasts, defeated by addiction. They professed to be injecting heroin to stave off "dopesickness" rather than to seek pleasure. African Americans, in contrast, cast their physical addiction as an oppositional pursuit of autonomy and pleasure. They considered themselves to be professional outlaws and rejected any appearance of abjection. Many, but not all, of these ethnographic findings were corroborated by our epidemiological data, highlighting the variability of behaviors within ethnic categories.. Bringing quantitative and qualitative methodologies and perspectives into a collaborative dialog among cross-disciplinary researchers highlights the fact that clinical practice must go beyond simple racial or cultural categories. A clinical social science approach provides insights into how sociocultural processes are mediated by historically rooted and institutionally enforced power relations. Recognizing the logical underpinnings of ethnically specific behavioral patterns of street-based injectors is the foundation for cultural competence and for successful clinical relationships. It reduces the risk of suboptimal medical care for an exceptionally vulnerable and challenging patient population. Social science approaches can also help explain larger-scale patterns of health disparities; inform new approaches to structural and institutional-level public health initiatives; and enable clinicians to take more leadership in changing public policies that have negative health consequences. Topics: Abscess; Anthropology, Cultural; Black or African American; Crime; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Income; Injections, Intramuscular; Injections, Subcutaneous; Interpersonal Relations; Law Enforcement; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Prevalence; Prisons; Social Medicine; Social Support; Socialization; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; White People | 2006 |
Heroin and diplopia.
To describe the eye misalignments that occur during heroin use and heroin detoxification and to give an overview of the management of persisting diplopia (double vision) which results from eye misalignment.. A literature review using Medline and the search terms strabismus, heroin and substance withdrawal syndrome is presented. General management of cases presenting to the ophthalmologist and orthoptist with acute acquired concomitant esotropia is described.. A tendency towards a divergence of the visual axes appears to be present in heroin users, although when present it may not always lead to diplopia. Following detoxification intermittent esotropia or constant esotropia (convergence of the visual axes) can occur; if intermittent the angle tends to be small and diplopia present when viewing distance objects. Occlusion of one eye to eliminate the second image could encourage the development of a constant deviation. The deviation is not caused by a cranial nerve palsy. Constant deviations of this type are classified as 'acute acquired concomitant esotropia'. Relief from the diplopia may be gained by prismatic correction, and the deviation may then resolve spontaneously. Botulinum toxin or surgical intervention may be necessary in cases that do not resolve.. Heroin use may lead to intermittent or constant exotropia and withdrawal may result in intermittent or constant esotropia. Awareness of the mechanism causing this may avoid referral to other specialties (e.g. neurology) and awareness of treatment modalities could encourage patients to seek appropriate help for relief of symptoms. Topics: Acute Disease; Diplopia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Strabismus; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2005 |
Heroin-associated nephropathy.
Since the first reports in the late 1960s and early 1970s there have been numerous studies describing the clinical and pathological features of renal diseases associated with chronic parenteral abuse of heroin, cocaine, morphine, amphetamine, and other narcotic and hallucinogenic drugs, including several adulterants. The past 35 years have witnessed an explosive growth in illicit drug use in many parts of the world. Meanwhile, drug addict nephropathy constitutes an important cause of end-stage renal disease. The term heroin-associated nephropathy' includes different morphological findings following chronic drug abuse. Up to now it still remains ambiguous as to whether or not heroin/morphine itself, adulterants, other diseases like hepatitis B and C infection, or HIV, lead to a spectrum of morphologically described heroin-associated' findings in the kidneys. As a measure of prevention it appears that the purity of heroin plays an important role. Topics: Hepatitis B, Chronic; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Kidney Diseases; Narcotics | 2005 |
Heroin maintenance for chronic heroin dependents.
Many medications have been used for stabilizing heroin users: Methadone, Buprenorphine and LAAM. The present review focus on the prescription of heroin to heroin dependents.. To assess the efficacy and acceptability of heroin maintenance versus methadone or other substitution treatments for opioid dependence, in retaining patients in treatment; reducing the use of illicit substances and improving health and social functioning.. The Cochrane Central Register of Trials (CENTRAL) issue 1, 2005; MEDLINE 1966-2005, EMBASE 1980-2005 and CINAHL till 2005 (on OVID) were searched. There was no language or publication year restrictions. Many researchers were contacted for information.. Randomised controlled trials of heroin (alone or combined with methadone) maintenance treatment compared with any other pharmacological treatments for heroin dependents.. The trials were independently assessed for inclusion and methodological quality by the reviewers. Data were extracted independently and double checked. Studies were not pooled together because of heterogeneity.. 2400 references were obtained and 20 studies were eligible, 4 met the inclusion criteria for a total of 577 patients. The studies could not be analysed cumulatively because of heterogeneity of interventions and outcomes. Retention in treatment: no groups difference was found in two studies; one study (N=96) found RR=2.82 (95% CI 1.70-4.68) favouring heroin; one study (N=235) found RR 0.79 (95%CI 0.68-0.90) favouring methadone. Relapse to illegal heroin use (self- reported): in one study people using heroin in treatment was 64% (heroin group)and 59% (methadone group); in the other study the RR of heroin use was 0.33 (95%CI 0.15-0.72) favouring heroin. Criminal offence: one study showed the potential of heroin prescription in reducing the risk of being charged RR 0.32 (95% CI 0.14-0.78). Social functioning: two studies did not show statistical difference between intervention groups, and two studies considered criminal offence and social functioning as part of a multidomain outcome measure showing improvements among those treated with heroin plus methadone over those on methadone only.. No definitive conclusions about the overall effectiveness of heroin prescription is possible. Results favouring heroin treatment come from studies conducted in countries where easily accessible Methadone Maintenance Treatment at effective dosages is available. In those studies heroin prescription was addressed to patients who had failed previous methadone treatments. The present review contains information about ongoing trials which results will be integrated as soon as available. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic | 2005 |
Long-term gene expression in the nucleus accumbens following heroin administration is subregion-specific and depends on the nature of drug administration.
Repeated exposure to addictive drugs results in long-lasting neuroadaptations in the brain, especially in the mesocorticolimbic system. Within this system, the nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays a major integrative role. As such, the NAc has been shown to be a target of short- and long-lasting drug-induced neuroadaptations at the levels of neurotransmission and cellular morphology. The long-lasting neuroadaptations might depend critically on alterations in gene expression. Recently, we obtained a set of transcripts by means of subtractive hybridization, of which the expression was decreased in the rat NAc shell after long-term extinction of intravenous heroin self-administration. Interestingly, the majority of these transcripts were also down-regulated upon long-term extinction of cocaine self-administration. Using the yoked-control operant paradigm, it was shown that non-contingent administration of these drugs resulted in a totally different gene expression profile. However, in the rat NAc core, both self-administration and non-contingent heroin administration induced a qualitatively similar expression profile. Hence, cognitive processes associated with drug self-administration seem to direct the long-term genomic responses in the NAc shell, whereas the NAc core might primarily mediate the persistent pharmacological effects of addictive drugs (including Pavlovian conditioning). Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; DNA, Complementary; Drug Administration Routes; Gene Expression; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hybridization, Genetic; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Nucleus Accumbens; Synaptic Transmission; Time Factors | 2005 |
Cost utility analysis of co-prescribed heroin compared with methadone maintenance treatment in heroin addicts in two randomised trials.
To determine the cost utility of medical co-prescription of heroin compared with methadone maintenance treatment for chronic, treatment resistant heroin addicts.. Cost utility analysis of two pooled open label randomised controlled trials.. Methadone maintenance programmes in six cities in the Netherlands.. 430 heroin addicts.. Inhalable or injectable heroin prescribed over 12 months. Methadone (maximum 150 mg a day) plus heroin (maximum 1000 mg a day) compared with methadone alone (maximum 150 mg a day). Psychosocial treatment was offered throughout.. One year costs estimated from a societal perspective. Quality adjusted life years (QALYs) based on responses to the EuroQol EQ-5D at baseline and during the treatment period.. Co-prescription of heroin was associated with 0.058 more QALYs per patient per year (95% confidence interval 0.016 to 0.099) and a mean saving of 12,793 euros (8793 pounds sterling, 16,122 dollars) (1083 to 25,229 euros) per patient per year. The higher programme costs (16 222 euros; lower 95% confidence limit 15,084 euros) were compensated for by lower costs of law enforcement (- 4129 euros; upper 95% confidence limit - 486 euros) and damage to victims of crime (- 25,374 euros; upper 95% confidence limit - 16,625 euros). The results were robust for the use of national EQ-5D tariffs and for the exclusion of the initial implementation costs of heroin treatment. Completion of treatment is essential; having participated in any abstinence treatment in the past is not.. Co-prescription of heroin is cost effective compared with treatment with methadone alone for chronic, treatment resistant heroin addicts. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Chronic Disease; Cost of Illness; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Crime; Drug Resistance; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Health Resources; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Methadone; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Narcotics; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Treatment Outcome | 2005 |
The current status of heroin prescription treatment for heroin dependence.
Heroin prescription (HP) to treat severe heroin dependence has been available to few patients in the UK for several decades with limited, but generally favourable, evaluation. In the last decade, large trials have been reported from two countries, are presently underway in three other countries and under consideration in several other countries. The standard pharmacological treatments for heroin dependence, methadone and buprenorphine, attract and retain many more drug users than other pharmacological or nonpharmacological treatments and are strongly supported by evidence of efficacy, effectiveness, safety and cost effectiveness. On present evidence, HP is feasible and safe with limited, but increasing, evidence of efficacy and effectiveness. Although HP is more expensive than methadone, there is some evidence of cost effectiveness. HP is, at present, only considered a therapeutic option for a small minority of treatment refractory, severely heroin-dependent persons in developed countries with comprehensive treatment systems. Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Safety | 2005 |
[Spongiform leucoencephalopathy after inhaling illicit heroin and due to carbon monoxide-intoxication].
A spongiform leucoencephalopathy sometimes develops as a result of inhaling illicit heroin as well as due to carbon monoxide-intoxication. Clinically psychiatric symptoms precede a neurological deterioration. Some patients die. After a brief description of several epidemiological and historical-cultural aspects regarding the smoking of opiates, the typical neuroradiological signs such as hypodensity of the white matter in CCT and signal alterations in MRT, and neuropathological sequelae such as intramyelinic vacuolisation are listed. Pathophysiologically an edema of the white matter in the beginning is suspected. Second, a dysfunction of the mitochondria is addressed relying on the particular metabolism of the oligodendrocytes. Since smoking of heroin is an increasingly preferred way of application in all continents and therapeutic options are still lacking, the need of further explanation of the underlying processes is stressed. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Brain; Brain Diseases; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Tomography, X-Ray Computed | 2004 |
Understanding polydrug use: review of heroin and cocaine co-use.
The use of cocaine by heroin-dependent individuals, or by patients in methadone or buprenorphine maintenance treatment, is substantial and has negative consequences on health, social adjustment and outcome of opioid-addiction treatment. The pharmacological reasons for cocaine use in opioid-dependent individuals, however, are poorly understood and little is known about the patterns of heroin and cocaine co-use. We reviewed anecdotal evidence suggesting that cocaine is co-used with opioid drugs in a variety of different patterns, to achieve different goals. Clinical and preclinical experimental evidence indicates that the simultaneous administration of cocaine and heroin (i.e. 'speedball') does not induce a novel set of subjective effects, nor is it more reinforcing than either drug alone, especially when the doses of heroin and cocaine are high. There is mixed evidence that the subjective effects of cocaine are enhanced in individuals dependent on opioids, although it is clear that cocaine can alleviate the severity of symptoms of withdrawal from opioids. We also reviewed preclinical studies investigating possible neurobiological interactions between opioids and cocaine, but the results of these studies have been difficult to interpret mainly because the neurochemical mechanisms mediating the motivational effects of cocaine are modified by dependence on, and withdrawal from, opioid drugs. Our analysis encourages further systematic investigation of cocaine use patterns among opioid-dependent individuals and in laboratory animals. Once clearly identified, pharmacological and neuroanatomical methods can be employed in self-administering laboratory animals to uncover the neurobiological correlates of specific patterns of co-use. Topics: Central Nervous System; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics | 2003 |
Strategies for preventing heroin overdose.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Patient Education as Topic | 2003 |
Heroin maintenance for chronic heroin dependents.
Dependent heroin users are characterised by the persistence of use in spite of the difficulties they experience with health, law, social achievements and personal relationships. The present review will consider maintenance treatment in which the patients enter programs of pharmacological administration tailored to achieve patient stabilisation. Many medications have been used for this purpose such as: Methadone, Buprenorphine and LAAM. The present review will focus on maintenance treatment through the prescription of heroin.. To assess the efficacy and acceptability of heroin maintenance versus methadone or other substitution treatments for opioid dependence, in retaining patients in treatment; reducing the use of illicit substances and improving health and social functioning.. The Cochrane Central Register of Trials (CENTRAL) issue 4, 2002; MEDLINE (on Silver Platter) 1966-2002; EMBASE (on OVID) 1980-2000 and CINAHL till 2000 were searched. There was no language or publication year restrictions. Many researchers were contacted for information.. Randomised controlled trials of heroin (alone or combined with methadone) maintenance treatment compared with any other pharmacological treatments.. The trials were independently assessed for inclusion and methodological quality by the reviewers. Data were extracted independently and double checked. Studies were not pooled together because of heterogeneity.. 2400 references were obtained and 20 studies were eligible, 4 met the inclusion criteria for a total of 577 patients. The studies included could not be analysed cumulatively because of heterogeneity of interventions and outcomes considered. Two studies compared injected heroin to oral methadone for 1 year (270 patients) but considered different outcomes; one study compared injected heroin and methadone to oral methadone for 6 months (51 patients); and one compared inhaled heroin and methadone to oral methadone for 1 year (235 patients). Retention in treatment: in two studies there was no statistical difference between groups; one study (N=90) had a RR=2.49 (95% CI 1.51-4.10) in favour of heroin; one study (N=235) had a RR 0.79 (95%CI 0.68-0.90) in favour of methadone. Relapse to illegal heroin use, based on self report: in one study the proportion of people still using heroin were 64% in the heroin group, 59% methadone group; in the other study the RR was 0.33 (95%CI 0.15-0.72) in favour of heroin. The remaining studies did not provide the data. Criminal offence: one of the two studies which provided details about this showed the potential of heroin prescription in reducing the risk of being charged RR 0.32 (95% CI 0.14-0.78). Social functioning: the two studies reporting this outcome did not show statistical difference between intervention groups. The two most recent studies considered criminal offence and social functioning as part of a multidomain outcome measure and showed higher improvement among those treated with heroin plus methadone over those on methadone only.. No definitive conclusions about the overall effectiveness of heroin prescription is possible because of non-comparability of the experimental studies available to be included in this review. Results favouring heroin treatment come from studies conducted in countries where the treatment system is comprehensive and easy accessible Methadone Maintenance Treatment at effective dosages is available. In those studies heroin prescription was addressed to patients who had failed previous methadone treatments. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic | 2003 |
The current New York City heroin scene.
This article discusses the use and distribution of heroin in New York City, both historically and especially currently. Data on the current situation derive in large measure from the Heroin Project, a recently completed five-year ethnographic study of heroin in New York City funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Findings about the new, young heroin user, particularly in regard to demographic characteristics, patterns of use, modes of ingestion, and involvement in crime, and some of the ways in which the new user is similar and different from the "old time" heroin user are presented. In addition changes in the New York City heroin markets over the years are discussed. We note the effectiveness of methadone maintenance treatment in terms of its impact on heroin-related crime, make suggestions as to how methadone treatment could be expanded, and review current heroin policy and the War on Drugs, with a focus on the New York State Rockefeller drug laws and the need for policy reform in this area. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Methadone; New York City; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Urban Health | 2003 |
Heroin maintenance for chronic heroin dependents.
Dependent heroin users are characterised by the persistence of use in spite of the difficulties they experience with health, law, social achievements and personal relationships. The present review will consider maintenance treatment in which the patients enter programs of pharmacological administration tailored to achieve patient stabilisation. Many medications have been used for this purpose such as: Methadone, Buprenorphine and LAAM. The present review will focus on maintenance treatment through the prescription of heroin.. To assess the efficacy and acceptability of heroin maintenance versus methadone or other substitution treatments for opioid dependence, in retaining patients in treatment; reducing the use of illicit substances and improving health and social functioning.. The Cochrane Central Register of Trials (CENTRAL) issue 4, 2002; MEDLINE (on Silver Platter) 1966-2002; EMBASE (on OVID) 1980-2000 and CINAHL till 2000 were searched. There was no language or publication year restrictions. Many researchers were contacted for information.. Randomised controlled trials of heroin (alone or combined with methadone) maintenance treatment compared with any other pharmacological treatments.. The trials were independently assessed for inclusion and methodological quality by the reviewers. Data were extracted independently and double checked. Studies were not pooled together because of heterogeneity.. 2400 references were obtained and 20 studies were eligible, 4 met the inclusion criteria for a total of 577 patients. The studies included could not be analysed cumulatively because of heterogeneity of interventions and outcomes considered. Two studies compared injected heroin to oral methadone for 1 year (270 patients) but considered different outcomes; one study compared injected heroin and methadone to oral methadone for 6 months (51 patients); and one compared inhaled heroin and methadone to oral methadone for 1 year (235 patients). Retention in treatment: in two studies there was no statistical difference between groups; one study (N=90) had a RR=2.49 (95% CI 1.51-4.10) in favour of heroin; one study (N=235) had a RR 0.79 (95%CI 0.68-0.90) in favour of methadone. Relapse to illegal heroin use, based on self report: in one study the proportion of people still using heroin were 64% in the heroin group, 59% methadone group; in the other study the RR was 0.33 (95%CI 0.15-0.72) in favour of heroin. The remaining studies did not provide the data. Criminal offence: one of the two studies which provided details about this showed the potential of heroin prescription in reducing the risk of being charged RR 0.32 (95% CI 0.14-0.78). Social functioning: the two studies reporting this outcome did not show statistical difference between intervention groups. The two most recent studies considered criminal offence and social functioning as part of a multidomain outcome measure and showed higher improvement among those treated with heroin plus methadone over those on methadone only.. No definitive conclusions about the overall effectiveness of heroin prescription is possible because of non-comparability of the experimental studies available to be included in this review. Results favouring heroin treatment come from studies conducted in countries where the treatment system is comprehensive and easy accessible Methadone Maintenance Treatment at effective dosages is available. In those studies heroin prescription was addressed to patients who had failed previous methadone treatments. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic | 2003 |
Interpreting changes in heroin supply in Melbourne: droughts, gluts or cycles?
In this Harm Reduction Digest Paul Dietze and John Fitzgerald provide another possible way of understanding what has come to be referred to as Australia's heroin 'drought'. They examine evidence from Melbourne, Victoria and suggest that the apparent downturn in heroin availability in 2000 may, in part, be the result of an end of a heroin 'glut' and that perceptions of this phenomenon may be coloured by the development of more sophisticated indicators of the heroin market. They conclude with claims that the reasons for the reduction in drug consumption and adverse health outcomes, such as those attributed to interdiction, are thus premature Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; South Australia | 2002 |
Neurobiology of relapse to heroin and cocaine seeking: a review.
The objective of this article is to review data from studies that used a reinstatement model in rats to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying relapse to heroin and cocaine seeking induced by exposure to the self-administered drug (drug priming), conditioned drug cues, and stressors. These factors were reported to contribute to relapse to drug use in humans following prolonged abstinence periods. In the reinstatement model, the ability of acute exposure to drug or nondrug stimuli to reinstate drug seeking is determined following training for drug self-administration and subsequent extinction of the drug-reinforced behavior. We will review studies in which pharmacological agents were injected systemically or intracranially to block (or mimic) reinstatement by drug priming, drug cues, and stressors. We also will review studies in which brain lesions, in vivo microdialysis and electrochemistry, and gene expression methods were used to map brain sites involved in relapse to drug seeking. Subsequently, we will discuss theoretical issues related to the processes underlying relapse to drugs and address methodological issues in studies on reinstatement of drug seeking. Finally, the implications of the findings from the studies reviewed for addiction theories and treatment will be discussed. The main conclusion of this review is that the neuronal mechanisms involved in relapse to heroin and cocaine seeking induced by drug priming, drug cues, and stressors are to a large degree dissociable. The data reviewed also suggest that the neuronal events mediating drug-induced reinstatement are to some degree dissociable from those mediating drug reinforcement. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Cues; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Rats; Recurrence; Self Administration; Stress, Psychological | 2002 |
The effectiveness of the medical prescription of heroin studied by randomized trials in The Netherlands, watched suspiciously by parliament and neighborhoods.
Topics: Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Netherlands; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2002 |
Heroin overdose: causes and consequences.
Over the past decade fatal opioid overdose has emerged as a major public health issue internationally. This paper examines the risk factors for overdose from a biomedical perspective. While significant risk factors for opioid overdose fatality are well recognized, the mechanism of fatal overdose remains unclear. Losses of tolerance and concomitant use of alcohol and other CNS depressants clearly play a major role in fatality; however, such risk factors do not account for the strong age and gender patterns observed consistently among victims of overdose. There is evidence that systemic disease may be more prevalent in users at greatest risk of overdose. We hypothesize that pulmonary and hepatic dysfunction resulting from such disease may increase susceptibility to both fatal and non-fatal overdose. Sequelae of non-fatal overdose are recognized in the clinical literature but few epidemiological data exist describing the burden of morbidity arising from such sequelae. The potential for overdose to cause persisting morbidity is reviewed. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Cognition Disorders; Drug Interactions; Drug Tolerance; Female; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Pneumonia, Bacterial; Respiration; Respiratory Insufficiency; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Sex Factors; Smoking | 2001 |
Medical prescription of heroin to chronic heroin addicts in Switzerland - a review.
In 1994, a new project dealing with the treatment of heroin dependency was introduced in Switzerland. A group of heavy opiate addicts, who had failed in previous medical therapies, received heroin by prescription, supported by health and social services. The admission criteria to this treatment are summarized as the main results of this project: physical and mental health of the addicts improved on average during treatment, an improvement also took place in their social reintegration, a significant decrease in consumption of illegal drugs took place and illegal activities declined massively. The proportion of patients who continued the treatment in a time period of 12 months was held at 76%. Comparison of the treatment costs with the economic benefits shows that there is a total benefit per patient and per day of 26 US dollars. Further drug related political decisions in Switzerland as well as the assessments of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) of the United Nations to this project will be reported and discussed. Topics: Adult; Chronic Disease; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Social Support; Switzerland | 2001 |
Inhaled heroin-induced status asthmaticus: five cases and a review of the literature.
We report five cases of status asthmaticus (four requiring mechanical ventilation) that were triggered by inhaled heroin and review the pertinent literature. These cases share common features of sudden and severe asthma exacerbations temporally related to heroin use, stress the importance of considering illicit drug use in like cases, and call attention to a public health issue. Topics: Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Intubation, Intratracheal; Male; Narcotics; Positive-Pressure Respiration; Status Asthmaticus | 2000 |
[Chief health risks associated with intravenous heroin and cocaine abuse].
THREE CATEGORIES OF COMPLICATIONS: Heroine and cocaine are the main drugs used by injecting drug-users (IDU) in France. There are three categories of complications associated with intravenous drug abuse: effects related to drug toxicity, effects associated with the administration route, and effects associated with social implications of drug-dependence. OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS: The impact of HIV infection among IDU, particularly in southern Europe, has led to renewed interest in the other health problems raised by this population. A review of recent literature shows that cocaine toxicity is better understood than heroine toxicity. In addition, intravenous drug abuse can lead to a whole series of disease states related to trauma or infection. Topics: Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2000 |
Therapeutic drug monitoring for methadone: scanning the horizon.
The initial assessment and subsequent monitoring of compliance in methadone treatment programmes are excessively reliant on the accuracy of self-report from opiate addicts themselves. Given the central position of methadone treatment in the therapeutic options currently available and with the increasing number of opiate addicts requiring treatment, improved methods of judging optimal methadone treatment are required. This paper explores the possible future options for assessing the adequacy of methadone prescribing from the analysis of methadone levels in urine, blood, hair and saliva. The particular promise of plasma therapeutic drug monitoring for methadone is explored, accompanied by an account of the state of the art at the time of writing. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Patient Compliance; Saliva; Treatment Outcome | 1999 |
Acute heroin overdose.
Acute heroin overdose is a common daily experience in the urban and suburban United States and accounts for many preventable deaths. Heroin acts as a pro-drug that allows rapid and complete central nervous system absorption; this accounts for the drug's euphoric and toxic effects. The heroin overdose syndrome (sensitivity for diagnosing heroin overdose, 92%; specificity, 76%) consists of abnormal mental status, substantially decreased respiration, and miotic pupils. The response of naloxone does not improve the sensitivity of this diagnosis. Most overdoses occur at home in the company of others and are more common in the setting of other drugs. Heroin-related deaths are strongly associated with use of alcohol or other drugs. Patients with clinically significant respiratory compromise need treatment, which includes airway management and intravenous or subcutaneous naloxone. Hospital observation for several hours is necessary for recurrence of hypoventilation or other complications. About 3% to 7% of treated patients require hospital admission for pneumonia, noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, or other complications. Methadone maintenance is an effective preventive measure, and others strategies should be studied. Topics: Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; United States | 1999 |
Early development of infants exposed to drugs prenatally.
This article includes a summary and critique of methodological limitations of the peer-reviewed studies of developmental outcome during the first 2 years in children prenatally exposed to the most commonly used drugs of abuse: tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, heroin/methadone, and cocaine. Reported effects vary by specific drug or drug combinations and amount and timing of exposure; however, few thresholds have been established. Drug effects also appear to be exacerbated in children with multiple risks, including poverty, and nonoptimal caregiving environments. Although prenatal exposure to any one drug cannot reliably predict the outcome of an individual child, it may be a marker for an array of variables that can impact development. Appropriate intervention strategies require future research that determines which factors place exposed children at risk and which are protective for optimal development. Topics: Alcoholism; Child Abuse; Child Development; Child, Preschool; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Ethanol; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Marijuana Abuse; Methadone; Nicotine; Poverty; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Risk Factors; Smoking; Substance-Related Disorders | 1999 |
[Is the medical prescription of heroin a treatment option for heroin addiction? The PEPSA Team (The Experimental Program of Narcotic Prescription in Andalucía].
Topics: Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Spain; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; United Kingdom | 1999 |
Profound circulatory shock following heroin overdose.
A 17-year-old previously healthy girl with profound circulatory shock following a heroin overdose is reported. Except for opiates no other substances and specifically no cocaine were found in the blood and urine samples. Even though the mechanism of shock is not completely understood, severe depression of left ventricular contractility seems to be the predominant reason. Acute right heart failure with decreased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and arterial vasodilatation resulting in maldistribution of cardiac output cannot be ruled out as possible contributing factors. The shock was successfully reversed with volume loading and a high dose of dobutamine. The recovery was uneventful and the patient was discharged with normal cardiac function. Topics: Adolescent; Combined Modality Therapy; Drug Overdose; Emergencies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Shock | 1998 |
Seizure: a rare and transient cause of portal venous gas.
Gas in the hepatic portal venous system has been noted to be a complication of a wide range of intra-abdominal catastrophes that involve damage to bowel mucosa. We describe a patient who, after a seizure, was found to have portal venous gas on sonography and CT. The search for other possible causes revealed negative results. This case demonstrates a rare cause of hepatic portal venous gas that is self-resolving and clinically benign. Topics: Adult; Embolism, Air; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Portal Vein; Seizures; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Ultrasonography | 1997 |
The distribution of naloxone to heroin users.
Overdose deaths are a major contributor to excess mortality among heroin users. It has been proposed that opioid overdose morbidity and mortality could be reduced substantially by distributing the opioid antagonist naloxone to heroin users. The ethical issues raised by this proposal are evaluated from a utilitarian perspective. The potential advantages of naloxone distribution include the increased chance of comatose opioid users being quickly resuscitated by others present at the time of an overdose, naloxone's safety and its lack of abuse potential. The main problems raised by the proposal are: the medico-legal complications of medical practitioners prescribing a drug that is most likely to be administered to and by people other than the one for whom it is prescribed; the economic costs of distributing naloxone sufficiently widely to have an impact on overdose morbidity and mortality; and the potentially greater cost-effectiveness of simpler educational interventions. Given the possible benefits of naloxone distribution, it may be worthwhile considering a controlled trial of naloxone distribution to high-risk heroin users. Topics: Decision Making; Drug Costs; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists | 1997 |
Methadone maintenance and addicts' risk of fatal heroin overdose.
An admission cohort of 296 Australian methadone maintenance patients was followed over 15 years. The relative risks of death in and out of maintenance were calculated for two age groups, 20-29 and 30-39 years. Heroin addicts in both age groups were one-quarter as likely to die while receiving methadone maintenance as addicts not in treatment. This is because they were significantly less likely to die by heroin overdose or suicide while in maintenance. Methadone maintenance had no measurable effect on the risk of death through nonheroin overdose, violence or trauma, or natural causes. A meta-analysis showed the reduction in overall mortality was consistent with the results of cohort studies conducted in the United States, Sweden, and Germany. The combined results of the five studies again indicated that methadone maintenance reduced addicts' risk of death to a quarter, RR 0.25 (95% CI 0.19 to 0.33). Topics: Accidents; Adult; Cohort Studies; Drug Overdose; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; New South Wales; Risk; Suicide; Suicide Prevention | 1996 |
Fatal heroin 'overdose': a review.
The current paper examines critically the literature on deaths attributed to heroin overdose, and examines the characteristics and circumstances of such deaths. In particular, the dominance of the widely held belief that heroin-related fatalities are a consequence of overdose is challenged. Deaths attributed to overdose represented in the literature are typically older, heroin-dependent males not in drug treatment at the time of death. Fatalities involving only heroin appear to form a minority of overdose occasions, the presence of other drugs (primarily central nervous system depressants such as alcohol and benzodiazepines) being commonly detected at autopsy. Furthermore, deaths attributed to overdose are likely to have morphine levels no higher than those who survive, or heroin users who die from other causes. It is concluded that the term overdose is, in many cases, a misleading term, since it implies the same mechanism of death in all cases, an implication that is neither clinically useful nor consistent with published data. Implications for the prevention of heroin-related deaths are discussed. Topics: Adult; Aged; Cause of Death; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; New South Wales; Psychotropic Drugs | 1996 |
Heroin epidemics revisited.
This paper reviewed heroin use data from the US government's epidemiologic monitoring system for substance abuse. The monitoring system has multiple components, i.e., the Drug Abuse Warning Network of reporting emergency rooms (9), annual surveys of high school and post-high school youth (3, 4), annual National Household Surveys of Substance Abuse (7, 8, 50), Drug Use Forecasting (51), the Community Epidemiology Work Group (52), and law enforcement systems not reviewed here. These monitoring systems should identify any major increase in heroin incidence in this country relatively early. This is important, because the early stages of heroin epidemics are often hidden from society, and the epidemics are already full-blown by the time health and other agencies become aware of the size of the affected population and are required to respond. The hidden or underground nature of heroin epidemics is caused by 1) the need of each user to hide an illegal activity and 2) the delay between the time when heroin is first used and the onset of physical dependence and other adverse consequences, which bring new heroin addicts to the attention of treatment and enforcement systems. Despite an epidemiologic surveillance system which should rapidly identify large-scale heroin spread in this country, our treatment and law enforcement systems are not organized to respond rapidly to contain an epidemic. Substance abuse treatment services are not structured for rapid expansion and contraction based on fluctuating need. Apart from HIV prevention programs, we do not have outreach teams attached to treatment programs that could quickly identify local outbreaks and involve new heroin abusers in treatment (10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease Outbreaks; Drug and Narcotic Control; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Population Surveillance; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; United States | 1995 |
Efficacy of urinalysis in monitoring heroin and cocaine abuse patterns: implications in clinical trials for treatment of drug dependence.
Urinalysis can be used as an objective criterion for monitoring the outcome of a treatment program or a clinical trial. Important factors to consider when implementing a drug testing program include standardization of assay technology and cutoffs between participating centers and selection of identical testing schedules. Also, it is vitally important to minimize the amount of safe time (time that drug use can go undetected) occurring in a testing schedule. The detection times for cocaine and heroin have been shown to vary with selection of cutoff and with the drug dose. Obviously, the selection of cutoffs is under program control, whereas the amount of illicit drug use is under subject control. Fortunately, changes in the illicit drug dose by the subject demonstrate a log-linear relationship to detection time. Hence, a higher drug dose by the subject only extends the detection time slightly (and improves the probability of detection) without greatly increasing the risks of drug carryover from one urine test to another. The most efficient testing schedule for judging the outcome of clinical trials for cocaine and heroin appears to be a 3-days-a-week schedule (Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). When different schedules were challenged by simulating random times at which cocaine use might occur during the week, the 3-days-per-week schedule was the most efficient without the risk of carryover. The 3-days-per-week schedule also performed better than 1-day-per-week when multiple random drug use was simulated. Overall, the 3-days-per-week testing schedule with specified assay technology and cutoffs was the best compromise for maximizing detection of drug use, minimizing carryover, and providing a standardized methodology for outcome comparison between programs. Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Cocaine; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance-Related Disorders | 1992 |
[Heroin addiction. I. Extension, pharmacological bases and effects of heroin].
Topics: Chromatography, Gas; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Mass Spectrometry; Methadone; Narcotics; Opium | 1991 |
Effects of cocaine and other drugs of abuse on immune function.
Topics: Antigens, CD; CD4-CD8 Ratio; Cocaine; Drug Interactions; Ethanol; Gene Expression Regulation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immune System; Morphine; Rosette Formation; Substance-Related Disorders; T-Lymphocyte Subsets | 1991 |
[Non-infective neurologic complications associated to heroin use].
The spectrum of neurological complications associated with heroin addiction has changed in the past six years because of the progressive knowledge of the neurological complications related to HIV infection. We reviewed 48 heroin addicts with neurological complications and 452 heroin overdose who were seen in the Emergency Unit of our hospital during 1988 and the publications since 1967. Regarding the overdose we present the results of a prospective study leading to determine the causes. We emphasize the relationship with the level of total morphine in serum, instead of conjugate morphine, and with the presence of high levels of benzodiazepines found in the plasma rather than an hypothetic hypersensitivity phenomenon. We resume the neurological complications related with heroin addiction: spongiform leukoencephalopathy, epileptic seizures, stroke, transverse myelopathy and neuromuscular complications such mononeuropathy, plexopathy, acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, rhabdomyolysis, fibrosing myopathy, musculoskeletal syndrome and acute bacterial myopathy. Some of such complications (i.e. transverse myelitis, polyradiculoneuropathy, leucoencephalopathy) must rise the suspicion of an HIV infection. Likewise, in patients assisted for overdosage we believe it's necessary rule out myoglobinuria by means of CPK serum levels and detection of urine hematic pigments without red blood cels in the urine sediment, in order to prevent and treat the renal failure. We report the results of muscular biopsy found in the musculoskeletal syndrome, which are similar to those found in alcoholic myopathy. Finally, we describe the clinical and diagnostic aspects in an unusually neuromuscular complication: the acute bacterial myopathy. Topics: Cerebrovascular Disorders; Coma; Drug Overdose; Epilepsy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal; Muscular Diseases; Myelitis, Transverse; Nervous System Diseases; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases | 1989 |
Naltrexone. A review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic efficacy in the management of opioid dependence.
Naltrexone is a long acting competitive antagonist at opioid receptors which blocks the subjective and objective responses produced by intravenous opioid challenge. It is suitable for oral administration, and has been studied as an adjunct for use in opioid addiction management programmes. In non-comparative clinical trials involving detoxified patients, oral naltrexone reduced heroin craving and between 23 and 62% of patients remained in treatment after 3 to 4 weeks. However, in two studies 32 to 58% of patients who continued in treatment were opioid-free between 6 and 12 months after stopping naltrexone. As might be expected studies involving highly motivated patients have shown this type of patient group to achieve greater treatment success rates during naltrexone therapy, and remain opioid-free longer than other groups of apparently less motivated patients. In addition, when naltrexone is combined with family support, psychotherapy and counselling, patients are more likely to remain opioid-free. Naltrexone produces a low incidence of side effects, with gastrointestinal effects being the most commonly reported symptoms. Thus, despite the overall high attrition rates from trials, in selected patient groups and in combination with appropriate support mechanisms and psychotherapy, naltrexone represents a useful adjunct for the maintenance of abstinence in the detoxified opioid addict. Topics: Animals; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Opioid-Related Disorders; Receptors, Opioid | 1988 |
[Somatic symptoms in opiate abuse].
Medical complications of heroin overdose and the diseases of addicts play an increasingly important role in the daily routine of hospital medical departments. The percentage of drug-related admissions to the Medical Clinic of the University Hospital, Zürich, increased from 0.18% to 4.45% between 1972 and 1983. During this 12-year period, 492 patients were admitted 569 times because of heroin overdose or intoxications combined with other drugs, and 191 drug addicts were hospitalized 226 times for a variety of medical problems. Certain complications, such as heroin pulmonary edema and talc granulomas of the lung, occur only in parenteral drug addiction. Other diseases such as right heart endocarditis, Candida-endophthalmitis, septic arthritis and osteomyelitis are almost exclusively observed in intravenous drug abusers. Sexually transmitted infections and hepatitis B are frequently diagnosed in addicts. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Arthritis, Infectious; Candidiasis; Cardiovascular Diseases; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Female; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Length of Stay; Lung Diseases; Male; Nervous System Diseases; Osteomyelitis; Pulmonary Edema; Rhabdomyolysis; Sex Factors; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Skin Diseases; Switzerland | 1985 |
The self-medication hypothesis of addictive disorders: focus on heroin and cocaine dependence.
Recent clinical observations and psychiatric diagnostic findings of drug-dependent individuals suggest that they are predisposed to addiction because they suffer with painful affect states and related psychiatric disorders. The drugs that addicts select are not chosen randomly. Their drug of choice is the result of an interaction between the psychopharmacologic action of the drug and the dominant painful feelings with which they struggle. Narcotic addicts prefer opiates because of their powerful muting action on the disorganizing and threatening affects of rage and aggression. Cocaine has its appeal because of its ability to relieve distress associated with depression, hypomania, and hyperactivity. Topics: Adult; Affective Symptoms; Aggression; Bipolar Disorder; Choice Behavior; Cocaine; Depressive Disorder; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Narcotics; Opioid-Related Disorders; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychoanalytic Theory; Rage; Self Medication | 1985 |
[Guidelines and criteria concerning the admission of heroin addicts to the general hospital].
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anesthesia; Emergency Medical Services; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Hospitals, General; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Patient Admission; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Surgical Procedures, Operative | 1984 |
The causes of heroin addiction. A review of the literature. Part I.
The causes of heroin addiction have been studied and debated, and many theories have evolved. This article reviews the extensive literature on the subject and groups the material under the categories of Psychological, Pharmacological, Genetic, Socilogical, Social Protest, The Family, and Stepping Stone theories. Topics: Anomie; Genetics; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Mental Disorders; Oral Stage; Personality; Psychoanalytic Theory; Social Behavior; Social Conditions; Social Environment | 1977 |
Rx: 3x/week LAAM: alternative to methadone. Clinical studies: Phase I.
Topics: Analgesics; Analgesics, Opioid; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Evaluation; Drug Tolerance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Kinetics; Methadone; Methadyl Acetate; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Patient Dropouts; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 1976 |
NIDA's naltrexone research program.
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Conditioning, Psychological; Cyclazocine; Drug Evaluation; Euphoria; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naloxone; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Research; Research Support as Topic; United States; United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration | 1976 |
An introduction to drug dependence.
Topics: Alcoholism; Ambulatory Care; Amphetamines; Aversive Therapy; Barbiturates; Cannabis; Follow-Up Studies; Hallucinogens; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Methadone; Smoking; Substance-Related Disorders; United Kingdom | 1975 |
Neurological complications of addiction to heroin.
Topics: Abscess; Adult; Animals; Autopsy; Blindness; Brain Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Endocarditis; Haplorhini; Hepatitis A; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Muscular Diseases; Myelitis, Transverse; Nervous System Diseases; New York City; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Quinine; Substance-Related Disorders; Tetanus | 1973 |
Heroin maintenance for heroin addicts: issues and evidence.
Topics: Crime; Drug and Narcotic Control; Ethics, Medical; Government Agencies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Politics; Public Opinion; Research; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; United Kingdom; United States | 1973 |
124 trial(s) available for heroin and Heroin-Dependence
Article | Year |
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The Cost-Effectiveness of Financial Incentives to Achieve Heroin Abstinence in Individuals With Heroin Use Disorder Starting New Treatment Episodes: A Cluster Randomized Trial-Based Economic Evaluation.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of two 12-week contingency management (CM) schedules targeting heroin abstinence or attendance at weekly keyworker appointments for opioid agonist treatment compared with treatment as usual (TAU).. A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted alongside a cluster randomized trial of 552 patients from 34 clusters (drug treatment clinics) randomly allocated 1:1:1 to opioid agonist treatment plus weekly keyworker appointments with (1) CM targeted at heroin abstinence (CM abstinence), (2) CM targeted at on-time attendance at weekly appointments (CM attendance), or (3) no CM (TAU). The primary cost-effectiveness analysis at 24 weeks after randomization took a societal cost perspective with effects measured in heroin-negative urine samples.. At 24 weeks, mean differences in weekly heroin-negative urine results compared with TAU were 0.252 (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.397 to 0.901) for CM abstinence and 0.089 (95% CI -0.223 to 0.402) for CM attendance. Mean differences in costs were £2562 (95% CI £32-£5092) for CM abstinence and £317 (95% CI -£882 to £1518) for CM attendance. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were £10 167 per additional heroin-free urine for CM abstinence and £3562 for CM attendance with low probabilities of cost-effectiveness of 3.5% and 36%, respectively. Results were sensitive to timing of follow-up for CM attendance, which dominated TAU (better outcomes, lower costs) at 12 weeks, with an 88.4% probability of being cost-effective. Probability of cost-effectiveness remained low for CM abstinence (8.6%).. Financial incentives targeted toward heroin abstinence and treatment attendance were not cost-effective over the 24-week follow-up. Nevertheless, CM attendance was cost-effective over the treatment period (12 weeks), when participants were receiving keyworker appointments and incentives. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Motivation | 2023 |
Transcranial direct current stimulation of the frontal-parietal-temporal brain areas reduces cigarette consumption in abstinent heroin users.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been demonstrated to modulate neural activity and related brain functions. In clinical studies, tDCS has been shown to reduce craving in various substance use disorders including cocaine, heroin and nicotine. Our previous report suggested that cathodal tDCS on the frontal-parietal-temporal (FPT) brain areas reduced cigarette consumption in moderate smokers. However, whether it is effective in smokers with history of drug use is unknown. This study investigated the effects of bilateral FPT areas cathodal tDCS on smokers with history of heroin use. 22 abstinent heroin users were recruited and randomly assigned to sham group and tDCS group. The sham group received 30 s tDCS treatment and tDCS group received normal tDCS (one trial of 20 min, 1 mA, cathodal electrodes were placed bilaterally on the FPT areas). The average of daily cigarettes consumption was recorded for the week before the tDCS and the following day after tDCS. In addition, pupil light reflex was measured right before and after tDCS treatment. One trial of tDCS stimulation significantly reduced daily cigarette consumption in smokers who had heroin use history. This reducing effect was also observed in heavy smokers. In addition, this effect on cigarette consumption lasted at least 48 h after the stimulation. Furthermore, it has been shown that opiates decrease pupillary size in humans, we found detectable changes of the dynamic pupil light reflex after bilateral tDCS stimulation. These findings suggest that FPT cathodal tDCS may be an effective approach to reduce cigarette craving in heroin users. Topics: Brain; Double-Blind Method; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Prefrontal Cortex; Tobacco Products; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation | 2022 |
Influence of improved behavioral inhibition on decreased cue-induced craving in heroin use disorder: A preliminary intermittent theta burst stimulation study.
Impaired behavioral inhibition is a critical factor in drug addiction and relapse. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) reduces the craving of heroin-addicted individuals for drug-related cues. However, it is unclear whether this technique also improves impaired behavioral inhibition and how improved behavioral inhibition affects craving.. The intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) has been recently shown to be non-inferior relative to rTMS for depression. Here, we aim to investigate the effect of iTBS on heroin-addicted individuals' behavioral inhibition and cue-induced craving and the relationship between the alteration of behavioral inhibition and craving.. 42 of 56 initially recruited individuals with the heroin-use disorder in the abstinent-course treatment were randomized to undergo active or sham iTBS to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and received three daily iTBS treatments for 10 consecutive days. We measured participants' performance during a two-choice oddball task (80% standard and 20% deviant trials) and heroin-related cue-induced craving before and immediately after treatment.. The group that received active iTBS showed significantly improved two-choice oddball task performance after 10 days of intervention compared to both pre-intervention and the group who received sham iTBS. Similarly, a significant reduction in cue-induced craving was observed after following the intervention in the active iTBS group but not the sham iTBS group. The moderation model indicated that iTBS categories play a significant moderating role in the relationship between accuracy cost changing and altered cue-induced craving.. The iTBS treatment protocol positively affects behavioral inhibition in patients with heroin addiction. Improvements in behavioral inhibition can substantially reduce craving. Topics: Craving; Cues; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Prefrontal Cortex; Theta Rhythm; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation | 2022 |
Safety profile of injectable hydromorphone and diacetylmorphine for long-term severe opioid use disorder.
To review the safety profile of injectable hydromorphone and diacetylmorphine and explore if adverse events (AEs) or serious adverse events (SAEs) were associated with dose and patterns of attendance.. This was a non-inferiority randomized double-blind controlled trial (Vancouver, Canada) testing hydromorphone (n=100) and diacetylmorphine (n=102) for the treatment of severe opioid use disorder. Medications were delivered under the supervision of trained Registered Nurses up to three times daily. AEs were described using MedDRA codes.. Most common related AEs included immediate post-injection reaction or injection site pruritus reactions, somnolence and opioid overdoses. Adjusted analysis indicated that participants in the hydromorphone group were less likely to have any related AE or SAE compared to the diacetylmorphine group. Related somnolence and opioid overdose events were distributed throughout the six months treatment period. In the diacetylmorphine group, five of the eleven related SAE opioid overdoses (requiring naloxone) occurred in the first 30days since most recent treatment initiation. Analysis of somnolence and opioid overdose (AEs and SAEs) event rates by received dose suggested a non-linear relationship. However, in the diacetylmorphine group higher event rates per person days were recorded at lower doses.. When injectable hydromorphone and diacetylmorphine are individually dosed and monitored, their opioid-related side effects, including potential fatal overdoses, are safely mitigated and treated by health care providers. In the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic, injectable options are timely to reach a very important minority of people who inject street opioids and are not attracted to other treatments. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Canada; Double-Blind Method; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydromorphone; Injections; Male; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Opioid-Related Disorders; Self Administration; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors | 2017 |
Epigenetic Effects of Intravenous Diacetylmorphine on the Methylation of POMC and NR3C1.
The administration of diacetylmorphine (DAM) reduces the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in opioid-maintained patients. However, the epigenetic effects of DAM on addiction-related genes have not been investigated yet. In a randomized controlled study, we examined the immediate effects of intravenous DAM versus placebo on the promoter methylation of the POMC (pro- opiomelanocortin) and NR3C1 (glucocorticoid receptor 1) genes. Twenty-eight heroin-dependent patients on DAM-assisted treatment received either DAM or saline in a randomized crossover design and 17 healthy participants received saline only. EDTA blood samples were taken 25 min before and 10 min after the injection of DAM or saline. We found reciprocal regulation effects for DAM versus saline application regarding the methylation of POMC; while DAM injection significantly increased methylation, saline injection led to a significant decrease in methylation for patients as well as controls. NR3C1 data did not show significant changes in methylation. Injection of DAM blunted stress hormone levels and the POMC promoter methylation of heroin-dependent patients. These findings provide first preliminary insights into the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the emotional regulation effects of DAM-assisted treatment in severe heroin-dependent patients. Topics: Administration, Intravenous; Adult; Cross-Over Studies; DNA Methylation; Emotions; Epigenesis, Genetic; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Pro-Opiomelanocortin; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Receptors, Glucocorticoid; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome | 2017 |
Effects of a Single Lyric Analysis Intervention on Withdrawal and Craving With Inpatients on a Detoxification Unit: A Cluster-Randomized Effectiveness Study.
For patients hospitalized on inpatient detoxification units, reducing negative symptoms such as withdrawal and craving is a key treatment area. Although lyric analysis is a commonly utilized music therapy intervention for clients in substance abuse rehabilitation, there is a lack of randomized controlled music therapy studies systematically investigating how lyric analysis interventions can affect patients on a detoxification unit.. The purpose of this cluster-randomized effectiveness study was to measure the effects of single-session group lyric analysis interventions on withdrawal and craving with patients on a detoxification unit. A secondary purpose of this study was to determine if relationships existed between treatment effects and participants' familiarity with the song.. Participants (N = 144) were cluster-randomized to experimental (posttest only) or wait-list control (pretest only) conditions to provide treatment to all participants in an inclusive single-session design.. Although participants in the experimental condition had lower withdrawal and craving means than participants in the control condition, these differences were not significant. Familiarity of the song in the lyric analysis was not related to withdrawal or craving.. Group-based lyric analysis interventions may be effective for temporarily relieving withdrawal and craving in patients on a detoxification unit. Familiarity of the song did not affect results. Implications for clinical practice, suggestions for future research, and limitations are provided. Topics: Adult; Alcoholism; Central Nervous System Depressants; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Craving; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Ethanol; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Music Therapy; Narcotics; Psychotherapy, Group; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult | 2016 |
Hydromorphone Compared With Diacetylmorphine for Long-term Opioid Dependence: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Diacetylmorphine hydrochloride (the active ingredient in heroin), delivered under supervision, is effective for the treatment of severe opioid use disorder. However, owing to political and regulatory barriers, it is not available in many settings around the world, which limits the options for many long-term street opioid injectors not attracted into or retained in available treatments.. To test if injectable hydromorphone hydrochloride is noninferior to injectable diacetylmorphine in reducing illicit heroin use for chronic injection opioid users after 6 months of intervention.. The Study to Assess Longer-term Opioid Medication Effectiveness (SALOME) was a phase 3, double-blind, noninferiority trial. The study randomized 202 long-term street opioid injectors in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Eligible participants were recruited between December 19, 2011, and December 18, 2013. Both intent-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses were conducted.. Participants were randomly assigned to receive injectable diacetylmorphine or hydromorphone (up to 3 times daily) for 6 months under supervision.. Primary and coprimary efficacy outcomes were self-reported days of street heroin use (primary), days of any street-acquired opioids in the prior 30 days (noninferiority margin, 4 days), and the proportion of urinalyses positive for street heroin markers (margin, 10% of the observed rate in the diacetylmorphine group). The mean differences between diacetylmorphine and hydromorphone for the ITT and PP analyses were reported.. The study included 202 participants; 100 randomized to receive hydromorphone and 102 to diacetylmorphine. Their mean (SD) age was 44.33 (9.63) years, and 30.7% (62 of 202) were women. Noninferiority of hydromorphone was confirmed in the PP analysis (-1.44; 90% CI, -3.22 to 0.27) for street heroin use, although the margin of 4 days was not excluded in the ITT analysis (-2.34; 90% CI, -4.14 to -0.52). Noninferiority was confirmed for any street opioids in the ITT analysis (-0.85; 90% CI, -2.97 to 1.25) and the PP analysis (-0.15; 90% CI, -2.09 to 1.76), as well as for the urinalyses (0.09; 90% CI, -0.02 to 0.19 for the ITT analysis and 0.13; 90% CI, 0.02-0.24 for the PP analysis). There were 29 SAEs considered to have some relationship with the injection medication, 5 in the hydromorphone group and 24 in the diacetylmorphine group (rate ratio, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.06-0.69). Seizures and overdoses accounted for 25 of the 29 related SAEs.. This study provides evidence to suggest noninferiority of injectable hydromorphone relative to diacetylmorphine for long-term opioid dependence. In jurisdictions where diacetylmorphine is currently not available or for patients in whom it is contraindicated or unsuccessful, hydromorphone could be offered as an alternative.. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01447212. Topics: Adult; British Columbia; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydromorphone; Illicit Drugs; Injections, Intravenous; Intention to Treat Analysis; Long-Term Care; Male; Middle Aged; Needle-Exchange Programs; Substance Abuse Detection | 2016 |
Efficacy of cocaine contingency management in heroin-assisted treatment: Results of a randomized controlled trial.
To determine the efficacy of contingency management (CM), targeting cocaine use, as an add-on intervention for heroin dependent patients in supervised heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) with frequent cocaine use.. Multi-center, open-label, parallel group, randomized controlled trial.. Twelve specialized addiction treatment centers for HAT in The Netherlands; April 2006-January 2011.. 214 chronic, treatment-refractory heroin dependent patients in HAT, with frequent cocaine use.. Routine, daily supervised diacetylmorphine treatment, co-prescribed with oral methadone (HAT), with and without 6 months contingency management for cocaine use as an add-on intervention; HAT+CM and HAT-only, respectively.. Primary outcome was the longest, uninterrupted duration of cocaine abstinence, based upon laboratory urinalysis. Secondary outcome measures included other cocaine-related measures, treatment retention in HAT, and multi-domain health-related treatment response.. In an intention-to-treat analysis, HAT+CM was more effective than HAT-only in promoting longer, uninterrupted duration of cocaine abstinence (3.7 weeks versus 1.6 weeks; negative binomial regression: Exp(B)=2.34, 95%-CI: 1.70-3.23; p<0.001). This result remained significant in sensitivity analyses and was supported by all secondary, cocaine-related outcome measures. Treatment retention in HAT was high (91.6%) with no difference between the groups. The improvement in multi-domain health-related treatment response during the trial was numerically higher in HAT+CM (from 37.4% to 53.1%; +15.7%) than in HAT-only (from 44.5% to 46.5%; +2.0%), but this difference was statistically not significant.. Contingency management is an effective add-on intervention to promote longer, uninterrupted periods of cocaine abstinence in chronic, treatment-refractory heroin dependent patients in heroin-assisted treatment with frequent cocaine use. The trial has been registered in The Netherlands National Trial Register under clinical trial registration number NTR4728. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome | 2016 |
Loss of treatment benefit when heroin-assisted treatment is stopped after 12 months.
In 2013, during a recent heroin-assisted treatment trial, participants in heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) decreased significantly more their street heroin use than participants in oral methadone treatment. After the trial, HAT was discontinued. To examine whether the treatment benefits were sustained three months after the trial, the use of street heroin by the participants was analyzed in a follow-up study.. At the follow-up assessment, street heroin use increased in the experimental group. The two groups no longer showed a significant difference (p=0.55) in the level of street heroin use.. A predetermined and forced end of HAT was followed by a significant increase in the level of street level use. Topics: Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Time Factors | 2016 |
Orbitofrontal response to drug-related stimuli after heroin administration.
The compulsion to seek and use heroin is frequently driven by stress and craving during drug-cue exposure. Although previous neuroimaging studies have indicated that craving is mediated by increased prefrontal cortex activity, it remains unknown how heroin administration modulates the prefrontal cortex response. This study examines the acute effects of heroin on brain function in heroin-maintained patients. Using a crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, 27 heroin-maintained patients performed functional magnetic resonance imaging 20 minutes after the administration of heroin or placebo (saline) while drug-related and neutral stimuli were presented. Images were processed and analysed with statistical parametric mapping. Plasma concentrations of heroin and its main metabolites were assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Region of interest analyses showed a drug-related cue-associated blood-oxygen-level-dependent activation in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in heroin-dependent patients during both treatment conditions (heroin and placebo). This activation of the OFC was significantly higher after heroin than after placebo administration. These findings may indicate the importance of OFC activity for impulse control and decision-making after regular heroin administration and may emphasize the benefit of the heroin-assisted treatment in heroin dependence. Topics: Adult; Brain Diseases; Craving; Cues; Female; Gray Matter; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Narcotics; Neuropsychological Tests; Organ Size; Prefrontal Cortex | 2015 |
Drug use, health and social outcomes of hard-to-treat heroin addicts receiving supervised injectable opiate treatment: secondary outcomes from the Randomized Injectable Opioid Treatment Trial (RIOTT).
The Randomized Injectable Opioid Treatment Trial (RIOTT) compared supervised injectable heroin (SIH) and supervised injectable methadone (SIM) with optimized oral methadone (OOM) (ISRCTN0133807). Heroin addicts (previously unresponsive to treatment) made significant reductions in street heroin use at 6 months when treated with SIH. We now examine secondary outcomes.. Multi-site randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing SIH versus OOM and SIM versus OOM.. Three supervised injectable opiate clinics in England.. Chronic refractory heroin addicts continuing to inject street heroin virtually daily despite oral substitution treatment (n = 127), randomized to either SIH(n = 43), SIM(n = 42) or OOM(n = 42). All received high levels of medical and psychosocial support.. wider drug use, crime, health and social functioning at 6 months.. At 6 months, no significant differences were found between treatment groups in wider drug use (crack/cocaine, benzodiazepines, alcohol), physical and mental health (SF-36) or social functioning. Within each treatment group, significant reductions were observed in crime [SIH = odds ratio (OR) 0.05; P < 0.001; SIM = OR 0.11; P = 0.002; OOM = OR 0.11; P = 0.003] and money spent per week on illicit drugs (SIH = mean change £-289.43; P < 0.001; SIM = mean change £-183.41; P < 0.001; OOM = mean change £-162.80; P < 0.001), with SIH significantly more likely to have reduced money spent on illicit drugs versus OOM (mean difference £-92.04; P < 0.001). Significant improvements were seen in physical health for SIH and SIM (SIH = mean change 3.97; P = 0.008; SIM = mean change 4.73; P = 0.002) and mental health for OOM (mean change 6.04; P = 0.013).. Supervised injectable heroin treatment and supervised injectable methadone treatment showed no clearly identified benefit over optimized oral methadone in terms of wider drug use, crime, physical and mental health within a 6-month period, despite reducing street heroin use to a greater extent. However, all interventions were associated with improvements in these outcomes. Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Alcohol Drinking; Analgesics, Opioid; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Comorbidity; Crime; Employment; England; Female; Health Status; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Housing; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Injections, Intravenous; Interpersonal Relations; Linear Models; Male; Methadone; Needle-Exchange Programs; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Treatment Outcome | 2015 |
Normalizing effect of heroin maintenance treatment on stress-induced brain connectivity.
Recent evidence has shown that a single maintenance dose of heroin attenuates psychophysiological stress responses in heroin-dependent patients, probably reflecting the effectiveness of heroin-assisted therapies for the treatment of severe heroin addiction. However, the underlying neural circuitry of these effects has not yet been investigated. Using a cross-over, double-blind, vehicle-controlled design, 22 heroin-dependent and heroin-maintained outpatients from the Centre of Substance Use Disorders at the University Hospital of Psychiatry in Basel were studied after heroin and placebo administration, while 17 healthy controls from the general population were included for placebo administration only. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to detect brain responses to fearful faces and dynamic causal modelling was applied to compute fear-induced modulation of connectivity within the emotional face network. Stress responses were assessed by hormone releases and subjective ratings. Relative to placebo, heroin acutely reduced the fear-induced modulation of connectivity from the left fusiform gyrus to the left amygdala and from the right amygdala to the right orbitofrontal cortex in dependent patients. Both of these amygdala-related connectivity strengths were significantly increased in patients after placebo treatment (acute withdrawal) compared to healthy controls, whose connectivity estimates did not differ from those of patients after heroin injection. Moreover, we found positive correlations between the left fusiform gyrus to amygdala connectivity and different stress responses, as well as between the right amygdala to orbitofrontal cortex connectivity and levels of craving. Our findings indicate that the increased amygdala-related connectivity during fearful face processing after the placebo treatment in heroin-dependent patients transiently normalizes after acute heroin maintenance treatment. Furthermore, this study suggests that the assessment of amygdala-related connectivity during fear processing may provide a prognostic tool to assess stress levels in heroin-dependent patients and to quantify the efficacy of maintenance treatments in drug addiction. Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Adult; Amygdala; Analgesics, Opioid; Bayes Theorem; Brain; Double-Blind Method; Fear; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Neurological; Stress, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors | 2015 |
Predictors of non-use of illicit heroin in opioid injection maintenance treatment of long-term heroin dependence.
To investigate baseline and concurrent predictors of non-use of illicit heroin among participants randomized to injectable opioids in the North American Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI) clinical trial.. NAOMI was an open-label randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of injectable diacetylmorphine and hydromorphone for long-term opioid-dependency. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and during treatment (3, 6, 9, 12months). Days of non-use of illicit heroin in the prior month at each follow-up visit were divided into three categories: Non-use; Low use (1 to 7days) and High use (8days or more). Tested covariates were: Sociodemographics, Health, Treatment, Drug use and illegal activities. Mixed-effect proportional odds models with random intercept for longitudinal ordinal outcomes were used to assess the predictors of the non-use of illicit heroin.. 139 participants were included in the present analysis. At each follow-up visit, those with non-use of illicit heroin represented 47.5% to 54.0% of the sample. Fewer days of cocaine use (p=0.074), fewer days engaged in illegal activities at baseline (p<0.01) and at each visit (p<0.01), less money spent on drugs (p<0.001), days with injection opioid or oral methadone treatment (p<0.001) and total mg of injectable opioids taken (p<0.001), independently predicted lower use of illicit heroin.. The independent effect of several concurrent factors besides the injection of opioid dose suggests benefits from the clinic that go beyond the provision of the medication alone. Thus, this supervised model of care presents an opportunity to maximize the beneficial impact of medical and psychosocial components of the treatment on improving outcomes associated with non-use of illicit heroin. Topics: Adult; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydromorphone; Injections; Male; Narcotics; Time; Treatment Outcome | 2015 |
Efficacy of Heroin-assisted Treatment In Belgium: A Randomised Controlled Trial.
Heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) can improve the condition of heroin addicts still using street heroin after a methadone treatment. In Belgium, a new trial compared the efficacy of a HAT to existing methadone maintenance treatment.. In this randomised controlled trial, HAT was limited to 12 months. Participants were assessed every 3 months. They were responders if they showed improvement on the level of street heroin use, health or criminal involvement.. 74 participants were randomised in the trial. The experimental group (n = 36) counted 30% of responders more than the control group (n = 38) at each assessment point (p < 0.05), except at 12 months where the difference (11%) was no longer significant (p = 0.35). Still, after 12 months, participants in the experimental group reported significantly greater improvements (p < 0.05) than the control group on the level of street heroin use and on the level of physical and mental health. Both groups reported significantly less criminal acts after 12 months (p < 0.001), but with no significant difference between the groups.. This trial confirms the short-term efficacy of HAT for severe heroin addicts, who already failed methadone treatment. Topics: Adult; Belgium; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Treatment Outcome | 2015 |
Abnormal functional integration of thalamic low frequency oscillation in the BOLD signal after acute heroin treatment.
Heroin addiction is a severe relapsing brain disorder associated with impaired cognitive control, including deficits in attention allocation. The thalamus has a high density of opiate receptors and is critically involved in orchestrating cortical activity during cognitive control. However, there have been no studies on how acute heroin treatment modulates thalamic activity. In a cross-over, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study, 29 heroin-maintained outpatients were studied after heroin and placebo administration, while 20 healthy controls were included for the placebo condition only. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to analyze functional integration of the thalamus by three different resting state analysis techniques. Thalamocortical functional connectivity (FC) was analyzed by seed-based correlation, while intrinsic thalamic oscillation was assessed by analysis of regional homogeneity (ReHo) and the fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (fALFF). Relative to the placebo treatment and healthy controls, acute heroin administration reduced thalamocortical FC to cortical regions, including the frontal cortex, while the reductions in FC to the mediofrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and frontal pole were positively correlated with the plasma level of morphine, the main psychoactive metabolite of heroin. Furthermore, heroin treatment was associated with increased thalamic ReHo and fALFF values, whereas fALFF following heroin exposure correlated negatively with scores of attentional control. The heroin-associated increase in fALFF was mainly dominated by slow-4 (0.027-0.073 Hz) oscillations. Our findings show that there are acute effects of heroin within the thalamocortical system and may shed new light on the role of the thalamus in cognitive control in heroin addiction. Future research is needed to determine the underlying physiological mechanisms and their role in heroin addiction. Topics: Adult; Cerebral Cortex; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Echo-Planar Imaging; Female; Functional Laterality; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Neural Pathways; Outpatients; Oxygen; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Statistics as Topic; Thalamus; Young Adult | 2015 |
Training family members to manage heroin overdose and administer naloxone: randomized trial of effects on knowledge and attitudes.
To evaluate a heroin overdose management training programme for family members based on emergency recovery procedures and take-home naloxone (THN) administration.. A two-group, parallel-arm, non-blinded, randomized controlled trial of group-based training versus an information-only control.. Training events delivered in community addiction treatment services in three locations in England.. A total of 187 family members and carers allocated to receive either THN training or basic information on opioid overdose management (n = 95 and n = 92, respectively), with 123 participants completing the study.. The primary outcome measure was a self-completion Opioid Overdose Knowledge Scale (OOKS; range 0-45) and an Opioid Overdose Attitudes Scale (OOAS; range 28-140) was the secondary outcome measure. Each group was assessed before receiving their assigned condition and followed-up 3 months after. Events of witnessing and managing an overdose during follow-up were also recorded.. At follow-up, study participants who had received THN training reported greater overdose-related knowledge relative to those receiving basic information only [OOKS mean difference, 4.08 (95% confidence interval, 2.10-6.06; P < 0.001); Cohen's d = 0.74 (0.37-1.10)]. There were also more positive opioid overdose-related attitudes among the trained group at follow-up [OOAS mean difference, 7.47 (3.13-11.82); P = 0.001; d = 0.61 (0.25-0.97)]. At the individual level 35 and 54%, respectively, of the experimental group increased their knowledge and attitudes compared with 11 and 30% of the control group. During follow-up, 13 participants witnessed an overdose with naloxone administered on eight occasions: five among the THN-trained group and three among the controls.. Take-home naloxone training for family members of heroin users increases opioid overdose-related knowledge and competence and these benefits are well retained after 3 months. Topics: Adult; Caregivers; Drug Overdose; England; Family; Female; Health Education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Home Nursing; Humans; Male; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists | 2014 |
Acute effects of heroin on negative emotional processing: relation of amygdala activity and stress-related responses.
Negative emotional states and abnormal stress reactivity are central components in drug addiction. The brain stress system in the amygdala is thought to play a key role in the maintenance of drug dependence through negative reinforcement. Although acute heroin administration was found to reduce anxiety, craving, and stress hormone release, whether these effects are reflected in amygdala activity has not yet been investigated.. With a randomized, crossover, double-blind design, saline and heroin were administered to 22 heroin-dependent patients, whereas 17 healthy control subjects were included for the placebo administration only. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate blood oxygen level-dependent responses during fearful faces processing. Stress reactivity was measured by adrenocorticotropic hormone levels and by cortisol concentrations in serum and saliva 60 min after substance administration. Anxiety and craving levels were assessed with self-report ratings.. Heroin administration acutely reduced the left amygdala response to fearful faces relative to the saline injection. Patients receiving saline showed a significantly higher left amygdala response to fearful faces than healthy control subjects, whose activity did not differ from patients receiving heroin. The left amygdala activity correlated significantly with scores on state-anxiety and levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone, serum cortisol, and saliva cortisol among all patients and control subjects.. Our results show a direct relation between the acute heroin effects on stress-related emotions, stress reactivity, and left amygdala response to negative facial expressions. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying negative reinforcement in heroin addiction and the effects of regular heroin substitution. Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Adult; Amygdala; Anxiety; Brain Mapping; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Facial Expression; Fear; Female; Functional Laterality; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Narcotics; Oxygen; Pattern Recognition, Visual; Stress, Psychological | 2014 |
Altered prefrontal connectivity after acute heroin administration during cognitive control.
Neuroimaging studies have reported reduced activity in a broad network of brain regions during response inhibition in heroin-dependent patients. However, how heroin in an acute dose modulates the neural correlates of response inhibition and the underlying brain connectivity has not yet been investigated. In this double-blind placebo-controlled study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine whether acute heroin administration changed whole brain activity during response inhibition in 26 heroin-dependent patients. We then applied dynamic causal modelling to investigate the effect of an acute dose of heroin on the functional interactions between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and the bilateral inferior frontal gyri (IFG). Heroin acutely reduced dACC activity, as well as the inhibition-induced modulation of connectivity from the dACC to the right IFG compared with placebo. Furthermore, dACC activity was positively related to false alarm rates after placebo but not heroin administration. These results suggest that acute heroin administration impairs cognitive control in dependent patients by reducing the activity in the dACC activity and the functional connectivity from the dACC to the right IFG. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Bayes Theorem; Cognition; Cross-Sectional Studies; Double-Blind Method; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Inhibition, Psychological; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Neurological; Neural Pathways; Neuropsychological Tests; Oxygen; Prefrontal Cortex | 2014 |
Acute effects of intravenous heroin on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response: a controlled trial.
Heroin dependence is associated with a stressful environment and with dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The present study examined the acute effects of intravenous heroin versus placebo on the HPA axis response in heroin-dependent patients. Twenty-eight heroin-dependent patients in heroin-assisted treatment and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy participants were included in a controlled trial in which patients were twice administered heroin or saline in a crossover design, and healthy controls were only administered saline. The HPA axis response was measured by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels and by cortisol levels in serum and saliva before and 20 and 60 minutes after substance administration. Craving, withdrawal, and anxiety levels were measured before and 60 minutes after substance application. Plasma concentrations of heroin and its main metabolites were assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Heroin administration reduces craving, withdrawal, and anxiety levels and leads to significant decreases in ACTH and cortisol concentrations (P < 0.01). After heroin administration, cortisol concentrations did not differ from healthy controls, and ACTH levels were significantly lower (P < 0.01). In contrast, when patients receive saline, all hormone levels were significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.01). Heroin-dependent patients showed a normalized HPA axis response compared to healthy controls when they receive their regular heroin dose. These findings indicate that regular opioid administration protects addicts from stress and underscore the clinical significance of heroin-assisted treatment for heroin-dependent patients. Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Adult; Case-Control Studies; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Male; Middle Aged; Pituitary-Adrenal System; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Young Adult | 2013 |
Inferior frontal cortex modulation with an acute dose of heroin during cognitive control.
Impairments in inhibitory control and in stimulus-driven attention are hallmarks of drug addiction and are associated with decreased activation in the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). Although previous studies indicate that the response inhibition function is impaired in abstinent heroin dependents, and that this is mediated by reduced IFG activity, it remains completely unknown whether and how an acute dose of heroin modulates IFG activity during cognitive control in heroin-dependent patients. This study investigates the acute effects of heroin administration on IFG activity during response inhibition and stimulus-driven attention in heroin-dependent patients. Using a cross-over, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, saline and heroin were administered to 26 heroin-dependent patients from stable heroin-assisted treatment, while performing a Go/No-Go event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging task to assess right IFG activity during motor response inhibition, as well as during oddball-driven attention allocation. Relative to saline, heroin significantly reduced right IFG activity during both successful response inhibition and oddball-driven attention allocation, whereas it did not change right IFG activity during response inhibition after correction for the effect of attention allocation. These heroin-induced effects were not related to changes in drug craving, state anxiety, behavioral performance, or co-consumption of psychostimulant drugs. This study demonstrates that heroin administration acutely impairs stimulus-driven attention allocation, as indicated by reduced IFG activity in response to infrequently presented stimuli, and does not specifically modulate IFG activity during response inhibition. Topics: Adult; Attention; Cognition; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Female; Frontal Lobe; Functional Neuroimaging; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inhibition, Psychological; Male | 2013 |
Cost-effectiveness of injectable opioid treatment v. oral methadone for chronic heroin addiction.
Despite evidence of the effectiveness of injectable opioid treatment compared with oral methadone for chronic heroin addiction, the additional cost of injectable treatment is considerable, and cost-effectiveness uncertain.. To compare the cost-effectiveness of supervised injectable heroin and injectable methadone with optimised oral methadone for chronic refractory heroin addiction.. Multisite, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Outcomes were assessed in terms of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Economic perspective included health, social services and criminal justice resources.. Intervention costs over 26 weeks were significantly higher for injectable heroin (mean £8995 v. £4674 injectable methadone and £2596 oral methadone; P<0.0001). Costs overall were highest for oral methadone (mean £15 805 v. £13 410 injectable methadone and £10 945 injectable heroin; P = n.s.) due to higher costs of criminal activity. In cost-effectiveness analysis, oral methadone was dominated by injectable heroin and injectable methadone (more expensive and less effective). At willingness to pay of £30 000 per QALY, there is a higher probability of injectable methadone being more cost-effective (80%) than injectable heroin.. Injectable opioid treatments are more cost-effective than optimised oral methadone for chronic refractory heroin addiction. The choice between supervised injectable heroin and injectable methadone is less clear. There is currently evidence to suggest superior effectiveness of injectable heroin but at a cost that policy makers may find unacceptable. Future research should consider the use of decision analytic techniques to model expected costs and benefits of the treatments over the longer term. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Analgesics, Opioid; Chronic Disease; Cost Savings; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Crime; Health Care Costs; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections; Intention to Treat Analysis; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Patient Compliance; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; United Kingdom; Young Adult | 2013 |
Reduction in cerebral perfusion after heroin administration: a resting state arterial spin labeling study.
Heroin dependence is a chronic relapsing brain disorder, characterized by the compulsion to seek and use heroin. Heroin itself has a strong potential to produce subjective experiences characterized by intense euphoria, relaxation and release from craving. The neurofunctional foundations of these perceived effects are not well known. In this study, we have used pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging (phMRI) in 15 heroin-dependent patients from a stable heroin-assisted treatment program to observe the steady state effects of heroin (60 min after administration). Patients were scanned in a cross-over and placebo controlled design. They received an injection of their regular dose of heroin or saline (placebo) before or after the scan. As phMRI method, we used a pulsed arterial spin labeling (ASL) sequence based on a flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) spin labeling scheme combined with a single-shot 3D GRASE (gradient-spin echo) readout on a 3 Tesla scanner. Analysis was performed with Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM 8), using a general linear model for whole brain comparison between the heroin and placebo conditions. We found that compared to placebo, heroin was associated with reduced perfusion in the left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the left medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and in the insula (both hemispheres). Analysis of extracted perfusion values indicate strong effect sizes and no gender related differences. Reduced perfusion in these brain areas may indicate self- and emotional regulation effects of heroin in maintenance treatment. Topics: Adult; Cerebral Arteries; Cross-Over Studies; Female; Gyrus Cinguli; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Narcotics; Prefrontal Cortex; Regional Blood Flow; Single-Blind Method | 2013 |
Treatment expectations and satisfaction of treatment-refractory opioid-dependent patients in RIOTT, the Randomised Injectable Opiate Treatment Trial, the UK's first supervised injectable maintenance clinics.
The study investigates patients' pre-treatment expectations of, and post-treatment satisfaction with, supervised injectable opiate treatment delivered within UK's first such clinics within the Randomised Injectable Opiate Treatment Trial (RIOTT) (ISRCTN0133807).. Data were collected from 127 chronic heroin addicts recruited to RIOTT and randomised to receive supervised injectable (heroin or methadone) treatment or optimised oral maintenance treatment at supervised injectable maintenance clinics in London, Darlington and Brighton.. Of 127 RIOTT patients, 113 (89%) provided responses to structured enquiry about treatment expectations, and 94 (74%) subsequent responses about treatment satisfaction (at six months). Patients were hoping that injectable heroin treatment would: reduce substance misuse (81%); help achieve normality, routine and structure (16%); and increase education and work prospects (15%). At six months, an area of treatment satisfaction most commonly reported by all three trial groups was reduced substance misuse (supervised injectable heroin 59%, supervised injectable methadone 56%, optimised oral methadone 54%). Most found supervision acceptable, but some desired modifications were also identified.. Patients previously considered non-responsive to treatment appear to have similar treatment expectations and aspirations as other drug users in treatment. Supervised injectable opioid treatment patients consistently reported treatment satisfaction but also that more could be done to optimise aspects of current arrangement. This raised the challenging issue of the extent to which opinions of patients need to be taken into consideration in shaping future treatment provision. Future research may need to examine the extent of expectations 'fit' and the relationship between treatment sought and received. Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Needle-Exchange Programs; Patient Satisfaction; Treatment Outcome; United Kingdom | 2013 |
[Social integration after 4 years of heroin-assisted treatment].
Studies from several countries have by now shown the effectiveness of heroin-assisted treatment in comparison to methadone treatment. However, only few long-term results exist, and in particular data with a focus on social integration of the patients are scarce.. The study analyzes the course of long-term social integration among the patients of the German diamorphine study.. Individual changes in health, drug use and social integration among patients who had participated in a 4-year diamorphine treatment (n=156) were described and statistically tested by means of repeated measures analyses. The criteria used are based on the instruments OTI-HSS and SCL-90-R, on medical findings, urinalyses, and on variables as well as composite scores from the European Addiction Severity Index.. In all domains significant improvements were found after long-term treatment. The percentage of patients employed or currently working had increased 3-fold up to 40% after 4 years. Moreover, the living situation and leisure behaviour improved, and criminal activities declined markedly. The main influencing factor for successful social integration after 4 years of treatment is the ability to work.. Heroin-assisted treatment is a long-term effective treatment for severely dependent opiate addicts with respect to stabilization of health, reduction of illegal drug use and improvement of social integration. Furthermore, the results show that processes of social (re-)integration of drug users take time. Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Crime; Drug Substitution; Employment; Female; Germany; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Recovery of Function; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Treatment Outcome | 2013 |
A randomized, controlled, pilot trial of methylphenidate and cognitive-behavioral group therapy for cocaine dependence in heroin prescription.
Cocaine dependence has proved difficult to treat, whether it occurs alone or in combination with opiate dependence. No intervention has been demonstrated to be uniquely effective. Patients might benefit most from combined pharmacotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic interventions. The present study sought to evaluate the feasibility, tolerability, and efficacy of methylphenidate (MP) and cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT) for cocaine dependence in diacetylmorphine-maintained patients. Sixty-two cocaine-dependent diacetylmorphine-maintained patients participated in a dual-site, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial with 4 treatment conditions. The participants were randomly assigned to receive MP or a placebo each combined with either CBGT or treatment as usual for 12 weeks. Methylphenidate 30 mg and a placebo in identical capsules were administered onsite twice daily under supervision in a fixed-dose regimen without titration. Manual-guided CBGT consisted of 12 weekly sessions. Participation in the CBGT sessions was voluntary. Primary outcome measures were retention in pharmacologic treatment, cocaine-free urine samples, self-reported cocaine use, and adverse effects. Urine screens were performed thrice weekly. Seventy-one percent of the participants completed the study protocol. Methylphenidate was well tolerated with similar retention rates compared with the placebo. No serious adverse effects occurred. No difference in cocaine-free urine screens was found across the 4 treatment groups. Self-reported cocaine use was reduced in all 4 study groups. Methylphenidate and CBGT did not provide an advantage over a placebo or treatment as usual in reducing cocaine use. There were no signs of additive benefits of MP and CBGT. Because of the small sample size, the results are preliminary. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Chi-Square Distribution; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Combined Modality Therapy; Double-Blind Method; Feasibility Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Methylphenidate; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Pilot Projects; Substance Abuse Detection; Switzerland; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Urinalysis | 2013 |
Craving and illicit heroin use among patients in heroin-assisted treatment.
To investigate in heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) compared to methadone maintenance treatment (MMT): the course of heroin craving and illicit heroin use, their mutual association, and their association with multi-domain treatment response.. RCTs on the efficacy of 12 months co-prescribed injectable or inhalable HAT compared to 12 months continued oral MMT.. Outpatient treatment in MMT- or specialized HAT-centers in the Netherlands.. Chronic, treatment-refractory heroin dependent patients (n=73). STUDY PARAMETERS: General craving for heroin (Obsessive Compulsive Drug Use Scale); self-reported illicit heroin use; multi-domain treatment response in physical, mental and social health and illicit drug use.. The course of heroin craving and illicit heroin use differed significantly, with strong reductions in HAT but not in MMT. General heroin craving was significantly related to illicit heroin use. Heroin craving was not and illicit heroin use was marginally related to multi-domain treatment response, but only in MMT and not in HAT.. Heroin craving and illicit heroin use were significantly associated and both strongly decreased in HAT but not in MMT. Craving was not related to multi-domain treatment response and illicit heroin use was marginally related to treatment response in MMT, but not in HAT. The latter was probably due to the strong reduction in illicit heroin use in most patients in HAT and the small sample size of the sub-study. It is hypothesized that the strong reductions in craving for heroin in HAT are related to the stable availability of prescribed, pharmaceutical grade heroin. Topics: Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Patient Compliance; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome | 2012 |
Deficits in dopamine D(2) receptors and presynaptic dopamine in heroin dependence: commonalities and differences with other types of addiction.
Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies have shown that addiction to a number of substances of abuse is associated with a decrease in dopamine D(2/3) receptor binding and decreased presynaptic dopamine release in the striatum. Some studies have also shown that these reductions are associated with the severity of addiction. For example, in cocaine dependence, low dopamine release is associated with the choice to self-administer cocaine. The goal of the present study was to investigate these parameters of striatal dopamine transmission in heroin dependence and their association with drug seeking behavior.. Heroin-dependent and healthy control subjects were scanned with [(11)C]raclopride before and after stimulant administration (methylphenidate) to measure striatal D(2/3) receptor binding and presynaptic dopamine release. After the PET scans, the heroin-dependent subjects performed heroin self-administration sessions.. Both striatal D(2/3) receptor binding and dopamine release were reduced in the heroin-dependent subjects compared with healthy control subjects. However, neither PET measure of dopamine transmission predicted the choice to self-administer heroin.. These findings show that heroin addiction, like addiction to other drugs of abuse, is associated with low D(2/3) receptor binding and low presynaptic dopamine. However, neither of these outcome measures was associated with the choice to self-administer heroin. Topics: Adult; Behavior, Addictive; Choice Behavior; Corpus Striatum; Dopamine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methylphenidate; Neuroimaging; Positron-Emission Tomography; Presynaptic Terminals; Raclopride; Radioligand Assay; Receptors, Dopamine D2; Self Administration | 2012 |
The impact of diacetylmorphine on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity and heroin craving in heroin dependence.
Heroin dependence is a chronic relapsing disorder characterized by the compulsion to seek and use heroin. Stress and craving are seen as key factors for heroin use. Moreover, altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function has been frequently reported. However, the acute effects of diacetylmorphine (DAM) on HPA axis activity and craving have not been investigated in a controlled study. The present randomized controlled study examined whether DAM administration differs from placebo (saline) administration with regard to HPA axis response and heroin craving.. In a crossover experiment, 28 DAM-maintained heroin-dependent patients were first injected with DAM and then saline, or the converse. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in saliva and serum were measured at baseline and 20 and 60 min after both injections. Heroin craving was measured at baseline and 60 min after both injections, by means of the Heroin Craving Questionnaire.. Compared to saline, DAM administration induced a significant decrease in plasma ACTH (p < 0.01), serum cortisol (p < 0.0001) and saliva cortisol (p < 0.01), as well as in craving (p < 0.0001), over time.. Since acute DAM administration suppresses the stress response, DAM-assisted treatment may be an effective alternative to methadone maintenance in stress-sensitive heroin-dependent patients. Topics: Adult; Behavior, Addictive; Cross-Over Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Male; Middle Aged; Pituitary-Adrenal System; Single-Blind Method; Young Adult | 2012 |
Feasibility of double-blind clinical trials with oral diacetylmorphine: a randomized controlled phase II study in an inpatient setting.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of conducting double-blind controlled randomized clinical trials using twice-a-day immediate-release oral diacetylmorphine (DAM) in heroin-dependent patients, by means of measuring the capacity of oral DAM to block opiate withdrawal and clinicians' ability to distinguish it from morphine and methadone. This was a randomized, phase II, double-blind, multicenter pilot study comparing immediate-release oral DAM, slow-release oral morphine and oral methadone administered twice a day during 10 days. Forty-five heroin-dependent patients were randomly assigned to these three treatment groups in an inpatient regime. Patients were stabilized with a mean of 350 mg (SD = 193) of immediate-release oral DAM, 108 mg (SD = 46.2) of slow-release oral morphine and 40 mg (SD = 17.9) of methadone. No statistically significant differences were found between any studied medication in clinical outcome. Neither patients nor clinicians were able to identify the administered medication. This study shows the feasibility of double-blind clinical trials using b.i.d. immediate-release oral DAM allowing further phase III clinical trials in the process of introducing oral DAM as a medication for heroin-dependent patients not responding to standard maintenance treatments. Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Behavior, Addictive; Delayed-Action Preparations; Double-Blind Method; Feasibility Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inpatients; Male; Methadone; Morphine; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Physicians; Pilot Projects; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales | 2012 |
Heroin reduces startle and cortisol response in opioid-maintained heroin-dependent patients.
Heroin dependence (HD) is a chronic relapsing brain disorder characterized by a compulsion to seek and use heroin. Stress is seen as a key factor for heroin use. Methadone maintenance and the prescription of pharmaceutical heroin [diacetylmorphine (DAM)] are established treatments for HD in several countries. The present study examined whether DAM-maintained patients and methadone-maintained patients differ from healthy controls in startle reflex and cortisol levels. Fifty-seven participants, 19 of each group matched for age, sex and smoking status, completed a startle session which included the presentation of 24 bursts of white noise while eye-blink responses to startling noises were recorded. Salivary cortisol was collected three times after awakening, before, during and after the startle session. DAM was administered before the experiment, while methadone was administered afterwards. Both heroin-dependent patient groups exhibited significantly smaller startle responses than healthy controls (P < 0.05). Whereas the cortisol levels after awakening did not differ across the three groups, the experimental cortisol levels were significantly lower in DAM-maintained patients, who received their opioid before the experiment, than in methadone-maintained patients and healthy controls (P < 0.0001). Opioid maintenance treatment for HD is associated with reduced startle responses. Acute DAM administration may suppress cortisol levels, and DAM maintenance treatment may represent an effective alternative to methadone in stress-sensitive, heroin-dependent patients. Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Arousal; Depression, Chemical; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Infusions, Intravenous; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Reflex, Startle; Secondary Prevention; Stress, Psychological | 2011 |
Outpatient versus inpatient opioid detoxification: a randomized controlled trial.
Opioid detoxification is not an effective stand-alone treatment for heroin dependence but is nevertheless an essential step in the path to recovery. There has been relatively little previous controlled research on the impact of treatment setting on the likelihood of successful completion of detoxification. In this study, 68 opioid-dependent patients receiving community treatment (predominantly with methadone) and requesting detoxification were randomly assigned to an inpatient versus outpatient setting. Both groups received the same medication (lofexidine), and the primary outcome measure was being opioid-free at detoxification completion. More inpatients (n = 18, 51.4%) than outpatients (n = 12, 36.4%) completed detoxification, but this difference was not statistically significant (χ(2) = 1.56, p = .21). However, the outpatient group received a significantly longer period of medication, and when the length of detoxification was controlled for, the results favored the inpatient setting (Exp(B) = 13.9, 95% confidence interval = 2.6-75.5, p = .002). Only 11 (16%) participants were opioid-free at the 1-month follow-up and 8 at the 6-month follow-up, with no between-group difference. Inpatient and outpatient opioid detoxification settings were not significantly different in completion or follow-up abstinence rates, but aspects of the study design may have favored the outpatient setting. Future studies should test patient characteristics that predict better outcomes in each setting. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Clonidine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inpatients; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Opioid-Related Disorders; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Outpatients; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; Treatment Outcome | 2011 |
Supervised daily consumption, contingent take-home incentive and non-contingent take-home in methadone maintenance.
Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) has been found effective in treating heroin addiction. Serious consideration should be given to the modality of methadone distribution, as it influences not only treatment outcome but the attitudes of policy makers and the community, too. On one hand, the choice of take-home methadone removes the need for daily attendance at a methadone clinic, which seems to improve patients' quality of life. On the other, this method, because of its lack of supervision and the absence of strict consumption monitoring, runs the risk of methadone misuse and diversion. In this study, we compared A) supervised daily consumption, B) contingent take-home incentives and C) non-contingent take-home in methadone maintenance in three groups of heroin-addicted patients attending three different MMT programmes. Retention rates at 12 months were significantly higher in contingent take-home patients (group B) than in those with supervised daily consumption (group A) and the non-contingent take-home (group C). Retention rates were higher in group A than in group C patients. Compared to patients in groups A and B, those in group C showed fewer negative urinalyses and higher rates of self-reported diversion and episodes of crime or violence. Results indicate a more positive outcomes following take-home methadone associated with behavioural incentives and other measures that aim to facilitate treatment compliance than those following daily supervised consumption. By contrast, non-contingent take-home methadone given to non-stabilized patients is associated with a high rate of diversion, along with more crime episodes and maladaptive behaviours. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Comorbidity; Crime; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interview, Psychological; Male; Mental Disorders; Methadone; Motivation; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Patient Compliance; Self Report; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance-Related Disorders; Treatment Outcome; Violence | 2011 |
Switching 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.. This analysis of the German trial of heroin-assisted treatment investigates the effects on patients' health and drug use after switching from 12-month methadone to 12-month diamorphine treatment under similar study conditions.. For a period of 24 months, the state of health was explored using the Opiate Treatment Index (OTI) health scale and the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), while drug use and social situation by an extended version of the European Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI) every 6 months. Changes in these criteria were tested for significance by repeated measures analyses. Of the 434 patients, who started the 2nd year of study treatment, 90 were methadone-diamorphine switchers, and 344 received diamorphine for 2 years.. In the 2nd year, the methadone-diamorphine switchers succeed in catching up with the diamorphine patients. After switching to diamorphine, significant improvements in health and use of street heroin and cocaine were achieved during 1 year of diamorphine 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. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Substitution; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Treatment Outcome | 2011 |
Buprenorphine versus methadone in pregnant opioid-dependent women: a prospective multicenter study.
In order to investigate the effects of exposure to buprenorphine compared with methadone during pregnancy, a prospective multicenter study was conducted in collaboration with maternity hospitals, maintenance therapy centers, and general practitioners involved in addiction care. Ninety pregnant women exposed to buprenorphine and 45 to metadone were selected for the study.. During pregnancy, some women were exposed to illicit agents: cannabis (42% in the buprenorphine group vs. 58% in the methadone-treated group), heroin (17% vs. 44%), or cocaine (3% vs. 11%). Pregnancies ended in 85 vs. 40 live births, one vs. two stillbirths, two vs. one spontaneous abortion, two vs. one voluntary termination, and one vs. one medical termination in the buprenorphine and the methadone groups, respectively. Newborns had a birth weight of 2,892 ± 506 g (buprenorphine) vs. 2,731 ± 634 g (methadone) and a body length of 47.6 ± 2.5 cm vs. 47.1 ± 3 cm. 18.8% vs. 10% of newborns were delivered before 37 weeks of amenorrhea. Neonatal withdrawal syndrome occurred more frequently in the methadone group (62.5% vs. 41.2, p = 0.03). After adjustment for heroin exposure in late pregnancy, rates of neonatal withdrawal were no longer different between the methadone and buprenorphine groups. Twenty-one babies (84%) in the methadone group and 20 (57%) in the buprenorphine group (p = 0.03) required opiate treatment.. We did not observe more frequent malformations or cases of withdrawal syndrome in the buprenorphine group than in the methadone-treated group. Buprenorphine appears to be as safe as the currently approved substitute methadone considered to date as the reference treatment for pregnant opioid-dependent women. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Birth Weight; Buprenorphine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Methadone; Narcotics; Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Outcome; Prospective Studies | 2011 |
Tetrodotoxin alleviates acute heroin withdrawal syndrome: a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
1. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a powerful sodium channel blocker extracted from the puffer fish. The efficacy and safety of TTX as monotherapy for the treatment of acute heroin withdrawal syndrome were evaluated in the present study. This 7-day, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out between December 2008 and October 2009. In total, 216 patients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV diagnosis of heroin addiction were recruited. After providing written informed consent, subjects were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment in one of the following groups: 5 μg TTX group (group 1), 10 μg TTX group (group 2) or the placebo group (group 3). 2. Evidence suggests that both 5 and 10 μg TTX significantly reduced withdrawal symptoms by day 3 compared with placebo, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events in the three groups. 3. In conclusion, this clinical trial shows that TTX (5 and 10 μg given t.i.d.) is effective in alleviating opiate withdrawal symptoms with few side-effects. Topics: Adult; Behavior, Addictive; Cues; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Placebos; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Sodium Channel Blockers; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Tetrodotoxin; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult | 2011 |
[Effect of acupuncture on heroin cue-induced functional magnetic resonance images in heroin-addicted human subjects].
To observe heroin cue-induced changes of cerebral functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) and the effect of acupuncture of Zusanli (ST 36) on them under craving state in heroin-addicted volunteers.. Fourteen male volunteer heroin addicts were recruited in the present study. Brain images were acquired before, during (2 min) and after visualizing heroin (placed in a transparent glass mug) and acupuncture of Zusanli (ST 36) on a 1.5-T Siemens Symphony MRI system equipped with a standard head coil. Acupuncture stimulation was applied to bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) by manipulating a filiform needle at a frequency of about 60 cycles/min and an angle of about 180 degrees for 2 min. The acquired neuroimaging data were analyzed by AlphaSim, AFNI.. During heroin-visual stimulation, the markedly activated brain areas (increase of blood oxygen level-dependent signal) of fMRI were bilateral middle frontal gyrus, left cingulate gyrus, bilateral insula, occipital cortex, left cuneus, cerebellum, bilateral thalamus, right hippocampus and right amygdala etc. which are closely related to the human's craving psychological activities. When acupuncture given, meaning processing stronger sensory task, the heroin-addicted subjects showed apparent activation of the brain areas including the right anterior cingulate gyrus, right insula, thalamus, right hippocampal gyrus etc. which activation degrees were significant lower than those of heroin related visual stimulation.. Acupuncture of Zusanli (ST 36) can lessen heroin cue-induced activation degree of the brain areas involving psychological craving, suggesting that acupuncture is able to suppress the heroin addiction patients' drug abuse craving. Topics: Acupuncture Therapy; Adult; Brain; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Radiography; Young Adult | 2011 |
Effects of psychiatric comorbidity on treatment outcome in patients undergoing diamorphine or methadone maintenance treatment.
Comorbid psychiatric disorders among opioid-dependent patients are associated with several negative outcome factors. However, outcomes of maintenance treatment have not been sufficiently established, and no evidence is available with respect to heroin-assisted treatment (HAT).. For patients in the German heroin trial outcome measures were analyzed for HAT versus methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) both for patients with and without a comorbid diagnosis according to CIDI.. 47.2% of the sample had at least one comorbid psychiatric diagnosis, mainly neurotic, stress-related or somatoform (F4) or affective (F3) disorders. HAT had a better outcome than MMT concerning improvement of health and reduction of illicit drug use in both comorbid and non-comorbid patients, but weaker effects were found in the comorbid group.. The better outcome of HAT also in comorbid patients suggests that psychiatric comorbidity should be an inclusion criterion for HAT. The weaker advantage of HAT may be due to pharmacological or methodological reasons. Topics: Adult; Case Management; Combined Modality Therapy; Comorbidity; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Long-Term Care; Male; Mental Disorders; Methadone; Narcotics; Patient Education as Topic; Psychotherapy; Treatment Outcome | 2010 |
Successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection in severely opioid-dependent patients under heroin maintenance.
Severely opioid-dependent patients are at high risk of both acquiring and spreading the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is uncertain, however, whether these patients are possible candidates for HCV treatment. We therefore explored treatment retention and adherence as well as sustained viral response in co-morbid severely opioid-dependent subjects under heroin maintenance, who previously failed in conventional substitution treatment or were not in any drug treatment.. All patients in heroin maintenance in the German heroin trial, who received standard antiviral HCV therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, were included. Co-consumption of licit and illicit drugs was tolerated as long as it did not interfere with treatment.. Twenty-six patients in heroin maintenance were treated for chronic HCV infection. Both the Global Severity Index of the Symptom Checklist 90-R (average score 65.9) and the Opiate Treatment Index (average score 16.6) indicated relevant co-morbidity. Twenty-one patients (81%) were retained in treatment; the adherence rate was 92%. Eighteen patients (69%) achieved a sustained viral response, with a 100% response rate for genotype 2, 90% for genotype 3, and 42% for genotype 1.. This is the first study that investigates the feasibility of antiviral HCV treatment in a well-defined sample of co-morbid severely opioid-dependent subjects in heroin maintenance treatment. Viral response rates are comparable to non-drug-user populations. Within a need-adapted treatment setting, HCV treatment may even be extended to difficult-to-treat opioid-dependent patients. Topics: Adult; Antiviral Agents; Female; Genotype; Germany; Health Status; Hepacivirus; Hepatitis C; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interferons; Male; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Ribavirin; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Viral Load; Young Adult | 2010 |
Double-blind injectable hydromorphone versus diacetylmorphine for the treatment of opioid dependence: a pilot study.
Using data from the North American Opioid Maintenance Initiative study, a Phase III randomized and parallel arm trial, this pilot study is aimed at testing if treatment response with injectable hydromorphone differs compared to diacetylmorphine in the treatment of long-term opioid addiction. A total of 140 long-term, treatment-refractory opioid-dependent individuals received either injectable diacetylmorphine (n = 115) or hydromorphone (n = 25), in a double-blind fashion, over 12 months. At the end of the study, none of the participants in the hydromorphone group thought they were definitely receiving this drug. Retention rates at 12 months with diacetylmorphine (87.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 80.5%-92.7%) and hydromorphone (88.0%; 95% CI = 68.7%-96.1%) were virtually identical. The use of illicit heroin in the prior month declined from a mean of 26.6 and 26.3 days at baseline to 5.3 and 5.2 days at 12 month in the diacetylmorphine and hydromorphone groups, respectively. There were no differences between diacetylmorphine and hydromorphone in the adjusted mean scores of the European Addiction Severity Index. There were no differences in the safety profile of the medications. Hydromorphone may be similarly safe and effective as diacetylmorphine as opioid-agonist substitution treatment; future studies are required to confirm it. Further study will also be required to show that open-label hydromorphone can also successfully attract patients into care and retain them. Topics: Adult; Double-Blind Method; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydromorphone; Injections; Methadone; Narcotics; Opioid-Related Disorders; Pilot Projects; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors | 2010 |
The effect of motivational status on treatment outcome in the North American Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI) study.
Dropout and recidivism from addiction treatment has been found to be associated with individuals' readiness for change. Motivation for treatment among participants entering the North American Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI) randomized controlled trial, which compared heroin assisted treatment (HAT) to optimized methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), was assessed. Through multivariate regression, we aimed to determine whether baseline motivational status was predictive of four treatment outcomes: early dropout, 12-month retention, 12-month response to treatment, and time to discontinuation of treatment. Among the 251 out-of-treatment chronic opioid dependent patients recruited in Montreal, Quebec and Vancouver, British Columbia, 52% reported having a high level of motivation for treatment. HAT was statistically significantly more effective than MMT on each of the outcomes assessed. Baseline motivational status did not predict retention or time to discontinuation in either HAT or MMT. However, while patients were retained in HAT regardless of motivational status, motivated patients showed a more favourable response to treatment in terms of decreases in crime and illicit drug use. These results suggest that HAT successfully retains opioid dependent patients who otherwise may not have been attracted into existing treatment options, and may enhance the odds of successful rehabilitation among patients motivated for treatment. Topics: Adult; British Columbia; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Motivation; Multivariate Analysis; Narcotics; Quebec; Regression Analysis; Treatment Outcome | 2010 |
Supervised injectable heroin or injectable methadone versus optimised oral methadone as treatment for chronic heroin addicts in England after persistent failure in orthodox treatment (RIOTT): a randomised trial.
Some heroin addicts persistently fail to benefit from conventional treatments. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of supervised injectable treatment with medicinal heroin (diamorphine or diacetylmorphine) or supervised injectable methadone versus optimised oral methadone for chronic heroin addiction.. In this multisite, open-label, randomised controlled trial, we enrolled chronic heroin addicts who were receiving conventional oral treatment (>or=6 months), but continued to inject street heroin regularly (>or=50% of days in preceding 3 months). Randomisation by minimisation was used to assign patients to receive supervised injectable methadone, supervised injectable heroin, or optimised oral methadone. Treatment was provided for 26 weeks in three supervised injecting clinics in England. Primary outcome was 50% or more of negative specimens for street heroin on weekly urinalysis during weeks 14-26. Primary analysis was by intention to treat; data were adjusted for centre, regular crack use at baseline, and treatment with optimised oral methadone at baseline. Percentages were calculated with Rubin's rules and were then used to estimate numbers of patients in the multiple imputed samples. This study is registered, ISRCTN01338071.. Of 301 patients screened, 127 were enrolled and randomly allocated to receive injectable methadone (n=42 patients), injectable heroin (n=43), or oral methadone (n=42); all patients were included in the primary analysis. At 26 weeks, 80% (n=101) patients remained in assigned treatment: 81% (n=34) on injectable methadone, 88% (n=38) on injectable heroin, and 69% (n=29) on oral methadone. Patients on injectable heroin were significantly more likely to have achieved the primary outcome (72% [n=31]) than were those on oral methadone (27% [n=11], OR 7.42, 95% CI 2.69-20.46, p<0.0001; adjusted: 66% [n=28] vs 19% [n=8], 8.17, 2.88-23.16, p<0.0001), with number needed to treat of 2.17 (95% CI 1.60-3.97). For injectable methadone (39% [n=16]; adjusted: 30% [n=14]) versus oral methadone, the difference was not significant (OR 1.74, 95% CI 0.66-4.60, p=0.264; adjusted: 1.79, 0.67-4.82, p=0.249). For injectable heroin versus injectable methadone, a significant difference was recorded (4.26, 1.63-11.14, p=0.003; adjusted: 4.57, 1.71-12.19, p=0.002), but the study was not powered for this comparison. Differences were evident within the first 6 weeks of treatment.. Treatment with supervised injectable heroin leads to significantly lower use of street heroin than does supervised injectable methadone or optimised oral methadone. UK Government proposals should be rolled out to support the positive response that can be achieved with heroin maintenance treatment for previously unresponsive chronic heroin addicts.. Community Fund (Big Lottery) Research section, through Action on Addiction. Topics: Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; England; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Injections; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Prescription Drugs; Young Adult | 2010 |
Benzodiazepine use among patients in heroin-assisted vs. methadone maintenance treatment: findings of the German randomized controlled trial.
Benzodiazepine (BZD) use has been found to be associated with poorer psychosocial adjustment, higher levels of polydrug use and more risk-taking behaviors among opioid dependent patients. The aim of this paper is to analyze the correlation between BZD use, BZD prescription and treatment outcome among participants in the German trial on heroin-assisted treatment. 1015 patients who participated in the study comparing heroin-assisted and methadone maintenance treatment (HAT & MMT) for 12 months were included in the analysis. Analyses were carried out to assess the association of treatment outcome with baseline BZD use, with ongoing BZD use and with different patterns of BZD prescription. Baseline BZD use correlated with lower retention rates but not with poorer outcome. Ongoing BZD use correlated with poorer outcomes. Significantly better outcomes were found in the course of phobic anxiety symptomatology for those with regular prescription of BZD. The percentage of BZD positive urine tests decreased more in HAT than in MMT. Poorer outcome for benzodiazepine users may be mediated by a higher severity of addiction. Cautious prescribing of benzodiazepines may be beneficial due to the reduction of overall illicit use. Topics: Anti-Anxiety Agents; Benzodiazepines; Drug Prescriptions; Female; Germany; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Prescriptions; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Risk-Taking; Substance-Related Disorders; Treatment Outcome | 2010 |
Quality of life under maintenance treatment with heroin versus methadone in patients with opioid dependence.
There is increasing evidence that health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is associated with a successful treatment and better outcome in opioid addiction. The aim of the present study was the longitudinal investigation of HRQOL in patients with severe opioid dependence, who were randomly assigned to four groups of medical and psychosocial treatment: heroin (diacetylmorphine) versus methadone and case management (CM) versus psychoeducation (PSE) respectively.. HRQOL (MSQoL) and physical health (OTI) were investigated in 938 subjects, who participated in the German multi-centre study examining the effects of heroin-assisted treatment in patients with severe opioid dependence. Data for the present analysis were taken from baseline and 12-month follow up.. Under both forms of maintenance and psychosocial treatment HRQOL improved significantly during the observation period. HRQOL improvement under maintenance with heroin exceeded improvement under methadone, especially with regard to subjective physical health. HRQOL improvement was significantly associated with better expert-rated physical health. Further analyses showed significant better improvement of HRQOL in subjects treated with PSE compared with CM.. The advantage of heroin with regard to the improvement of HRQOL may be partially explained by a better improvement of physical health under maintenance with heroin compared with methadone, which highlights the importance of a comprehensive model of health care for patients with severe opioid dependence. Future studies need to investigate the benefits of PSE for patients in maintenance therapy. Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Case Management; Counseling; Education; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interview, Psychological; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Quality of Life; Young Adult | 2010 |
Effects of heroin-assisted treatment on alcohol consumption: findings of the German randomized controlled trial.
Alcohol has been suggested to be a risk factor for opioid-dependent patients in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Literature shows that MMT has limited effects on alcohol use. Nevertheless, a decrease in alcohol use was detected in the Swiss heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) study. In this article, we carry out an in-depth analysis of the German HAT trial with the aim of determining whether alcohol use was affected among patients undergoing HAT and MMT. Analysis was carried out using self-reported data on consumption units of alcohol used (CU), Addiction Severity Index composite scores (ASI CSs), and carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) measures. Results suggest significant reduction of CU and CDT in both groups, yet larger effects in the HAT group. ASI CS significantly decreased in the HAT but not in the MMT group. The greater benefit of HAT in reducing alcohol use may be due to the greater daily frequency of dispensing heroin coupled with a requirement of sobriety at each dosing occasion. Topics: Adult; Alcohol Drinking; Germany; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Transferrin; Treatment Outcome | 2009 |
Scientific and political challenges in North America's first randomized controlled trial of heroin-assisted treatment for severe heroin addiction: rationale and design of the NAOMI study.
Heroin addiction is a chronic relapsing disease, best treated with opioid-agonist substitution therapy such as methadone maintenance. However, a subset of the most severely affected individuals do not benefit sufficiently from this treatment. The North American Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI) is a randomized clinical trial (RCT) to evaluate the hypothesis that pharmaceutical-grade heroin, diacetylmorphine (DAM) is more effective in retaining patients and improving their outcomes than Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) among those with chronic, refractory injection opioid dependence.. The study aimed at randomizing 253 participants to two intervention arms: (1) MMT alone or (2) injectable opioids (DAM or hydromorphone) plus adjunctive MMT if deemed appropriate. The planned study duration was 3 years, with a 1-year intake period, 1 year of treatment, and an additional year of follow-up. The NAOMI trial was initiated in March 2005 at two Canadian sites (Vancouver and Montreal). This was the first multicenter RCT in North America to compare the relative efficacy of these different therapeutic strategies. We discuss the rationale behind the NAOMI study design, as well as the scientific and political issues and methodological challenges arising from the conduct of a trial that involves the prescription of a controlled substance to individuals with dependence on that substance.. Restrictive entry criteria led to the exclusion of many otherwise eligible participants, slowing recruitment into the study. Inability to offer DAM treatment beyond 12 months led to artificial boundary effects in the trial.. Addiction treatment research navigates between science and politics, and evidence-based medicine is many times confronted by moral beliefs. Political considerations influence study design to a further degree than in RCTs treating less-stigmatized disorders with more-reputable medications. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endpoint Determination; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; North America; Politics; Research Design; Treatment Outcome | 2009 |
Efficacy of prescribed injectable diacetylmorphine in the Andalusian trial: Bayesian analysis of responders and non-responders according to a multi domain outcome index.
The objective of this research was to evaluate data from a randomized clinical trial that tested injectable diacetylmorphine (DAM) and oral methadone (MMT) for substitution treatment, using a multi-domain dichotomous index, with a Bayesian approach.. Sixty two long-term, socially-excluded heroin injectors, not benefiting from available treatments were randomized to receive either DAM or MMT for 9 months in Granada, Spain. Completers were 44 and data at the end of the study period was obtained for 50. Participants were determined to be responders or non responders using a multi-domain outcome index accounting for their physical and mental health and psychosocial integration, used in a previous trial. Data was analyzed with Bayesian methods, using information from a similar study conducted in The Netherlands to select a priori distributions. On adding the data from the present study to update the a priori information, the distribution of the difference in response rates were obtained and used to build credibility intervals and relevant probability computations.. In the experimental group (n = 27), the rate of responders to treatment was 70.4% (95% CI 53.287.6), and in the control group (n = 23), it was 34.8% (95% CI 15.354.3). The probability of success in the experimental group using the a posteriori distributions was higher after a proper sensitivity analysis. Almost the whole distribution of the rates difference (the one for diacetylmorphine minus methadone) was located to the right of the zero, indicating the superiority of the experimental treatment.. The present analysis suggests a clinical superiority of injectable diacetylmorphine compared to oral methadone in the treatment of severely affected heroin injectors not benefiting sufficiently from the available treatments.. Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN52023186. Topics: Administration, Oral; Bayes Theorem; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections; Methadone; Narcotics; Treatment Outcome | 2009 |
Diacetylmorphine versus methadone for the treatment of opioid addiction.
Studies in Europe have suggested that injectable diacetylmorphine, the active ingredient in heroin, can be an effective adjunctive treatment for chronic, relapsing opioid dependence.. In an open-label, phase 3, randomized, controlled trial in Canada, we compared injectable diacetylmorphine with oral methadone maintenance therapy in patients with opioid dependence that was refractory to treatment. Long-term users of injectable heroin who had not benefited from at least two previous attempts at treatment for addiction (including at least one methadone treatment) were randomly assigned to receive methadone (111 patients) or diacetylmorphine (115 patients). The primary outcomes, assessed at 12 months, were retention in addiction treatment or drug-free status and a reduction in illicit-drug use or other illegal activity according to the European Addiction Severity Index.. The primary outcomes were determined in 95.2% of the participants. On the basis of an intention-to-treat analysis, the rate of retention in addiction treatment in the diacetylmorphine group was 87.8%, as compared with 54.1% in the methadone group (rate ratio for retention, 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35 to 1.95; P<0.001). The reduction in rates of illicit-drug use or other illegal activity was 67.0% in the diacetylmorphine group and 47.7% in the methadone group (rate ratio, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.77; P=0.004). The most common serious adverse events associated with diacetylmorphine injections were overdoses (in 10 patients) and seizures (in 6 patients).. Injectable diacetylmorphine was more effective than oral methadone. Because of a risk of overdoses and seizures, diacetylmorphine maintenance therapy should be delivered in settings where prompt medical intervention is available. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00175357.) Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Double-Blind Method; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydromorphone; Illicit Drugs; Injections; Male; Methadone; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2009 |
Results of the first North American prescription heroin study are promising.
In October 2008, the North American Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI) research team released the primary outcomes of a randomized controlled trial aimed at testing whether the provision of pharmaceutical-grade heroin under medical supervision benefits people suffering from chronic opiate addictions who have not benefitted from other treatments. The treatment phase was completed in June 2008. Retention and response rates were high, suggesting that heroin-assisted therapy is a safe and highly effective treatment for people with chronic heroin addiction. Topics: Adult; Canada; Drug Prescriptions; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; North America | 2008 |
Prospective randomised comparative study of the effect of buprenorphine, methadone and heroin on the course of pregnancy, birthweight of newborns, early postpartum adaptation and course of the neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in women followed up in the
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of substitution therapy in heroin addicted pregnant women on the course of pregnancy, perinatal outcomes and course of the neonatal abstinence syndrome.. A five-year randomised prospective comparative study. The study was carried out in the period of 2002-2007. The group of patients included 147 i.v. heroin-addicted pregnant women. All of them were outpatients of our Perinatal Care Unit. Their daily dose of heroin was approximately lg. Later, 30 women were disqualified from the study for breaking the randomised criteria engagement. The substitution therapy in women who agreed to undergo it, started during the I. trimester of pregnancy. Finally, 47 heroin, 32 methadone and 38 buprenorphine addicted women were enrolled in the study. Birthweight of newborns was compared with the national birthweight tables. Severity and duration of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) were evaluated by Finnegan s score scale.. None of the women delivered before the end of 34th gestational week. We did not encounter any perinatal death or developmental defect. The lowest birthweight, the highest number of newborns with IUGR and the most numerous placental changes were found in the group of heroin-addicted women. The differences compared to the two groups receiving substitution therapy were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The severity and course of NAS were the most severe (p < 0.001) in newborns of women from the methadone group.. Comparison of the groups of outpatients is in many ways questionable because of the restricted possibility of the patients' control. The lifestyle of addicted women has the same impact as the drug use alone. This is probably the main reason for differences in some of the monitored parameters between individual groups. Based on our results we can state that substitution therapy provides pregnant women with the possibility of social stabilization and adequate prenatal care. substitution therapy decreases the street heroin consumption. Methadone notably protracts the newborn's abstinence syndrome. With regard to this fact, attention has been recently focused on substitution with buprenorphine that seems to be from this viewpoint a more considerate option. Topics: Adult; Birth Weight; Buprenorphine; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Life Style; Methadone; Narcotics; Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; Outpatients; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Prospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index | 2008 |
[Emotional response to affective stimuli in subjects addicted to opiates engaged in controlled use as part of the P.E.P.S.A].
The main objective of this study was to analyze emotional response to a set of everyday emotional visual stimuli unrelated to drug use. Two groups of prescribed opiate drug abusers (heroin+methadone vs. methadone-only groups) currently participating in the Andalusian Experimental Prescribed Drug Program (Programa Experimental de Prescripcion de Estupefacientes de Andalucia, PEPSA) were studied, and comparisons made between them, within them for different phases, and between them and a normative group of nonusers. For this purpose we used the I.C.E.R.E., an instrument based on the I.A.P.S. (International Affective Picture System) and on Peter Lang's S.A.M. (Self-Assessment Manikin). The results showed patterns of emotional response in the opiate users, compared to the non-users, characterized by a lower rating of the everyday natural stimuli of a pleasant nature and a greater sensitivity to the stimuli of a neutral and negative nature. These patterns were quite stable even in different clinical situations and stages of development of the P.E.P.S.A. Topics: Adult; Affect; Drug Prescriptions; Expressed Emotion; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Narcotics; Severity of Illness Index; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2008 |
Long-term effects of heroin-assisted treatment in Germany.
Trials in Switzerland, the Netherlands and Spain have found that heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) as maintenance treatment for opioid-dependent patients reduces illicit drug use. A German trial also found diamorphine treatment to be superior to methadone treatment. The present study describes the association between 2 years of heroin treatment and improvements in health and social stabilization, as well as illicit drug use.. A prospective cohort study design.. A total of 515 patients were assigned to diamorphine treatment; 278 patients remained in the study treatment for the entire period of 24 months (54.8%).. The results on physical (Opiate Treatment Index Health Symptoms Scale) and mental (Symptom Checklist 90-Revised Global Severity Index) health and illicit drug use (number of days with drug use within the last month-European Addiction Severity Index) were examined by repeated-measures analyses.. Symptoms of physical (Pillai's trace = 0.837, df = 4, P < 0.001) and mental health (Pillai's trace = 0.450, df = 4, P < 0.001) improved during treatment. Street heroin use declined rapidly (Pillai's trace = 0.836, df = 4, P < 0.001), as did cocaine use (Pillai's trace = 0.280, df = 4, P < 0.001).. HAT is associated with improvements in mental and physical health in the long term. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Female; Germany; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Time; Treatment Outcome | 2008 |
Cue exposure therapy for the treatment of opiate addiction: results of a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Persistent cue reactivity to drug-related stimuli is a well-known phenomenon among abstinent drug users and has been found to be a predictor of relapse. Cue exposure therapy (CET) aims to reduce this cue reactivity by exposing abstinent drug users to conditioned drug-related stimuli while preventing their habitual response, i.e. drug use.. 127 abstinent heroin-dependent Dutch inpatients were randomized to CET (n = 65; 55 completers) and placebo psychotherapy treatment (PPT) (n = 62; 59 completers). It was examined whether CET would lead to a decrease in drug-related cue reactivity (using mixed-design ANOVA) and subsequently to lower dropout and relapse rates (using logistic regression) compared to PPT.. Both groups responded with a similar decrease in self-reported cue reactivity (craving, mood). The CET group did show a significant decrease in physiological reactivity (skin conductance) compared to PPT. However, dropout and relapse rates were, contrary to our expectations, significantly higher in the CET group.. This is the first randomized controlled trial showing that CET, compared to a non-specific psychotherapy, might increase dropout and relapse rates among abstinent heroin-dependent clients in a drug-free setting. Caution is warranted when applying CET in this specific context. Topics: Adult; Arousal; Cues; Desensitization, Psychologic; Female; Galvanic Skin Response; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Netherlands; Patient Dropouts; Psychotherapy; Secondary Prevention; Self Efficacy; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Treatment Failure | 2007 |
Patterns of nonfatal heroin overdose over a 3-year period: findings from the Australian treatment outcome study.
To determine annual patterns and correlates of nonfatal heroin overdose across 3 years, data were analyzed on 387 heroin users recruited for the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS), interviewed at 12, 24, and 36 months. A heroin overdose across follow-up was reported by 18.6%, and naloxone had been administered to 11.9%. Annual rates of overdose declined between baseline and 12 months and then remained stable. Previous overdose experience was strongly related to subsequent overdose. Those with a history of overdose before ATOS were significantly more likely to overdose during the study period. In particular, there was a strong association between overdose experience in any 1 year and increased overdose risk in the subsequent year. This is the first study to examine long-term annual trends in nonfatal heroin overdose. While overdose rates declined after extensive treatment, substantial proportions continued to overdose in each year, and this was strongly associated with overdose history. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Buprenorphine; Cohort Studies; Drug Overdose; Episode of Care; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Incidence; Interviews as Topic; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Needle-Exchange Programs; New South Wales; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Treatment Outcome | 2007 |
Prevalence and correlates of indirect sharing practices among young adult injection drug users in five U.S. cities.
Sharing of drug paraphernalia to prepare, measure and divide drugs for injection remains an important residual risk factor for hepatitis C and other blood-borne infections among injection drug users (IDUs) especially as sharing of syringes for injection decreases.. We analyzed data from five U.S. cities to determine the prevalence and independent correlates of non-syringe paraphernalia-sharing (NSPS) and syringe-mediated drug-splitting (SMDS) among 15-30-year-old IDUs who reported not injecting with others' used syringes (receptive syringe-sharing, RSS).. NSPS was reported by 54% of IDUs who did not practice RSS and was independently associated (p<0.05) with having > or =5 injection partners, injecting with sex partners or regular injection partners, injecting in shooting galleries, peers' sharing behaviors, lower self-efficacy for avoiding NSPS, and less knowledge of HIV and HCV transmission. SMDS was reported by 26% of IDUs who did not practice RSS, and was independently associated with having > or =5 injection partners, injecting in shooting galleries, and inversely associated with unknown HIV status.. NSPS and SMDS were common among young adult IDUs. Increased efforts to prevent these risky practices should address social and environmental contexts of injection and incorporate knowledge and skills building, self-efficacy, and peer norms. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Data Collection; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Needle Sharing; Patient Selection; Research Design; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; United States; Urban Population | 2007 |
A stepped care strategy using buprenorphine and methadone versus conventional methadone maintenance in heroin dependence: a randomized controlled trial.
Both methadone and buprenorphine are effective therapy for heroin dependence. Efficacy is best documented for methadone maintenance therapy, but safety concerns limit its use. Buprenorphine offers lower overdose risk and improved access, but efficacy may be lower. The authors compared adaptive, buprenorphine-based stepped care to optimal methadone maintenance treatment.. This randomized controlled trial was undertaken 2004-2006. It consisted of a 24-day uniform double-blind induction phase followed by single-blind flexible dosing based on structured clinical criteria, for a total of 6 months. Ninety-six self-referred subjects with heroin dependence were randomly assigned to methadone or to stepped treatment initiated with buprenorphine/naloxone and escalated to methadone if needed. All subjects received intensive behavioral treatment. Primary outcome was retention in treatment. Secondary outcomes were completer analyses of problem severity (Addiction Severity Index) and proportion of urine samples free of illicit drugs.. Overall, 6-month retention was 78%. Stepped treatment and methadone maintenance therapy outcomes were virtually identical. Among completers of stepped therapy, 46% remained on buprenorphine/naloxone. Proportion of urine samples free of illicit opiates increased over time and ultimately reached approximately 80% in both arms. Problem severity decreased significantly and uniformly in both arms.. A stepped treatment of heroin dependence as described here appears equally efficacious compared to optimally delivered methadone maintenance therapy. Together with prior data on the advantageous safety of buprenorphine, this suggests that broad implementation of strategies using buprenorphine as first-line treatment should be considered. Topics: Adult; Behavior Therapy; Buprenorphine; Combined Modality Therapy; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Combinations; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Methadone; Naloxone; Patient Compliance; Patient Dropouts; Severity of Illness Index; Single-Blind Method; Substance Abuse Detection; Treatment Outcome | 2007 |
Pattern of regional cerebral blood-flow changes induced by acute heroin administration--a perfusion MRI study.
Although both the subjective and physiological effects of abused psychotropic substances have been characterized, less is known about their effects on brain function. We examined the actions of intravenous diacetylmorphine (heroin), the most widely abused opioid, on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), as assessed by perfusion-weighted MR imaging (PWI) in a double-blind and placebo-controlled setting.. Eight male subjects dependent of diacetylmorphine (mean age 36 years, range: 26 to 44 years), who had participated in a clinical diacetylmorphine maintenance program, underwent PWI with gadolinium injection. At two sessions separated by 2-7 days, the participants were examined 80 s after intravenous administration of either diacetylmorphine or saline. rCBF in four regions of interest (amygdala, vermis of the cerebellum, anterior cingulated cortex and thalamus) was compared with heroin versus placebo.. In the cerebellum, thalamus and cingulated cortex, there were no significant differences in perfusion values between diacetylmorphine and placebo. In the amygdala, perfusion values were 0.8+/-0.4 and 0.5+/-0.2 on the left, and 0.9+/-0.4 and 0.6+/-0.3 on the right, with diacetylmorphine and with placebo, respectively (t-test results were P=0.044 and P=0.033 on the left and right sides, respectively). Other differences in perfusion values between the drug and placebo did not reach statistical significance.. Perfusion MRI demonstrated differences in brain hemodynamics induced by drug intake. Topics: Adult; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Cross-Over Studies; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Narcotics | 2007 |
Safety and efficacy of oral slow release morphine for maintenance treatment in heroin addicts: a 6-month open noncomparative study.
This open-label, noncomparative, single-center trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of once-daily treatment with slow release oral morphine (SROM) capsules for the maintenance treatment of 20 outpatients with heroin dependency over 6 months at the National Institute for Addictions in Sofia, Bulgaria. Doses were individually titrated up to a mean daily maintenance dose of 760 mg (range 440-1,200 mg). SROM was effective in significantly reducing the signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal and craving for heroin, with stabilization generally evident within two weeks. Nineteen patients completed 6 months of treatment and illicit opioid use was virtually eliminated. One patient withdrew voluntarily at 22 weeks. Validated questionnaires and tests indicated improvements in patients' well-being from baseline assessments. These included significant improvements with regard to suicidal depression (85%), anxiety and dysphoria (66%), general illness (58%), social dysfunction (54%), sense of hopelessness (34%), attention (25%), and self-reported typical depressive (27%) and disease-related (11%) symptoms. No deaths, serious adverse events, or withdrawals due to adverse events occurred. Five episodes of constipation and one episode of sweating (all nonserious and of mild or moderate severity) were reported. Vital signs were unaffected by SROM and no weight change was evident over the study period. The observations made in this study indicate a promising role for once-daily treatment with SROM in the clinical management of heroin dependency. Topics: Adult; Bulgaria; Capsules; Delayed-Action Preparations; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Morphine; Quality of Life; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Treatment Outcome | 2006 |
Feasibility and acceptability of an intranasal diamorphine spray as an alternative to injectable diamorphine for maintenance treatment.
An intranasal (IN) diamorphine spray was investigated as a possible alternative to injectable diamorphine for maintenance treatment. Plasma morphine and 6-monoacetylmorphine (6MAM) concentrations and pharmacodynamic responses were measured for 4 h following intravenous (IV) and IN administration of 40 mg diamorphine in 4 patients prescribed injectable diamorphine. The two routes were primarily differentiated by the significantly greater speed and magnitude of peak plasma morphine and 6MAM concentrations for IV versus IN diamorphine. Beyond this initial peak, mean ratings suggested that withdrawal suppression and positive effects were at least as strong for IN compared to IV administration. All subjects gave favourable appraisals of the IN diamorphine spray, citing advantages including ease of use, the avoidance of needle hazards, and reduced stigma. IN administration may be an alternative or supplementary form of diamorphine maintenance and deserves serious further investigation. Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Biological Availability; Cross-Over Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; Morphine Derivatives; Narcotics; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2006 |
Population pharmacokinetics of heroin and its major metabolites.
In several European countries and in Canada, clinical trials are being conducted in which heroin-addicted patients are treated with pharmaceutically prepared heroin in order to reduce the destructive behaviour that is so often associated with this drug.. To develop an integrated population pharmacokinetic model for heroin (diamorphine) and its pharmacodynamically active metabolites 6-acetylmorphine, morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide. Additionally, the influence on heroin pharmacokinetics of several covariates that are typical for this population was determined.. Plasma concentration data from 106 heroin-dependent patients in The Netherlands (74 heroin inhalers and 32 injectors) were obtained. The 'chasing the dragon' technique was used for inhalation, in which the fumes of heroin base, heated on aluminum foil, were inhaled. Heroin doses varied between 66 and 450 mg. Heroin, 6-acetylmorphine and morphine data were fitted simultaneously using sequential two-compartment models. Morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide data were fitted separately to one-compartment models. All data analysis was performed using nonlinear mixed-effect modelling.. The bioavailability of inhaled heroin was estimated to be 53% (95% CI 43.7, 62.3). The terminal half-lives of heroin and 6-acetylmorphine were estimated to be 7.6 and 21.8 minutes, respectively. The clearances of morphine and the morphine-glucuronides were estimated to be 73.6 L/h (95% CI 62.8, 84.4) and between 6 and 10 L/h, respectively. The terminal half-life of 6-acetylmorphine was 13% lower in cocaine users (p < 0.05). No other significant relationships between covariates and pharmacokinetic parameters were discovered.. Pharmacokinetic parameters of heroin and its five major metabolites were assessed simultaneously in one integrated model. Covariate analyses revealed that sex, bodyweight, benzodiazepine use and creatinine clearance (>60 mL/min) do not need to be taken into account in the medical prescription of pharmaceutically prepared heroin for the treatment of heroin dependency. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Biological Availability; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Biological; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Narcotics; Netherlands | 2006 |
Relationship between plasma cortisol levels, withdrawal symptoms and craving in abstinent and treated heroin addicts.
Twelve-month treatment of heroin addicts with methadone or buprenorphine normalized plasma cortisol levels, and controlled withdrawal symptoms as well as craving. During treatment, the time course of plasma cortisol levels and craving was not strictly correlated: heroin craving was more elevated at 12 than at 3 months. The results suggest a correlation between hypercortisolism, withdrawal symptoms and heroin use and suppose a more complex role for craving and its components in drug-taking behaviour. The main goal of the pharmacological treatment of opioid-dependence should be addressed at the normalization of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis more than at the control of craving. Topics: Adult; Buprenorphine; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Male; Methadone; Motivation; Narcotics; Pituitary-Adrenal System; Statistics as Topic; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2006 |
Depot naltrexone: antagonism of the reinforcing, subjective, and physiological effects of heroin.
Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist that is currently approved as a treatment for opioid and alcohol dependence. Although it is highly effective in completely antagonizing the effects of opioids, medication noncompliance is a difficult obstacle to treatment. Therefore, a sustained-release form of naltrexone may improve treatment outcome.. The present study was designed to evaluate the time course, safety, and effectiveness of a depot formulation of naltrexone (Depotrex).. Five heroin-dependent individuals participated in an 8-week inpatient study. After a 1-week detoxification period, the effects of a range of heroin doses (0, 6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg, i.v.) were examined. Participants then received 384 mg naltrexone base. The effects of heroin were again evaluated for the next 6 weeks. One dose of heroin was tested per day and the entire dose range was tested each week. Doses were administered in non-systematic order. During a morning sample session, participants received a dose of heroin and $20 and subjective, performance, and physiological effects were measured both before and after drug administration. During an afternoon choice session, participants were given the opportunity to choose the sampled heroin dose and/or amount of money using a modified progressive ratio procedure.. Depot naltrexone antagonized both the reinforcing and subjective effects of heroin for 4-5 weeks. Subjective ratings of withdrawal were reduced after week 2 and throughout the remainder of the study. The effects of heroin on mean trough pupil diameter began to emerge by week 5. There were no clinically significant effects on respiratory or cardiovascular function.. The present results extend our previous findings by showing that the reinforcing effects of heroin were reduced for 4-5 weeks after administration of 384 mg depot naltrexone. Topics: Adult; Affect; Cardiovascular System; Choice Behavior; Delayed-Action Preparations; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Liver; Male; Middle Aged; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Pupil; Self Administration; Time Factors; Token Economy | 2006 |
A prospective cohort study on orally administered heroin substitution for severely addicted opioid users.
To assess the efficacy and safety of orally administered heroin [diacetylmorphine (DAM)] tablets in substitution treatment of severely addicted opioid users.. An open-label, prospective cohort study with two non-randomly assigned treatment arms and historical controls: DAM tablets only versus DAM tablets combined with injected DAM and/or other opioids, with an observation period of 1 year.. Twenty-one out-patient treatment centres of the Swiss heroin-assisted treatment programme.. A total of 128 patients received DAM tablets only, and 237 patients received a combination of orally and intravenously applied DAM and other opioids.. Retention rate after 1 year; number of serious adverse events; dosage of DAM over time; subjective tolerance of study medication.. In the intention-to-treat analysis, 1-year retention rates after 1 year in the DAM tablets-only group [0.804, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.735-0.873] as well as in the subgroup combining oral application of DAM with intravenous application or other opioids (0.843, 95% CI = 0.797-0.889) were higher compared to historical controls (Swiss cohort of patients who had been substituted intravenously with DAM; 1-year retention rate = 0.70). Rates of serious adverse events under study medication (tablets only = 0.038 per application year; tablets in combination = 0.028 per application year) were comparable to the historical rate of the Swiss heroin-assisted treatment (0.043).. DAM tablets seem to be an effective and safe application mode of heroin-assisted substitution treatment. Randomized clinical trials to compare its relative efficacy to other substances are necessary. Topics: Adult; Cohort Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Prospective Studies; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Treatment Outcome | 2006 |
Naltrexone with or without fluoxetine for preventing relapse to heroin addiction in St. Petersburg, Russia.
This randomized placebo-controlled trial tested the efficacy of oral naltrexone with or without fluoxetine for preventing relapse to heroin addiction and for reducing HIV risk, psychiatric symptoms, and outcome. All patients received drug counseling with parental or significant-other involvement to encourage adherence. Patients totaling 414 were approached, 343 gave informed consent, and 280 were randomized (mean age, 23.6 +/- 0.4 years). At 6 months, two to three times as many naltrexone patients as naltrexone placebo patients remained in treatment and had not relapsed, odds ratio (OR) = 3.5 (1.96-6.12), p < .0001. Overall, adding fluoxetine did not improve outcomes, OR = 1.35 (0.68-2.66), p = .49; however, women receiving naltrexone and fluoxetine showed a trend toward a statistically significant advantage when compared to women receiving naltrexone and fluoxetine placebo, OR = 2.4 (0.88-6.59), p = .08. HIV risk, psychiatric symptoms, and overall adjustment were markedly improved among all patients who remained on treatment and did not relapse, regardless of group assignment. More widespread use of naltrexone could be an important addition to addiction treatment and HIV prevention in Russia. Topics: Adult; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; Combined Modality Therapy; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Fluoxetine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Psychotherapy; Russia; Secondary Prevention; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2006 |
Heroin and cocaine craving and use during treatment: measurement validation and potential relationships.
Although commonly assessed with unidimensional scales, craving has been suggested to be multifaceted and to have a complex relationship with drug use and relapse. This study assessed the consistency and predictive validity of unidimensional and multidimensional craving scales. At the beginning of a 12-week outpatient treatment trial, opiate users (n = 101) and cocaine users (n = 72) completed unidimensional visual analog scales (VASs) assessing "want," "need," and "craving" and multidimensional 14- and 45-item versions of the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire (CCQ) or Heroin Craving Questionnaire (HCQ). Spearman correlations between the VASs and the first-order factors from the 45-item CCQ/HCQ were .20-.40, suggesting that the two types of assessment were not redundant. Treatment dropout and in-treatment drug use were more frequently predicted by scores on the 14- or 45-item CCQ than by VAS ratings. Results suggest that the CCQ/HCQ and the 14-item CCQ provide information that unidimensional VASs do not. Topics: Adult; Ambulatory Care; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motivation; Pain Measurement; Patient Dropouts; Personality Inventory; Psychometrics; Recurrence; Reproducibility of Results; Self Efficacy; Statistics as Topic; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Refusal | 2006 |
Matching of treatment-resistant heroin-dependent patients to medical prescription of heroin or oral methadone treatment: results from two randomized controlled trials.
To investigate which baseline patient characteristics of treatment-resistant heroin addicts differentially predicted treatment response to medical heroin prescription compared to standard methadone maintenance treatment.. Two open-label randomized controlled trials; pooled data.. Methadone maintenance programmes and heroin treatment centres in six cities in the Netherlands.. Four hundred and thirty heroin addicts.. Methadone plus injectable heroin or methadone plus inhalable heroin compared to methadone alone prescribed over 12 months: heroin maximum 1000 mg per day, methadone maximum 150 mg per day.. Dichotomous, multi-domain response index, including validated indicators of physical health, mental status and social functioning.. Data of the inhalable and injectable heroin trials were pooled. Intention-to-treat analysis showed that treatment with medically prescribed heroin plus methadone was significantly more effective (51.8% response) than standard methadone maintenance treatment (28.7%) (95% CI of response difference: 14.1-32.2%). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that only one of all baseline characteristics was predictive of a differential treatment effect: patients who had previously participated in abstinence-orientated treatment responded significantly better to heroin-assisted treatment than to methadone treatment (61% versus 24%), while patients without experience in abstinence-orientated treatment did equally well in heroin-assisted or methadone maintenance treatment (39% and 38%, respectively).. The effect of heroin-assisted treatment is not dependent on clinical characteristics, with the exception of previous abstinence-orientated treatment: medical prescription of heroin is most effective for those patients who have previously participated in abstinence-orientated treatment. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Drug Resistance; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections; Logistic Models; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Netherlands; Patient Compliance; Regression Analysis | 2005 |
Population pharmacokinetics of caffeine and its metabolites theobromine, paraxanthine and theophylline after inhalation in combination with diacetylmorphine.
The stimulant effect of caffeine, as an additive in diacetylmorphine preparations for study purposes, may interfere with the pharmacodynamic effects of diacetylmorphine. In order to obtain insight into the pharmacology of caffeine after inhalation in heroin users, the pharmacokinetics of caffeine and its dimethylxanthine metabolites were studied. The objectives were to establish the population pharmacokinetics under these exceptional circumstances and to compare the results to published data regarding intravenous and oral administration in healthy volunteers. Diacetylmorphine preparations containing 100 mg of caffeine were used by 10 persons by inhalation. Plasma concentrations of caffeine, theobromine, paraxanthine and theophylline were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Non-linear mixed effects modelling was used to estimate population pharmacokinetic parameters. The model was evaluated by the jack-knife procedure. Caffeine was rapidly and effectively absorbed after inhalation. Population pharmacokinetics of caffeine and its dimethylxanthine metabolites could adequately and simultaneously be described by a linear multi-compartment model. The volume of distribution for the central compartment was estimated to be 45.7 l and the apparent elimination rate constant of caffeine at 8 hr after inhalation was 0.150 hr(-1) for a typical individual. The bioavailability was approximately 60%. The presented model adequately describes the population pharmacokinetics of caffeine and its dimethylxanthine metabolites after inhalation of the caffeine sublimate of a 100 mg tablet. Validation proved the stability of the model. Pharmacokinetics of caffeine after inhalation and intravenous administration are to a large extent similar. The bioavailability of inhaled caffeine is approximately 60% in experienced smokers. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Administration, Oral; Biological Availability; Caffeine; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Drug Combinations; Drug Interactions; Half-Life; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Methadone; Narcotics; Population; Theobromine; Theophylline | 2005 |
Pharmacokinetic comparison of two methods of heroin smoking: 'chasing the dragon' versus the use of a heating device.
In preparation for a trial on co-prescription of inhalable heroin and methadone, two methods for inhalation of heroin/caffeine tablets were compared: the commonly used method of 'chasing the dragon' and a standardised procedure for inhalation of volatilised heroin, using a heating device. Five male addicts inhaled a tablet of smokable heroin daily for 5 days, alternating the inhalation method. Plasma concentrations of heroin, 6-acetylmorphine, morphine and morphine-3- and -6-glucuronide were determined using a liquid chromatography method with tandem mass spectrometric detection. The exposure to heroin and its metabolites (expressed as areas under the concentration-time curve) was significantly lower after smoking via the heating device than after 'chasing the dragon': heroin 80% and 6-acetylmorphine 73% lower (p < 0.05). Maximal concentrations of heroin and 6-acetylmorphine were also 80% and 70% lower (p < 0.05) after using the heating device. 'Chasing the dragon' is a more efficient inhalation method than inhalation via the heating device. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Caffeine; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Half-Life; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Smoke | 2005 |
Buprenorphine/naloxone reduces the reinforcing and subjective effects of heroin in heroin-dependent volunteers.
Although buprenorphine is effective in treating opioid dependence, optimal maintenance doses of buprenorphine or the buprenorphine/naloxone combination have not yet been established.. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of buprenorphine/naloxone maintenance (2/0.5, 8/2, 32/8 mg sublingual) on the reinforcing and subjective effects of heroin (0, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mg intranasal) in heroin-dependent individuals.. During test weeks, participants (N=7) first sampled a dose of heroin and 20 dollars. During subsequent choice sessions, participants could choose to self-administer heroin and/or money. Participants responded under a modified progressive-ratio schedule (PR 50, ..., 2,800) during a ten-trial self-administration task.. Heroin break point values and subjective responses were significantly lower under 8/2 and 32/8 mg buprenorphine/naloxone compared to 2/0.5 mg. The self-administration and subjective effects data for heroin in the presence of buprenorphine/naloxone were compared to a separate control group of recently detoxified participants (N=8) in order to obtain estimates for the apparent in vivo dissociation constant (K(A)), the efficacy estimate (tau), and the estimated fraction of receptors remaining after buprenorphine/naloxone treatment (q). The apparent in vivo dissociation constant for heroin ranged from 50 to 126 mg (K(A)) and the efficacy estimate ranged from 13 to 20 (tau). In addition, 2/0.5, 8/2, and 32/8 mg buprenorphine/naloxone dose-dependently reduced the receptor population by 74, 83, and 91%, respectively.. These data demonstrate that both 8/2 and 32/8 mg buprenorphine/naloxone were well tolerated and effective in reducing the reinforcing and subjective effects of heroin, relative to the 2/0.5-mg dose. The data also show for the first time in humans that it is possible to quantify the efficacy and affinity of heroin for mu opioid receptors, and that 80-90% of mu receptors need to be inactivated in order to obtain significant reductions in heroin-induced effects. These results have important implications for future studies in which it will be possible to obtain estimates of relative affinity and efficacy of different agonists at mu opioid receptors. Topics: Adult; Buprenorphine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motivation; Naloxone; Narcotics; Reinforcement, Psychology; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Treatment Outcome | 2005 |
EEG spectral power and mean frequencies in early heroin abstinence.
The purpose of the present study was to investigate cumulative heroin effects on brain functioning by studying relationships among electroencephalography (EEG) spectral power and mean frequencies and heroin abuse history. Eyes-closed resting EEG data were collected from the 19 monopolar electrode sites in 33 heroin abusers and 13 age-matched healthy volunteers. The mean age of the patients was 23.1+/-4.5 years, the duration of daily heroin abuse (DDHA) ranged from 4 to 44 months, the intravenous doses of heroin ranged from 0.04 to 1.00 g/day, the abstinence length ranged from 6 days to 4.5 months. General linear model (GLM) repeated measures procedure revealed a significant group effect on the distribution of the mean power spectrum between bands and mean frequencies in almost all analyzed derivations. Further analysis demonstrated that these intergroup differences were diversely related to at least three aspects of heroin-taking history. Frequency shifts in alpha2 range, most prominent in frontal and central derivations, were related to duration of daily heroin consumption. Slowing of alpha1 mean frequency, most prominent in central, temporal, and occipital derivations, was registered mainly in heroin addicts who abused high doses of the drug. Spectral power characteristics of brain electrical activities in our patient population were strongly predicted by abstinence length. The present results give grounds to suppose that chronic heroin-taking induces neuronal oscillation frequency changes, which may contribute to the development of antisocial trends and some semantic processes disturbances in these patients. Supplementary neurophysiological deficit is characteristic for heroin addicts who takes high doses of the drug, however, its relation to heroin abuse remains unclear. Pronounced desynchronization is observed in acute heroin withdrawal, and spectral power characteristics tend to normalize almost completely during several weeks of abstinence. Topics: Adult; Electroencephalography; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Linear Models; Male; Narcotics; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 2004 |
Impaired performance in a test of decision-making by opiate-dependent tobacco smokers.
This study tested whether opiate dependence, tobacco smoking, or their combination accompanied impaired performance on the gambling task (GT), which tests decision-making. GT previously detected impairments in patients with lesions of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and in substance abusers. Four groups were matched on demographic characteristics and intelligence: methadone-maintained smokers (n = 9) and nonsmokers (n = 9), and control (i.e., not opiate-dependent) smokers (n = 9) and nonsmokers (n = 10). The Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST) was administered to test whether differences in GT performance reflected generalized deficits in prefrontal cortical function. While there were no significant group differences on the WCST, groups differed significantly on GT performance (F(3,31) = 2.95, P = 0.048), controlling for depressive symptom ratings and childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Methadone-maintained smokers (but not nonsmokers) performed more poorly than either of the two control groups (P = 0.007 versus smokers; P = 0.024 versus nonsmokers). In a planned analysis of methadone-maintained subjects, smokers scored more poorly on GT than nonsmokers (F(1,18) = 5.64, P = 0.032) and had more treatment failures (67% heroin use during the last 30 days versus 20%). The findings suggest that among opiate-dependent individuals, tobacco smoking may be a marker for a more severe form of substance abuse disorder, reflecting impaired decision-making, as modeled by GT. Topics: Adult; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Comorbidity; Decision Making; Female; Gambling; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Los Angeles; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Prefrontal Cortex; Prospective Studies; Psychometrics; Reference Values; Smoking; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers | 2004 |
Add-on gabapentin in the treatment of opiate withdrawal.
Gabapentin is an antiepileptic drug shown to be effective in the treatment of pain disorders and appears to be useful as well for several psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal and cocaine dependence. Gabapentin, at a dose of 600 mg three times a day, was evaluated as an add-on medication to a standard detoxification regime in seven heroin dependent individuals undergoing outpatient opiate withdrawal treatment. All seven patients successfully completed opiate detoxification and commenced opiate antagonist treatment with naltrexone on day five of withdrawal treatment, as scheduled. No adverse event was noted. Gabapentin appeared to lead a reduction in symptomatic medication and an overall beneficial effect on symptoms of heroin withdrawal. Topics: Acetates; Adult; Amines; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Female; Gabapentin; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Recurrence; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2004 |
Long-term abstinence syndrome in heroin addicts: indices of P300 alterations associated with a short memory task.
Attentional deficits have been implicated in the pathophysiology of opioid addicts. The P300 component of event-related potentials (ERPs) is considered as a manifestation of attentional operations. The authors' goal was the comparison of P300 elicited during a short memory test between subjects with prolonged heroin abstinence and current heroin users as well as healthy controls. The P300 component was evaluated during the anticipatory period of a short memory task in 20 patients characterized by a past history of opioid dependence (6 months abstinence), in 18 current heroin users and in 20 healthy comparison subjects, matched for age, sex and educational level. Abstinent heroin addicts exhibited significant reduction of P300 amplitude at central frontal region, relative to the other two groups. The findings are discussed in connection to the aim of identifying psychophysiological indices, addressing issues in opioid use disorders, and suggest that knowledge about cognitive operations, such as those reflected by P300 component, could provide further insight into psychophysiological mechanisms underlying the long-term abstinence state of heroin addicts. Topics: Acoustic Stimulation; Adult; Cues; Electrooculography; Event-Related Potentials, P300; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Memory, Short-Term; Mental Recall; Narcotics; Neuropsychological Tests; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychomotor Performance; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2004 |
Time series modeling of heroin and morphine drug action.
Clinical observations and recent findings suggested different acceptance of morphine and heroin by intravenous drug users in opiate maintenance programs. We postulated that this is caused by differences in the perceived effects of these drugs, especially how desired and adverse effects of both drugs interacted.. We measured the desired and adverse effects of high doses of injected morphine and heroin in patients to determine the causal interactions between both types of effects and test the hypothesis of a differential mechanism of action.. Thirty-three patients (five females, 28 males; mean duration of previous street heroin use 10.7 years, mean age 30.1 years) were randomly allocated double-blind to the substance groups. The average daily dose per participant in the heroin condition (n=17) was 491 mg, in the morphine condition (n=16) 597 mg. The observation period lasted 3 weeks; an average of 70 injections was received. After each injection of either substance, various aspects of drug effects were recorded systematically. Ratings were summarized into the factors "euphoria" and "adverse effects". Time series models were computed for each participant on the basis of the factor scores, using vector autoregression (VAR).. A highly significant difference between the substances was found in the interaction between "euphoria" and "adverse effects". Adverse effects of heroin preceded higher euphoria, whereas adverse effects of morphine preceded subsequent lower euphoria. Additionally, the finding of a higher level of adverse effects in morphine was replicated.. Results point to different mechanisms of action of the two opioids when the perceived drug effects are evaluated in a field setting. This may explain the better acceptance of heroin in opiate-assisted treatment of intravenous drug patients. The method used can be a valuable tool for the comparison of substance groups other than opioids. Topics: Adult; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Interactions; Euphoria; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Morphine Dependence; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2003 |
Medical prescription of heroin to treatment resistant heroin addicts: two randomised controlled trials.
To determine whether supervised medical prescription of heroin can successfully treat addicts who do not sufficiently benefit from methadone maintenance treatment.. Two open label randomised controlled trials.. Methadone maintenance programmes in six cities in the Netherlands.. 549 heroin addicts.. Inhalable heroin (n = 375) or injectable heroin (n = 174) prescribed over 12 months. Heroin (maximum 1000 mg per day) plus methadone (maximum 150 mg per day) compared with methadone alone (maximum 150 mg per day). Psychosocial treatment was offered throughout.. Dichotomous, multidomain response index, including validated indicators of physical health, mental status, and social functioning.. Adherence was excellent with 12 month outcome data available for 94% of the randomised participants. With intention to treat analysis, 12 month treatment with heroin plus methadone was significantly more effective than treatment with methadone alone in the trial of inhalable heroin (response rate 49.7% v 26.9%; difference 22.8%, 95% confidence interval 11.0% to 34.6%) and in the trial of injectable heroin (55.5% v 31.2%; difference 24.3%, 9.6% to 39.0%). Discontinuation of the coprescribed heroin resulted in a rapid deterioration in 82% (94/115) of those who responded to the coprescribed heroin. The incidence of serious adverse events was similar across treatment conditions.. Supervised coprescription of heroin is feasible, more effective, and probably as safe as methadone alone in reducing the many physical, mental, and social problems of treatment resistant heroin addicts. Topics: Adult; Aged; Directly Observed Therapy; Drug Resistance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Patient Compliance | 2003 |
Rapid detoxification from opioid dependence under general anaesthesia versus standard methadone tapering: abstinence rates and withdrawal distress experiences.
The aim of this work was to study abstinence rates and withdrawal effects of rapid detoxification of opioid-dependents under general anaesthesia (RD-GA) compared to standard methadone tapering (SMT) using a prospective clinical trial with a follow-up of 3 months, as a preliminary study at the Novadic addiction centre in St Oedenrode and St Joseph Hospital in Veghel, the Netherlands. Thirty opioid-dependent patients took part. Outcome measures included urine toxicology screening for opiates to determine abstinence and presence of objective and subjective opioid withdrawal distress symptoms. Statistically significant differences in abstinence rate between RD-GA and SMT were present after one (RD-GA 100% vs. SMT 40%, p < 0.01) and 2 months (RD-GA 93% vs. SMT 33%, p < 0.01). After 3 months the difference in abstinence was still substantial, but no longer statistically significant (RD-GA 67% vs. SMT 33%, p = 0.14). Objective and subjective withdrawal symptoms showed largely identical outcomes and were equally low in the two groups for those who remained in the study. There was a considerably higher percentage of abstinence in the RD-GA group after 1, 2 and 3 months of follow-up accompanied by relatively mild withdrawal symptoms of shorter duration. However, if one completes SMT the data suggest a greater chance of staying clean in the long term than those completing RD-GA. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anesthesia, General; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Male; Methadone; Narcotic Antagonists; Prospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Surveys and Questionnaires | 2003 |
Pharmacokinetics of high doses of intramuscular and oral heroin in narcotic addicts.
In several countries medical prescription of diacetylmorphine is currently being evaluated as a treatment option for heavily dependent narcotic addicts. Because of damaged veins, many patients administer diacetylmorphine intramuscularly or orally. Therefore we characterized the pharmacokinetics of intramuscular and oral diacetylmorphine in the high dose range usually required in narcotic addicts.. Three intramuscular doses, 3 oral doses, and 1 intravenous dose of diacetylmorphine and oral and intravenous test doses of deuterium-labeled morphine (morphine-N-methyl-d3 [morphine-d3]) were administered to 8 heroin-addicted patients. Arterial plasma concentrations of diacetylmorphine, monoacetylmorphine, morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide, morphine-6-glucuronide, and morphine-d3 were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.. Intramuscularly administered diacetylmorphine (=200-250 mg) exhibited linear diacetylmorphine, monoacetylmorphine, and morphine kinetics and resulted in sustained diacetylmorphine exposures (bioavailability, 380% +/- 157% [mean +/- SD]) and in lower and delayed peak monoacetylmorphine and morphine concentrations as compared with intravenous administration. Oral diacetylmorphine (=600 mg) yielded negligible systemic diacetylmorphine and monoacetylmorphine exposures but was associated with linear kinetics and high bioavailabilities for morphine (67% +/- 19%), morphine-3-glucuronide (205% +/- 52%), and morphine-6-glucuronide (180% +/- 61%). In addition, oral diacetylmorphine was absorbed more rapidly and to a greater extent than a concomitant test dose of morphine-d3.. On the basis of the linear pharmacokinetics, the high bioavailability of intramuscular diacetylmorphine, and the rapid and extended morphine absorption from oral diacetylmorphine, the intramuscular and oral routes can be recommended as safe and feasible alternatives to the intravenous route for medical prescription of diacetylmorphine. Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Area Under Curve; Biological Availability; Female; Half-Life; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intramuscular; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Metabolic Clearance Rate; Narcotics | 2003 |
Antagonist-precipitated heroin withdrawal under anaesthetic prior to maintenance naltrexone treatment: determinants of withdrawal severity.
This study sought to characterize antagonist-precipitated heroin withdrawal during and immediately following anaesthesia and to identify the determinants of withdrawal severity and duration in 48 dependent heroin users. Objective withdrawal signs decreased significantly with each naloxone bolus administered under anaesthetic. The cost (amount) of the final heroin administration and the number of hours between last heroin use and commencement of anaesthesia were significant, independent predictors of the severity of withdrawal symptomatology. While 83% (40/48) of participants completed withdrawal according to objective criteria and commenced maintenance naltrexone treatment, almost half (22/48) were unable to commence naltrexone on the day of the procedure due to residual withdrawal signs. Fourteen of these 22 participants subsequently commenced naltrexone (median number of days between admission and commencement of naltrexone was 2, range 1 - 6) while eight left treatment prior to initiation of naltrexone. Significantly fewer of those with more severe withdrawal signs during anaesthesia commenced naltrexone (40% vs. 60%). While the severity and duration of withdrawal symptomatology may be moderated by encouraging participants to reduce (or cease) heroin use close to the time of withdrawal, for a substantial proportion of participants in this study, heroin withdrawal by this antagonist-precipitated procedure was neither rapid nor painless. [Ali R, Thomas P, White J, McGregor C, Danz,C, Gowing L, Stegink A, Athanasos P. Antagonist-precipitated heroin withdrawal under anaesthetic prior to maintenance naltrexone treatment: determinants of withdrawal severity. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Severity of Illness Index; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Surveys and Questionnaires | 2003 |
Depot naltrexone: long-lasting antagonism of the effects of heroin in humans.
Naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, is currently approved as a treatment for heroin dependence. However, naltrexone is generally not well accepted by patients, and medication non-compliance is a difficult obstacle to treatment. A sustained-release form of naltrexone may improve compliance.. The present study was designed to evaluate the time course, safety, and effectiveness of a depot formulation of naltrexone (Depotrex).. Twelve heroin-dependent individuals participated in an 8-week inpatient study. After a 1-week detoxification period, six participants received 192 mg naltrexone base and six participants received 384 mg naltrexone base. For safety, the low dose of depot naltrexone was tested before the high dose. The effects of heroin (0, 6.25, 12.5, 18.75, 25 mg, i.v.) were evaluated for the next 6 weeks. One dose of heroin was tested per day on Mondays through Fridays, and the entire dose range was tested each week. Active heroin doses were administered in ascending order during the week, while placebo could be administered on any day. Subjective, performance, and physiological effects were measured both before and after heroin administration. The hypotheses were that depot naltrexone would antagonize the effects of heroin, and that the high dose of depot naltrexone would produce a more effective and longer-lasting antagonism than the low dose.. The low and high doses of depot naltrexone antagonized heroin-induced subjective ratings for 3 and 5 weeks, respectively. Plasma levels of naltrexone remained above 1 ng/ml for approximately 3 and 4 weeks after administration of 192 mg and 384 mg naltrexone. Other than the initial discomfort associated with the injection of depot naltrexone, there were no untoward side-effects.. These results suggest that this depot formulation of naltrexone provides a safe, effective, long-lasting antagonism of the effects of heroin. Topics: Adult; Affect; Analysis of Variance; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Delayed-Action Preparations; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Pupil | 2002 |
Intravenous buprenorphine self-administration by detoxified heroin abusers.
Several sources indicate that intravenously administered buprenorphine may have significant abuse liability in humans. The present study evaluated the reinforcing effects of intravenously administered buprenorphine (0, 2, and 8 mg) in detoxified heroin-dependent participants during a 7.5-week inpatient study. Participants (n = 6) were detoxified from heroin over a 1.5-week period immediately after admission. Testing subsequently occurred in three 2-week blocks. During the first week of each 2-week block, the reinforcing effects of buprenorphine were evaluated. Participants first received a dose of buprenorphine and $20 and then were given either the opportunity to self-administer the dose or $20 during choice sessions. During the second week of each 2-week block, the direct effects of heroin were measured to evaluate potential long-lasting antagonist effects of buprenorphine. Progressive ratio break-point values were significantly higher after 2 and 8 mg of buprenorphine compared with placebo. Correspondingly, several positive subjective ratings increased after administration of active buprenorphine relative to placebo. Although there were few differences in peak effects produced by 2 versus 8 mg of buprenorphine, the higher buprenorphine dose generally produced longer-lasting effects. Heroin also produced dose-related increases in several subjective effects. Peak ratings produced by heroin were generally higher than peak ratings produced by buprenorphine. There was little evidence of residual antagonism produced by buprenorphine. These results demonstrate that buprenorphine served as a reinforcer under these conditions, and that it may have abuse liability in nonopioid-dependent individuals who abuse heroin. Topics: Adult; Attention; Blood Pressure; Buprenorphine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Psychomotor Performance; Pupil; Reinforcement, Psychology; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Time Factors | 2002 |
The use of intravenous buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid withdrawal in medically ill hospitalized patients.
The aim of this study was to assess the safety of buprenorphine administered intravenously for the treatment of opioid withdrawal in medically ill hospitalized patients. Data regarding demographic information, number of doses of buprenorphine, and measures of buprenorphine's effects were collected via chart reviews for 30 heroin-dependent patients who received buprenorphine intravenously during their hospitalization for an acute medical problem. No respiratory depression was observed, and no patients reported feeling "high." All patients reported that buprenorphine decreased withdrawal symptoms. Thus, intravenous administration of buprenorphine appears to be safe for the treatment of opioid withdrawal. Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Buprenorphine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotic Antagonists; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2002 |
The effectiveness of the medical prescription of heroin studied by randomized trials in The Netherlands, watched suspiciously by parliament and neighborhoods.
Topics: Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Netherlands; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2002 |
Buprenorphine sublingual tablets: effects on IV heroin self-administration by humans.
Studies have shown that buprenorphine, a partial mu opioid agonist, effectively reduces heroin taking. While previous research with buprenorphine utilized a liquid formulation, a tablet formulation is proposed for clinical use. However, because recent research suggests that the liquid and tablet differ in bio-availability, it is unclear what dose of the buprenorphine tablet effectively antagonizes the reinforcing effects of heroin.. The present study was designed to compare the effects of two sublingual doses of buprenorphine maintenance on heroin self-administration.. Eight heroin-dependent men participated in a 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled inpatient study to evaluate the reinforcing effects of intravenous heroin (0, 6.25, 12.5, 25 mg) during maintenance on 8 or 16 mg sublingual buprenorphine. Participants first sampled the available dose of heroin, and then were allowed to respond under a progressive ratio schedule for either heroin or $20. For each heroin dose, one sample session and three choice sessions occurred. Two sessions per day were conducted. A sample session was followed by the first choice session on one day, and the second and third choice sessions occurred on the following day. These sessions were conducted while participants were maintained on daily doses of 8 or 16 mg buprenorphine (3 weeks each).. Relative to placebo, 12.5 and 25 mg heroin produced significant increases in break point values under both maintenance dose conditions. The mean break point value for 12.5 mg heroin was significantly lower under 16 mg buprenorphine, compared to 8 mg.. These results demonstrate that the reinforcing effects of heroin were not fully antagonized by these doses of the tablet formulation of buprenorphine, and that 16 mg buprenorphine reduced heroin self-administration relative to 8 mg. Topics: Administration, Sublingual; Adult; Buprenorphine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Psychomotor Performance; Pupil; Self Administration; Tablets | 2001 |
Arterial and venous pharmacokinetics of intravenous heroin in subjects who are addicted to narcotics.
In Switzerland, medical prescription of heroin (diacetylmorphine) is currently being evaluated as a treatment option for heavily dependent addicts. Therefore the diacetylmorphine pharmacokinetics in opioid-addicted patients was studied.. Three different diacetylmorphine doses (up to 210 mg) and 20 mg deuterium-labeled morphine (morphine-d3) were administered intravenously to 8 heroin-addicted patients. Arterial and venous plasma samples were collected, and diacetylmorphine, monoacetylmorphine, morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide, morphine-6-glucuronide, and morphine-d3 plasma concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.. Maximal arterial concentrations of diacetylmorphine, monoacetylmorphine, and morphine were 2.4, 5.4, and 1.4 times higher and occurred 2 to 3 minutes earlier than maximal venous concentrations. Venous areas under the concentration-time curves (AUC) of diacetylmorphine and monoacetylmorphine were 35% and 26% lower than arterial AUC values, whereas for morphine the venous AUC was 15% higher. Morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide exhibited no arteriovenous differences. AUCs for diacetylmorphine, monoacetylmorphine, and morphine increased linearly with dose. Diacetylmorphine was completely metabolized to morphine. Substantial morphine input into the arterial circulation persisted for up to 90 minutes. The arterial clearances of diacetylmorphine, monoacetylmorphine, and morphine-d3 were 8.7 +/- 2.6, 6.7 +/- 1.6, and 2.3 +/- 0.3 L/min, respectively. The arterial half-lives of diacetylmorphine and morphine-d3 were 2. 4 +/- 0.8 and 88 +/- 21 minutes, respectively.. These data indicate that substantial arteriovenous differences exist for diacetylmorphine and metabolite kinetics, that the pharmacokinetics of diacetylmorphine and metabolites is linear even in the high dose range used by opioid addicts, and that not only diacetylmorphine but also monoacetylmorphine is substantially metabolized peripherally to morphine. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Area Under Curve; Biotransformation; Dealkylation; Female; Half-Life; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intra-Arterial; Injections, Intravenous; Kidney; Liver; Male; Regional Blood Flow | 2001 |
[Dutch research on the effectiveness of medical prescription of heroin; background, research design and preliminary results].
In the Netherlands the total number of heroin addicts amounts to approximately 25,000. Of these about 70% is in contact with the treatment system. The remaining 30% have not been seeking help, believes that no help is needed or has lost faith in a better future altogether. Of those who are in treatment, 30% attempt to stop the use of opiates through participation in drug free abstinence oriented outpatient or inpatient treatment programs. The remaining 70% have given up the outlook of a drug free existence at least temporarily, and they participate in a methadone maintenance program directed at stabilizing drug use, harm minimization and social integration. In two-thirds these goals are not or only partially achieved. For these patients additional treatment options are needed. Medical prescription of heroin is such an option. However, currently no data are available on the effectiveness of this option. The Dutch study on the effectiveness of medical prescription of heroin is an attempt to obtain these data. In the study, simultaneously two randomized trials are being executed: one with inhalable and one with injectable heroin. In these trials, 625 (375 inhalers and 250 injectors) chronic treatment-resistant heroin addicts who are currently enrolled in a methadone maintenance program are offered heroin (in combination with oral methadone) seven days per week, three times per day for a period of six to twelve months. It is a multi-center study with eight treatment units in six cities in the Netherlands (Amsterdam, The Hague, Groningen, Heerlen, Rotterdam, Utrecht). At this moment 180 patients have been randomized. During the treatment no medical complications have been observed and no serious public order or safety problems have occurred. Study participants have been very compliant both with the treatment regimen and the research requirements. The latter is indicated by the fact that 85% of all the two-monthly assessments have been completed. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Drug Prescriptions; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Netherlands; Patient Compliance | 2000 |
Profiles of cognitive dysfunction in chronic amphetamine and heroin abusers.
Groups of subjects whose primary drug of abuse was amphetamine or heroin were compared, together with age- and IQ-matched control subjects. The study consisted of a neuropsychological test battery which included both conventional tests and also computerised tests of recognition memory, spatial working memory, planning, sequence generation, visual discrimination learning, and attentional set-shifting. Many of these tests have previously been shown to be sensitive to cortical damage (including selective lesions of the temporal or frontal lobes) and to cognitive deficits in dementia, basal ganglia disease, and neuropsychiatric disorder. Qualitative differences, as well as some commonalities, were found in the profile of cognitive impairment between the two groups. The chronic amphetamine abusers were significantly impaired in performance on the extra-dimensional shift task (a core component of the Wisconsin Card Sort Test) whereas in contrast, the heroin abusers were impaired in learning the normally easier intra-dimensional shift component. Both groups were impaired in some of tests of spatial working memory. However, the amphetamine group, unlike the heroin group, were not deficient in an index of strategic performance on this test. The heroin group failed to show significant improvement between two blocks of a sequence generation task after training and additionally exhibited more perseverative behavior on this task. The two groups were profoundly, but equivalently impaired on a test of pattern recognition memory sensitive to temporal lobe dysfunction. These results indicate that chronic drug use may lead to distinct patterns of cognitive impairment that may be associated with dysfunction of different components of cortico-striatal circuitry. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Amphetamines; Analysis of Variance; Attention; Chronic Disease; Cognition Disorders; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Language Tests; Male; Memory; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Pattern Recognition, Visual; Reaction Time; Set, Psychology | 2000 |
Plasma catecholamines during an ultrarapid heroin detoxification.
The adrenergic system has long been known to be activated in a situation of stress and thus during opiate withdrawal. A method for detoxification that decreases the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system will prevent changes of catecholamine levels. Some of such methods have been developed. One of them uses direct transition from heroin to oral naltrexone after deep sedation with midazolam in conjunction with naloxone, droperidol, ondansetron, and clonidine treatment for 24 hours. Can such method prevent adrenergic changes? Moreover, 5-HT has been related to mood disorders. This study aims to determine plasma catecholamines and 5-HT before heroin withdrawal, during the day of the withdrawal, and at the ends of the first day, the first week, and the first 6 months. Forty-three patients with more than 6 years of drug abuse volunteered to seek help to detoxify. After clinical evaluation, blood samples were taken. Plasma catecholamines were isolated by standard alumina procedures and measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Only for NE was there a significant decrease in the day of heroin withdrawal with deep sedation, followed the next day by an increase. During the following days, NE plasma concentrations returned slowly to basal levels. Epinephrine and dopamine plasma levels did not significantly change. Platelet 5-HT levels progressively decreased from the day before detoxification until the last period of observation. We also found that there were no abrupt changes in cardiovascular functions. In conclusion, our results suggest that this type of ultrarapid opiate detoxification prevents the dramatic activation of the autonomic nervous system. Topics: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Catecholamines; Drug Administration Routes; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Male; Naloxone; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Systole; Treatment Outcome | 2000 |
A pilot study of naltrexone-accelerated detoxification in opioid dependence.
1. To determine whether naltrexone-accelerated detoxification with minimal sedation is an acceptable and effective form of induction onto naltrexone. 2. To monitor outcomes of detoxified patients.. Observational study.. Medical ward of a general hospital (for detoxification) and a community clinic (for follow-up) in Sydney, NSW, 1998.. 15 heroin users and 15 people seeking withdrawal from methadone.. Detoxification used naltrexone (12.5 or 50 mg), with flunitrazepam (2-3 mg), clonidine (150-750 micrograms) and octreotide (300 micrograms) for symptomatic support. Patients remained awake and were discharged when they felt well enough. Follow-up was daily for four days and then weekly for up to three months for supportive care.. Acute side effects; patient ratings of severity and acceptability of withdrawal; nights of hospitalisation; rates of induction onto naltrexone; retention in treatment over three months; and relapse to opioid use.. Acute withdrawal with delirium lasted about four hours. Octreotide was crucial for controlling vomiting; with octreotide no patient required intravenous fluids. There were no major complications. Eighteen patients (60%) reported that it was a "quite" acceptable procedure, 18 (60%) required only one night's hospitalisation, and 24 (80%) were successfully inducted onto naltrexone (defined as taking naltrexone on Day 8). Three months later, six (20%) were still taking naltrexone (with four of these occasionally using heroin) and seven (23%) were abstinent from opioids, including five not taking naltrexone. Eleven had gone onto methadone maintenance, seven had relapsed to heroin use, and one had died of a heroin overdose.. Rates of induction onto naltrexone were comparable with those reported for accelerated detoxification under sedation, suggesting that it can be performed successfully with minimal sedation. As in other studies of naltrexone maintenance, retention was low, and relapse to heroin use was common. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Analgesics; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Clonidine; Conscious Sedation; Female; Flunitrazepam; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hormones; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Octreotide; Pilot Projects; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 1999 |
Naltrexone shortened opioid detoxification with buprenorphine.
This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the impact on withdrawal symptoms of (i) combining naltrexone with a 4-day buprenorphine taper for short opioid detoxification (NB Group), compared to (ii) using a 4-day buprenorphine taper alone, followed by naltrexone on day 8 (PB Group). Sublingual buprenorphine was administered on days 1-4 (26 mg total). For the NB Group (n = 32) escalating doses of oral naltrexone were given on days 2-8 (placebo day 1). For the PB Group (n = 28) placebo was given on days 1-7 and naltrexone on day 8. Main outcome measures were Observed Opioid Withdrawal scores (OOW, 0-30) and use of medications to treat opioid withdrawal. Of 32 patients in the NB group, 59% experienced clinically relevant withdrawal (defined as OOW > or = 5) on day 2, but, after day 5, none experienced withdrawal. In the PB group, the number of patients experiencing withdrawal increased over time. The first naltrexone dose induced comparable withdrawal in both groups: peak OOW scores were (mean +/- SD) 5.2 +/- 3.3 on day 2 for the NB group, and 4.0 +/- 3.9 on day 8 for the PB group (NS), though, on day 2, 7 patients dropped out in the NB group and none in the PB group, while only one patient dropped out in the PB group on day 8. Throughout the 8-day study, patients in both groups received similar amount of adjunct medication: 0.64 +/- 0.07 mg (NB group) of clonidine vs 0.73 +/- 0.15 mg (PB group; NS). Only 25% of patients required use of sedatives (up to 20 mg diazepam). Starting naltrexone on day 2 appeared to abolish withdrawal symptoms after day 5 and, thus, to shorten the duration of withdrawal symptoms. Peak withdrawal symptoms after naltrexone were of moderate intensity, suggesting that naltrexone combined with buprenorphine is an acceptable and safe treatment for shortened opioid detoxification and induction of naltrexone maintenance. Topics: Adult; Analgesics; Area Under Curve; Buprenorphine; Clonidine; Double-Blind Method; Drug Interactions; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1999 |
The Swiss heroin trials. Scientifically sound?
The objective of this article is to critique a study conducted by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health to evaluate Switzerland's heroin maintenance project. Heroin abusers (N = 1,146) were enrolled in 18 research clinics. Subjects were recruited into three study arms--heroin, morphine, or methadone maintenance, but randomization was unsuccessful, and all received heroin. Medications were self-administered by injection on site. Patients were interviewed at intake and 6-month intervals up to 18 months. A review of the study revealed design weaknesses, including the absence of control groups, lack of corroboration of self-reports, failure to control for the influence of social services on outcome, and the absence of follow-up on those who left the trial prematurely. The program's ability to avert human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission could not be fully evaluated because patients did not consistently submit to HIV testing. The Swiss trials of supervised heroin prescription trials do not withstand scientific scrutiny. Topics: Adult; Drug Prescriptions; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Morphine; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Research Design; Switzerland | 1999 |
Effects of an alternative reinforcer on intravenous heroin self-administration by humans.
Five heroin-dependent research volunteers, maintained on divided daily oral morphine doses, participated in an inpatient study designed to evaluate intravenous (i.v.) heroin self-administration when money ($10, $20 or $40) was concurrently available. Each morning participants received a single injection of heroin (placebo, 6.25, 12.5, 25, or 50 mg/70 kg, i.v.) and each afternoon, they had the opportunity to self-administer all or part of the morning dose. Participants responded under a progressive-ratio schedule (50, 100, ..., 2800) during a 10-trial self-administration task. During each trial, participants could respond for 1/10th of the sampled heroin dose or 1/10th of a single money value. The progressive-ratio value increased independently for each option. The total amount of heroin and/or money chosen during the self-administration task was administered at the end of the task. Heroin dose-dependently increased ratings of 'good drug effect' and 'high', impaired task performance and decreased pupil diameter and blood oxygen saturation. Heroin also dose-dependently increased progressive-ratio break point values, which varied as a function of the alternative money amount. Consistent with previous studies, the present results demonstrate that alternative reinforcers, depending on magnitude, are effective in reducing heroin use in opioid-dependent individuals. Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Blood Pressure; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Morphine; Narcotics; Psychomotor Performance; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Surveys and Questionnaires; Token Economy | 1998 |
Opioid detoxification with delta sleep-inducing peptide: results of an open clinical trial.
Topics: Adult; Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Self-Assessment; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1998 |
Randomised trial of heroin maintenance programme for addicts who fail in conventional drug treatments.
To evaluate an experimental heroin maintenance programme.. Randomised trial.. Outpatient clinic in Geneva, Switzerland.. Heroin addicts recruited from the community who were socially marginalised and in poor health and had failed in at least two previous drug treatments.. Patients in the experimental programme (n=27) received intravenous heroin and other health and psychosocial services. Control patients (n=24) received any other conventional drug treatment (usually methadone maintenance).. Self reported drug use, health status (SF-36), and social functioning.. 25 experimental patients completed 6 months in the programme, receiving a median of 480 mg of heroin daily. One experimental subject and 10 control subjects still used street heroin daily at follow up (difference 44%; 95% confidence interval 16% to 71%). Health status scores that improved significantly more in experimental subjects were mental health (0.58 SD; 0.07 to 1.10), role limitations due to emotional problems (0.95 SD; 0.11 to 1.79), and social functioning (0.65 SD; 0.03 to 1.26). Experimental subjects also significantly reduced their illegal income and drug expenses and committed fewer drug and property related offences. There were no benefits in terms of work, housing situation, somatic health status, and use of other drugs. Unexpectedly, only nine (38%) control subjects entered the heroin maintenance programme at follow up.. A heroin maintenance programme is a feasible and clinically effective treatment for heroin users who fail in conventional drug treatment programmes. Even in this population, however, another attempt at methadone maintenance may be successful and help the patient to stop using injectable opioids. Topics: Adult; Ambulatory Care; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Status; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Income; Infusions, Intravenous; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Narcotics; Switzerland | 1998 |
Alterations of immune functions in heroin addicts and heroin withdrawal subjects.
Conflicting results, both decreased and increased, have been reported concerning the function of T-lymphocytes in heroin addicts. We investigated the alterations of T-lymphocyte proliferative responses and immunophenotypic markers on lymphoid cells in heroin addicts and during different periods of heroin withdrawal in addicted subjects. This study has demonstrated a decrease in the response of T-lymphocytes to 1.2, 2.5, 5 and 10 microg/ml of phytohemagglutinin stimuli in heroin addicts and 1- to 5-day heroin withdrawal subjects compared with controls. Similarly, in an in vitro study, 10(-4), 10(-6) and 10(-8) M concentrations of morphine were shown to suppress 0.6 and 2.5 microg/ml of PHA-stimulated T-lymphocyte obtained from naive subjects. This inhibitory effect of morphine on PHA stimulation was completely abolished by 100 microM naloxone. The immunological parameters of total T-lymphocytes (CD3), T-helper cells (CD4), cytotoxic T-cells (CD8), B-cells and natural killer cells that are the immunophenotypic markers studied by flow cytometric analysis were altered in heroin addicts, 15- to 21-day and 6- to 24-month heroin withdrawal subjects, when compared with controls. These results suggest that heroin addicts and short period (15 to 21 days and 6 to 24 months) of heroin withdrawal have decreases in their immune system functioning and that the heroin withdrawal subjects seem to gradually reverse their immunological parameters to normal levels when withdrawal was sustained >/=2 years. This is the first report examining immune function in heroin withdrawal subjects using the "cold turkey" method. The results are beneficial for further study of the mechanism responsible for the opioid-induced changes in immune function. Topics: Adult; B-Lymphocytes; Female; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Narcotics; Phytohemagglutinins; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; T-Lymphocytes; Time Factors | 1998 |
Dose-related efficacy of levomethadyl acetate for treatment of opioid dependence. A randomized clinical trial.
To compare the clinical efficacy of different doses of levomethadyl acetate hydrochloride (known as LAAM) in the treatment of opioid dependence.. A randomized controlled, double-blind, parallel group, 17-week study.. Outpatient facilities at Johns Hopkins University Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, Md.. Opioid-dependent volunteers (N=180) applying to a treatment-research clinic.. Thrice-weekly (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) oral LAAM dose conditions of 25/25/35 mg, 50/50/70 mg, and 100/100/140 mg and nonmandatory counseling.. Retention in treatment, self-reported heroin use, and opioid-positive urine specimens.. Retention was independent of subjects' sex and dose. Self-reported heroin use decreased in a dose-related manner. At final assessment, patients in the high-dose condition reported using heroin 2.5 of 30 days as compared with 4.1 or 6.3 days for patients in the medium-dose and low-dose conditions, respectively (high dose vs low dose, P<.05); urinalysis results were similarly dose related. Overall, 20 (34%) of 59 patients in the high-dose condition remained opioid-abstinent for 4 consecutive weeks, as compared with 8 (14%) of 59 in the medium-dose and 7 (11%) of 62 in the low-dose conditions (P<.01). Self-report and urinalysis data are consistent with a greater than 90% reduction in illicit opioid use by the high-dose group relative to pretreatment levels.. Opioid substitution treatment with LAAM substantially reduces illicit opioid use. The clinical efficacy of LAAM is positively related to dose. Topics: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Cocaine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadyl Acetate; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Substance-Related Disorders; Treatment Outcome | 1997 |
Three methods of opioid detoxification in a primary care setting. A randomized trial.
Opioid detoxification in a primary care setting followed by ongoing substance abuse treatment may be appropriate for selected opioid-dependent patients.. To compare three pharmacologic protocols for opioid detoxification in a primary care setting.. Randomized, double-blind clinical trial with random assignment to treatment protocols.. A free-standing primary care clinic affiliated with drug treatment programs.. 162 heroin-dependent patients.. Three detoxification protocols: donidine, combined donidine and naltrexone, and buprenorphine.. Successful detoxification (that is, when study participants received a full opioid-blocking dose [50 mg] of naltrexone), treatment retention (8 days), and withdrawal symptoms.. Overall, 65% of participants (36 of 55) who received clonidine, 81% (44 of 54) who received combined clonidine and naltrexone, and 81% (43 of 53) who received buprenorphine were successfully detoxified. Retention did not differ significantly across the groups: 65% of participants (36 of 55) who received clonidine, 54% (29 of 54) who received combined clonidine and naltrexone, and 60% (32 of 53) who received buprenorphine. Participants who received buprenorphine had a significantly lower mean withdrawal symptom score than those who received clonidine or combined clonidine and naltrexone.. Participants in the combined clonidine and naltrexone group and those in the buprenorphine group were more likely to complete detoxification, although retention at 8 days did not differ among the groups. Participants who were assigned to the buprenorphine group experienced less severe withdrawal symptoms than those assigned to the other two groups. Topics: Adolescent; Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Adult; Buprenorphine; Clonidine; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Male; Middle Aged; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Primary Health Care; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1997 |
Sweat testing in opioid users with a sweat patch.
For many years, toxicologists have detected the presence of drugs of abuse in biological materials using blood or urine. In recent years, remarkable advances in sensitive analytical techniques have enabled the analysis of drugs in unconventional samples such as sweat. In a study conducted in a detoxification center, sweat patches were applied to 20 known heroin abusers. Subjects wore the patch with minimal discomfort for five days. During the same period, two urine specimens were also collected. Target drugs analyzed either by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) included opiates (heroin, 6-monoacetylmorphine, morphine, codeine), cocaine (cocaine, benzoylecgonine, ecgonine methyl ester), delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, benzodiazepines (nordiazepam, oxazepam), amphetamines (amphetamine, methamphetamine, methylenedioxyamphetamine [MDA], methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA], methylenedioxyethylamphetamine [MDEA]), and buprenorphine. Patches were positive for opiates in 12 cases. Heroin (37-175 ng/patch) and/or 6-acetylmorphine (60-2386 ng/patch) were identified in eight cases, and codeine exposure (67-4018 ng/patch) was determined in four cases. When detected, heroin was always present in lower concentrations than 6-acetylmorphine, which was the major analyte found in sweat. Cocaine (324 ng/patch) and metabolites were found in only one case. delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (4-38 ng/patch) was identified in nine cases. Benzodiazepine concentrations were very low, ranging from 2 to 44 and from 2 to 15 ng/patch for nordiazepam and oxazepam, respectively. MDEA (121 ng/patch) and its metabolite, MDA (22 ng/patch), were detected in one case. Buprenorphine, which was administered as therapy under close medical supervision, was detected in the range 1.3-153.2 ng/patch with no apparent relationship between the daily dose and amount excreted in sweat. All the urine tests were consistent with the sweat findings, but to identify the same drugs it was necessary to test two urine specimens along with only one sweat specimen. It was concluded that sweat testing appears to offer the advantage of being a relatively noninvasive means of obtaining a cumulative estimate of drug exposure over the period of a week. This new technology may find useful applications in the treatment and monitoring of substance abusers, as the patch provides a long-term continuous monitor of drug exposure or noncompliance. Topics: Amphetamines; Benzodiazepines; Buprenorphine; Cannabinoids; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cocaine; Codeine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Reproducibility of Results; Sweat | 1996 |
Patients intoxicated with heroin or heroin mixtures: how long should they be monitored?
Our investigation was carried out in subjects intoxicated with heroin or heroin mixtures to find out the time interval during which delayed life-threatening complications become manifest, such as pulmonary oedema or relapse into respiratory depression or coma after naloxone treatment. We studied prospectively all drug intoxications between 1991 and 1992. Of the 538 intoxications, we assessed in detail 160 outpatients who lived within the catchment area of our hospital. The outcome variables studied were (1) rehospitalization for pulmonary oedema, (2) relapse into coma, and/or (3) death and cause within 24 h after release from hospital. Deaths occurring outside our hospital have to be reported, as decreed by law, to the Institute for Forensic Medicine. The results of our investigation showed no rehospitalization owing to pulmonary oedema or coma, but one death, outside the hospital, owing to delayed pulmonary oedema. This delayed complication had an incidence of 0.6% (95% confidence interval 0-3.8%). A reintoxication could be excluded in this patient. Based on reliable report, the pulmonary oedema occurred between approximately 2 1/4 and 8 1/4 hours after intoxication. In the literature, only two cases of delayed pulmonary oedema have been reported with reliable time statements (4 and 6 h after hospitalization). We therefore conclude that surveillance for at least 8 h is essential after successful treatment to exclude delayed pulmonary oedema in patients intoxicated with heroin or heroin mixtures. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Benzodiazepines; Cannabis; Drug Interactions; Drug Overdose; Emergency Service, Hospital; Emergency Treatment; Ethanol; Female; Glasgow Coma Scale; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Monitoring, Physiologic; Narcotics; Prospective Studies; Survival Rate; Switzerland; Time Factors | 1995 |
Determination of naltrexone dosage for narcotic agonist blockade in detoxified Asian addicts.
Thirty-eight, adult, male, detoxified, Malaysian opiate addicts participated in this double-blind clinical evaluation of naltrexone. Addicts from three ethnic groups: Chinese, Malays, and Indians received a weekly regimen of naltrexone (100 mg on Days 1 and 3, and 150 mg on Day 5). Subjects were randomly assigned to receive intravenous challenge with either 25 mg heroin or placebo 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after the third naltrexone dose. Physiological and subjective parameters were measured at each challenge interval. Results indicated that naltrexone was effective in blocking the physiological and psychological effects of heroin for at least 48 and 72 h, respectively, in detoxified Malaysian opiate addicts. The efficacy of naltrexone did not differ among the three ethnic groups evaluated in this study. Topics: Adult; Arousal; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Naltrexone; Neurologic Examination; Receptors, Opioid; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 1994 |
Hypercortisolism after opioid discontinuation in rapid detoxification of heroin addicts.
Long-term opioid consumption can induce hypoadrenalism through impairment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Results of the present study showed that, in heroin addicts, saliva cortisol concentrations varied according to the amount of recently consumed heroin and the time elapsed since the last self-administration. Hypercortisolism was observed either after abrupt withdrawal of heroin or the last dose of methadone. Post-detoxification hypercortisolism was still present on day 16 after the last opioid consumption, whereas it was not observed in abstinent addicts for a mean period of 4 months. During detoxification treatment, mean AUC8-24 cortisol in saliva of clonidine or guanfacine-treated patients was significantly higher than that in methadone-treated patients. It may be hypothesized that elevated cortisol levels may account for untoward effects of adrenergic agonist therapy which, in turn, may represent an added risk factor for relapse during detoxification. Further studies are necessary to correlate the severity of withdrawal symptoms to cortisol levels in opioid addicts detoxified with alpha 2-adrenergic agonist substitution. Topics: Adult; Circadian Rhythm; Clonidine; Double-Blind Method; Guanfacine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Male; Methadone; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1992 |
A controlled trial of buprenorphine treatment for opioid dependence.
To assess the efficacy of buprenorphine for short-term maintenance/detoxification.. A randomized, double-blind, parallel group study comparing buprenorphine, 8 mg/d, methadone, 60 mg/d, and methadone, 20 mg/d, in a 17-week maintenance phase followed by an 8-week detoxification phase.. Outpatient facilities at the Addiction Research Center, Baltimore, Md.. One hundred sixty-two volunteers seeking treatment for opioid dependence.. In addition to the medication, counseling using a relapse prevention model was offered but not required.. Retention time in treatment, urine samples negative for opioids, and failure to maintain abstinence.. Throughout the maintenance phase, retention rates were significantly greater for buprenorphine (42%) than for methadone, 20 mg/d (20%, P less than .04); the percentage of urine samples negative for opioids was significantly greater for buprenorphine (53%, P less than .001) and methadone, 60 mg/d (44%, P less than .04), than for methadone, 20 mg/d (29%). Failure to maintain abstinence during the maintenance phase was significantly greater for methadone, 20 mg/d, than for buprenorphine (P less than .03). During the detoxification phase, no differences were observed between groups with respect to urine samples negative for opioids. For the entire 25 weeks, retention rates for buprenorphine (30%, P less than .01) and methadone, 60 mg/d (20%, P less than .05), were significantly greater than for methadone, 20 mg/d (6%). All treatments were well tolerated, with similar profiles of self-reported adverse effects. The percentages of patients who received counseling did not differ between groups.. Buprenorphine was as effective as methadone, 60 mg/d, and both were superior to methadone, 20 mg/d, in reducing illicit opioid use and maintaining patients in treatment for 25 weeks. Topics: Adult; Buprenorphine; Double-Blind Method; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Opioid-Related Disorders; Proportional Hazards Models | 1992 |
A randomized trial of an interim methadone maintenance clinic.
Interim methadone maintenance has been proposed as a method of providing clinically effective services to heroin addicts waiting for treatment in standard comprehensive methadone maintenance programs.. A clinic that provided initial medical evaluation, methadone medication, and AIDS education, but did not include formal drug abuse counseling or other social support services was established in New York City. A sample of 301 volunteer subjects recruited from the waiting list for treatment in the Beth Israel methadone program were randomly assigned to immediate entry into the interim clinic or a control group.. There were no differences in initial levels of illicit drug use across the experimental and control groups. One-month urinalysis follow-up data showed a significant reduction in heroin use in the experimental group (from 63% positive at intake to 29% positive) with no change in the control group (62% to 60% positive). No significant change was observed in cocaine urinalyses (approximately 70% positive for both groups at intake and follow-up). A higher percentage of the experimental group were in treatment at 16-month follow-up (72% vs 56%).. Limited services interim methadone maintenance can reduce heroin use among persons awaiting entry into comprehensive treatment and increase the percentage entering treatment. Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; New York City; Regression Analysis; Rehabilitation; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 1991 |
Levels of opioid physical dependence in heroin addicts.
The levels of opioid physical dependence in a group of long-term heroin addicts were ascertained by measuring the severity of the opioid withdrawal syndrome before and after pharmacological challenge with either 0.4 mg naloxone or placebo. Prior to challenge, patients manifested some subjective symptoms but few objective signs of opioid withdrawal. Patients who received placebo (n = 18) showed a significant increase in the mean score on one of three rating scales used to assess opioid withdrawal. Patients who received naloxone (n = 58) showed significant increases in mean scores on all three rating scales, but this was due primarily to increases observed in a minority of patients. Sixty-one percent of patients failed to manifest clinically significant changes in subjective symptoms, and 74% of patients failed to manifest clinically significant changes in objective signs of opioid withdrawal following naloxone administration. The results suggest that a substantial subgroup of heroin addicts are able to use opioids regularly while maintaining relatively low levels of physical dependence. Topics: Adult; Drug Tolerance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Neurologic Examination; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1991 |
Clonidine transdermal patches for use in outpatient opiate withdrawal.
We conducted a study to assess the clinical usefulness of transdermal clonidine for heroin detoxification in an outpatient drug treatment clinic. Twenty-two young otherwise healthy heroin addicts participated. Outcome was assessed on the basis of (a) hypotension and other side effects of clonidine; (b) patient retention; (c) concomitant drug use; (d) subjective symptoms of withdrawal; and (e) objective signs of withdrawal. Side effects were present but in no case necessitated discontinuation of treatment. Drop-out rates were equal to conventional treatment offered at the clinic. The availability of clonidine broadens the therapeutic options available to patients and clinicians in treating the opiate-addicted patient. Transdermal clonidine offers several advantages over the oral form: patches can be applied weekly, fewer supplemental medications are required, and patches supply an even blood level of medication. A protocol for use is recommended. Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Adult; Ambulatory Care; Clinical Trials as Topic; Clonidine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Prospective Studies; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1989 |
Clonidine in heroin withdrawal syndrome: a controlled study in India.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Chlordiazepoxide; Chlorpromazine; Clinical Trials as Topic; Clonidine; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; India; Male; Random Allocation; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1988 |
Effect of sulpiride on chronic abstinence syndrome in addicted patients.
A total of 410 patients (342 men and 68 women) addicted to heroin for at least 38 months, with or without previous methadone treatment experience, were treated with sulpiride before the appearance of withdrawal syndrome. The drug was injected intramuscularly in a single administration at a dosage of 600 mg. Successively, sulpiride was injected intramuscularly at a dosage of 200 mg 3 times per day from days 2-21 of hospitalization, and then at a dosage of 100 and 50 mg 3 times per day (days 22-25 and 26-29, respectively). All patients showed a suppression of withdrawal signs and symptoms within 6 days of treatment, as assessed by subjective and objective scores. The effect of sulpiride was compared with that of placebo administered to a control group of 10 heroin addicts. Because prolactin has been shown to reduce the dependence of rats to heroin and the naloxone-precipitated withdrawal syndrome in morphine-addicted animals, the effects of sulpiride on heroin addiction may be related to the hyperprolactinemic action of this drug. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Brain; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Prolactin; Rats; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Sulpiride; Synaptic Transmission | 1986 |
Buprenorphine effects on cigarette smoking.
Cigarette smoking increased during administration of buprenorphine, an opioid mixed agonist-antagonist, in comparison to drug-free baseline in seven heroin addicts maintained on buprenorphine for 24 days (P less than 0.01-0.001). Ascending buprenorphine doses (0.5 - 8.0 mg/day) were associated with significant increases in cigarette smoking at doses of 2.0 mg/day sc and above. Cigarette smoking during 10 days of buprenorphine maintenance at 8 mg/day was significantly higher than during the buprenorphine induction phase (P less than 0.01). Six subjects given placebo buprenorphine over 14 days showed no change in cigarette smoking. The placebo group self-administered heroin for 10 days, and cigarette smoking increased significantly during heroin use (P less than 0.001). The rate of cigarette smoking defined by intercigarette intervals was highest during the 10 days of high-dose buprenorphine maintenance or placebo plus heroin self-administration. Both groups requested significantly more cigarettes at intervals of 0-10, 11-20, and 21-30 min than during the drug-free baseline. These data confirmed previous findings that opioid agonist administration is associated with increased cigarette smoking and suggest that buprenorphine has primarily agonist effects on cigarette smoking. Topics: Adult; Buprenorphine; Dextroamphetamine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endorphins; Ethanol; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Morphinans; Smoking; Time Factors | 1985 |
Chronic heroin use during methadone treatment: a test of the efficacy of high maintenance doses.
A pilot study was conducted at two maintenance programs to test the effect of increasing the methadone dose of clients who continue chronic heroin use after stabilization on methadone. Program 1 subjects (Group 1) received substantial dose increases for a 14-week period; Program 2 subjects (Group 2) received no dose modifications during the same period. Results show Group 1 reported an alleviation of physical and psychological complaints but did not decrease illicit opiate use. Group 2 maintained the low level of complaints reported at baseline and, unexpectedly, decreased opiate abuse. Because the two maintenance programs differed in clinical practices and in enforcement of rules, it was concluded that clients who continue chronic heroin use need not only long-term dosage increases, but also clear, consistently applied program policies. Topics: Adult; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Psychological Tests | 1984 |
Efficacy of psychotherapeutic counselling during 21-day ambulatory heroin detoxification.
Structured, psychotherapeutic counselling during 21-day heroin detoxification was evaluated by randomly assigning a group of 25 heroin addicts to a detoxification treatment regimen with mandatory counselling by a therapist and 25 to a control group who received only standard detoxification without counselling. There was no significant difference between groups in the number who successfully detoxified as measured by conversion of morphine positive urine to morphine negative urine. The counselling intervention group did, however, improve the attendance of subjects while in detoxification treatment, and significantly more patients entered long-term treatment following detoxification. Maximal use of a counselor during 21-day heroin detoxification may best be realized by directing therapy toward engaging patients in long-term care. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Counseling; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Psychotherapy | 1983 |
Evaluation of heroin maintenance in controlled trial.
Ninety-six confirmed heroin addicts requesting a heroin maintenance prescription were randomly allocated to treatment with injectable heroin or oral methadone. Progress was monitored throughout the next 12 months by research workers operating independently of the clinic. Heroin can be seen as maintaining the status quo, with the majority continuing to inject heroin regularly and to supplement their maintenance prescription from other sources; it was associated with a continuing intermediate level of involvement with the drug subculture and criminal activity. Refusal to prescribe heroin while offering oral methadone constituted a more confrontational response and resulted in a higher abstinence rate, but also a greater dependence on illegal sources of drugs for these who continued to inject. Those offered oral methadone tended to polarize toward high or low categories of illegal drug use and involvement with the drug subculture, and were more likely to be arrested during the 12-month follow-up. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of employment, health, or consumption of nonopiate drugs. Refusal to prescribe heroin resulted in a significantly greater drop out from regular treatment. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Clinical Trials as Topic; Crime; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Random Allocation; Social Adjustment; United Kingdom | 1980 |
Restabilization with methadone after methadyl acetate maintenance.
Sixty-eight heroin addicts maintained for 40 weeks on a regimen of methadyl acetate or methadone hydrochloride in a double-blind study were transferred to a uniform dose of 60 mg of methadone daily at the end of their tenure in the study. They were observed for the ensuing six weeks, during which their daily methadone doses were adjusted according to their clinical needs. Patients were observed for symptoms and signs of discomfort and for the amount of illicit drug use during this period of transition. The results indicate that patients maintained on a regimen of methadyl acetate can be readily restabilized with methadone and that sudden decrease of the methadone dose tends to result in the patient's supplementing with illicit heroin. Conversely, increasing methadone doses resulted in a corresponding reduction in illicit drug use. It is suggested that a chronic covert abstinence syndrome may exist in some patients receiving long-term methadone maintenance therapy, and that while it may contribute to their continued illicit drug use, it may have a different pathophysiologic basis and require different therapeutic considerations. Topics: Adult; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Methadyl Acetate; Middle Aged | 1980 |
Cardiovascular, respiratory and temperature responses to intravenous heroin (diamorphine) in dependent and non-dependent humans.
1 Intravenous heroin (diamorphine) was administered to volunteers, in doses of 2.5 and 5 mg to non-dependent and doses of 1/6, 1/3 and 1/2 of their prescribed daily dose of opiates to dependent subjects, and heart and respiration rates, blood pressure, body and skin temperature and skin conductance were measured before and for 2 h after injection. 2 Heart rate fell and continued to fall after injection in both groups of subjects although the time course was different in the two groups. This was thought to be a non-specific effect of heroin. 3 Respiration rate fell after injection in both groups. The dependent group showed a faster recovery of pre-drug respiration rate. This was interpreted as being due to tolerance in the dependent group. 4 Systolic blood pressure fell only in the dependent group and diastolic blood pressure only fell after injection of the largest dose of heroin in both groups. 5 Body temperature fell after injection of heroin in a similar way in both groups while neither skin temperature nor skin conductance changed. This was interpreted as a drug-induced alteration in thermo-regulatory mechanisms. 6 Placebo had no effect on any of these measures. There were no differences between the responses of the high and low dose dependent subjects to different doses of heroin nor did prior ingestion of methadone affect any of the measures. Topics: Blood Pressure; Body Temperature; Heart Rate; Hemodynamics; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Pupil; Respiration | 1980 |
Double-blind comparison of methadone and placebo maintenance treatments of narcotic addicts in Hong Kong.
In a double-blind study carried out between 1972 and 1975 in Hong Kong 100 heroin addict volunteers were initially admitted to hospital for two weeks for stabilisation on 60 mg of methadone before being assigned at random to two groups: one group received methadone (range 30--130 mg, average 97 mg/day); those in the other group had their dose of methadone reduced at the rate of 1 mg/day and were then maintained on placebo. All subjects were provided with a broad range of supportive services. After thirty-two weeks 10% of the controls were still on treatment, compared with 76% of those receiving methadone. At the end of the three-year project, only 1 of the original 50 placebo subjects still turned up for treatment (2%), whereas the retention-rate (proportion still on treatment) for methadone subjects was 56%. Subjects who had dropped out of the study and were readmitted for methadone treatment under known conditions had the same retention-rate as the original treatment group. Topics: Adult; Aged; Ambulatory Care; Clinical Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hong Kong; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; New York City; Patient Dropouts; Placebos; Time Factors | 1979 |
EEG and other effects of naltrexone and heroin in man.
This paper reviews older results on EEG and behavioral effects of heroin and opiate antagonists in exaddicts, and presents new findings on the effects of naltrexone in men who have never been addicted. Ten normal volunteers were given on three separate occasions placebo, 50 mg or 100 mg of naltrexone. The average alpha frequency was significantly slower after naltrexone than after placebo. Naltrexone elicited a significant reduction of breathing rate and oral temperature. Those results indicate that naltrexone does not act as a pure narcotic antagonist in non-addicted men. Topics: Auditory Threshold; Circadian Rhythm; Electroencephalography; Electrooculography; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Naloxone; Naltrexone; Time Factors | 1979 |
Clinical evaluation of naltrexone treatment of opiate-dependent individuals. Report of the National Research Council Committee on Clinical Evaluation of Narcotic Antagonists.
A multiclinic controlled trial of naltrexone in opiate-dependent persons led to these conclusions: (1) a narcotic antagonist is an acceptable treatment for a small number of patients undergoing treatment for opiate dependence; (2) the group most likely to be candidates for such treatment are those who are relatively opiate-free ("post-addicts") and well motivated to seek treatment; (3) although differences between patients treated with placebo and naltrexone were slight, both retention in treatment and opiate-free urine tests favored the naltrexone group; (4) adverse effects of relatively short-term treatment were slight, largely being symptoms and signs of precipitated abstinence in patients with residual dependence. Topics: Adult; Clinical Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method; Drug Evaluation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Motivation; Naloxone; Naltrexone; Patient Compliance; Placebos; Research Design; Social Adjustment | 1978 |
Methadone dose, plasma level, and cross-tolerance to heroin in man.
The development of cross-tolerance between methadone and heroin was studied in postaddict volunteers who had been drug-free for at least 6 weeks. Two methadone dose schedules were used; each was employed in six subjects. One schedule brought the subjects to a dose of 40 mg, while the other brought them to 80 mg of methadone a day. Subjects received injections of heroin (0.214 mg/kg) and placebo at various times before and during methadone treatment. Pupillary and subjective effects of injections were measured. Plasma levels of methadone were determined concurrently. Subjects on both treatment schedules developed an incomplete cross-tolerance to this dose of heroin. As the dose and plasma level of methadone increased with time, the cross-tolerance to all heroin effects increased. Plasma levels did not affect the development of cross-tolerance independently of methadone dose. The most important contribution to the cross-tolerance to pupillary effects was made by the duration of methadone treatment. Furthermore, the cross-tolerance to the subjective effects of heroin developed earlier than that to the pupil effect. Topics: Adult; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Tolerance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Pupil | 1978 |
Is on-site urine testing of therapeutic value in a methadone treatment program?
Patients in a methadone maintenance clinic were randomly assigned to two groups: one to have urine tests on-site (by the EMIT system) with immediate feedback of results to patients and staff; the other to have urine specimens sent away to an offsite laboratory for testing by thin-layer chromatography. Although other advantages might justify the adoption of on-site testing in methadone programs, the method appeared to have little or no therapeutic advantage over customary off-site testing. There were negligibly small differences between the groups with respect to illicit drug use. Topics: Adult; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Consumer Behavior; Feedback; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunoassay; Male; Methadone; Patient Compliance; Time Factors | 1977 |
Rx: 3x/week LAAM: alternative to methadone. Clinical studies: Phase I.
Topics: Analgesics; Analgesics, Opioid; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Evaluation; Drug Tolerance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Kinetics; Methadone; Methadyl Acetate; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Patient Dropouts; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 1976 |
Evaluation of propranolol in opiate dependence.
Among the increasing number of recent reports of the use of beta-adrenergic blocking drugs for a variety of psychiatric disorders is a series concluding that propranolol hydrochloride is efficacious in the treatment of opiate dependence. These reports were based on clinical observations of outpatient addicts in an uncontrolled situation. In order to validate these findings, we carried out a series of controlled, double-blind studies with hospitalized volunteers. The results of our studies do not confirm the previous reports. Propranolol neither relieved nor precipitated opiate withdrawal in subjects dependent either on dihydromorphinone hydrochloride or on heroin. It did not effectively block heroin-induced euphoria in dependent or nondependent subjects. In addition, there was no effect on the pattern of self-administration in opiate-dependent subjects, whether they were maintained on propranolol or placebo. Topics: Adult; Clinical Trials as Topic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydromorphone; Male; Propranolol; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders | 1976 |
Limitations of an extinction approach to narcotic antagonist treatment.
Topics: Aftercare; Age Factors; Clinical Trials as Topic; Conditioning, Psychological; Drug Administration Schedule; Extinction, Psychological; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Research Design; Self Administration; Time Factors | 1976 |
NIDA's naltrexone research program.
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Conditioning, Psychological; Cyclazocine; Drug Evaluation; Euphoria; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naloxone; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Research; Research Support as Topic; United States; United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration | 1976 |
Contingent naloxone (N-allylnoroxymorphone) treatment of the paroled narcotic addict.
This is a presentation of the results of pilot and controlled research on the effectiveness of the contingent (upon narcotic drug use) administration of 500-2,000 mg daily, of the narcotic antagonist, naloxone (N-allylnoroxymorphone), to paroled narcotic addicts enrolled in a urine monitoring program conducted in a metropolitan-based outpatient clinic. Criteria of effectiveness, which include clinic attendance, the extent of narcotic drug usage, and final disposition at the end of a 6-month treatment period, are viewed in relation to already established baseline results with a sample of patients processed through the same clinic over a 5-year period prior to the introduction of naloxone treatment. Although results of the pilot study are encouraging, indicating longer patient involvement and less reinstitutionalization than baseline values, the results of the controlled evaluation reveal no benefit from contingently administered naloxone beyond placebo reactivity, which appears to be substantial in the contingent approach. The results are discussed in terms of given sample characteristics, and suggestions are offered regarding the development of new narcotic antagonist treatment approaches. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Evaluation; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Maryland; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Pilot Projects; Placebos | 1975 |
High-dose cyclazocine therapy of opiate dependence.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Affective Symptoms; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cyclazocine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Evaluation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Placebos; Time Factors | 1974 |
Short-term effects of heroin in man. Is EEG related to behavior?
Topics: Acoustic Stimulation; Adult; Alpha Rhythm; Attention; Auditory Perception; Electroencephalography; Emotions; Heart Rate; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Placebos; Pupil; Reaction Time; Respiration; Time Factors | 1974 |
Effect of propranolol on active users of heroin.
Topics: Adult; Clinical Trials as Topic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Placebos; Propranolol; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors | 1973 |
1386 other study(ies) available for heroin and Heroin-Dependence
Article | Year |
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Relapse risk revealed by degree centrality and cluster analysis in heroin addicts undergoing methadone maintenance treatment.
Based on hubs of neural circuits associated with addiction and their degree centrality (DC), this study aimed to construct the addiction-related brain networks for patients diagnosed with heroin dependence undertaking stable methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and further prospectively identify the ones at high risk for relapse with cluster analysis.. Sixty-two male MMT patients and 30 matched healthy controls (HC) underwent brain resting-state functional MRI data acquisition. The patients received 26-month follow-up for the monthly illegal-drug-use information. Ten addiction-related hubs were chosen to construct a user-defined network for the patients. Then the networks were discriminated with K-means-clustering-algorithm into different groups and followed by comparative analysis to the groups and HC. Regression analysis was used to investigate the brain regions significantly contributed to relapse.. Sixty MMT patients were classified into two groups according to their brain-network patterns calculated by the best clustering-number-K. The two groups had no difference in the demographic, psychological indicators and clinical information except relapse rate and total heroin consumption. The group with high-relapse had a wider range of DC changes in the cortical-striatal-thalamic circuit relative to HC and a reduced DC in the mesocorticolimbic circuit relative to the low-relapse group. DC activity in NAc, vACC, hippocampus and amygdala were closely related with relapse.. MMT patients can be identified and classified into two subgroups with significantly different relapse rates by defining distinct brain-network patterns even if we are blind to their relapse outcomes in advance. This may provide a new strategy to optimize MMT. Topics: Brain; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Recurrence | 2023 |
A 35-year follow-up study of patients admitted to methadone treatment between 1982-1984 in Asturias, Spain.
The objective was to evaluate outcomes in a heroin-dependent population 35 years after first enrolment in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). An ad hoc protocol was used to assess drug misuse, treatment, and drug-related morbidity in the survivor sample. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. A total of 214 heroin-dependent patients entered MMT between 1982 and 1984 in the Asturias Public Health Service. Information was received on 195 subjects, of whom 146 were deceased. Men accounted for 77.5% of the study cohort. Over the 35-year follow-up period, the SMR was 11.75 (95% CI = 9.95 - 13.77). In the survivor sample, 5.7% were still enrolled in MMT; human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was diagnosed in 38.77% and hepatitis B/C in 73.46%. No differences were found between sexes in mortality or HIV and hepatitis B/C status. None of the female survivors were using heroin at the 35-year follow-up compared with 5.26% of males. In conclusion, our study confirms the high long-term mortality rate of heroin addicts, even after enrollment in MMT.. El objetivo fue evaluar el estado de una población dependiente a la heroína 35 años después de su primera inscripción en un tratamiento de mantenimiento con metadona (TMM). Se utilizó un protocolo ad hoc para evaluar morbilidad, consumo y tratamiento de la adicción en la muestra de supervivientes. Se calculó la razón de mortalidad estandarizada (RME) con un intervalo de confianza (IC) del 95%. Un total de 214 pacientes ingresaron en TMM entre 1982 y 1984 en el Servicio de Salud Pública de Asturias. Se recibió información sobre 195 sujetos, de los cuales 146 habían fallecido. Los hombres representaron el 77,5% de la cohorte del estudio. Durante el período de seguimiento de 35 años, la RME fue de 11,75 (IC 95% = 9,95 – 13,77). En la muestra de supervivientes, el 5,7% todavía estaba inscrito en TMM; el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) se diagnosticó en un 38,77% y la hepatitis B/C en un 73,46%; el consumo actual de heroína se informó en un 4,1%. No hubo diferencias de género en la mortalidad o la condición de VIH y hepatitis B/C. Ninguna de las mujeres consumía heroína en el seguimiento de 35 años en comparación con el 5,26% de los hombres. En conclusión, nuestro estudio confirma la alta tasa de mortalidad a largo plazo, incluso después de la inscripción en TMM. Topics: Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Male; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Spain | 2023 |
Does slow release oral morphine have impact on craving and impulsivity in heroin dependent individuals?
Craving and impulsivity are addiction components which explain why heroin-dependant individuals (HDI), continue using heroin despite not wanting to do so. Opioid maintenance treatment (OMT), such as slow-release oral morphine (SROM), is the most effective treatment for opioid dependence. However, the impact of SROM on craving and impulsivity remains unclear. In this observational study, 23 HDI receiving SROM, their usual OMT, took part in the experiment. Each of the participants filled in the perceived level of craving with a visual analog scale. Their impulsivity was assessed via three laboratory tasks, the stop-signal reaction time, the Balloon Analogue Risk Task and delay discounting. Each evaluation was performed before and after SROM administration. Craving was significantly reduced after administration of SROM (difference 2.83; P = 0.0010), whereas there were no significant differences in performance in the three laboratory tasks. In the long term, we observed an improvement on delay discounting correlated with the duration and dosage of SROM. The acute impact of SROM appears to significantly reduce craving, without impacting impulsivity. Observation of the correlation between delay discounting and the duration and dosage of OMT is of great interest and should be studied further. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine | 2023 |
Estimating the impact of drug addiction causes heart damage.
To date, few studies have investigated the toxicological effects of the combined use of amphetamine and heroin in the heart. Hence, the aim of this study was to identify indicators for clinical evaluation and prevention of cardiac injury induced by the combined use of amphetamine and heroin. Four different groups were analyzed: (1) normal group ( Topics: Adult; Aged; Amphetamine; Biomarkers; Heart Diseases; Heart Injuries; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Interleukin-6; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; Middle Aged; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha | 2023 |
Safety and feasibility of intranasal heroin-assisted treatment: 4-week preliminary findings from a Swiss multicentre observational study.
Heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) is effective for individuals with severe opioid use disorder (OUD) who do not respond sufficiently to other opioid agonist treatments. It is mostly offered with injectable diacetylmorphine (DAM) or DAM tablets creating a barrier for individuals who need the rapid onset of action but are either unable or unwilling to inject, or primarily snort opioids. To explore another route of administration, we evaluated the safety and feasibility of intranasal (IN) DAM.. This is a multicentre observational cohort study among patients in Swiss HAT. All patients planning to receive IN DAM within the treatment centres were eligible to participate. Participants were either completely switched to IN DAM or received IN DAM in addition to other DAM formulations or opioid agonists. Patients were followed up for four weeks. Sociodemographic characteristics, current HAT regimen, reasons for starting IN DAM, IN DAM doses, number of injection events in the sample, IN DAM continuation rate, and appearance of adverse events and nose-related problems were evaluated.. Participants (n = 52) reported vein damage, preference for nasal route of administration, and desire of a stronger effect or for a less harmful route of administration as primary reasons for switching to IN DAM. After four weeks, 90.4% of participants (n = 47) still received IN DAM. Weekly average realised injection events decreased by 44.4% from the month before IN DAM initiation to the month following. No severe adverse events were reported.. After four weeks, IN DAM was a feasible and safe alternative to other routes of administration for patients with severe OUD in HAT. It addressed the needs of individuals with OUD and reduced injection behaviour. More long-term research efforts are needed to systematically assess efficacy of and patient satisfaction with IN DAM. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Feasibility Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Opioid-Related Disorders; Switzerland | 2023 |
Effect of Selective Lesions of Nucleus Accumbens µ-Opioid Receptor-Expressing Cells on Heroin Self-Administration in Male and Female Rats: A Study with Novel
The brain µ-opioid receptor (MOR) is critical for the analgesic, rewarding, and addictive effects of opioid drugs. However, in rat models of opioid-related behaviors, the circuit mechanisms of MOR-expressing cells are less known because of a lack of genetic tools to selectively manipulate them. We introduce a CRISPR-based Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Nucleus Accumbens; Pain; Rats; Rats, Transgenic; Receptors, Opioid; Receptors, Opioid, mu | 2023 |
Reduced anterior insular cortex volume in male heroin addicts: a postmortem study.
We and others have observed reduced volumes of brain regions, including the nucleus accumbens, globus pallidus, hypothalamus, and habenula in opioid addiction. Notably, the insular cortex has been under increasing study in addiction, and a smaller anterior insula has been found in alcohol-addicted cases. Here, we have investigated whether similar effects occur in heroin addicts compared to healthy controls. Volumes of the anterior and posterior insula in heroin addicts (n = 14) and controls (n = 13) were assessed by morphometry of Nissl-myelin-stained serial whole-brain coronal sections. The mean relative volume of the anterior insular cortex was smaller than in non-addicted controls (3010 ± 614 *10 Topics: Brain; Cerebral Cortex; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Insular Cortex; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Nucleus Accumbens | 2023 |
The effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on electroencephalography microstates of patients with heroin-addiction.
The effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation in treating substance use disorders are gaining attention; however, most existing studies used subjective measures to examine the treatment effects. Objective electroencephalography (EEG)-based microstate analysis is important for measuring the efficacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with heroin addiction. We investigated dynamic brain activity changes in individuals with heroin addiction after transcranial magnetic stimulation using microstate indicators. Thirty-two patients received intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Resting-state EEG data were collected pre-intervention and 10 days post-intervention. The feature values of the significantly different microstate classes were computed using a K-means clustering algorithm. Four EEG microstate classes (A-D) were noted. There were significant increases in the duration, occurrence, and contribution of microstate class A after the iTBS intervention. K-means classification accuracy reached 81.5%. The EEG microstate is an effective improvement indicator in patients with heroin addiction treated with iTBS. Microstates were examined using machine learning; this method effectively classified the pre- and post-intervention cohorts among patients with heroin addiction and healthy individuals. Using EEG microstate to measure heroin addiction and further exploring the effect of iTBS in patients with heroin addiction merit clinical investigation. Topics: Attention; Electroencephalography; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation | 2023 |
Normal Transaminases in Methamphetamine- and Heroin-Associated Hyperammonemic Encephalopathy.
Detecting undisclosed methamphetamine and heroin abuse is a challenge for life underwriters and medical directors. A common clinical assumption is that if substance abusers experience liver damage, it will be indicated by elevated serum transaminases. The following case suggests that assumption may not be true for heavy substance abusers who consume no or minimal alcohol. This report describes a 44-year-old male with long-term use of inhaled combined methamphetamine and heroin ("speedballs") and minimal alcohol use, whose transaminases remained normal while episodes of acute liver failure and transient hepatic encephalopathy from hyperammonemia were observed. In this case, a fatal motor vehicle accident occurred following the sudden onset of hepatic encephalopathy hours after consuming a "speedball." Normal transaminases may not be proof of a normal healthy liver among methamphetamine and heroin abusers. Topics: Adult; Hepatic Encephalopathy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methamphetamine | 2023 |
Prevalence of ADHD in a Sample of Heroin Addicts Receiving Agonist Treatment-Study Conducted in a Public Addiction Service.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a childhood neurodevelopmental disorder that can persist into adulthood. The co-occurrence of ADHD and substance use disorders is very frequent and has received considerable attention in recent clinical/scientific investigations. However, few studies have investigated the prevalence of ADHD in heroin addicts. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a sample of heroin addicts treated with opioid agonists and to report this clinical experience in a public service for addiction. Outpatients over 18 years old and being treated with opioid agonists for heroin addiction were enrolled. Each patient took part in a psychiatric examination and completed an ASRS (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale) self-assessment. Subjects with positive results were called in for another psychiatric visit, and the Brown ADD scale was used as a second-level test for ADHD; furthermore, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and Hypomania/Mania Checklist (HCL-32) were used for differential diagnoses and to assess comorbidities. In total, 111 patients were enrolled. All were followed up by the psychiatrist, who is also the author of this report and the person who formulated the diagnoses. The prevalence of ADHD in this sample was 18%. Among the 20 patients diagnosed with ADHD, 5 (25%) were female and 15 (75%) were male. The most frequent psychiatric comorbidity was major depression, found in 11 patients (55%), of which 4 presented with hypomania (bipolar disorder). In this sample, making diagnoses was very difficult. Frequently, multiple comorbidities further complicated these cases. In conclusion, the results of this study are consistent with the literature: There seems to be a significant prevalence of ADHD even among heroin addicts, and often, the diagnosis is difficult to make. We also do not know the exact effect of opioid agonist therapy on ADHD symptoms. Hypotheses have been put forward, but studies are needed. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Child; Comorbidity; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mania; Prevalence | 2023 |
Environmental enrichment facilitates electric barrier induced heroin abstinence after incubation of craving in male and female rats.
Treatment strategies that aim to promote abstinence to heroin use and reduce vulnerability to drug-use resumption are limited in sustainability and long-term efficacy. We have previously shown that environmental enrichment (EE), when implemented after drug self-administration, reduces drug-seeking and promotes abstinence to cocaine and heroin in male rats. Here, we tested the effects of EE on abstinence in an animal conflict model in males and females, and after periods where incubation of craving may occur.. Male and female rats were trained to self-administer heroin followed by 3 or 21 days of a no-event-interval (NEI). Following NEI, rats were permanently moved to environmental enrichment (EE) or new standard (nEE) housing 3 days prior to resuming self-administration in the presence of an electric barrier adjacent to the drug access lever. Electric barrier current was increased daily until rats ceased self-administration.. We found that 21 days of NEI led to significantly greater heroin self-administration and a trend toward shorter latencies to emit the first active lever press in the first abstinence session compared to 3 days of NEI. EE, when compared to nEE, led to longer latencies in the first abstinence session. Also, EE groups of both sexes and in both NEIs achieved abstinence criteria in significantly fewer numbers of sessions.. EE facilitates abstinence in males and females and after periods where incubation of craving may occur. This suggests that EE may benefit individuals attempting to abstain from heroin use and may aid in the development of long term treatment strategies. Topics: Animals; Cocaine; Craving; Cues; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Self Administration | 2023 |
Heroin use and neuropsychological impairments: comparison of intravenous and inhalational use.
Injection and inhalational heroin use are associated with different levels of brain exposure to heroin and its metabolites and differences in the severity of dependence, which might lead to differential impacts on neuropsychological functions. We examined the difference and the magnitude of difference in the neuropsychological functions between inhalational and injection heroin-dependent subjects and also compared them with healthy controls.. The study sample comprised three groups: 73 subjects with injection heroin dependence, 74 with inhalational heroin dependence, and 75 healthy controls (HC). We excluded patients with HIV, head injury, epilepsy, and severe mental illness. Neuropsychological assessments were done by Standard Progressive Matrices, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Iowa Gambling Task, Trail-Making Tests A and B (TMT), and Verbal and Visual Memory 1 and 2 Backtests (NBT). We estimated independent effects of the groups on various neuropsychological test parameters, adjusted for age and duration of dependence.. In the WCST, the inhalational heroin-dependent group took more trials to complete the first category and had higher scores in the failure to maintain set than controls. The intravenous group had higher total errors than controls in verbal working memory tests and Visual Working Memory 2 Backtest. This group scored higher commission errors in the Verbal 2 Backtest than the controls. The two groups of heroin users differed in failure to maintain set and Verbal Working Memory 2 Backtests. The effect sizes of the group differences were modest.. Either route of heroin use is associated with cognitive impairments; inhalational and injection use involve different cognitive domains. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Memory, Short-Term; Neuropsychological Tests; Wisconsin Card Sorting Test | 2023 |
Changing Landscape of Fentanyl/Heroin Use and Distribution.
To understand the geopolitics of the supply of fentanyl and heroin.. In our practice, the percent of fentanyl positive drug tests increased from years 2016 to 2022, but heroin positive drug tests decreased by 80% in the same period.. Fentanyl has replaced heroin as a street drug for opioid dependent drug users. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Overdose; Fentanyl; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 2023 |
Characteristics of Stress Sensitivity in Heroin Use Disorder Patients during Their Opioid Agonist Treatment.
In the present study, performed on a sample of Heroin Use Disorder (HUD) patients undergoing Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT), we attempted to explore the relationships between stress sensitivity and heroin addiction-related clinical aspects. HUD patients' stress sensitivity was evaluated with the Heroin/PTSD-Spectrum questionnaire (H/PSTD-S). The Drug Addiction History Questionnaire (DAH-Q), the Symptomatological Check List-90 (SCL-90), and The Behavioural Covariate of Heroin Craving inventory (CRAV-HERO) were all used, as were the Deltito Subjective Wellness Scale (D-SWS), a self-report scale evaluating subjective well-being; the Cocaine Problem Severity Index (CPSI), a questionnaire determining the extent of a cocaine problem; and the Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MC-Q), an instrument assessing craving for cannabinoids. We checked correlations between stress sensitivity and the extent of HUD clinical features and compared patients with and without problematic stress sensitivity. H/PTSD-S was positively correlated with patients' income, altered mental status, legal problems, the lifetime different treatments index, the current treatment load index, and all SCL-90 indexes and factors. Regarding subjective well-being, stress sensitivity negatively correlated with the contrast best week (last five years) index. Patients with high-stress sensitivity were females with a low income. They exhibited a more severe mental status at treatment entry, greater difficulty in working adaptation, and legal problems during treatment. Additionally, these patients showed a higher level of psychopathology, more impairment in well-being, and more risky behaviours during treatment. Stress sensitivity, as H/PTSD-S, must be considered an outcome of HUD. HUD's addiction history and clinical features are significant risk factors for H/PTSD-S. Therefore, social and behavioural impairment in HUD patients could be considered the clinical expression of the H/PTSD spectrum. In summary, the long-term outcome of HUD is not represented by drug-taking behaviours. Rather, the inability to cope with the contingent environmental conditions is the key feature of such a disorder. H/PTSD-S, therefore, should be seen as a syndrome caused by an acquired inability (increased salience) concerning regular (daily) life events. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Cocaine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Opiate Substitution Treatment | 2023 |
Can Breaking Heroin Addiction Lead to a Broken Heart? A Case of Reverse Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy in a Patient With Heroin Withdrawal.
Reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy is triggered by emotional or physical stress and has a presentation similar to that of acute coronary syndrome. A 39-year-old woman with a history of heroin use disorder presented with intractable nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. She was diagnosed with heroin withdrawal and started on buprenorphine-naloxone. On day 2 of her hospitalization, she developed chest heaviness and had an elevated troponin I level of 3.2 ng/mL (reference range, 0.015-0.045 ng/mL); electrocardiography showed new T-wave inversions in the anterior and inferior leads. Emergent coronary angiography showed patent coronary arteries, and left ventriculography showed basal hypokinesis and apical hyperkinesis, consistent with reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy secondary to heroin withdrawal. She was started on antihypertensive agents, and her buprenorphine-naloxone dose was increased. At her 3-month follow-up visit, she reported no symptoms consistent with angina or heart failure. This appears to be the first report of heroin withdrawal causing reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Awareness of this association can lead to earlier recognition and treatment of reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Topics: Adult; Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; Electrocardiography; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy | 2023 |
'This is hardcore': a qualitative study exploring service users' experiences of Heroin-Assisted Treatment (HAT) in Middlesbrough, England.
Heroin-Assisted Treatment (HAT) is well evidenced internationally to improve health and social outcomes for people dependent on opioids who have not been helped by traditional treatment options. Despite this evidence base, England has been slow to implement HAT. The first service outside of a trial setting opened in 2019, providing twice-daily supervised injections of medical-grade heroin (diamorphine) to a select sample of high-risk heroin users in Middlesbrough. This paper explores their experiences, including the negotiation of the strict regularly controls required of a novel intervention in the UK context.. We conducted in-depth interviews with service providers and users of the Middlesbrough HAT service between September and November 2021. Data from each group were thematically analysed and reported separately. This paper details the experiences of the twelve heroin dependent men and women accessing HAT.. Participants' accounts of HAT treatment evidenced a tension between the regulatory constraints and uncertainty of treatment provision, and the positive outcomes experienced through supportive service provision and an injectable treatment option. Limited confidence was held in treatment efficacy, longevity of funding, and personal capacity for treatment success. This was counteracted by a strong motivation to cease engagement with the illicit drug market. While attendance requirements placed restrictions on daily activities, participants also experienced benefits from strong, supportive bonds built with the service providers through their continued engagement.. The Middlesbrough HAT programme provided benefits to a high-risk population of opioid dependent people who were unable or disinclined to participate in conventional opioid substitution treatments. The findings in this paper highlight the potential for service modifications to further enhance engagement. The closure of this programme in 2022 prohibits this opportunity for the Middlesbrough community, but holds potential to inform advocacy and innovation for future HAT interventions in England. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; England; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Opiate Substitution Treatment | 2023 |
Cognitive Enhancer Donepezil Attenuates Heroin-Seeking Behavior Induced by Cues in Rats.
Opioid use disorder is a significant global problem. Chronic heroin use is associated with impairment of cognitive function and conscious control ability. The cholinergic system can be disrupted following heroin administration, indicating that activation of the cholinergic system may prevent chronic heroin misuse. Donepezil as an inhibitor of cholinesterase has been reported to clinically improve cognition and attention. In this study, the inhibition of heroin self-administration and heroin-seeking behaviours by donepezil were evaluated in rats.. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin every four hours for 14 consecutive days under a fixed ratio 1 (FR1) reinforcement schedule, then underwent withdrawal for two weeks. A progressive ratio schedule was then used to evaluate the relative motivational value of heroin reinforcement. After withdrawal, a conditioned cue was introduced for the reinstatement of heroin-seeking behaviour. Donepezil (0.3-3 mg/kg, i.p.) was used during both the FR1 heroin self-administration and progressive ratio schedules. Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the mechanism of action of donepezil in the rat brain.. Pre-treatment with high dose donepezil (3 mg/kg) but not low doses (0.3-1 mg/kg) significantly inhibited heroin self-administration under the FR1 schedule. Donepezil decreased motivation values under the progressive ratio schedule in a dose-dependent manner. All doses of donepezil (1-3 mg/kg) decreased the reinstatement of heroin seeking induced by cues. Correlation analysis indicated that the inhibition of donepezil on heroin-seeking behaviour was positively correlated with an increased expression of dopamine receptor 1 (D1R) and dopamine receptor 2 (D2R) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and increased expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA).. The present study demonstrated that donepezil could inhibit heroin intake and heroin-seeking behaviour. Further, donepezil could regulate dopamine receptors in the NAc via an increase of acetylcholine. These results suggested that donepezil could be developed as a potential approach for the treatment of heroin misuse. Topics: Animals; Cholinergic Agents; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Donepezil; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Nootropic Agents; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Dopamine | 2023 |
Therapeutic Messianism: Belladonna for Heroin Withdrawal, Ivermectin for COVID-19 Infection.
Topics: Atropa belladonna; COVID-19; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Ivermectin; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2023 |
The motives and methods of methamphetamine and 'heroin' co-use in West Virginia.
Opioid and methamphetamine co-use is increasing across the USA with overdoses involving these drugs also rising. West Virginia (WV) has led the US in opioid overdose death rates since at least 2013 and rising co-use of methamphetamine with opioids has played a greater role in deaths over the last 5 years.. This study used rapid ethnography to examine methods and motivations behind opioids and methamphetamine co-use from the viewpoint of their consumers. Participants (n = 30) were people who injected heroin/fentanyl also using methamphetamine who participated in semi-structured interviews.. We found multiple methods of co-using opioids and methamphetamine, whether alternately or simultaneously and in varying order. Most prioritized opioids, with motives for using methamphetamine forming three thematic categories: 'intrinsic use', encompassing both inherent pleasure of combined use greater than using both drugs separately or for self-medication of particular conditions; 'opioid assisting use' in which methamphetamine helped people manage their existing heroin/fentanyl use; and 'reluctant or indifferent use' for social participation, reflecting methamphetamine's low cost and easy availability.. Methamphetamine serves multiple functions among people using opioids in WV. Beliefs persist that methamphetamine can play a role in preventing and reversing opioid overdose, including some arguments for sequential use being protective of overdose. 'Reluctant' uptake attests to methamphetamine's social use and the influence of supply. The impact on overdose risk of the many varied co-use patterns needs further investigation. Topics: Adult; Female; Fentanyl; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Methamphetamine; Motivation; Pleasure; Self Medication; Social Interaction; West Virginia | 2023 |
Predicting heroin potency from the analysis of paraphernalia: A tool for overdose prevention projects.
In recent years, fatal and non-fatal heroin-related overdoses have increased in northeastern Italy, and the change in potency of heroin available at street level has been identified as a prominent factor associated with acute toxicity. Two very different products, high-potency and low-potency heroin were becoming available on the street, and no clear morphological characteristics could be used to easily distinguish them. A theoretical model for predicting heroin potency from rapid analysis of cigarette filters was developed as part of an overdose prevention project. The model was derived from the analysis of real heroin samples and exploits the common presence of caffeine in heroin as an adulterant. It was tested on laboratory prepared filters, real filters used to prepare heroin injections, and other paraphernalia. The model showed strong predictive ability and was used to implement a rapid alert system to inform drug users and healthcare institutions about the potency of heroin or other psychoactive substances circulating in the area. Cigarette filters were used as standard material, but other paraphernalia were successfully tested. The developed model is a dynamic tool whose parameters can be updated according to the market characteristics, so it can be useful for laboratories involved in drug analysis and similar prevention programs. Topics: Drug Overdose; Drug Users; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics | 2023 |
Metabolic and functional substrates of impulsive decision-making in individuals with heroin addiction after prolonged methadone maintenance treatment.
Elevated impulsivity has been frequently reported in individuals with opioid addiction receiving methadone maintenance therapy (MMT), but the underlying neural mechanisms and cognitive subprocesses are not fully understood. We acquired functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from 37 subjects with heroin addiction receiving long-term MMT and 33 healthy controls who performed a probabilistic reversal learning task, and measured their resting-state brain glucose using fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ( Topics: Brain; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Impulsive Behavior; Methadone | 2023 |
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, liraglutide, reduces heroin self-administration and drug-induced reinstatement of heroin-seeking behaviour in rats.
Drug addiction is a chronic brain disease characterized by the uncontrolled use of a substance. Due to its relapsing nature, addiction is difficult to treat, as individuals can relapse following even long periods of abstinence and, it is during this time, that they are most vulnerable to overdose. In America, opioid overdose has been increasing for decades, making finding new treatments to help patients remain abstinent and prevent overdose deaths imperative. Recently, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have shown promise in reducing motivated behaviours for drugs of abuse. In this study, we test the effectiveness of the GLP-1 analogue, liraglutide (LIR), in reducing heroin addiction-like behaviour, and the potential side effects associated with the treatment. We show that daily treatment with LIR (0.1 mg/kg sc) increases the latency to take heroin, reduces heroin self-administration, prevents escalation of heroin self-administration and reduces drug-induced reinstatement of heroin-seeking behaviour in rats. A 1-h pretreatment time, however, was too short to reduce cue-induced seeking in our study. Moreover, we showed that, while LIR (0.1, 0.3, 0.6 and 1.0 mg/kg sc) supported conditioned taste avoidance of a LIR-paired saccharin cue, it did not elicit intake of the antiemetic kaolin in heroin-naïve or heroin-experienced rats. Further, 0.1 mg/kg LIR did not produce great disruptions in food intake or body weight. Overall, the data show that LIR is effective in reducing heroin taking and heroin seeking at doses that do not cause malaise and have a modest effect on food intake and body weight gain. Topics: Animals; Cues; Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Liraglutide; Rats; Self Administration | 2022 |
Effect of substance use on premature mortality among severely hypertensive African Americans.
Low-income African Americans residing in impoverished neighborhoods confront myriad barriers to adhering to antihypertensive regimens. Substance use may thwart medication adherence and lifestyle modification efforts, which has implications for excess cardiovascular disease mortality. The Inner-City Hypertension and Body Organ Damage (ICHABOD) Study was a longitudinal cohort study that evaluated causes of mortality among African Americans who lived in urban areas, had severe, poorly controlled hypertension, and were admitted to a local hospital between 1999-2001 and 2002-2004. The authors employed Cox proportional hazards models to assess mortality associated with illicit substance use, including use of heroin and cocaine, as well as by use of tobacco and alcohol. Among192 participants with poorly controlled hypertension, 30% were active illicit substance users (specifically, 22.7% heroin users, 19.8% were cocaine users, and 30.7% were both cocaine and heroin users). The mean age among substance non-users was 52.3 years versus 48.7 years among those reporting current use. Mortality over 7.6 years of follow-up was 52.5% among substance users and 33.8% among nonusers (p-value, 0.01). After adjusting for potential confounders, the hazard ratio (HR) for cocaine use was 2.52 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38-4.59), while the HR for heroin use was 2.47 (95% CI 1.42-4.28) and the HR for both was 2.75 (95% CI 1.60-4.73). Substance use was associated with increased mortality among urban black Americans with poorly controlled hypertension. These data suggest the need for targeted interventions to support African Americans who have poorly controlled hypertension and use illicit substances, as a means of reducing excess mortality. Topics: Black or African American; Cocaine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypertension; Longitudinal Studies; Middle Aged; Mortality, Premature; Prospective Studies | 2022 |
Frontal Lobe Functions, Demoralization, Depression and Craving as Prognostic Factors and Positive Outcomes of Patients with Heroin Use Disorder Receiving 6 Months of Methadone Maintenance Treatment.
Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) is a well-established and effective treatment for heroin use disorders. Whether frontal lobe function and demoralization serve as suitable prognostic and outcome assessment factors remains unknown. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with a single-group repeated-measures design at a medical center and mental hospital in Taiwan. We enrolled 70 participants (39 completed treatments and 31 dropped out). Frontal lobe function, demoralization, depression, and craving at three time points were analyzed. There were differences between patients who completed the treatment (n = 39) and those who did not (n = 31). Thirty-nine patients completed the treatment (average age, 45.5 years; 89.7% men; average duration of heroin use, 27.21 years; MMT, 38.18 mg/day). Post-MMT (6 months), frontal lobe function, demoralization, depression, and craving significantly improved. Dropouts had higher frontal lobe function, lower demoralization, higher craving, younger age, and earlier onset age than patients who completed the pretest treatment. Clinicians should be aware of the severity of demoralization. Clinicians may select suitable patients for MMT by assessing frontal lobe function, demoralization, craving, age, and onset age. A 6-month course of MMT improved demoralization, frontal lobe function, depression, and addiction. Six months of treatment was more effective than 3 months. Suitable patient identification and continuous treatment are important in MMT. Topics: Craving; Demoralization; Depression; Female; Frontal Lobe; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Prognosis | 2022 |
A Procedure to Study Stress-induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-imposed Abstinence.
The punishment-imposed abstinence procedure models the self-imposed abstinence that humans initiate due to the adverse consequences associated with drug-taking. This model has been implemented in experiments using different types of substances of abuse such as methamphetamine, cocaine, and alcohol. However, punishment-induced abstinence in heroin-trained animals has not been demonstrated. Furthermore, acute stress is a key trigger for relapse in humans and animal models. It was previously demonstrated that acute food deprivation robustly induced reinstatement of extinguished cocaine and heroin seeking. The procedure described here can be used to assess the effects of acute stress exposure on heroin seeking after punishment-imposed abstinence. A total of 8 rats were implanted with chronic intravenous (i.v.) catheters and trained to self-administer heroin (0.1 mg/kg/infusion) for 18 days under a seek-take chained schedule. Completing the seek link gave access to the take lever, which was paired with a heroin infusion. The seek lever was programmed with a variable interval 60 schedule of reinforcement (VI60), and the take lever was programmed with a fixed-ratio 1 reinforcement schedule (FR1). Following self-administration training, a mild foot shock was delivered on 30% of the completed seek links instead of the extension of the take lever. Footshock intensity was increased by 0.1 mA per daily session from 0.2 mA to 1.0 mA. Heroin-seeking tests were performed after 24 h of food deprivation (FD) or sated conditions. Rats under acute food deprivation condition robustly increased heroin seeking after punishment-imposed abstinence. Topics: Animals; Cocaine; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Punishment; Rats; Recurrence; Self Administration | 2022 |
State-Level Prevalence and Associates of Opioid Dependence in the USA.
Traditionally, opioid-related disease burden was primarily due to heroin use. However, increases in extra-medical (or non-medicinal use of prescription opioids; NMPOs) use has precipitated the current overdose epidemic in North America. We aim to examine the state-level prevalence of heroin and NMPO dependence and their associations with opioid-related mortality and state-level socio-demographic profiles. Data were pooled from the 2005-2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). We examine opioid-related mortality from CDC WONDER (Cause of Death database) by the past year prevalence of DSM-IV heroin and NMPO dependence, by age and sex, and their associations with state-level socio-demographic characteristics from census data. State-level rates of heroin dependence were associated with opioid-related death rates in young and mid-aged adults, while rates of NMPO dependence were associated with opioid-related death rates across all ages. The prevalence of heroin dependence was positively associated with state-level GDP/capita and urbanity. State-level NMPO dependence prevalence was associated with higher unemployment, lower GDP/capita, and a lower high-school completion rate. The prevalence of heroin and NMPO dependence are associated with a broad range of geographical and socio-demographic groups. Taking a wider view of populations affected by the opioid epidemic, inclusive interventions for all are needed to reduce opioid-related disease burden. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Middle Aged; Opioid-Related Disorders; Prevalence; United States | 2022 |
Ribosomal DNA transcription is increased in the left nucleus accumbens of heroin-dependent males.
Opioid addiction is a worldwide problem accentuated in the USA and European countries by the COVID-19 pandemic. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays an outstanding neurobiological role in opioid addiction as a part of the striatum and key component of brain reward system. The striatal GABAergic medium spiny projection neurons (MSNs) are the main neuronal type in the NAc where addiction-specific synaptic plasticity occurs. The activity of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcription is crucial for neural plasticity and molecular studies suggest its increase in the NAc of heroin addicts. Silver-stained argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) areas visualised in neuronal nuclei in paraffin-embedded brain sections are reliable morphological estimators of rDNA transcription and thus surrogate markers for the activity of brain regions. Our study revealed increased AgNOR areas in MSNs of the left NAc in 11 heroin addicts versus 11 healthy controls from the Magdeburg Brain Bank (U-test P = 0.007). No differences were observed in another investigated part of the striatum, namely the head of caudate nucleus, which is located closely to the NAc. The results were not confounded by significant differences in the age, brain volume and time of formalin fixation existing between compared groups. Our findings suggest an increased NAc activity in heroin addicts, which is consistent with human and animal experimental data. Topics: Animals; COVID-19; DNA, Ribosomal; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Nucleus Accumbens; Pandemics | 2022 |
Toxic Spongiform Leukoencephalopathy After Intravenous Heroin Abuse: Unusual But Important Differential Diagnosis of Acute Impairment of Consciousness.
Abuse of heroin vapour inhalation known as "chasing the dragon" is associated with toxic spongiform leukoencephalopathy. However, similar clinical and imaging findings may occur also after intravenous heroin abuse. We report on a 32-year-old male suffering from extensive toxic spongiform leukoencephalopathy after intravenous heroin abuse resulting in acute impairment of consciousness and a global state of confusion. MRI disclosed broad and nearly symmetrical diffusion restriction of the supratentorial white matter indicating cytotoxic oedema. In an emergency setting, differential diagnosis of acute impairment of consciousness and broad symmetrical white matter lesions in neuroimaging should also include toxic leukoencephalopathy due to intravenous heroin application.. Der als „Chasing the Dragon“ beschriebene Heroinmissbrauch durch Inhalation kann eine toxische spongiforme Leukoenzephalopathie verursachen. Wir berichten über einen 32-jährigen Mann, bei dem auch nach intravenösem Heroinmissbrauch eine toxische spongiforme Leukoenzephalopathie auftrat, die zu einer akuten Bewusstseinsstörung und einem globalen Verwirrungszustand führte. Kernspintomographisch zeigte sich eine ausgedehnte und nahezu symmetrische Diffusionsrestriktion der supratentoriellen weißen Substanz als Ausdruck eines zytotoxischen Ödems. In einer Notfallsituation sollte die Differentialdiagnose einer akuten Bewusstseinsstörung mit Nachweis symmetrischer zytotoxischer Läsionen der weißen Substanz im MRT auch eine toxische Leukoenzephalopathie aufgrund intravenöser Heroinverabreichung mit einschließen. Topics: Adult; Consciousness; Diagnosis, Differential; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukoencephalopathies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male | 2022 |
Nasal administration of diacetylmorphine improved the adherence in a patient receiving heroin-assisted treatment.
Traditional heroin-assisted treatment in Switzerland consists of oral and injectable diacetylmorphine (pharmaceutical heroin) administration. To date, no suitable treatment option is available for patients who crave rapid onset ("rush") but are either unable to inject or primarily sniff or inhale illicit heroin. We present a patient who successfully switched to intranasal heroin-assisted treatment following several unsuccessful treatment attempts.. A 29-year-old male with severe opioid use disorder, injection substance use, and concomitant cocaine use, previously prescribed slow-release oral morphine, was started on intravenous diacetylmorphine. Due to complications and harms associated with intravenous injections, nasal diacetylmorphine was prescribed. With this novel route of administration, the patient who had previously been unable to adhere to other OAT options remained in treatment. Health outcomes improved by reduction of injection-related harms, increased adherence to the heroin-assisted treatment regimen, and increased collaboration with the therapeutic staff.. Nasal heroin-assisted treatment can be a feasible therapeutic option for individuals with severe opioid use disorder who crave the fast onset of effect of diacetylmorphine but are unable to inject intravenously. Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Morphine | 2022 |
Changes in the development of opioid tolerance on re-exposure among people who use heroin: A qualitative study.
This qualitative study aimed to explore how the development of tolerance to both the psychoactive and respiratory depressant effects of heroin on re-exposure are experienced by people who use heroin.. Semi-structured one-to-one interviews were conducted with 20 adults who currently or previously used heroin (for at least 6 months), with any type of administration (injected, smoked) and experience of abstinence (at least 2 weeks) and relapse. Topic guides explored the participants understanding of tolerance, their experience of developing tolerance to heroin and of tolerance following relapse. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used to generate salient themes.. The analysis produced three broad themes: lay understanding of tolerance; tolerating tolerance; and rapid tolerance development following relapse. Tolerance was defined as the body adapting to regular drug use, so that the drug no longer produced the same level of effect. Tolerance was experienced as interacting and co-developing with physical dependence and the symptoms of withdrawal. Indeed, several participants did not differentiate between tolerance and dependence. Most participants did not notice tolerance to respiratory depression. Tolerance levels fluctuated-increasing over periods of regular use and reducing when abstinent. Using more drug was the most common response to increasing tolerance to the desired effects. On re-use following abstinence, tolerance was experienced as developing more quickly in the most recent relapse compared to the first. Tolerance was also perceived to return more quickly with each abstinence-relapse cycle.. Qualitative accounts of tolerance report that tolerance returns more quickly with each relapse episode. By elucidating the mechanism(s) involved and potentially discovering how they could be switched on prior to relapse occurring we might be able to develop a beneficial harm reduction treatment for people in abstinence that would protect against overdose occurring on subsequent relapse. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Tolerance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Recurrence | 2022 |
Heroin Addiction Induces Axonal Transport Dysfunction in the Brain Detected by In Vivo MRI.
Heroin is a highly addictive drug that causes axonal damage. Here, manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) was used to dynamically monitor axonal transport at different stages of heroin addiction. Rat models of heroin addiction (HA) and prolonged heroin addiction (PHA) were established by injecting rats with heroin at different stages. Heroin-induced learning and memory deficits were evaluated in the Morris water maze (MWM), and MEMRI was used to dynamically evaluate axonal transport in the olfactory pathway. The expression of proteins related to axonal structure and function was also assessed by Western blotting. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe ultrastructural changes, and protein levels of neurofilament heavy chain (NF-H) were analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. HA rats, especially PHA rats, exhibited worse spatial learning and memory than control rats. Compared with HA rats and control rats, PHA rats exhibited significantly longer escape latencies, significantly fewer platform-location crossings, and significantly more time in the target quadrant during the MWM test. Mn Topics: Animals; Axonal Transport; Brain; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Kinesins; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Rats | 2022 |
The effect of long-term methadone maintenance treatment on coupling among three large-scale brain networks in male heroin-dependent individuals: A resting-state fMRI study.
Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is considered as an effective and mainstream therapy for heroin dependence. However, whether long-term MMT would improve the coupling among the three core large-scale brain networks (salience, default mode, and executive control) and its relationship with the craving for heroin is unknown.. Forty-four male heroin-dependent individuals during long-term MMT, 27 male heroin-dependent individuals after short-term detoxification/abstinence (SA), and 26 demographically matched healthy controls (HC) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. We analyzed the difference in coupling among the salience, default mode, and executive control networks among the three groups and examined how the coupling among these large-scale networks was associated with craving before and after drug-cue exposure.. Compared with the SA group, the MMT group showed lower craving before and after cue exposure and stronger connectivity between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (a key node of the salience network) and key regions of the bilateral executive control network, including the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, posterior parietal cortex, and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. Among the heroin-dependent individuals, the functional connectivity was negatively correlated with the craving before and after heroin-cue exposure.. Our findings suggest that long-term MMT could increase the coupling between the salience and bilateral executive control networks and decrease craving for heroin. These findings contribute to the understanding of the neural mechanism of MMT, from the perspective of large-scale brain networks. Topics: Brain; Brain Mapping; Cues; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Methadone | 2022 |
6-Monoacetylmorphine-antibody distribution in tissues from heroin-related death cases: An experimental study to investigate the distributive response.
Heroin, a semisynthetic opioid drug synthesized from morphine, is the 3,6-diacetyl ester of morphine (diacetylmorphine). The post-mortem diagnosis of heroin-related death could be an issue and usually rely on a combination of investigations, including the autopsy, histological and toxicological analysis. We conducted the present study to evaluate the correlation between the heroin concentration in biological fluids (peripheral blood, bile and urine) and the post-mortem anti-6-MAM antibody expression in various tissues (brain, heart, lung, liver and kidney) using immunohistochemical staining. A quantitative analysis of the immunohistochemical reaction was carried out. 45 cases of heroin-related death investigated at the Forensic Pathology Institutes of the University of Rome, Foggia and Pisa were included. The control group was composed of 15 cases of death due to other causes, without brain lesions and negative toxicological analysis for drugs. We found a positive immunohistochemical reaction in different organs and it was related to the timing of heroin metabolization. No reaction was found in the control group. Our findings show that immunohistochemistry can be a valuable tool for the post-mortem diagnosis of acute heroin abuse. A better understanding of the timing of heroin's metabolism can be useful in the forensic field and for future therapeutic applications. Topics: Antibodies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine Derivatives | 2022 |
Differences in orexin-A level in the functional brain network of HUD patients undergoing harm reduction therapy.
Orexins regulate the reward-seeking pathway and also play a role in drug addiction. The aim of this study was an investigation of the changes in serum level of orexin-A as well as changes in the functional brain network in heroin use disorder (HUD) patients undergoing harm reduction therapy (HRT). Twenty-five HUD patients undergoing HRT that included methadone and buprenorphine, and 31 healthy control (HC) subjects, were enrolled for this study. Serum orexin-A levels and brain-derived neurotrophic factor were measured with assay kits. The functional brain network in HUD patients and HC was investigated and assessed using seed-based analysis and functional brain MRI scans. t Tested orexin-A levels were found to be significantly higher in HUD patients undergoing HRT than in HCs (P < .05). Analysis showed the functional activity of the right ventral anterior insula (RVAI) in HUD patients to be significantly lower than in HCs (P < .05, Family-Wise Error) corrected). In addition, the internetwork functional connectivity was significantly lower in the left nucleus accumbens and left dorsal anterior insula in the HUD subjects than in HCs (P < .05, Family-Wise Error corrected). In this study, no significant correlation between orexin-A levels and functional brain networks was found. However, the results suggest that HRT might increase orexin-A levels and decrease functional activity in RVAI in HUD patients. Topics: Brain; Buprenorphine; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Orexins | 2022 |
Novelty-induced locomotor behavior predicts heroin addiction vulnerability in male, but not female, rats.
The ongoing rise in opioid use disorder (OUD) has made it imperative to better model the individual variation within the human population that contributes to OUD vulnerability. Using animal models that capture such variation can be a useful tool. Individual variation in novelty-induced locomotion is predictive of substance use disorder (SUD) propensity. In this model, rats are characterized as high-responders (HR) or low-responders (LR) using a median split based on distance travelled during a locomotor test, and HR rats are generally found to exhibit a more SUD vulnerable behavioral phenotype.. The HR/LR model has commonly been used to assess behaviors in male rats using psychostimulants, with limited knowledge of the predictive efficacy of this model in females or the use of an opioid as the reward. In the current study, we assessed several behaviors across the different phases of drug addiction (heroin taking, refraining, and seeking) in over 500 male and female heterogeneous stock rats run at two geographically separate locations. Rats were characterized as HRs or LRs within each sex for analysis.. Overall, females exhibit a more OUD vulnerable phenotype relative to males. Additionally, the HR/LR model was predictive of OUD-like behaviors in male, but not female rats. Furthermore, phenotypes did not differ in anxiety-related behaviors, reacquisition of heroin-taking, or punished heroin-taking behavior in either sex.. These results emphasize the importance of assessing females in models of individual variation in SUD and highlight limitations in using the HR/LR model to assess OUD propensity. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Exploratory Behavior; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Motor Activity; Rats | 2022 |
Partial recovery of the left DLPFC-right insula circuit with reduced craving in abstinent heroin users: a longitudinal study.
The phenomenon of brain recovery after long-term abstinence has been reported in substance use disorders. However, few longitudinal studies have been conducted to observe the potential recovery in heroin users, and little is known about the neural mechanism underlying the decreased craving after prolonged abstinence. The 8-month longitudinal study was carried out in 29 heroin users and 30 healthy controls. By choosing the L_DLPFC, which was activated by the heroin cue as the seeding region, different brain connection patterns were compared between healthy controls and heroin users by using Granger causality analysis (GCA) at baseline. Then, a paired t test was employed to detect the potential recovery of L_DLPFC circuits after prolonged abstinence. The visual analog scale (VAS) and trail-making test-A (TMT-A) were adopted to investigate craving and cognitive control impairment, respectively. The neuroimaging changes were then correlated with behavioral improvements. Similar analyses were applied for the mirrored right DLPFC to verify the lateralization hypothesis of the DLPFC in addiction. In the longitudinal study, enhanced GCA coefficients were observed in the L_DLPFC-R_insula circuit of heroin users after long-term abstinence and were associated with craving score changes. At baseline, decreased GCA coefficients from the left DLPFC to the bilateral SMA and right putamen, together with the reduced GCA strength from the bilateral OFC to the left DLPFC, were found between HUs and HCs. Our findings extended the brain recovery phenomenon into the field of heroin and suggested that the increased regulation of the L_DLPFC over the insula after prolonged abstinence was important for craving inhibition. Topics: Craving; Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging | 2022 |
Heroin pipe distribution to reduce high-risk drug consumption behaviors among people who use heroin: a pilot quasi-experimental study.
Heroin pipe distribution may encourage people who use heroin (PWUH) to transition from injecting to smoking heroin, reducing harms associated with injection drug use. A syringe services program (SSP) in Seattle, Washington, led by people who use drugs developed a heroin pipe distribution program.. We conducted a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study to evaluate the impact of heroin pipe distribution on drug consumption behaviors among PWUH between March and December 2019. SSP clients were surveyed during three weeklong timepoints before and four weeklong timepoints after heroin pipe distribution. Primary outcomes were change in proportion of SSP clients who exclusively injected heroin, exclusively smoked heroin, and both injected and smoked heroin in the past seven days comparing the pre- and post-intervention periods.. Across the seven observation timepoints, 694 unique respondents completed 957 surveys. Multiple responses from a single respondent in a given period were collapsed, resulting in 360 pre-intervention and 430 post-intervention records. Heroin use was reported in over half of pre-intervention (56%, 201/360) and post-intervention records (58%, 251/430). Compared to pre-intervention behaviors, the proportion of respondents who exclusively injected heroin was lower after the start of heroin pipe distribution (32%, 80/251 vs 43%, 86/201, p = 0.02), while the proportion of respondents who both injected and smoked heroin was higher (45%, 113/251 vs 36%, 72/201, p = 0.048). Just under half (44%, 110/251) of respondents who used heroin during the post-intervention period used a heroin pipe obtained from the SSP, of which 34% (37/110) reported heroin pipe distribution had reduced their heroin injection frequency. Self-reported hospitalization for a pulmonary cause was not associated with using a heroin pipe.. The proportion of SSP clients who exclusively injected heroin was lower after implementation of heroin pipe distribution. Randomized studies with longer follow-up are needed to investigate whether heroin pipe distribution reduces heroin injection and improves health outcomes associated with drug use. Limited intervention exposure, loss to follow-up, and pipe availability from other sources pose methodological challenges to evaluations of route transition interventions in community settings. This pilot highlights the potential for organizations led by people who use drugs to develop, implement, and evaluate novel public health programming. Topics: Drug Users; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Public Health; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2022 |
[Substitution treatments for opiate-dependent users. An experience of the Integrated Addiction Treatment Center in Dakar].
Methadone and buprenorphine are the two maintenance treatments in opiate addicts authorised in France since the end of the 1990's. More recently, some African countries such as Senegal have implemented a new health policy focused on reducing the risks by encouraging the use of methadone as maintenance treatment. The objectives of maintenance therapy are to reduce morbidity and mortality related to the consumption of heroin and other street opioids, to promote the integration of drug users into the healthcare system, and more generally, to improve their social integration. However, this strategy might have limitations in practice. Here, we report the experience of the Integrated Addiction Treatment Center in Dakar, Senegal, and discuss ethical considerations at both the individual and collective levels, which may improve care of opiate-dependent users in practice, especially in Africa.. Traitement de substitution des usagers dépendants des opiacés - L’expérience du Centre de prise en charge intégré des addictions de Dakar.. La méthadone et la buprénorphine sont les deux traitements de substitution des opiacés autorisés en France depuis la fin des années 1990. Plus récemment, certains pays africains, comme le Sénégal, ont mis en place une nouvelle politique de santé axée sur la réduction des risques, en encourageant le recours aux traitements de substitution des opiacés. Les objectifs de la substitution sont de réduire la morbi-mortalité liée à la consommation d’héroïne ou d’autres opioïdes de rue, de favoriser l’insertion des usagers de drogue dans le système de soins, et, plus généralement, de faciliter leur insertion sociale. Cette nouvelle stratégie trouve néanmoins des limites dans la pratique. Nous rapportons dans cette revue l’expérience du Centre de prise en charge intégré des addictions de Dakar, au Sénégal, et proposons une réflexion éthique, tant individuelle que collective, afin d’améliorer le traitement de substitution des opiacés, notamment en Afrique. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Buprenorphine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Opiate Alkaloids; Senegal | 2022 |
Bidirectional influence of heroin and cocaine escalation in persons with dual opioid and cocaine dependence diagnoses.
Persons with dual severe opioid and cocaine use disorders are at risk of considerable morbidity, and the bidirectional relationship of escalation of mu-opioid agonists and cocaine use is not well understood. The aim of this study was to examine the bidirectional relationship between escalation of heroin and cocaine use in volunteers dually diagnosed with opioid and cocaine dependence (OD + CD). Volunteers from New York with OD + CD (total Topics: Adolescent; Analgesics, Opioid; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant; Male; Opioid-Related Disorders | 2022 |
Heroin Fatality in a Feline: A Case Report with Postmortem Liver Concentrations.
A case of feline intoxication and fatality with the illicit drug heroin is described. A 5-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat was recently diagnosed with an active pneumonitis and left at home for a couple of days under the care of another resident. Upon return, the owner found his cat dead with strong suspicion of foul play. The cat was necropsied by a local veterinary clinic to retrieve the liver for diagnostic toxicology. The postmortem liver sample screened positive for 6-acetylmorphine and 6-acetylcodeine by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Deconvolution techniques were applied to chromatograms, which revealed the additional presence of morphine and mirtazapine. Subsequent quantitation of mirtazapine, heroin, morphine, 6-acetylmorphine and 6-acetylcodeine was performed by gas chromatography--tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry. Although companion animal fatalities arising from toxicities are a likely consequence of drug abuse in a home, this is the first reported case of a malicious feline fatality resulting from heroin with quantitation of heroin metabolites. Topics: Animals; Cats; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Liver; Male; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Substance Abuse Detection; Tandem Mass Spectrometry | 2022 |
Toxicological Relevance of Pregabalin in Heroin Users: A Two-Year Postmortem Population Study.
Pregabalin (PGL) is a gabapentinoid used to treat epilepsy, neuropathic pain and generalized anxiety disorder. PGL is also misused by heroin users as it enhances the effects of heroin. While it is thought those who misuse PGL take it in amounts greater than the recommended therapeutic dose, it is unknown whether there is a significant difference between the amounts of PGL used by heroin users compared to non-heroin users. This study hypothesized that the PGL concentrations in postmortem (PM) samples taken from heroin users positive for PGL would be higher than those in non-heroin users. Between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2016, a routine drug screen and a specific screen for PGL were carried out on femoral-vein bloods from 3,750 PM Coroners' cases. Of the cases screened, 354 were heroin users, of which 264 cases were negative for gabapentinoids and therefore used as the control-heroin-user group. PGL was positive in 229 cases, of which 69 were heroin users and 160 were non-heroin users. On comparing the PGL concentrations, statistically higher concentrations were observed in the heroin users compared to non-heroin users (P = 0.002). There was no correlation between the concentrations of PGL and morphine (from heroin) in the heroin users (P = 0.95), and the amount of heroin (morphine) consumed was not dependant on whether PGL was consumed or not (P = 0.98). The prevalence of anti-depressants, benzodiazepines, methadone and non-heroin-related opioids was seen to be significantly higher in heroin users that were positive for PGL than the control-heroin users (P = < 0.001 for all drugs). This study suggests that heroin users are using greater amounts of PGL compared to non-heroin users; however, the magnitude of the difference in use may not be sufficient to conclude that heroin users are at substantially greater risk of PGL toxicity compared to non-heroin users. Results indicate that heroin users who take PGL are more likely to use multiple depressant drugs, hence increasing the risk of multi-drug toxicity and death in this population. Topics: Autopsy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Pregabalin | 2022 |
Fatal and Non-Fatal Heroin-Related Overdoses: Circumstances and Patterns.
Heroin overdose is a leading cause of mortality among drug users. This paper aims to identify individual and contextual factors associated with lethal and non-lethal heroin-related overdoses on the basis of case reports and semi-structured proxy interviews. Typical patterns within these cases are determined by means of cluster analysis.. Within the CaRe (Case Reports of heroin-related overdoses) study, case reports (100 proxy reports of overdose events from 36 different facilities) were gathered and evaluated as part of a nationwide survey of experts conducted in Germany in 2019. Following initial descriptive analyses a two-step cluster analysis with the four binary variables of gender, age, time and place was conducted to identify patterns within the reported cases.. The case reports grouped into five clusters: 1) Younger male drug users, found in a public space during the daytime; 2) Female drug users; 3) Older male drug users, found in a public space during the daytime; 4) Drug users found at home at night; 5) Drug users found outside at night. Overdoses by female drug users and those which occurred at home and/or at night were significantly more likely to have a fatal outcome.. Future prevention and intervention measures should aim to consider the context, i.e. typical constellations of risk, and attempt to inhibit this through appropriate counter measures. Topics: Drug Overdose; Drug Users; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Opiate Overdose | 2021 |
Methylation quantitative trait locus rs5326 is associated with susceptibility and effective dosage of methadone maintenance treatment for heroin use disorder.
Opioid use disorder is a complicated brain disease with high heritability. The underlying mechanisms of the genetic underpinnings in the susceptibility and treatment response of opioid use disorder remain elusive.. To reveal the potential associations of genotypes and gene methylations of dopaminergic system genes, as well as roles of them in opioid use disorder. In the present study, we detected the DNA methylation in the promoter regions of five representative dopaminergic system genes (DRD1, DRD2, SLC6A3, TH, and COMT) between 120 patients with heroin use disorder in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) program and 111 healthy controls. The associations of 25 SNPs in the above genes and methylation of 237 CpG sites, known as methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTLs), were determined. Then, the correlations of the above mQTLs and traits of heroin use disorder were analyzed in a sample set of 801 patients with heroin use disorder and 930 healthy controls.. Our results demonstrated that several mQTLs in the DRD1 and DRD2 genes were identified both in the heroin use disorder and healthy control groups. Interestingly, rs4867798-CpG_174872884 and rs5326-CpG_174872884 in the DRD1 gene were the unique SNP-CpG pairs in the patients with heroin use disorder. Furthermore, mQTL rs5326 was associated with the susceptibility and effective dosage of MMT for heroin use disorder, and demonstrated allele-specific correlation with the expression of the DRD1 gene in the human caudate.. Our findings suggest that some mQTLs may be associated with traits of opioid use disorder by implicating the DNA methylation and gene expression. Topics: DNA Methylation; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Quantitative Trait Loci | 2021 |
Determination of metabolic phenotype and potential biomarkers in the liver of heroin addicted mice with hepatotoxicity.
Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid that is commonly abused drugs in the world. It can cause hepatic injury and lead to multiple organs dysfunction to its addicts. Only a few reports exist on the metabolic changes and mechanisms in the liver of heroin-addicted mice with hepatic injury.. Twelve adult male Kunming mice (30-40 g) were divided into two groups randomly. The mice in the heroin-addicted group were injected subcutaneously in the first ten days with an increased dosage of heroin from 10 mg/kg to 55 mg/kg. The dosage was then stabilized at 55 mg/kg for three days. The control group was injected with the same amount of saline in the same manner. The hepatic injury was confirmed through the combination of histopathological observation and aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) determination. The withdrawal symptoms were recorded and used for assessment of heroin addiction. Eventually, liver metabolic biomarkers of heroin-addicted mice with hepatotoxicity were measured using UHPLC-MS/MS.. Biochemical analysis and histopathological observation showed that heroin-addicted mice had a liver injury. The liver metabolites of heroin-addicted mice changed significantly. Metabonomics analysis revealed 41 metabolites in the liver of addicted heroin mice as biomarkers involving 34 metabolic pathways. Among them, glutathione metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, vitamin B2 metabolism, riboflavin metabolism, and single-carbon metabolism pathways were markedly dispruted.. Heroin damages the liver and disrupts the liver's metabolic pathways. Glutathione, taurine, riboflavin, 4-pyridoxate, folic acid, and methionine are important metabolic biomarkers, which may be key targets of heroin-induced liver damage. Thus, this study provides an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms of heroin-induced hepatotoxicity and potential biomarkers of liver damage. Topics: Animals; Animals, Outbred Strains; Biomarkers; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Liver; Male; Metabolomics; Mice; Phenotype | 2021 |
«One prick and then it´s done»: a mixed-methods exploratory study on intramuscular injection in heroin-assisted treatment.
Intramuscular (IM) injection of drugs is associated with high rates of injecting-related injuries and diseases. However, little is known about the role of this route of administration in heroin-assisted treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of IM diacetylmorphine administration and associated complications as well as to explore patients' views and opinions on the topic and the underlying reasons for this practice.. The research site was a Swiss outpatient treatment centre specialised in heroin-assisted treatment. We conducted in-depth interviews with two patients who intramuscularly inject diacetylmorphine. Interviews were analysed qualitatively, and emerging themes were used to develop a 38-item questionnaire on IM injections. We then offered this questionnaire to all patients in the treatment centre.. Five main themes emerged from the in-depth interviews: poor venous access, side effects, subjective effects, procedure for IM injection, and consideration of alternatives to IM. These themes covered the rationale for using this route of administration, complications, subjective effects of IM diacetylmorphine, hygiene and safety measures as well as alternative routes of administration. Fifty-three patients filled in the questionnaire. The lifetime prevalence of IM injections was 60.4% (n = 32) and 34.4% (n = 11) of the patients stated that IM injection was their primary route of administration. No participant reported using the IM route for street drugs. The main reason for IM injections was poor vein access. Other reasons given were time saving and less risk of injuries. Complications included induration of muscle tissue and pain, whereas more severe complications like thrombosis and infections of the injection site were reported much less often.. As the population of opioid-dependent individuals is aging and the deterioration of access veins is likely to increase, the frequency of IM injecting will equally increase. Even though our data show that the IM injection of diacetylmorphine in a clinical setting is a common practice and appears to be relatively safe, research on alternative routes of administration is needed to provide potentially less harmful alternative routes of administration in heroin-assisted treatment. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Injections, Intramuscular | 2021 |
Identification of novel risk loci with shared effects on alcoholism, heroin, and methamphetamine dependence.
Different substance dependences have common effects on reward pathway and molecular adaptations, however little is known regarding their shared genetic factors. We aimed to identify the risk genetic variants that are shared for substance dependence (SD). First, promising genome-wide significant loci were identified from 3296 patients (521 alcoholic/1026 heroin/1749 methamphetamine) vs 2859 healthy controls and independently replicated using 1954 patients vs 1904 controls. Second, the functional effects of promising variants on gene expression, addiction characteristics, brain structure (gray and white matter), and addiction behaviors in addiction animal models (chronic administration and self-administration) were assessed. In addition, we assessed the genetic correlation among the three SDs using LD score regression. We identified and replicated three novel loci that were associated with the common risk of heroin, methamphetamine addiction, and alcoholism: ANKS1B rs2133896 (P Topics: Alcoholism; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Animals; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methamphetamine; Rats | 2021 |
Methadone-Assisted Opiate Withdrawal and Subsequent Heroin Abstinence: The Importance of Psychological Preparedness.
Treatment guidelines emphasize patients' readiness for transitioning from opiate substitution treatment (OST) to opiate withdrawal and abstinence. Psychological preparedness indicators for this transition were examined.. Patients (all male) were recruited from three treatment settings: prison, an inpatient detoxification unit, and an outpatient clinic. Time 1 (T1) was admission to methadone-assisted withdrawal in all settings. Time 2 (T2) was a 6-month follow-up. With n = 24 at T1 for each group (N = 72), a battery of instruments relevant to psychological preparedness was administered.. At T1, inpatients had higher self-efficacy beliefs for successful treatment completion than prison patients. For patients contactable at T2, T1 self-efficacy positively predicted T2 opiate abstinence. No other variable improved prediction. T1 SOCRATES (Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale) ambivalence scores, age, and lifetime heroin use duration predicted maintenance of contact or not with treatment services and contactability by the researcher. Measures of mood did not differ between groups at T1 or predict T2 outcomes.. Self-efficacy beliefs are a potentially useful indicator of readiness for transitioning from OST to a medically assisted opiate withdrawal and subsequent abstinence. Ambivalence regarding change, age, and lifetime heroin use duration are potentially useful predictors of patients maintaining contact with services, and of being retained in research.. These findings advance existing literature and knowledge by highlighting the importance of self-efficacy in psychological preparedness for opiate abstinence, and the predictive utility to clinicians of this and other variables measurable at admission, in the clinical management of opiate users. (© 2020 The Authors. The American Journal on Addictions published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry). (Am J Addict 2021;30:11-20). Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Deprescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inpatients; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Outpatients; Prisoners; Self Efficacy; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2021 |
Quality of life as a predictor of time to heroin relapse among male residents following release from compulsory rehabilitation centres in Vietnam.
Quality of life (QOL) is a relevant and quantifiable outcome of drug dependence treatment. We assessed health-related QOL for people released from three centre-based compulsory treatment (CCT) centres in Vietnam, using the EQ-5D. The study aimed to examine the prognostic value of health-related QOL in relation to time to relapse to heroin use among the participants.. Two hundred and eight CCT participants with heroin dependence were interviewed at release, and at 3, 6 and 12 months post-release. Health-related QOL was measured with the EQ-5D. Kaplan-Meier survival models were fitted using Cox modelling to examine the rate, timing and prediction of the number of days to heroin relapse and to examine the predictability of the health-related QOL measures for days to relapse. Relapse was defined as first time of heroin use.. The study found a substantial relapse rate (85.6%) among participants within 12 months following release from CCT centres; the mean number of days to relapse was 57.7 (SD = 31.6). There was no statistically significant change over time in the mean values of health-related QOL (P = 0.11). While the total index score (across the five pre-specified EQ-5D domains) did not have a significant effect in predicting cumulative relapse, lower scores on the Visual Analogue Scale of the EQ-5D were significantly (P < 0.05) predictive of cumulative relapse, with adjusted hazard ratios for relapse of 0.987 (P = 0.013).. EQ-5D Visual Analogue Scale score is a useful predictor of cumulative heroin relapse among participants released from CCT centres. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Quality of Life; Recurrence; Rehabilitation Centers; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vietnam | 2021 |
Assessing effect of long-term abstinence on coupling of three core brain networks in male heroin addicts: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study.
Abstinence is one of the important measures for heroin addiction. However, it is unknown whether long-term abstinence (LA) would improve the coupling among three core brain networks (salience, default mode, and executive control) and decrease craving in treated heroin addicts. Forty-three heroin addicts with LA, 27 heroin addicts with short-term abstinence (SA), and 46 demographically matched healthy controls (HC) participated in the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study. The authors compared the functional connectivity among the three groups and examined how the coupling among salience, default mode, and executive control networks related to duration of abstinence and craving before and after drug cue exposure among heroin addicts. Compared with the SA group, with a tendency toward the HC group, the LA group showed lower drug cue-induced craving, stronger connectivity between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (a key node of salience network) and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and right posterior parietal cortex (key nodes of executive control network), and stronger connectivity between the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and precuneus (a key node of default mode network). Meanwhile, the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex-precuneus connectivity positively correlated with duration of abstinence. The LA and SA groups demonstrated lower connectivity between the left anterior insula (a key node of salience network) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and lower connectivity within the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, compared with the HC group. Our findings revealed that LA is associated with lower drug cue induced craving and improve the coupling among the three core brain networks in heroin addicts. Topics: Adult; Brain; Brain Mapping; Craving; Cues; Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex; Gyrus Cinguli; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Young Adult | 2021 |
Assessing the Role of Corticothalamic and Thalamo-Accumbens Projections in the Augmentation of Heroin Seeking in Chronically Food-Restricted Rats.
Drug addiction is a chronic disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, and involves repetitive cycles of compulsive drug use, abstinence, and relapse. In both human and animal models of addiction, chronic food restriction increases rates of relapse. Our laboratory has reported a robust increase in drug seeking following a period of withdrawal in chronically food-restricted rats compared with sated controls. Recently, we reported that activation of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) abolished heroin seeking in chronically food-restricted rats. However, the precise inputs and outputs of the PVT that mediate this effect remain elusive. The goal of the current study was to determine the role of corticothalamic and thalamo-accumbens projections in the augmentation of heroin seeking induced by chronic food restriction. Male Long-Evans rats were trained to self-administer heroin for 10 d. Next, rats were removed from the self-administration chambers and were subjected to a 14 d withdrawal period while sated (unlimited access to food) or mildly food-restricted (FDR). On day 14, rats were returned to the self-administration context for a 3 h heroin-seeking test under extinction conditions during which corticothalamic and thalamo-accumbens neural activity was altered using chemogenetics. Surprisingly, chemogenetic activation or inhibition of corticothalamic projections did not alter heroin-seeking behavior. Chemogenetic activation of thalamo-accumbens shell, but not core, projectors attenuated heroin seeking in FDR rats. The results indicate an important role for the PVT to nucleus accumbens shell projections in the augmentation of heroin seeking induced by chronic food restriction. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Cerebral Cortex; Clozapine; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Food Deprivation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Motor Activity; Narcotics; Neural Pathways; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Recurrence; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Thalamus | 2021 |
Heroin-assisted treatment of heroin-addicted patients normalizes regulatory T cells but does not restore CD4
Heroin dependence may result in suppression of adaptive immune responses. Previously, we demonstrated an increase in relative numbers of inhibitory CD4 Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Cell Proliferation; Cytokines; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory | 2021 |
How risky are heroin markets? A multi-site study of self-reported risk perceptions among police detainees in Australia.
There has long been an international interest in the eradication of drug markets-particularly heroin markets-given their documented connection to the deterioration of local community and social amenity. Recent interest in focused drug law enforcement strategies has reinvigorated debate about the potential for deterrence; however, there exists no large-scale effort to document the risk perceptions of those who transact in heroin markets.. We use data from 2,257 police detainees interviewed as part of the Australian Institute of Criminology's (AIC) Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program. We employ a multilevel generalised ordinal logistic regression model to explore the geographical and temporal heterogeneity of risk, controlling for individual demographic covariates.. With one exception, we find a surprising degree of homogeneity at the high end of the risk perception scale, with between 30 and 35 percent of respondents rating their local heroin market as very risky. At the low end, there was greater geographical and temporal variability with between 15 and 30 percent of respondents rating their market as not at all risky. One location stands out as anomalous, being perceived as considerably more risky. Of the demographic and drug-use covariates, only age and gender were statistically significant. Neither the length nor frequency of association with the heroin market predicted lower levels of risk perception.. A little over half of all heroin market participants consider transacting in their local market to be somewhat or very risky-the others consider it not at all or only a little risky. With few exceptions, this broad pattern appears consistent over time and between geographical locations, although an individual's personal perception is not tied to their degree of exposure to the heroin market. The policy implications of these findings are discussed. Topics: Australia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Perception; Police; Self Report | 2021 |
Novel circuit biomarker of impulsivity and craving in male heroin-dependent individuals.
The striatum mediates reward processing in addiction, and previous fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) studies have revealed abnormal striatofrontal functional connectivity in heroin addiction. However, little is known about whether there is abnormal structural connectivity of the striatal circuit in heroin addiction. This study investigated the structural connectivity of striatal circuits in abstinent heroin-dependent individuals (HDIs) without methadone treatment.. Forty-three (age: 38.8 ± 7.1) male HDIs and twenty-one (age: 42.4 ± 7.9) matched healthy controls underwent high-resolution T1 and whole-brain diffusion tensor imaging (64 directions) magnetic resonance imaging. Connectivity-based seed classification probabilistic tractography was used to detect the tract strengths of striatal circuits with 10 a priori target masks. Tract strengths were compared between groups and correlated with impulsivity behavior, evaluated using the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS), and craving, measured on visual analogue scale (VAS).. HDIs showed significantly weaker tract strength of the left striatum-medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) (Bonferroni corrected, p < 0.05/20 = 0.0025) and significantly higher BIS total, attention, motor, and non-planning scores (Bonferroni corrected, p < 0.05/4 = 0.0125) than controls. In HDIs, negative correlations were observed between the left striatum- mOFC tract strengths and the BIS total, attention and non-planning scores (r. HDIs displayed decreased structural connectivity of the striatum-mOFC circuit and higher impulsivity. Higher impulsive behavior was associated with decreased left striatal circuit connectivity. These findings suggest that the striatal circuit tract strengths might be a novel potential biomarker in heroin and, potentially, general opioid addiction. Topics: Adult; Behavior, Addictive; Biomarkers; Brain; Brain Mapping; Case-Control Studies; Cerebral Cortex; Corpus Striatum; Craving; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Gyrus Cinguli; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Impulsive Behavior; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Opioid-Related Disorders; Reward | 2021 |
Gene expression in the striatum of cynomolgus monkeys after chronic administration of cocaine and heroin.
Cocaine and heroin cause impairment of neural plasticity in the brain including striatum. This study aimed to identify genes differentially expressed in the striatum of cynomolgus monkeys in response to cocaine and heroin. After chronic administration of cocaine and heroin in the monkeys, we performed large-scale transcriptome profiling in the striatum using RNA-Seq technology and analysed functional annotation. We found that 547 and 1238 transcripts were more than 1.5-fold up- or down-regulated in cocaine- and heroin-treated groups, respectively, compared to the control group, and 3432 transcripts exhibited differential expression between cocaine- and heroin-treated groups. Functional annotation analysis indicated that genes associated with nervous system development (NAGLU, MOBP and TTL7) and stress granule disassembly (KIF5B and KLC1) were differentially expressed in the cocaine-treated group compared to the control group, whereas gene associated with neuron apoptotic process (ERBB3) was differentially expressed in the heroin-treated group. In addition, IPA network analysis indicated that genes (TRAF6 and TRAF3IP2) associated with inflammation were increased by the chronic administration of cocaine and heroin. These results provide insight into the correlated molecular mechanisms as well as the upregulation and down-regulation of genes in the striatum after chronic exposure to cocaine and heroin. Topics: Animals; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Corpus Striatum; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Kinesins; Macaca fascicularis; Neuronal Plasticity; RNA-Seq; Self Administration; Transcriptome | 2021 |
Altered brain intrinsic functional hubs and connectivity associated with relapse risk in heroin dependents undergoing methadone maintenance treatment: A resting-state fMRI study.
The neural substrates underlying the relapse behavior of heroin dependents (HD) who received long-term methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) have yet to be thoroughly expounded. This study investigated the relapse-related intrinsic functional hubs of HD and their functional integration feature at whole brain network level.. 57 male HD receiving MMT and 49 matched healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. All of the subjects received resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. And the 57 patients were assigned a 26-month follow-up for collecting illegal drug use information. Of them, 11 were non-relapsers and 46 relapsers. We analyzed the voxel-based degree centrality (DC) to reveal the differences in nodule centrality between HD and HC, conducted Pearson partial-correlation analysis to confirm the relationship between relapse frequency and DC value of the nodes with significant intergroup differences, and finally compared the functional connectivity (FC) of the relapse-related hubs between non-relapsers and relapsers.. We found the DC values of right insula and left nucleus accumbens (NAc) were negatively correlated with relapse frequency. Compared with the non-relapsers, the relapsers had a significant decreased FC between left NAc and inhibitory control circuitry, including left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left inferior frontal gyrus and motor regions.. These findings suggest that the neural substrates of relapse vulnerability in HD undergoing MMT are the intrinsic functional hubs of introceptive and reward systems and the latter modulates relapse behavior via interaction with inhibitory control circuit. Topics: Adult; Brain; Brain Mapping; Cerebral Cortex; Chronic Disease; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Prefrontal Cortex; Recurrence | 2021 |
Functional evaluation of NK
Opiate addiction is a major health challenge with substantial societal cost. Though harm minimisation strategies have been effective, there is a growing need for new treatments for detoxification and relapse prevention. Preclinical research has found neurokinin 1 (NK. This study aims to assess the impact of NK Topics: Adult; Amygdala; Analgesics, Opioid; Brain; Brain Mapping; Conditioning, Psychological; Craving; Cues; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Opiate Alkaloids; Opioid-Related Disorders; Receptors, Neurokinin-1; Reward; Young Adult | 2021 |
Association study of Catechol-o-methyltransferase and Alpha-1-adrenergic receptor gene polymorphisms with multiple phenotypes of heroin use disorder.
Heroin use disorder is a chronic relapsing brain disease containing multiple phenotypes. These phenotypes vary among heroin users and might be influenced by genetic factors. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and alpha-1-adrenergic receptor (ADRA1A) genes are associated with heroin use disorder. However, it has not been clarified which phenotypes of heroin use disorder are related to these genes. To address this question, we recruited 801 unrelated heroin users and divided them into different subgroups according to four important phenotypes of heroin use disorder. Then 7 SNPs in the functional region of these genes were systematically screened and genotyped using a SNaPshot assay. We found that the A allele of ADRA1A rs1048101 was associated with a shorter duration of transition from first use to addiction. Subjects with the C allele of ADRA1A rs3808585 were more susceptible to memory impairment after heroin use disorder. Subjects with the G allele of COMT rs769224 were more likely to take a higher dose of heroin every day. Our study confirmed the association between polymorphisms of COMT and ADRA1A with those specific phenotypes of heroin use disorder, which will be instructive for the precise treatment of the disease. Topics: Alleles; Case-Control Studies; Catechol O-Methyltransferase; Female; Gene Frequency; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Phenotype; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide | 2021 |
Akt and its phosphorylation in nucleus accumbens mediate heroin-seeking behavior induced by cues in rats.
Akt is initially identified as one of the downstream targets of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) and is involved in morphine reward and tolerance. However, whether phospholyration of Akt (p-Akt) mediates heroin relapse remains unclear. Here, we aimed to explore the role of p-Akt in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in cue-induced heroin-seeking behaviors after withdrawal. First, rats were trained to self-administer heroin for 14 days, after which we assessed heroin-seeking behaviors induced by a context cue (CC) or by discrete conditioned cues (CS) after 1 day or 14 days of withdrawal. We found that the active responses induced by CC or CS after 14 days of withdrawal were higher than those after 1 day of withdrawal. Meanwhile, the expression of p-Akt in the NAc was also greatest when rats were exposed to the CS after 14 days of withdrawal. Additionally, a microinjection of LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3K, into the NAc inhibited the CS-induced heroin-seeking behaviors after 14 days of withdrawal, paralleling the decreased levels of p-Akt in the NAc. Finally, Akt1 or β-arrestin 2 was downregulated via a lentiviral injection to assess the effect on heroin seeking after 14 days of withdrawal. CS-induced heroin-seeking behavior was inhibited by downregulation of Akt1, but not β-arrestin 2, in the NAc. These data demonstrate that Akt phosphorylation in the NAc may play an important role in the incubation of heroin-seeking behavior, suggesting that the PI3K/Akt pathways may be involved in the process of heroin relapse and addiction. Topics: Animals; Cues; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Nucleus Accumbens; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Phosphorylation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reward; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2021 |
Application of EMDR Therapy in the Treatment of a Heroin Addict - Case Report.
Topics: Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 2021 |
Fronto-temporal cortical atrophy in 'nyaope' combination heroin and cannabis use disorder.
Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the top three regions with the highest rates of opioid-related premature mortality. Nyaope is the street name for what is believed to be a drug cocktail in South Africa although recent research suggests that it is predominantly heroin. Nyaope powder is most commonly smoked together with cannabis, a drug-use pattern unique to the region. Due to the increasing burden of this drug in low-income communities and the absence of human structural neuroimaging data of combination heroin and cannabis use disorder, we initiated an important cohort study in order to identify neuroanatomical sequelae. Twenty-eight male nyaope users and thirty healthy, matched controls were recruited from drug rehabilitation centers and the community, respectively. T1-weighted MRI images were obtained using a 3 T General Electric Discovery and cortical thickness was examined and compared. Nyaope users displayed extensive grey matter atrophy in the right hemispheric medial orbitofrontal, rostral middle frontal, superior temporal, superior frontal, and supramarginal gyri (two-sided t-test, p < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons). Our findings indicate cortical abnormality in nyaope users in regions involved in impulse control, decision making, social- and self-perception, and working memory. Importantly, affected brain regions show large overlap with the pattern of cortical abnormalities shown in heroin use disorder. Topics: Adult; Atrophy; Cannabis; Case-Control Studies; Cerebral Cortex; Cohort Studies; Gray Matter; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Marijuana Abuse; Neuroimaging; South Africa | 2021 |
Contrasting effects of the α7 nicotinic receptor antagonist methyllycaconitine in different rat models of heroin reinstatement.
α7 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are implicated in the reinstatement of drug-seeking, an important component of relapse. We showed previously that the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, methyllycaconitine, specifically attenuated morphine-primed reinstatement of conditioned place preference in rodents and this effect was mediated in the ventral hippocampus.. The purpose of this study was to evaluate α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonism in reinstatement of the conditioned place preference for the more widely abused opioid, heroin, and to compare the effect of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor blockade on reinstatement of heroin-seeking and heroin self-administration in an intravenous self-administration model of addictive behaviour.. Rats were trained to acquire heroin conditioned place preference or heroin self-administration; both followed by extinction of responding. Methyllycaconitine or saline was given prior to reinstatement of drug-primed conditioned place preference, or drug-prime plus cue-induced reinstatement of intravenous self-administration, using two protocols: without delivery of heroin in response to lever pressing to model heroin-seeking, or with heroin self-administration, using fixed and progressive ratio reward schedules, to model relapse.. Methyllycaconitine had no effect on acquisition of heroin conditioned place preference or lever-pressing for food rewards. Methyllycaconitine blocked reinstatement of heroin-primed conditioned place preference. Methyllycaconitine did not prevent drug-prime plus cue-induced reinstatement of heroin-seeking, reinstatement of heroin self-administration, or diminish the reinforcing effect of heroin.. The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, methyllycaconitine, prevented reinstatement of the opioid conditioned place preference, consistent with a role for α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the retrieval of associative memories of drug liking. The lack of effect of methyllycaconitine in heroin-dependent rats in two intravenous self-administration models suggests that α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors do not play a role in later stages of heroin abuse. Topics: Aconitine; alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Conditioning, Psychological; Cues; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Nicotinic Antagonists; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rats, Wistar; Reinforcement, Psychology; Reward; Self Administration | 2021 |
Longitudinal Opioid Surveillance Project Involving Toxicologic Analysis of Postmortem Specimens from 9 Counties in Michigan Suggests the Discovery of New High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas.
Acetyl fentanyl (AF) is a Schedule I fentanyl analog that has been increasingly seen in heroin and fentanyl polydrug toxicity overdoses in Michigan (MI). Drug users are often unaware of the presence of AF in their drugs because it is often sold mixed into or disguised as heroin. High levels of AF in heroin drug products can cause increased incidence of overdose. This article describes data from a longitudinal opioid surveillance program and details 102 decedents in MI who were found to have evidence of heroin in their postmortem blood. A large portion of these decedents were also found to have evidence of fentanyl and AF. Our data further show significant overlap in incidence rates of AF and heroin-related overdose deaths in several MI counties, suggesting that AF is becoming enmeshed in heroin trafficking. Furthermore, we report unprecedented high incidence rates of AF and heroin-related overdose deaths in Calhoun county, and we propose that it is a high-intensity drug trafficking area. Highways US-131 and US-31 are likely used to transport these drugs. More study is needed into the drug trafficking trends in MI to ascertain drug sources and monitor the ever developing and dangerous polydrug heroin combinations. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Chromatography, Liquid; Drug Overdose; Drug Trafficking; Female; Fentanyl; Forensic Toxicology; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Michigan; Middle Aged; Population Surveillance; Substance Abuse Detection; Tandem Mass Spectrometry | 2021 |
The difficult challenge of postoperative pain management in heroin addicted patients undergoing breast cancer surgery.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Mastectomy; Pain, Postoperative | 2021 |
[Learning to expand medical heroin prescribing modalities with Covid-19].
The choice of opioid-assisted treatments for patients with heroin dependence is particularly diverse in Switzerland. Since 1994, diacetylmorphine assisted treatments are available. The rules for prescribing and dispensing diacetylmorphine, as laid down by the FOPH, are particularly strict, requiring patients to attend the treatment center several times a day. Thanks to a legislative amendment by the Federal Council, it became possible to extend the dispensing of diacetylmorphine during the Covid-19 epidemic, allowing patients to take the treatment with them for longer periods and thus reducing the number of visits to the clinic. The time freed up could then be invested in other activities, allowing therapies to be refocused more on the patients' life project.. L’offre des traitements assistés par opioïdes pour les personnes avec dépendance à l’héroïne est particulièrement diversifiée en Suisse. Les traitements basés sur la prescription de diacétylmorphine y sont ainsi proposés depuis 1994, dont les règles de prescription et de remise au patient régies par l’Office fédéral de la santé publique sont particulièrement strictes, imposant aux patients un passage au centre de soins plusieurs fois par jour. Grâce aux modifications législatives du Conseil fédéral, permettant aux patients d’emporter le traitement pour des durées plus longues pendant la pandémie de Covid-19, les passages à la consultation ont été réduits. Cela a eu pour effet indirect de libérer du temps, qui a pu être investi dans d’autres activités, notamment le recentrage des thérapies davantage autour des projets de vie des patients. Topics: COVID-19; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; SARS-CoV-2; Switzerland | 2021 |
The MNS16A VNTR polymorphism of the TERT gene and risk of dependency to heroin.
Topics: Gene Frequency; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Minisatellite Repeats; Polymorphism, Genetic; Telomerase | 2021 |
Pathways to drug prevalence estimation: synthesizing three comments on triangulation.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Prevalence; Research Design | 2021 |
The discounting of death: Probability discounting of heroin use by fatal overdose likelihood and drug purity.
As fatal overdoses from synthetic opioids continue to rise, we need to understand decision-making processes underlying heroin and synthetic opioid use. This study evaluated the influence of sample impurity and fatal overdose risk on hypothetical heroin use. Individuals who currently use heroin (n = 69) were recruited online. Participants completed two probability-discounting tasks evaluating the likelihood of using a sample of heroin based on the likelihood of sample impurity and likelihood of fatal overdose, where greater discounting represented reduced use likelihood. Prior to completing the probability-discounting tasks, participants were randomized to read one of four prompts varying by the presence of information on heroin effects and active (e.g., fentanyl) or inert impurities. Influence of prompts on discounting processes and associations among probability-discounting measures, opioid use behaviors, and dependence severity were evaluated. Heroin use likelihood decreased with increased impurity or overdose risk and in a generally orderly fashion. Discounting was greater (i.e., reduced heroin use likelihood) when overdose risk, compared to sample impurity, was manipulated. Less discounting was associated with more severe opioid dependence. Discounting did not differ among prompts for either task. Individuals might adjust their heroin-use behavior to reduce harm with risk-related information. Greater discounting elicited by overdose relative to impurity risk suggests that equating adulteration and overdose risk is essential for harm reduction. Expanded access to drug checking services, which inform impurity and overdose risk, can reduce fatal overdoses. Due to fear of legal sanctions for these services, legislation and judicial decisions should explicitly protect these services. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved). Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Attitude to Death; Drug Contamination; Drug Overdose; Female; Fentanyl; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Probability; Risk | 2021 |
Plasma metabolites changes in male heroin addicts during acute and protracted withdrawal.
Heroin addiction and withdrawal have been associated with an increased risk for infectious diseases and psychological complications. However, the changes of metabolites in heroin addicts during withdrawal remain largely unknown.. A total of 50 participants including 20 heroin addicts with acute abstinence stage, 15 with protracted abstinence stage and 15 healthy controls, were recruited. We performed metabolic profiling of plasma samples based on ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry to explore the potential biomarkers and mechanisms of heroin withdrawal.. Among the metabolites analyzed, omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, n-6 docosapentaenoic acid), omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid), aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan), and intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (oxoglutaric acid, isocitric acid) were significantly reduced during acute heroin withdrawal. Although majority of the metabolite changes could recover after months of withdrawal, the levels of alpha-aminobutyric acid, alloisoleucine, ketoleucine, and oxalic acid do not recover.. In conclusion, the plasma metabolites undergo tremendous changes during heroin withdrawal. Through metabolomic analysis, we have identified links between a framework of metabolic perturbations and withdrawal stages in heroin addicts. Topics: Adult; Amino Acids, Aromatic; Biomarkers; Case-Control Studies; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Omega-6; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Metabolomics; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Tricarboxylic Acids | 2021 |
A common limiter circuit for opioid choice and relapse identified in a rodent addiction model.
Activity in numerous brain regions drives heroin seeking, but no circuits that limit heroin seeking have been identified. Furthermore, the neural circuits controlling opioid choice are unknown. In this study, we examined the role of the infralimbic cortex (IL) to nucleus accumbens shell (NAshell) pathway during heroin choice and relapse. This model yielded subpopulations of heroin versus food preferring rats during choice, and choice was unrelated to subsequent relapse rates to heroin versus food cues, suggesting that choice and relapse are distinct behavioral constructs. Supporting this, inactivation of the IL with muscimol produced differential effects on opioid choice versus relapse. A pathway-specific chemogenetic approach revealed, however, that the IL-NAshell pathway acts as a common limiter of opioid choice and relapse. Furthermore, dendritic spines in IL-NAshell neurons encode distinct aspects of heroin versus food reinforcement. Thus, opioid choice and relapse share a common addiction-limiting circuit in the IL-NAshell pathway. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Behavior, Animal; Brain; Cerebral Cortex; Cues; Decision Making; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Eating; Extinction, Psychological; Food; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Neural Pathways; Nucleus Accumbens; Opioid-Related Disorders; Rats; Recurrence; Reinforcement, Psychology; Rodentia; Self Administration | 2021 |
Increases in methamphetamine use among heroin treatment admissions in the United States, 2008-17.
Due to their small sample sizes, geographic specificity and limited examination of socio-demographic characteristics, recent studies of methamphetamine use among people using heroin in the United States are limited in their ability to identify national and regional trends and to characterize populations at risk for using heroin and methamphetamine. This study aimed to examine trends and correlates of methamphetamine use among heroin treatment admissions in the United States.. Longitudinal analysis of data from the 2008 to 2017 Treatment Episode Data Set. Descriptive statistics, trend analyses and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine characteristics associated with methamphetamine use among heroin treatment admissions.. United States.. Treatment admissions of people aged ≥ 12 years whose primary substance of use is heroin.. Primary measurement was heroin treatment admissions involving methamphetamine. Secondary measurements were demographics of sex, age, race/ethnicity, US census region, living arrangement and employment status.. The percentage of primary heroin treatment admissions reporting methamphetamine use increased each year from 2.1% in 2008 to 12.4% in 2017, a relative percentage increase of 490% and an annual percentage change (APC) of 23.4% (P < 0.001). During the study period, increases were seen among males and females and among all demographic and geographic groups examined. Among primary heroin treatment admissions reporting methamphetamine use in 2017, 47.1% reported injecting, 46.0% reported smoking, 5.1% reporting snorting and 1.8% reported oral/other as their usual route of methamphetamine use.. Methamphetamine use among heroin treatment admissions in the United States increased from one in 50 primary heroin treatment admissions in 2008 to one in 8 admissions in 2017. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Datasets as Topic; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Methamphetamine; Middle Aged; Patient Admission; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; United States; Young Adult | 2020 |
A case report illustrating the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on cue-induced craving in an individual with opioid and cocaine use disorder.
Nationally, it was estimated that 11.4 million people misused opioids in 2017 with more than 47,000 opioid-related deaths. Although medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has been effective in enhancing treatment retention and decreasing frequency of opioid use, relapse rates for opioids and other substances remain high, emphasizing the importance of investigating novel interventions to augment MAT. One potential treatment approach is repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)-a noninvasive, electrophysiological method of neuromodulation. Recently published studies of rTMS in individuals with alcohol, nicotine, and cocaine use disorder have suggested that this treatment shows promise in reducing cravings and substance use. The literature specific to rTMS and opioid use disorder (OUD) is limited to a single published study in heroin users, which showed that a single session of rTMS to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) reduced cue-induced craving, with a further reduction following 5 consecutive days of rTMS. The following case report involved a 25-year-old Caucasian male diagnosed with OUD and cocaine use disorder. This subject continued to demonstrate ongoing substance use despite participating in comprehensive MAT with buprenorphine/naloxone in combination with psychosocial interventions. He was administered 7 separate sessions of rTMS targeting the left DLPFC. Substance-related cues were presented prior to, during, and following these rTMS administration sessions and the subject rated his substance cravings via a 100-point Visual Analog Scale. When compared with his cue-induced craving ratings, there was a mean reduction in craving for heroin and cocaine by ∼60% to 82% following the 7 administration sessions. Although this is a single case, further investigation of rTMS as an augmentation strategy for OUD and polysubstance use is warranted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved). Topics: Adult; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Craving; Cues; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Prefrontal Cortex; Substance-Related Disorders; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation | 2020 |
Chemogenetic modulation of accumbens direct or indirect pathways bidirectionally alters reinstatement of heroin-seeking in high- but not low-risk rats.
Opioid addiction has been declared a public health emergency, with fatal overdoses following relapse reaching epidemic proportions and disease-associated costs continuing to escalate. Relapse is often triggered by re-exposure to drug-associated cues, and though the neural substrates responsible for relapse in vulnerable individuals remains ambiguous, the nucleus accumbens (NAc) has been shown to play a central role. NAc direct and indirect pathway medium spiny neurons (dMSNs and iMSNs) can have oppositional control over reward-seeking and associative learning and are critically involved in reinstatement of psychostimulant-seeking. However, whether these pathways similarly regulate reinstatement of opioid-seeking remains unknown, as is their role in modulating motivation to take opioids. Here, we describe a method for classifying addiction severity in outbred rats following intermittent-access heroin self-administration that identifies subgroups as addiction-vulnerable (high-risk) or addiction-resistant (low-risk). Using dual viral-mediated gene transfer of DREADDs, we show that transient inactivation of dMSNs or activation of iMSNs is capable of suppressing cue-induced reinstatement of heroin-seeking in high- but not low-risk rats. Surprisingly, however, the motivation to self-administer heroin was unchanged, indicating a divergence in the encoding of heroin-taking and heroin-seeking in rats. We further show that transient activation of dMSNs or inactivation of iMSNs exacerbates cue-induced reinstatement of heroin-seeking in high- but not low-risk rats, again with no effect on motivation. These findings demonstrate a critical role for dMSNs and iMSNs in encoding vulnerability to reinstatement of heroin-seeking and provide insight into the specific neurobiological changes that occur in vulnerable groups following heroin self-administration. Topics: Animals; Cues; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Reward; Self Administration | 2020 |
A role for leptin and ghrelin in the augmentation of heroin seeking induced by chronic food restriction.
Caloric restriction increases the risk of relapse in abstinent drug users. Hormones involved in the regulation of energy balance and food intake, such as leptin and ghrelin, are implicated in drug-related behaviors.. We investigated the role of leptin and ghrelin in the augmentation of heroin seeking induced by chronic food restriction.. Rats self-administered heroin (0.1 mg/kg/infusion) for 10 days followed by 14 days of drug withdrawal. During withdrawal, rats were food restricted to 90% of their original body weight or were given free access to food. In experiment 1, we measured the plasma concentrations of leptin and ghrelin following heroin self-administration and withdrawal. In experiment 2, leptin was administered centrally (2.0 or 4.0 μg; i.c.v.) prior to a heroin-seeking test under extinction conditions. High density of both leptin and ghrelin receptors was previously identified in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), suggesting a direct effect on reward and motivation. Hence, we administered leptin (experiment 3; 0.125 or 0.250 μg/side), or ghrelin receptor antagonist JMV 2959 (experiment 4; 2.0 or 10.0 μg/side) directly into the VTA prior to the heroin-seeking test.. Chronic food restriction significantly decreased plasma levels of leptin and elevated plasma levels of ghrelin. Central administration of leptin had no statistically significant effect on heroin seeking. Intra-VTA administration of either leptin or JMV 2959 dose-dependently and selectively decreased heroin seeking in the food-restricted rats.. Leptin and ghrelin transmission in the VTA can modulate the augmentation of heroin seeking induced by chronic food restriction. Topics: Animals; Conditioning, Operant; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Food Deprivation; Ghrelin; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Leptin; Male; Motivation; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Self Administration; Ventral Tegmental Area | 2020 |
Importance and Approach to Manner of Death Opinions in Opioid-Related Deaths.
The majority of opioid-related deaths are accidental. However, the number of opioid-related suicidal deaths is likely under recognized. Presented here is a case of suicide by heroin overdose. The manner of death would have likely been deemed accidental if not for critical information shared by the decedent's family during follow-up telephone interviews between the forensic pathologist and the decedent's family, which included text messages that were sent by the decedent just before his death that were not known at the time of the initial medicolegal death scene investigation. This case highlights that when a forensic pathologist establishes an engaged relationship with the decedent's family, the information elucidated can prove to be invaluable in reaching an informed opinion about the manner of death. For overdose cases, identifying an accurate manner of death allows the design of public health efforts that adequately address the health risks in the community. For aid in the determination of the manner of death for overdose cases, we propose a five-step checklist that may assist forensic pathologists and medicolegal death investigators when approaching similar cases. Topics: Adult; Communication; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Professional-Family Relations; Suicide, Completed; Text Messaging | 2020 |
Reduced response inhibition after exposure to drug-related cues in male heroin abstainers.
Deficits in response inhibition associated with heroin use could last several months after abstinence in heroin users, and their response inhibition can also be interfered with task-irrelevant drug-related cues. However, it is unclear whether exposure to drug-related cues affects subsequent response inhibition in heroin users following abstinence.. The present study aimed to investigate how drug-related cues with different durations between stimulus presentations, referred to as stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs), affect subsequent response inhibition in heroin abstainers (HAs) with different length of abstinence.. Sixty-seven male HAs performed a modified Go/NoGo task in which a motor response to frequent Go targets and no response to rare NoGo targets were required and a Go or NoGo target was displayed after either a heroin-related or a neutral picture presented for the 200 ms and 600 ms SOAs.. The HAs responded significantly faster to Go targets following the neutral pictures for the 600 ms SOA compared to other conditions. They also made more commission errors following heroin-related pictures compared to neutral pictures regardless of the SOAs. The shorter-term HAs made more commission errors compared to the longer-term HAs following the 200 ms SOA, and it was only a trend when the SOA was 600 ms. Additionally, negative correlations between the duration of current abstinence and commission errors were observed following cues with the 200 ms SOA.. Impaired response inhibition in HAs can be improved through protracted drug abstinence. However, that effect can be reduced by exposure to drug-related cues, which may increase the risk of relapse. Topics: Adult; Cues; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inhibition, Psychological; Male; Middle Aged; Photic Stimulation; Reaction Time; Time Factors | 2020 |
Histone 3 lysine 9 acetylation of BRG1 in the medial prefrontal cortex is associated with heroin self‑administration in rats.
Heroin addiction is a chronic relapsing brain disorder with negative social consequences. Histone acetylation serves a role in drug‑induced behavior and neuroplasticity impairment. Brahma/SWI2‑related gene‑1 (BRG1) participates in cerebellar development, embryogenesis and transcriptional regulation of neuronal genes concurrent with histone modifications. However, little is known about the relationship between histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) and BRG1 in response to heroin. The present study aimed to assess the contribution of histone 3 lysine 9 acetylation of BRG1 to heroin self‑administration. The present study established a Sprague‑Dawley rat model of heroin self‑administration under a fixed‑ratio‑1 paradigm. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR (RT‑qPCR) was used to detect the accumulation of H3K9ac on BRG1 in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) following heroin self‑administration. The relative expression levels of BRG1 were analyzed by RT‑qPCR. H3K9ac at the promoter region of BRG1 was significantly elevated (P=0.002), and the expression of BRG1 in the mPFC increased 1.47‑fold in the heroin self‑administration group compared with the control group. No significant difference in H3K9ac at the BRG1 locus was observed in the NAc (P=0.323), with the expression of BRG1 decreasing 1.38‑fold in the heroin self‑administering rats compared with the control group. H3K9ac is associated with transcriptional activation, and the increased BRG1 expression suggested an essential and novel role for BRG1 and its H3K9ac‑mediated regulation in the mPFC after heroin self‑administration; and this may function through epigenetically modulating the activation of neuroplasticity‑associated genes. This association may provide a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of heroin addiction. Topics: Acetylation; Animals; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; DNA Helicases; Epigenesis, Genetic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Histone Code; Histones; Lysine; Male; Nucleus Accumbens; Prefrontal Cortex; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Self Administration; Transcription Factors; Transcriptional Activation | 2020 |
Trauma Severity in Early Childhood Correlates with Stress and Satiety Hormone Levels in a Pilot Cohort Receiving Diamorphine Maintenance Treatment.
Childhood trauma is of importance for the manifestation of substance-related disorders and maintenance of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis disorders. Since stress plays a crucial role in opioid compliance and craving, we investigated the immediate effects of diacetylmorphine application on the HPA axis. In particular, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol secretion, as well as satiety regulating proopiomelanocortin peptides α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) and β-endorphin (END) in a cohort of opioid-dependent patients in diamorphine maintenance treatment concerning the clinical severity of their childhood trauma.. We compared the serum levels of ACTH, cortisol, MSH, and END in 15 opioid-dependent patients. All participants received treatment with diamorphine and were observed at 5 timepoints before and after injection. We split the cohort into 2 subgroups concerning childhood trauma measured by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.. Splitting in 2 subgroups for mild (5) and severe trauma (10), we found that while both groups show a significant reduction of ACTH and cortisol levels over time, slopes display different progressions over time for cortisol (F[1.6] = 9.38, p = 0.02), while remaining identical for ACTH (F[1.6] = 1.69, p = 0.24). Also, levels of both MSH and END were significantly lower in severely traumatized patients.. For the first time, we present a detailed representation of stress- and addiction-related proteins for the first 5 h after diamorphine application, demonstrating the interrelationship between stress hormones and childhood trauma as well as its potential effects on the progression of addictions such as opioid dependence. Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Adult; Adverse Childhood Experiences; beta-Endorphin; Child; Cohort Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Male; Middle Aged; Pituitary-Adrenal System; Stress, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires; Wounds and Injuries | 2020 |
Do striatal push/pull circuits hold the key to compulsive, relapsing heroin addiction? : A Research Highlight on: Chemogenetic modulation of accumbens direct or indirect pathways bidirectionally alters reinstatement of heroin-seeking in high- but not low-
Topics: Animals; Compulsive Behavior; Corpus Striatum; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats | 2020 |
Risk perception, changing social context, and norms prevent transition to regular injection among people who smoke heroin.
There is a lack of research examining what prevents people who smoke heroin from transitioning to regular injection. This qualitative study aims to improve understanding of environmental influences preventing people who smoke heroin from transitioning to regular injection.. In-depth, semi-structured interviews (n = 15) were conducted with people who currently smoked heroin but never injected (n = 10) and those who injected on a few occasions but did not transition to regular injection (n = 5) in Northern Ireland. Multiple recruitment strategies were utilized to generate a community-based sample. Interviews were thematically analysed.. Participants identified two main, interconnected influences preventing transition to injecting heroin. Firstly, resistance towards injecting was rooted in micro level perceptions of risks primarily arising from meso level social interactions with people who inject drugs and, to a lesser extent, harm reduction agencies. Secondly, participants identified meso and macro environments defined as changing social contexts and normative beliefs surrounding the acceptability of injecting within their drug-using social networks, facilitated by expanding heron markets, negative interactions with people who inject drugs and new groups of people choosing to smoke heroin due to perceptions of injection risks.. Findings illuminate environmental influences surrounding and shaping drug consumption practices. Harm reduction strategies should develop and implement safer smoking rooms, community and peer interventions, and improve accessibility to opioid substitution therapy and low threshold outreach services to prevent transitioning to regular heroin injecting. Topics: Adult; Drug Users; Female; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Northern Ireland; Perception; Qualitative Research; Social Environment; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Young Adult | 2020 |
Heroin exposure and withdrawal differentially influence expression of NMDA receptor NR2 subunits in the prelimbic region of rat medial prefrontal cortex.
It is widely reported that drug addiction involves the strengthening of specific reward circuits through N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR)-dependent synaptic potentiation, and several lines of evidence strongly implicate NMDA receptor 2 (NR2) subunits in drug abuse. To explore the potential mechanism of heroin dependence, this study examined changes in the expression levels of NR2 subunits NR2A-D in the prelimbic (PL) region of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) after repeated heroin administration and subsequent abstinence. The conditioned place preference (CPP) test confirmed successful induction of heroin dependence and withdrawal. Western blotting and qRT-PCR revealed no differences in NR2A subunit expression among heroin-exposure, heroin-withdrawal, and control group rats; in contrast, expression of NR2B was significantly higher in the heroin-exposure group, whereas expression levels of NR2C and NR2D were significantly higher in the heroin-withdrawal group relative to the controls. Further studies are needed to identify the functional significance based on alterations of NR2 subunits. Topics: Animals; Gene Expression; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Prefrontal Cortex; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2020 |
Altered serum microRNA expression profile in subjects with heroin and methamphetamine use disorder.
Drug abuse is one of the most severe global social and public health problems, especially in China. However, objective blood biomarkers that are easy to detect are still in great need. This study was aim to explore the expression pattern of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in subjects with drug addiction and test the potential of altered serum miRNAs as noninvasive diagnostic tools for drug abuse.. Serum samples were obtained from 42 heroin abusers, 42 methamphetamine (MA) abusers and 42 controls. Microarray-based miRNA analysis was first applied to screen unique serum miRNA profiles in drug abusers on a training set of serum samples from 12 heroin abusers, 12 MA abusers and 12 control subjects. The expression levels of selected candidate miRNAs were subsequently verified in individual samples of the training set and further confirmed independently in a validation set of samples from 30 heroin abusers, 30 MA abusers and 30 controls using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).. Microarray analysis identified 116 and 109 significantly altered miRNAs in heroin abusers and MA abusers, respectively. Three miRNAs, including let-7b-5p, miR-206 and miR-486-5p, were verified to be significantly and steadily increased in heroin abusers, and miR-9-3p was significantly increased in MA abusers compared with normal controls. The areas under the curve (AUCs) of the ROC curve of these miRNAs ranged from 0.718 to 0.867.. Our study raises the possibility that the altered serum miRNAs could potentially be used as an auxiliary tool to identify individuals in drug abuse and addiction. Topics: Adult; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Biomarkers; Female; Gene Expression Profiling; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methamphetamine; MicroRNAs; Middle Aged | 2020 |
Heroin-induced respiratory depression and the influence of dose variation: within-subject between-session changes following dose reduction.
Globally, more than 100 000 people die annually from opioid overdose. Opportunities to study physiological events in at-risk individuals are limited. This study examined variation of opioid dose and impact on respiratory depression in a chronic injecting heroin user at separate time-points during his long-term diamorphine maintenance treatment.. A single-subject study over 5 years during which participant underwent experimental studies on diamorphine-induced respiratory depression, at changing maintenance doses.. A clinical research facility. Participant Male subject on long-term injectable diamorphine (pharmaceutical heroin) maintenance treatment for heroin addiction.. Physiological measures of oxygen saturation (SpO. (1) After diamorphine injection, respiratory regulation became abnormal, with prolonged apnoea exceeding 20 sec (maximum 56 sec), elevated ETCO. With marked inter-session variability, these findings corroborate observations of inconsistent relationships between opioid dose and overdose risk. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Tapering; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Respiratory Insufficiency | 2020 |
Long-term impact of acute restraint stress on heroin self-administration, reinstatement, and stress reactivity.
There is a robust relationship between anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse. In fact, 30-50% of people seeking treatment for substance abuse have a comorbid diagnosis for PTSD. Heroin use is at epic proportions in the USA and is commonly used by people with co-occurring PTSD symptoms and substance use disorder.. Here, we combined animal assays of acute restraint stress and contingent heroin self-administration (SA) to study comorbidity between stress disorders and opioid use disorder and identify shifts in anxiety-like behaviors following stress and/or heroin in response to a stress-conditioned cue. Our objective for this approach was to determine the long-term impact of acute restraint stress and heroin self-administration on stress reactivity and basic reward processes.. We used 2-h acute restraint stress paired with an odor stimulus to condition a stress cue (CS) for testing of subsequent stress reactivity in a burying task and reinstatement and extinction to heroin seeking. Rats were also tested for social place preference for measures of social reward and anxiety-like behaviors.. Stress rats exhibited multiple levels of disrupted behavior including enhanced acquisition of heroin intake and reinstatement in response to the stress CS, as well as delayed extinction in response to the stress CS. All rats developed a social place preference, but stress rats spent more time in nose-to-nose contact with the unfamiliar rat while heroin rats spent time exploring the chamber. In the burying task, stress shortened latencies to bury the CS and increased burying and immobility in male and female rats relative to sham counterparts.. Acute restraint stress results in anxiety-like behaviors and a stress-associated cue is sufficient to reinstate extinguished heroin seeking. This project has the potential to elucidate the complex relationship between stress/anxiety disorders, including some PTSD-like characteristics, and the onset, maintenance, and relapse to heroin seeking. Topics: Animals; Cues; Extinction, Psychological; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Odorants; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Restraint, Physical; Self Administration; Stress, Psychological | 2020 |
Effect of positive urine fentanyl screen on attitudes toward heroin use.
It is unknown if targeted risk reduction counseling in the health care setting, after documented exposure to fentanyl, can affect behavior change to reduce risks and increase utilization of evidence-based overdose prevention strategies.. We conducted a retrospective analysis of results (7/2018-6/2019) from questionnaire-facilitated counseling by recovery coaches in the emergency department (ED) and primary care settings following disclosure of a urine toxicology positive for fentanyl.. Seventy-five percent of N = 101 respondents were neither aware of nor expecting fentanyl in their substances of use. Fifty-three (70 %) of those initially unaware answered that learning about exposure to and the risks from fentanyl changed their thoughts about reducing or abstaining from use. A greater proportion of patients seen in the ED expressed desire to stop or reduce opioid use as compared to ambulatory clinic patients (91 % vs. 46 %, p < 0.001). Of those not already engaged in treatment, 18 % and 15 % were interested in medication and behavioural health treatment, respectively, and each of them indicated a change in thought based on the counseling. Forty-five percent of individuals not yet receiving naloxone endorsed interest in receiving it, and 22 % of all respondents were somewhat or very interested in access to safe consumption sites.. This study suggests a novel clinical utility in toxicology screens to inform behavior in the setting of illicit fentanyl exposure. In addition to linkages to evidence-based treatment, linkages to harm-mitigating strategies associated with ongoing substance use may be critical to a comprehensive overdose prevention strategy in the clinical setting. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Overdose; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Fentanyl; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Opioid-Related Disorders; Retrospective Studies; Risk Reduction Behavior; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult | 2020 |
Prescribing heroin: John Marks, the Merseyside clinics, and lessons from history.
The prescribing of heroin has a long and contentious history as a method for treating people with heroin problems. This paper revisits a controversial 'experiment' with heroin prescribing in Northwest England between 1982 and 1995, led by the psychiatrist Dr. John Marks. Marks' work has been shrouded in myth and misinformation for many years and the paper presents an evidence-based reconstruction of this episode, drawing on archival sources, published and unpublished documents, and a small number of interviews with key informants. During this 13-year period, Marks worked across clinics in Liverpool and two neighbouring towns, founding his practice on the long-term maintenance prescribing of opiates, including injectable heroin and smokable heroin reefers. The high media profile of the work, in the context of a febrile local politics in Liverpool, a powerful British addiction psychiatry establishment and an always-heated international politics of drug control, brought immense political pressure and led eventually to the closure of the clinics. The Marks 'experiment' raises important challenges to the premises, practices and philosophy of heroin maintenance - particularly the questions of thresholds and criteria for access, and the purposes of intervention - as well as to the wider regime of prohibitive drug laws. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Drug and Narcotic Control; England; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 2020 |
Trajectories of heroin use predict relapse risk among heroin-dependent patients: A 5-year follow-up study.
The relationship between past drug use trajectory and long-term relapse risk after rehabilitation among heroin-dependent patients remain understudied. The primary objectives were to identify longitudinal heroin use patterns of heroin-dependent patients, to determine the associative factors with trajectories and to investigate the impact of trajectory groups on relapse after finishing compulsory rehabilitation programs.. A total of 564 heroin-dependent patients were recruited from 4 compulsory rehabilitation facilities in Shanghai, China between 2007 and 2008. The baseline data was linked to participants' follow-up data on relapse from official records. Group-based trajectory model was used to identify distinctive drug use trajectory groups. The association between the identified group and heroin relapse risk was then analyzed to understand the role of past drug use trajectory on relapse.. Five trajectory groups were identified in this cohort: (1) Rapid Decrease (9.9%); (2) Persistent High (32.0%); (3) Slow Decrease (34.1%); (4) Gradual Increase (4.5%); (5) Persistent Low (19.5%). Gender, age, education, and impulsivity were found to be different between the five groups. During the 5 years after discharged from the compulsory program, 291 (59.0%) individuals relapsed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the persistent high group (OR: 2.77 [1.46-5.24]), slow decrease group (OR: 2.31 [1.32-4.06]) and gradual increase group (OR: 3.50 [1.18-10.39]) was positively associated with the heroin relapse risk when compared to the persistent low group.. Heroin use trajectories vary among heroin-dependent patients in China. The trajectories of heroin use before compulsory rehabilitation are associated with subsequent long-term relapse risk. Topics: Adult; China; Chronic Disease; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Recurrence | 2020 |
Commentary - Heroin purity and adulteration: an updated snapshot from the Italian Early Warning System.
Not Available. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Italy | 2020 |
Towards a common metric for assessing heroin-dependent patient satisfaction with medications: Testing methadone and buprenorphine-naloxone.
Patient satisfaction with methadone or buprenorphine-naloxone can be multidimensionally and specifically assessed by using, respectively, the Scale to Assess Satisfaction with Medications for Addiction Treatment-Methadone for Heroin addiction (SASMAT-METHER) or the SASMAT-Buprenorphine-Naloxone for Heroin addiction (SASMAT-BUNHER). The factor structures of the SASMAT-METHER and SASMAT-BUNHER show substantial commonalities. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the replicability of the SASMAT-METHER factor structure using data from the SASMAT-BUNHER development study in order to obtain an instrument that can be used to compare patient satisfaction with methadone vs. buprenorphine-naloxone.. Secondary analysis of SASMAT-BUNHER data provided by 205 participants in the original validation study of that scale (Pérez de los Cobos et al., 2018). Using the SASMAT-METHER component solution (17 items, 3 factors) as the target structure, a principal component analysis was performed on the data set comprised of the corresponding 17 SASMAT-BUNHER items using an oblique semi-specified Procrustean rotation. Additionally, Tucker congruence coefficients were computed to examine the correspondence between the two solutions.. The factor structures of SASMAT-METHER and the 17-item version of the SASMAT-BUNHER can be considered equal given that the overall Tucker's congruence coefficient of factorial similarity was 0.972, with individual component congruencies ranging from 0.960 to 0.995.. The SASMAT-METHER component solution can serve as a single common tool to compare methadone vs. buprenorphine-naloxone in terms of patient satisfaction. This finding supports the feasibility of using a common metric to specifically assess satisfaction with medications to treat heroin dependence. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Patient Satisfaction; Spain | 2020 |
Incidence and treatment costs of severe bacterial infections among people who inject heroin: A cohort study in South London, England.
People who inject drugs often get bacterial infections. Few longitudinal studies have reported the incidence and treatment costs of these infections.. For a cohort of 2335 people who inject heroin entering treatment for drug dependence between 2006 and 2017 in London, England, we reported the rates of hospitalisation or death with primary causes of cutaneous abscess, cellulitis, phlebitis, septicaemia, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, endocarditis, or necrotising fasciitis. We compared these rates to the general population. We also used NHS reference costs to calculate the cost of admissions.. During a median of 8.0 years of follow-up, 24 % of patients (570/2335) had a severe bacterial infection, most commonly presenting with cutaneous abscesses or cellulitis. Bacterial infections accounted for 13 % of all hospital admissions. The rate was 73 per 1000 person-years (95 % CI 69-77); 50 times the general population, and the rate remained high throughout follow-up. The rate of severe bacterial infections for women was 1.50 (95 % CI 1.32-1.69) times the rate for men. The mean cost per admission was £4980, and we estimate that the annual cost of hospital treatment for people who inject heroin in London is £4.5 million.. People who inject heroin have extreme and long-term risk of severe bacterial infections. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Bacterial Infections; Cohort Studies; England; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Care Costs; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Humans; Incidence; London; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Admission; Severity of Illness Index; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Young Adult | 2020 |
Stigmatization of opioid addiction based on prescription, sex and age.
With opioid abuse becoming a nationwide epidemic, it is important to understand what is contributing to societal views of opioid dependence. Difference in stigmatization of drug users may exist between sexes, ages and type of drugs being used. Social perceptions may impact drug use and recovery. To assess which opioid users are stigmatized most, we administered an experimenter-created vignette that experimentally manipulated the type of opioid (Prescribed Vicodin vs. Non-prescribed Vicodin vs. heroin) as well as the sex of the opioid user (Male vs. Female) and the age of the user (23 years-old vs. 53 years-old) to 4300 people on Amazon's Mechanical Turk (a survey hosting website). Participants were told in a vignette that the target person they were reviewing was "addicted". Results confirmed that the stigmatization of drug use is dependent on a series of items, including type of opioid, as well as the age and sex of the participant. Specifically, prescribed opioids were least stigmatized, while heroin was most stigmatized. Also, there was a significant difference between heroin, non-prescribed Vicodin and prescribed Vicodin use and whether or not participants stigmatized the opioid user as an "addict". More specifically, participants were more likely to identify heroin and non-prescribed Vicodin users as having an opioid addiction. Lastly, young male opioid users were stigmatized more than any other group. Results are discussed. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Opioid-Related Disorders; Prescriptions; Stereotyping; Young Adult | 2020 |
Altered Mental Status: A Case Report of Toxic Leukoencephalopathy Following Heroin Exposure.
: Toxic leukoencephalopathy is a rare illness that causes diffuse white matter destruction, and as a result may mimic psychiatric disorders. Multiple causes have been identified including nerve related injury from exposure to a toxin. When symptoms present, they typically improve after the offending agent is eliminated. However, the clinical presentation in this report is unique in that the syndrome got worse several weeks after the toxin was removed. Research indicates that supportive supplements and vitamins can be used to facilitate neurological recovery. This report outlines a case of toxic leukoencephalopathy following heroin overdose that was treated with vitamin supplementation. Topics: Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukoencephalopathies; White Matter | 2020 |
Heroin-induced headache in female heroin addicts.
To investigate the manifestations and incidence of headaches caused by heroin in Chinese women.. This was a survey study conducted from 29 June to 3 July 2015 with women attending the Shanxi Drug Rehabilitation Centre for Women (China). All study subjects were newly admitted and had not begun their drug rehabilitation. Demographic characteristics, heroin usage and headache episodes within the previous 3 months were surveyed, especially the presence of a headache within 2 hours of heroin use. Details of the severity, location, premonitory symptoms and characteristics of headaches were recorded.. Of the 90 heroin-dependent patients, 74 experienced headache attacks within 2 hours of heroin use, and the headaches subsided within 72 hours of discontinuation of heroin use. Most heroin-induced headaches were similar to migraines and manifested as pulsating pain in 54 patients (51/74, 68.9%); bilateral pain was reported by 46 patients (46/74, 62.2%). Approximately half of the patients with heroin-induced headaches also reported accompanying symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and light and sound sensitivity.. Heroin-induced headache may eventually be listed as a new class of headache in the International Classification of Headache Disorders. Topics: Adult; China; Female; Headache Disorders; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Incidence; Nausea; Photophobia; Self Report; Severity of Illness Index; Vomiting; Young Adult | 2020 |
Effectiveness of the methadone programme in the treatment of patients on a mephedrone binge and dependent on heroin: a retrospective study, 2010-19.
Topics: Adult; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hepatitis C; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Methamphetamine; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Patient Readmission; Program Evaluation; Retrospective Studies; Sex Factors; Young Adult | 2020 |
Trajectories of initiation for the heroin-based drug whoonga - qualitative evidence from South Africa.
Whoonga is a smoked heroin-based street drug that first emerged in South Africa a decade ago. While previous scientific reports suggest that use is growing and youth are particularly vulnerable, trajectories of initiation are not well characterized.. In 2015, 30 men undergoing residential addiction treatment for this smoked heroin drug in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa participated in semi-structured interviews about their experiences using the drug. Interview data were coded using qualitative content analysis.. Participant trajectories to initiating smoked heroin were "vertical" in the context of marijuana use or "horizontal" in the context of other hard drug use. Participants reporting vertical trajectories began smoking heroin as youth at school or in other settings where people were smoking marijuana. Several participants with horizontal trajectories started smoking heroin to address symptoms of other drug or alcohol addiction. Social influences on initiation emerged as an overarching theme. Members of participants' social networks who were smoking or distributing heroin figured prominently in initiation narratives. Surprisingly, references to injection drug use were absent from initiation narratives. Participants reported people who smoke heroin differ from those who inject heroin by race.. Consistent with theories implicating social and structural influences on substance use initiation, people who started smoking heroin had social contacts who smoked heroin and frequented places where substance use was common. Smoked heroin initiation for several participants with horizontal trajectories may have been averted if they accessed evidence-based treatments for stimulant or alcohol use disorders. With increasing reports of heroin use across Africa, a coordinated approach to address this growing epidemic is needed. However, because smoked heroin and injection heroin use occur in distinct risk environments, interventions tailored to people who use smoked heroin will be needed to prevent smoked heroin use, prevent transition to injection use, and mitigate other social harms. Topics: Adolescent; Alcoholism; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; South Africa; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2020 |
Relationship between social capital and heroin use behaviors among patients in methadone maintenance treatment in Sichuan Province, China: A cross-sectional study.
Covertly using heroin during methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is very common among heroin-dependent patients, which has posed threats to the physical health of heroin-dependent patients and social safety. Covertly using heroin may be influenced by many factors, especially social capital. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between behaviors of covertly using heroin during MMT and social capital heroin-dependent patients in Sichuan Province, China. A cross-sectional study was conducted between October and November 2018, with a total of 581 heroin-dependent patients participating in the study. In addition to socio-demographic characteristics and heroin use related behaviors, the questionnaire also included the measures of social capital: social network (SN), social support (SP), community participation (CP) and social trust (ST). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the association between different measures of social capital and heroin use. The prevalence of covertly using heroin of heroin during MMT was 31.0% among our participants in the 6 months before the study. After adjusting for socio-demographic factors and heroin-use related variables, SN (OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.76-0.95), SP (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.83-0.95), and ST (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.81-0.95) were significantly associated with heroin use. Results suggest that social capital may have a protective effect on behavior of covertly using heroin during MMT, which should be consider in the interventions for heroin-dependent patients, in order to reduce the incidence of heroin use during MMT as well as improve the compliance of MMT. Topics: Adult; China; Community Participation; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Patient Compliance; Prevalence; Social Capital; Social Networking; Social Support | 2020 |
Huperzine A inhibits heroin-seeking behaviors induced by cue or heroin priming in rats.
Cholinergic systems modulate dopaminergic function in brain pathways are thought to mediate heroin addiction. This study investigated whether huperzine A, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, has beneficial effects on heroin reward and heroin-seeking behavior. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin (50 μg/kg/infusion) under the fixed ratio 1 schedule for 14 days and then drug-seeking was extinguished for 10 days, after which reinstatement of drug-seeking was induced by conditioned cues or heroin priming. Acute treatment with huperzine A at dose from 0.05 to 0.2 mg/kg potently and dose-dependently suppressed the cue- and heroin-induced reinstatement of heroin-seeking behavior following extinction. Huperzine A at these doses failed to alter either heroin rewarding effect or spontaneous locomotion activity. The study demonstrated that acute treatment with huperzine A inhibited heroin-seeking behavior, suggesting that huperzine A may be used as an adjuvant treatment for heroin relapse and addiction. Topics: Alkaloids; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Cues; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Motor Activity; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reward; Sesquiterpenes | 2020 |
Identification of characteristic heroin metabolites in urine based on data-mining technology and multivariate statistics analysis combined with a targeted verification approach for distinguishing heroin abusers.
A common phenomenon shows that ingestion of opium poppy shell-containing drugs can result in a "false-positive" urinalysis test result for mandatory or workplace heroin abuse screening. Owing to the short detection window (8 h in urine) of the characteristic heroin metabolite 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) confirmation or exclusion of heroin abusers still presents major challenges for toxicologists. In this work, we developed an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry method (UPLC-TOF-MS) with online data acquisition and multiple post-data-mining technologies combined with a multivariate statistical and batch validation analysis workflow to assess the characteristic urine metabolites of heroin abusers. Based on the proposed methods, 28 characteristic metabolites were structurally identified, and their fragmentation patterns and metabolite pathways were also summarized. Correlation analysis was used to investigate the internal relationship and similarities among the identified metabolites, and seven representative metabolites were selected as "Target-metabolites". Multi-batch urine of samples of heroin abusers were certified based on the UPLC-MS/MS method for further validation of the practicability of using this method for routine analysis. Overall, the target-metabolites can be utilized as assistant "biomarkers" in workplace or mandatory drug screenings. This approach encourages further studies on the development of the "false-positive" identification system. Topics: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Data Mining; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mass Spectrometry; Morphine Derivatives; Reproducibility of Results; Substance Abuse Detection | 2020 |
Gray matter alteration in heroin-dependent men: An atlas-based magnetic resonance imaging study.
Previous imaging studies on heroin addiction have reported brain morphological alterations. However, the effects of heroin exposure on gray matter volume varied among different studies due to different factors such as substitution treatment or mandatory abstinence. Meanwhile, the relationship between gray matter and heroin use history remains unknown. Thirty-three male heroin-dependent (HD) individuals who are not under any substitution treatment or mandatory abstinence and 40 male healthy controls (HC) were included in this structural magnetic resonance imaging study. With an atlas-based approach, gray matter structures up to individual functional area were delineated, and the differences in their volumes between the HD and HC groups were analyzed. In addition, the relationship between gray matter volume and duration of heroin use was explored. The HD group demonstrated significantly lower cortical volume mainly in the prefrontal cortex and mesolimbic dopaminergic regions across different parcellation levels, whereas several visual and somatosensory cortical regions in the HD group had greater volume relative to the HC group at a more detailed parcellation level. The duration of heroin use was negatively correlated with the gray matter volume of prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest that heroin addiction be related to gray matter alteration and might be related to damage/maladaption of the inhibitory control, reward, visual, and somatosensory functions of the brain, although cognitive correlates are warranted in future study. In addition, the atlas-based morphology analysis is a potential tool to help researchers search biomarkers of heroin addiction. Topics: Brain; Gray Matter; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Prefrontal Cortex | 2020 |
Association studies of dopamine synthesis and metabolism genes with multiple phenotypes of heroin dependence.
Heroin dependence is a complex disease with multiple phenotypes. Classification of heroin users into more homogeneous subgroups on the basis of these phenotypes could help to identify the involved genetic factors and precise treatments. This study aimed to identify the association between genetic polymorphisms of DA synthesis and metabolism genes, including tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), DOPA decarboxylase (DDC), solute carrier family 6 member 3 (SLC6A3) and DA beta-hydroxylase (DBH), with six important phenotypes of heroin dependence.. A total of 801 heroin dependent patients were recruited and fourteen potential functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped by SNaPshot. Associations between SNPs with six phenotypes were mainly assessed by binary logistic regression. Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction was used to analyze the gene-by-gene and gene-by-environment interactions.. We found that DBH rs1611114 TT genotype had a protective effect on memory impairment after heroin dependence (P = 0.002, OR = 0.610). We also found that the income-rs12666409-rs129915-rs1611114 interaction yielded the highest testing balance accuracy and cross-validation consistency for memory change after heroin dependence.. Our results suggest that the memory change after heroin dependence was a result of a combination of genetics and environment. This finding could lead to a better understanding of heroin dependence and further improve personalized treatment. Topics: Adult; Dopamine; Euphoria; Female; Gene-Environment Interaction; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Memory; Methadone; Phenotype; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide | 2020 |
The Association between Opioid Discontinuation and Heroin Use: A Nested Case-Control Study.
Opioid prescribing guidelines recommend reducing or discontinuing opioids for chronic pain if harms of opioid treatment outweigh benefits. As opioid discontinuation becomes more prevalent, it is important to understand whether opioid discontinuation is associated with heroin use. In this study, we sought to assess the association between opioid discontinuation and heroin use documented in the medical record.. A matched nested case-control study was conducted in an integrated health plan and delivery system in Colorado. Patients receiving opioid therapy in the study period (January 2006-June 2018) were included. Opioid discontinuation was defined as ≥45 days with no opioids dispensed after initiating opioid therapy. The heroin use onset date represented the index date. Case patients were matched to up to 20 randomly selected patients without heroin use (control patients) by age, sex, calendar time, and time between initiating opioid therapy and the index date. Conditional logistic regression models estimated matched odds ratios (mOR) for the association between an opioid discontinuation prior to the index date and heroin use.. Among 22,962 patients prescribed opioid therapy, 125 patients (0.54%) used heroin after initiating opioid therapy, of which 74 met criteria for inclusion in the analysis. The odds of opioid discontinuation were approximately two times higher in case patients (n = 74) than control patients (n = 1045; mOR = 2.19; 95% CI 1.27-3.78).. Among patients prescribed chronic opioid therapy, the observed increased risk for heroin use associated with opioid discontinuation should be balanced with potential benefits. Topics: Adult; Aged; Analgesics, Opioid; Case-Control Studies; Chronic Pain; Cohort Studies; Colorado; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Risk Factors; Withholding Treatment | 2020 |
Chromatin accessibility mapping of the striatum identifies tyrosine kinase FYN as a therapeutic target for heroin use disorder.
The current opioid epidemic necessitates a better understanding of human addiction neurobiology to develop efficacious treatment approaches. Here, we perform genome-wide assessment of chromatin accessibility of the human striatum in heroin users and matched controls. Our study reveals distinct neuronal and non-neuronal epigenetic signatures, and identifies a locus in the proximity of the gene encoding tyrosine kinase FYN as the most affected region in neurons. FYN expression, kinase activity and the phosphorylation of its target Tau are increased by heroin use in the post-mortem human striatum, as well as in rats trained to self-administer heroin and primary striatal neurons treated with chronic morphine in vitro. Pharmacological or genetic manipulation of FYN activity significantly attenuates heroin self-administration and responding for drug-paired cues in rodents. Our findings suggest that striatal FYN is an important driver of heroin-related neurodegenerative-like pathology and drug-taking behavior, making FYN a promising therapeutic target for heroin use disorder. Topics: Animals; Base Sequence; Behavior, Animal; Chromatin; Corpus Striatum; Cues; Genome; HEK293 Cells; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Neurons; Phosphorylation; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn; Rats, Long-Evans; Self Administration; tau Proteins; Transcription, Genetic | 2020 |
Daily heroin injection and psychiatric disorders: A cross-sectional survey among People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) in Haiphong, Vietnam.
Psychiatric comorbidities are frequent among people who inject drugs, they are associated with a poorer prognosis and need to be addressed. Their interaction with daily heroin injection requires clarification.. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among PWID recruited in the city of Haiphong, Vietnam, by respondent-driven sampling. The inclusion criteria were age 18 or older and current injection drug use, verified by skin marks and positive urine tests for heroin or methamphetamine. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, drug use, sexual behaviour and access to treatment were collected using face-to-face questionnaires by trained interviewers. PWID were screened by trained psychiatrists for depression, psychotic disorder and suicidality, using the MINI questionnaire.. 418 participants were included in the analyses. All were injected heroin users, 21 % were diagnosed with a current major depressive disorder, 15 % with a current psychotic disorder and 12 % presented a suicide risk. In the bivariate analyses, regular meth use, cannabis use and ketamine use were positively associated with presenting at least one psychiatric condition while daily heroin injection and being currently treated with methadone were negatively associated. In the multivariate model, poly-substance use was positively associated with depression (methamphetamine and drinking in addition to heroin) and psychotic disorder (methamphetamine and/or hazardous drinking in addition to heroin) while daily heroin injection and current methadone treatment were negatively and independently associated with depression and psychotic syndrome.. Our survey confirms the burden of methamphetamine use and the protective effect of methadone but also a possible protective effect of daily heroin injection. Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Middle Aged; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vietnam | 2020 |
Fifteen years of heroin-assisted treatment in a Swiss prison-a retrospective cohort study.
In the context of the current US opioid crisis and the compelling fact that a quarter to a third of all those addicted to heroin pass through its prisons and jails each year, the care of incarcerated opioid-using individuals (OUI) needs to be improved.. Little has been published on the effectiveness or outcomes of heroin-assisted treatment (HAT), a treatment option for severely dependent OUI delivered in a prison setting. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate such treatment since its implementation. The primary objective was to investigate whether heroin-assisted treatment was associated with severe detrimental health outcomes. The secondary objective was to compare the heroin-assisted treatment group with the general prison population in terms of occupational functioning.. Retrospective cohort study SETTING: An open prison with 120 places SUBJECTS: Data on 1885 male prisoners with a total of 2239 imprisonment periods between 2000 and 2015 was available. Ninety-seven inmates in heroin-assisted treatment were compared with 1788 inmates from the general prison population (reference group).. Mortality, medical complications (including overdoses), and work performance (days worked, sick days, and monthly wages earned).. Inmates receiving HAT were on average 1 year younger (33.8 vs. 34.9 years), had longer prison stays (7.3 vs. 3.0 months), were more often of Swiss nationality (68.0% vs. 28.9%), and had committed more drug- and property-related offenses (49.5% vs. 23.2% and 63.9% vs. 38.3%, respectively) compared to the reference group. No serious heroin-related medical complication occurred during the 15-year window of observation among inmates with heroin-assisted treatment. Their work performance was comparable to that of the reference group.. This study shows that heroin-assisted treatment can be a valuable treatment option for severely dependent OUI during imprisonment, can be delivered safely by prison health staff over extended periods of time, and allows OUI in treatment to achieve work performance rates comparable to that of the general prison population. Topics: Adult; Buprenorphine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Prisoners; Prisons; Program Evaluation; Retrospective Studies; Switzerland; Treatment Outcome; Work Performance | 2020 |
The role of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus in the augmentation of heroin seeking induced by chronic food restriction.
Drug addiction is a chronic disorder that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and involves cycling between periods of compulsive drug use, abstinence, and relapse. In both human addicts and animal models of addiction, chronic food restriction has been shown to increase rates of relapse. Previously, our laboratory has demonstrated a robust increase in drug seeking following a period of withdrawal in chronically food-restricted rats compared with sated rats. To date, the neural mechanisms that mediate the effect of chronic food restriction on drug seeking have not been elucidated. However, the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) appears to be a promising target to investigate. The objective of the current study was to examine the role of the PVT in the augmentation of heroin seeking induced by chronic food restriction. Male Long-Evans rats were trained to self-administer heroin for 10 days. Rats were then removed from the training chambers and experienced a 14-day withdrawal period with either unrestricted (sated) or mildly restricted (FDR) access to food. On day 14, rats underwent a 1-hour heroin-seeking test under extinction conditions, during which neural activity in the PVT was either inhibited or increased using pharmacological or chemogenetic approaches. Unexpectedly, inhibition of the PVT did not alter heroin seeking in food-restricted or sated rats, while enhancing neural activity in the PVT-attenuated heroin seeking in food-restricted rats. These results indicate that PVT activity can modulate heroin seeking induced by chronic food restriction. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Disease Models, Animal; Food Deprivation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans | 2020 |
Comparison of the Detection Windows of Heroin Metabolites in Human Urine Using Online SPE and LC-MS/MS: Importance of Morphine-3-Glucuronide.
Heroin abuse is a serious problem that endangers human health and affects social stability. Though often being used as confirmation of heroin use, 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) has limitations due to its short detection window. To compare the detection windows of heroin metabolites (morphine (MOR), 6-MAM, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G)) in human urine, an automated online solid phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and fully validated. The limits of detections (LODs) of the four metabolites were in the range of 1.25-5 ng/mL. Intra and inter-day precision for all the metabolites was 0.4-6.7% and 1.8-7.3%, respectively. Accuracy ranged from 92.9 to 101.7%. This method was then applied to the analysis of urine samples of 20 male heroin abusers. M3G was detected 9-11 days after admission to the drug rehabilitation institute in 40% of heroin users while MOR or M6G was not always detected. The detection window of M3G was thus the longest. Furthermore, M3G had a much higher concentration than MOR and M6G. Therefore, M3G could provide diagnostic information with regard to heroin exposure in the combination with other clues (e.g., heroin seizures at the scene). Topics: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Liquid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Limit of Detection; Morphine Derivatives; Solid Phase Extraction; Substance Abuse Detection; Tandem Mass Spectrometry | 2020 |
Heroin delay discounting and impulsivity: Modulation by DRD1 genetic variation.
Dopamine D1 receptors (encoded by DRD1) are implicated in drug addiction and high-risk behaviors. Delay discounting (DD) procedures measure decisional balance between choosing smaller/sooner rewards vs larger/later rewards. Individuals with higher DD (rapid discounting) are prone to maladaptive behaviors that provide immediate reinforcement (eg, substance use). DRD1 variants have been linked with increased DD (in healthy volunteers) and opioid abuse. This study determined whether four dopaminergic functional variants modulated heroin DD and impulsivity.. Substance use, DD, and genotype data (DRD1 rs686 and rs5326, DRD3 rs6280, COMT rs4680) were obtained from 106 current heroin users. Subjects completed an array of DD choices during two imagined conditions: heroin satiation and withdrawal. Rewards were expressed as $10 heroin bag units, with maximum delayed amount of 30 bags. Delays progressively increased from 3 to 96 hours.. DRD1 rs686 (A/A, n = 25; G/A, n = 56; G/G, n = 25) was linearly related to the difference in heroin DD (area under the curve; AUC) between the heroin satiation and withdrawal conditions; specifically, G/G homozygotes had a significantly smaller (satiation minus withdrawal) AUC difference score had higher drug-use impulsivity questionnaire scores, relative to A/A homozygotes, with G/A intermediate. DRD3 and COMT variants were not associated with these DD and impulsivity outcomes.. DRD1 rs686 modulated the difference in heroin DD score between pharmacological states and was associated with drug-use impulsivity. These data support a role of DRD1 in opioid DD and impulsive behaviors. Topics: Adult; Black or African American; Catechol O-Methyltransferase; Delay Discounting; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Impulsive Behavior; Male; Middle Aged; Receptors, Dopamine D1; Receptors, Dopamine D3; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; White People | 2020 |
Basolateral amygdala is required for reconsolidation updating of heroin-associated memory after prolonged withdrawal.
Postretrieval extinction procedures are effective nonpharmacological interventions for disrupting drug-associated memories. Nonetheless, the conditioned stimulus (CS) memory retrieval-extinction procedure is ineffective in inhibiting drug craving and relapse after prolonged withdrawal, which significantly undermines its therapeutic potential. In the present study, we showed that, unlike the CS memory retrieval-extinction procedure, noncontingent heroin injections (unconditioned stimulus [UCS]) 1 hour before the extinction sessions decreased the heroin-priming-induced reinstatement, renewal, and spontaneous recovery of heroin seeking after 28 days of withdrawal (ie, remote heroin-associated memories) in rats. The UCS retrieval manipulation induced reactivation of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) after prolonged withdrawal, and this reactivation was absent with the CS retrieval manipulation. Chemogenetic inactivation of the BLA abolished the inhibitory effect of the UCS memory retrieval-extinction procedure on heroin-priming-induced reinstatement after prolonged withdrawal. Furthermore, the combination of chemogenetic reactivation of BLA and CS retrieval-extinction procedure resembled the inhibitory effect of UCS retrieval-extinction procedure on heroin seeking after prolonged withdrawal. We also observed that the inhibitory effect of the UCS retrieval-extinction procedure is mediated by regulation of AMPA receptor endocytosis in the BLA. Our results demonstrate critical engagement of the BLA in reconsolidation updating of heroin-associated memory after prolonged withdrawal, extending our knowledge of the boundary conditions of the reconsolidation of drug-associated memories. Topics: Animals; Basolateral Nuclear Complex; Central Amygdaloid Nucleus; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Endocytosis; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Memory Consolidation; Narcotics; Rats; Receptors, AMPA; Time Factors | 2020 |
2Hz-electroacupuncture attenuates heroin-seeking behaviors via adjusts CB1-Rs and CB2-Rs expression in relapse-relevant brain regions of heroin self-administration rats.
Opiate addiction has a high rate of relapse. The accumulating evidence shows that electroacupuncture (EA) may be effective for the treatment of opiate relapse. However, the change of expression of CB1-Rs and CB2-Rs involve in 2Hz EA anti-relapse pathway is still unclear. To explore the changes of expression of CB1-Rs and CB2-Rs, heroin self-administration (SA) model rats were adopted and treated using 2Hz EA. The expressions of CB1-Rs and CB2-Rs were observed using immunohistochemistry method. The results showed that, compared with the control group, active pokes in the heroin-addicted group increased, while the active pokes decreased significantly in 2Hz EA group compared with heroin-addicted group. Correspondingly, the expression of CB1-Rs in prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (Hip), nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) all increased significantly while the expression of CB2-Rs in those relapse-relevant brain regions decreased obviously in heroin-addicted group when compared with the control group. In addition, the expression of CB1-Rs obviously decreased in the 2Hz EA group while the expression of CB2-Rs in those relapse-relevant brain regions increased significantly when compared with the heroin-addicted group. It indicated that 2Hz EA could attenuate the heroin-evoked seeking behaviors effectively. The anti-relapse effects of 2Hz EA might be related to the decrease of CB1-Rs and increase of CB2-Rs expression in relapse-relevant brain regions of heroin SA rats. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Brain; Disease Models, Animal; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Electroacupuncture; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Locomotion; Male; Narcotic Antagonists; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2; Recurrence; Self Administration; Signal Transduction | 2019 |
Overdose prevention sites and heroin assisted treatment.
Topics: Drug Overdose; Epidemics; Europe; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Prescription Drugs; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; United States | 2019 |
Initiation into heroin use among street-involved youth in a Canadian setting: A longitudinal cohort study.
Emerging evidence suggests that non-medical prescription opioid (NMPO) use may be a risk factor for initiating heroin use; however, pathways from PO to heroin use among youth remain underexplored. We sought to examine the association between NMPO use and heroin initiation.. Between September 2005 and June 2017 data were derived from an open prospective cohort of street-involved youth aged 14-28 who use illegal drugs in Vancouver, Canada. The study included 526 youth who had never used non-injection heroin, and 652 youth who had never used injection heroin at baseline. We used Cox proportional hazards regressions to examine the association between NMPO use - in addition to other substance use patterns - and subsequent initiation into non-injection and injection heroin use.. Among those who had never used non-injection heroin at baseline, 133 (25.3%) initiated non-injection heroin use during the study period. Among those who had never injected heroin at baseline, 137 (21.0%) initiated heroin injection during the study period. In multivariable analyses, NMPO use, crack use, and crystal methamphetamine use predicted non-injection heroin initiation (all p < 0.05). In separate multivariable analyses, non-injection heroin and crystal methamphetamine predicted heroin injection initiation (all p < 0.05).. Among street-involved youth in this setting, NMPO use predicted initiation into non-injection heroin use but not initiation into heroin injection. Interestingly, crack cocaine and crystal methamphetamine use were stronger predictors of heroin initiation than NMPO use was, suggesting that stimulant use may carry greater risks for heroin initiation than NMPO use. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Canada; Cohort Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Homeless Youth; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Opioid-Related Disorders; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult | 2019 |
Prescription drug monitoring programs operational characteristics and fatal heroin poisoning.
Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP), by reducing access to prescribed opioids (POs), may contribute to a policy environment in which some people with opioid dependence are at increased risk for transitioning from POs to heroin/other illegal opioids. This study examines how PDMP adoption and changes in the characteristics of PDMPs over time contribute to changes in fatal heroin poisoning in counties within states from 2002 to 2016.. Latent transition analysis to classify PDMPs into latent classes (Cooperative, Proactive, and Weak) for each state and year, across three intervals (1999-2004, 2005-2009, 2010-2016). We examined the association between probability of PDMP latent class membership and the rate of county-level heroin poisoning death.. After adjustment for potential county-level confounders and co-occurring policy changes, adoption of a PDMP was significantly associated with increased heroin poisoning rates (22% increase by third year post-adoption). Findings varied by PDMP type. From 2010-2016, states with Cooperative PDMPs (those more likely to share data with other states, to require more frequent reporting, and include more drug schedules) had 19% higher heroin poisoning rates than states with Weak PDMPs (adjusted rate ratio [ARR] = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.14, 1.25). States with Proactive PDMPs (those more likely to report outlying prescribing and dispensing and provide broader access to law enforcement) had 6% lower heroin poisoning rates than states with No/Weak PDMPs (ARR = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.90, 0.98).. There is a consistent, positive association between state PDMP adoption and heroin poisoning mortality. However, this varies by PDMP type, with Proactive PDMPs associated with a small reduction in heroin poisoning deaths. This raises questions about the potential for PDMPs to support efforts to decrease heroin overdose risk, particularly by using proactive alerts to identify patients in need of treatment for opioid use disorder. Future research on mechanisms explaining the reduction in heroin poisonings after enactment of Proactive PDMPs is merited. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Opioid-Related Disorders; Prescription Drug Misuse; Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs; United States | 2019 |
Decision making of individuals with heroin addiction receiving opioid maintenance treatment compared to early abstinent users.
Individuals with heroin addiction are prone to dysfunctional decision-making. They frequently choose the short-term rewarding option of drug intake despite experiencing long-term negative consequences. Opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) is the most common treatment of heroin addiction.. In this study, 38 individuals in an early stage of abstinence from heroin addiction (ESA-HA individuals) at the end of inpatient detoxification treatment and 41 individuals in long-term OMT were examined. Decision-making was assessed by (I) a modified version of the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) with drug-related stimuli focusing on decision-making under ambiguity and (II) the Game of Dice Task (GDT) assessing decision-making under objective risk.. OMT-individuals showed significantly better performance in the IGT than the ESA-HA-individuals. They also showed significantly less craving under exposure of drug-related pictures. In the GDT, OMT-individuals showed significantly less risky decision-making than ESA-HA-individuals.. The results suggest that patients receiving OMT show better functional decision-making and lower craving reactions. It could be assumed that the effectiveness of OMT in preventing relapse is linked to better decision-making and lower craving among these patients. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Craving; Decision Making; Female; Gambling; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Reward; Secondary Prevention; Temperance | 2019 |
Prevalence and correlates of suicide attempt among Chinese individuals receiving methadone maintenance treatment for heroin dependence.
To date, there have been very limited studies regarding the clinical epidemiology of attempted suicide in Chinese individuals with heroin-dependence. The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence and correlates of suicide attempt in Chinese individuals receiving methadone maintenance treatment for heroin dependence. Demographic, clinical, and psychosocial data of 603 methadone-maintained patients with heroin dependence were collected with a standardized self-administered questionnaire. The presence of suicide attempt and antisocial personality disorder was assessed by using a single question and the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.0. The one-month and lifetime prevalence rates of suicide attempt were 9.5% and 34.2%, respectively. In multivariable logistic regression, lifetime suicide attempt was significantly associated with female gender (OR = 2.81), being 20-39 years old (OR = 2.73), an education level of primary school or lower (OR = 2.07), poor economic status (OR = 3.06), injecting heroin before methadone maintenance treatment (OR = 2.92), depressive symptoms (OR = 3.46), anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.88), and antisocial personality disorder (OR = 2.85). Suicide attempt is very prevalent among Chinese individuals receiving methadone maintenance treatment for heroin dependence. Services for patients with heroin dependence in methadone maintenance treatment clinics in China should include psychosocial supports, periodic screening for suicide attempt and other suicidal behaviors and, when needed, psychiatric treatment and crisis intervention. Topics: Adult; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Anxiety; China; Depressive Disorder, Major; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Prevalence; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Risk Factors; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide, Attempted; Surveys and Questionnaires | 2019 |
Monitoring consumption of methadone and heroin in major Chinese cities by wastewater-based epidemiology.
Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) services have been used in China for treatment of heroin dependence. But no study has been conducted to assess the appropriateness of MMT distribution and the potential abuse of methadone in China. This study aims to do that through a nationwide estimation of methadone consumption in China via wastewater-based epidemiology and subsequently compare it with MMT data and level of heroin abuse.. Wastewater samples were collected from 53 wastewater treatment plants in 27 major cities that cover all geographic regions of China. Methadone and pure heroin consumptions were estimated based on influent concentrations of methadone, 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP), morphine and codeine.. Drug residues were detected in most samples. The ratio of EDDP/methadone was around 2 in influents and methadone and EDDP loads were strongly correlated, indicating that they originated from human consumption. Both influent methadone and EDDP loads in Southwest and Northwest China were significantly higher than those in other regions. The highest estimated consumptions of methadone and heroin in China were 22.0 ± 2.1 mg/1000 in./d and 263.9 ± 115.9 mg/1000 in./d, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between methadone and heroin consumptions.. Consumption of methadone in China was primarily from MMT services. The use of methadone and heroin displayed a clear geographical pattern: it is higher in the western inland regions than in the eastern regions. This study has shown that the distribution of MMT services is reflective of the level of heroin abuse in different regions of China. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; China; Cities; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Wastewater; Wastewater-Based Epidemiological Monitoring | 2019 |
Significance of Morphine Concentration in Bile, Liver, and Blood: Analysis of 52 Cases of Heroin Overdoses.
Forensic pathologists are requested to select matrices alternative to blood in cases of toxicological interest in which blood is not available for different reasons. We evaluated morphine concentrations in blood, bile, and liver samples in 52 cases of heroin overdoses, relating them to each other, to understand the information that could be derived from their analysis. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis was performed for all the samples positive on screening for opiates. Shapiro-Wilk test, nonparametric Mann-Whitney test, linear regression analysis, and Bland-Altman test were used for analysis. Linear regression demonstrated that there was not a statistically significant association in morphine concentrations between blood and bile and blood and liver. Mean liver/blood ratio was 2.76, varying from 0.131 to 13.379, and bile/blood ratio was 28.79, varying from 0.28 to 559.16. According to these results, bile analysis is a "screening test"; biliary or hepatic concentration of morphine cannot provide information on hematic concentration at the time of death, having no forensic value taken individually. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Bile; Drug Overdose; Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Linear Models; Liver; Male; Morphine; Substance Abuse Detection; Young Adult | 2019 |
Suspected heroin-related overdoses incidents in Cincinnati, Ohio: A spatiotemporal analysis.
Opioid misuse and deaths are increasing in the United States. In 2017, Ohio had the second highest overdose rates in the US, with the city of Cincinnati experiencing a 50% rise in opioid overdoses since 2015. Understanding the temporal and geographic variation in overdose emergencies may help guide public policy responses to the opioid epidemic.. We used a publicly available data set of suspected heroin-related emergency calls (n = 6,246) to map overdose incidents to 280 census block groups in Cincinnati between August 1, 2015, and January 30, 2019. We used a Bayesian space-time Poisson regression model to examine the relationship between demographic and environmental characteristics and the number of calls within block groups. Higher numbers of heroin-related incidents were found to be associated with features of the built environment, including the proportion of parks (relative risk [RR] = 2.233; 95% credible interval [CI]: [1.075-4.643]), commercial (RR = 13.200; 95% CI: [4.584-38.169]), manufacturing (RR = 4.775; 95% CI: [1.958-11.683]), and downtown development zones (RR = 11.362; 95% CI: [3.796-34.015]). The number of suspected heroin-related emergency calls was also positively associated with the proportion of male population, the population aged 35-49 years, and distance to pharmacies and was negatively associated with the proportion aged 18-24 years, the proportion of the population with a bachelor's degree or higher, median household income, the number of fast food restaurants, distance to hospitals, and distance to opioid treatment programs. Significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the risks of incidents remained after adjusting for covariates. Limitations of this study include lack of information about the nature of incidents after dispatch, which may differ from the initial classification of being related to heroin, and lack of information on local policy changes and interventions.. We identified areas with high numbers of reported heroin-related incidents and features of the built environment and demographic characteristics that are associated with these events in the city of Cincinnati. Publicly available information about opiate overdoses, combined with data on spatiotemporal risk factors, may help municipalities plan, implement, and target harm-reduction measures. In the US, more work is necessary to improve data availability in other cities and states and the compatibility of data from different sources in order to adequately measure and monitor the risk of overdose and inform health policies. Topics: Bayes Theorem; Databases, Factual; Drug Overdose; Emergency Medical Services; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Ohio; Risk Factors; Spatio-Temporal Analysis; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 2019 |
Considerations in the Diagnosis and Management of Lower-Extremity Infections in Injection Heroin Users: A Case Series.
On a national level, heroin-related hospital admissions have reached an all-time high. With the foot being the fourth most common injection site, heroin-related lower-extremity infections have become more prevalent owing to many factors, including drug preparation, injection practices, and unknown additives.. We present a 16-month case series in which eight patients with lower-extremity infections secondary to heroin abuse presented to The Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio.. Three cases of osteomyelitis were seen. All of the infections were cultured and yielded a wide array of microbes, including. This case series brings to light many considerations in the diagnosis and management of the heroin user, including multivariable attenuation of immunity, existing predisposition to infection backed by unsterile drug preparation and injection practices, innocuous presentation of deep infections, microbial spectrum, and recommendations on antimicrobial intervention, noncompliance, and poor follow-up. By having greater knowledge in unique considerations of diagnosis and treatment, more efficient care can be provided to this unique patient population. Topics: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hyperalgesia; Lower Extremity; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Osteomyelitis; Pain Management; Patient Compliance; Radiography; Soft Tissue Infections; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2019 |
Heroin type, injecting behavior, and HIV transmission. A simulation model of HIV incidence and prevalence.
Using mathematical modeling to illustrate and predict how different heroin source-forms: "black tar" (BTH) and powder heroin (PH) can affect HIV transmission in the context of contrasting injecting practices. By quantifying HIV risk by these two heroin source-types we show how each affects the incidence and prevalence of HIV over time. From 1997 to 2010 PH reaching the United States was manufactured overwhelmingly by Colombian suppliers and distributed in the eastern states of the United States. Recently Mexican cartels that supply the western U.S. states have started to produce PH too, replacing Colombian distribution to the east. This raises the possibility that BTH in the western U.S. may be replaced by PH in the future.. We used an agent-based model to evaluate the impact of use of different heroin formulations in high- and low-risk populations of persons who inject drugs (PWID) who use different types of syringes (high vs. low dead space) and injecting practices. We obtained model parameters from peer-reviewed publications and ethnographic research.. Heating of BTH, additional syringe rinsing, and subcutaneous injection can substantially decrease the risk of HIV transmission. Simulation analysis shows that HIV transmission risk may be strongly affected by the type of heroin used. We reproduced historic differences in HIV prevalence and incidence. The protective effect of BTH is much stronger in high-risk compared with low-risk populations. Simulation of future outbreaks show that when PH replaces BTH we expect a long-term overall increase in HIV prevalence. In a population of PWID with mixed low- and high-risk clusters we find that local HIV outbreaks can occur even when the overall prevalence and incidence are low. The results are dependent on evidence-supported assumptions.. The results support harm-reduction measures focused on a reduction in syringe sharing and promoting protective measures of syringe rinsing and drug solution heating. Topics: Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Incidence; Models, Theoretical; Needle Sharing; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Syringes; United States; Viral Load | 2019 |
Concurrent Use of Benzodiazepine by Heroin Users-What Are the Prevalence and the Risks Associated with This Pattern of Use?
Polydrug use involving heroin and benzodiazepines is common. The potential risk of additive pharmacological effects may be associated with poorer outcomes in patients who use benzodiazepines together with heroin. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical picture of patients presenting to the emergency department following acute drug toxicity involving heroin and benzodiazepines.. Exposure information, clinical data and outcome of acute drug toxicity presentations were collected between 1 October 2013 and 30 September 2014 as part of the European Drug Emergencies Network (Euro-DEN) project. The database was interrogated to identify patients who had taken heroin with or without benzodiazepine(s).. A total of 1345 presentations involving acute heroin toxicity were identified: 492 had used one or more non-heroin/benzodiazepine drug and were not further considered in this study; 662 were lone heroin users and 191 had co-used heroin with one or more benzodiazepines. Co-users were more likely than lone heroin users to have reduced respiratory rate at presentation 12.7 ± 4.9 vs 13.6 ± 4.4 (p = 0.02) and require admission to hospital 18.3 vs 9.8% (p < 0.01). There were no differences in critical care admission rates 3.1 vs 3.9% (p = 0.83) or length of stay 4 h 59 min vs 5 h 32 min (p = 0.23). The 3 most common benzodiazepines were clonazepam, diazepam, and alprazolam. No differences were observed for clinical features between the three benzodiazepines.. This study shows that co-use of heroin and benzodiazepines is common, although the overall outcomes between co-users of heroin and benzodiazepines and heroin-only users were similar. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Benzodiazepines; Critical Care; Emergency Service, Hospital; Europe; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Respiratory Insufficiency; Risk Assessment; Young Adult | 2019 |
Association of CamK2A genetic variants with transition time from occasional to regular heroin use in a sample of heroin-dependent individuals.
Susceptibility to heroin dependence is strongly influenced by genetic factors with heritability estimates as high as 0.7. A number of genes, as well as environmental factors, are likely to contribute to its etiology. Not all individuals who have ever tried heroin at some stage during their lifetime become dependent on heroin. It has been suggested that genetic factors might be more important in the transition stage to heroin dependence rather than in environmental exposures and experimenting with heroin. As the features of substance dependence and memory formation have been found to be strikingly similar, we have focused on a key enzyme involved in long-term potentiation and synaptic plasticity, namely the calcium-dependent/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CAMKIIa). We hypothesized, that CamK2A genetic variation may play a role in the transition from occasional to regular heroin use.. Using quantitative trait association analysis, we addressed this hypothesis by correlating the self-reported time interval between occasional and regular heroin use with the frequency of 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms located within the genomic region of the CamK2A gene. A sample of 570 Caucasian patients was available for analysis.. Single marker association analysis (rs10066581, P=0.007), as well as haplotype analysis (global P=0.005), suggested an association with the quantitative trait 'time interval from occasional to regular heroin use.'. Our results propose that genetic variants located in the genomic region of the CamK2A gene may be involved in transition time from occasional to regular heroin use. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Australia; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; Case-Control Studies; Female; Gene Frequency; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Haplotypes; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Linkage Disequilibrium; Male; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Risk Factors; Young Adult | 2019 |
Different routes of heroin intake cause various heroin-induced leukoencephalopathies.
Toxic leukoencephalopathy is a rare but critical neurological disorder in heroin abusers. Our aim is to compare the clinical manifestations, brain MRIs and prognoses of heroin-induced leukoencephalopathy by different intake routes.. We present two patients with toxic leukoencephalopathy caused by intravenous (IV) injection of heroin and 48 additional cases from systematic reviews of the literature published between 1994 and 2018.. Among the 50 heroin abusers who developed leukoencephalopathy, inhalation was the most popular route (60%), followed by IV injection (30%) and snorting (10%). Mental changes, mutism and urine/fecal incontinence were the major symptoms in patients who IV injected heroin, while cerebellar ataxia and dysarthria were more common among those who inhaled heroin. Delayed-onset encephalopathy uniquely occurred in those who IV injected heroin, whereas progressive encephalopathy was more commonly observed in those who inhaled heroin. Clinical improvement was observed in 60% of patients, the overall mortality rate was 12%, and higher mortality was observed in patients who used the inhalation route (16.7%). The hallmarks on the MRIs of those who inhaled heroin were posterior to anterior involvement of the cerebral white matter and lesions in the posterior limbs of the internal capsules, cerebellum and brainstem. In contrast, those who IV injected heroin had more frequent lesions in the subcortical U fibers and the genu of the internal capsules.. These data could help physicians make an early diagnosis and predict prognosis and suggest that prompt antioxidative or symptomatic treatments might reduce the long-term consequences and mortality of heroin-induced leukoencephalopathy. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Administration, Intranasal; Administration, Intravenous; Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukoencephalopathies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Narcotics | 2019 |
You can't do this job when you are sober: Heroin use among female sex workers and the need for comprehensive drug treatment programming in Kenya.
Globally, women who use drugs often practice sex work and experience multiple health and social harms that complicate their drug treatment needs. In East Africa, understanding the emergence of heroin use among women is critical in efforts to build effective drug treatment programming, including the ongoing scale-up of medication-assisted treatment (MAT). We explored heroin use among women engaged in sex work in Kenya to inform services.. In a qualitative study of 45 female sex workers reporting substance use in Kisumu, Kenya, 32 reported lifetime heroin use and comprise the focus of this analysis. Semi-structured interviews explored histories of substance use and sex work and health programming needs. Thematic analysis focused on the contexts and meanings of heroin use.. Among 32 women, median age was 28 (range: 18-37). Women commonly smoked cocktails containing heroin while using alcohol and other drugs prior to sex work. Most women perceived heroin to engender "morale" and "courage" to engage in sex work and "fight" potentially abusive clients. Sex work reinforced drug use in ways that both managed and created new risks.. Drawing on the concept of "paradoxical autonomy," we suggest that heroin use engenders new forms of autonomy allowing women to support themselves in conditions of uncertainty, yet does not enable them to entirely overcome their vulnerabilities. Drug treatment programs for sex workers should address the situated logics of substance use in contexts of sexual risk, including patterns of poly-substance use that may render MAT inappropriate for some women who use heroin. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Kenya; Qualitative Research; Sex Work; Sex Workers; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Young Adult | 2019 |
Commentary on Stam et al. (2019): Drugs, death and statistics.
Topics: Biometry; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 2019 |
Prescribing diamorphine in the United States: Insights from a nationally representative survey.
Some countries allow physicians to prescribe pharmaceutical-grade diamorphine to dependent users who have previously undergone treatment but are still using street-sourced heroin; this is not allowed in the US. This study provides the first nationally representative US data concerning public support for prescribing diamorphine to dependent users. We also test the hypothesis that calling it "diamorphine" instead of "heroin" increases support for this approach.. The RAND American Life Panel is a nationally representative, probability-based survey of US adults. Of the 3345 panel members invited to take the survey, 2530 (75.6%) provided a valid response to our question module. Respondents were randomly assigned to have the question refer to the prescribed drug as either "heroin" or "diamorphine." The groups did not significantly differ on sex, age, race/ethnicity, or education. We compare the distribution of responses for the two groups and conduct Pearson's chi-squared test with the Rao-Scott correction.. For those asked whether the US should try prescribing pharmaceutical-grade "heroin," the share answering "Yes" (20.8%) was 15 percentage points lower than those responding "No" (35.8%). When the question asked about "diamorphine," the results were nearly reversed: the share answering "Yes" (30.6%) was almost 12 percentage points higher than those responding "No" (18.9%). The distributions of responses were significantly different (p < 0.001).. Support for prescribing diamorphine to dependent users is low in the US. While the results are consistent with the hypothesis that referring to heroin as diamorphine may reduce stigma associated with the substance and increase support for prescribing it, opinions may change as individuals learn they are different names for the same substance. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Prescriptions; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; Young Adult | 2019 |
Heroin Smoking and COPD: A Case for Targeted Screening Spirometry.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Smokers; Spirometry | 2019 |
Causes and Consequences of Drug Abuse: A Comparison Between Synthetic Drug and Heroin Users in Urban China.
This article examined the differences in causes and health consequences between synthetic drug and heroin abuse in urban China. Two-group comparisons were conducted to quantify differences in individual characteristics, causes of drug use, and HIV/STI risky sexual behavior between synthetic drug and heroin users; logistic regressions were employed to assess the net effect of synthetic drug use on risky sexual behavior. Results revealed that causes of synthetic drug use differed from those of heroin use; a combination of the knowledge gap concerning the harmful impact of synthetic drugs and the lesser punishment for their use appeared a main reason behind the shift from heroin to synthetic drugs; and synthetic drug use was a significant and powerful risk factor for HIV/STI risky sexual behavior. Educational and behavioral interventions are urgently needed to prevent the initiation of synthetic drug use among users to reduce their HIV/STI risky sexual behavior. Topics: Adult; China; Drug Users; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Sexual Behavior; Substance-Related Disorders; Synthetic Drugs; Urban Population | 2019 |
Heroin Smoking Is Not Common in the United States.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Opioid Epidemic; Smoking; United States | 2019 |
Male and female mice develop escalation of heroin intake and dependence following extended access.
Opioid use disorder is a serious public health issue in the United States. Animal models of opioid dependence are fundamental for studying the etiology of addictive behaviors. We tested the hypothesis that extended access to heroin self-administration leads to increases in heroin intake and produces somatic signs of opioid dependence in both male and female mice. Adult C57BL/6J mice were trained to nosepoke (fixed-ratio 1) to obtain intravenous heroin in six daily 1-h sessions (30-60 μg/kg/infusion). The mice were divided into short access (ShA; 1 h) and long access (LgA; 6 h) groups. Immediately after the 10th escalation session, the mice received a challenge dose of naloxone (1 mg/kg), and somatic signs of withdrawal were recorded. The mice readily acquired intravenous heroin self-administration. LgA mice escalated their drug intake in the first hour across sessions and had significantly higher scores of somatic signs of naloxone-precipitated opioid withdrawal compared with ShA mice. Female mice exhibited increases in heroin intake compared with male mice. Male and female mice exhibited similar levels of somatic signs of withdrawal. Because of the wide availability of genetically modified mouse lines, the present mouse model may be particularly useful for better understanding genetic and sex differences that underlie the transition to compulsive-like opioid taking and seeking. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Behavior, Animal; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Mice; Narcotics; Rats, Wistar; Self Administration | 2019 |
Detection of heroin intake in patients in substitution treatment using oral fluid as specimen for drug testing.
Detection of heroin use is among the major tasks for drug testing and can be best performed by using 6-acetylmorphine as the target analyte. This study was performed to document analytical findings in oral fluid after OF heroin intake.. The samples were from routine drug testing of patients in substitution treatment. The analytical investigation was made with a forensic accredited liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method.. Out of 2814 samples, from 1875 patients, sent for routine drug testing, 406 contained one or more opiate in the drug screening when applying a cutoff limit of 1 ng/mL neat OF. Out of these 406, 314 had a measured 6-AM concentration in neat OF ≥ 1 ng/mL. The study demonstrated that 6-AM is a viable parameter in oral fluid drug testing with an about 80% sensitivity compared to using morphine and codeine as biomarkers. An additional value of using 6-AM is the confidence in concluding a heroin intake. The 6-AM concentrations varied between 1 and >1000 ng/mL, with a median value of 18.6 ng/mL. Heroin was measured in 35 samples with a median value of 0.72 ng/mL. The positive rate for opiates in urine and OF drug testing was the same, 13.5%, in similar populations of patients.. 6-AM is a preferred parameter in OF drug testing for monitoring heroin use and makes OF drug testing for detecting heroin use more effective than urine drug testing when using highly sensitive mass spectrometry methods. Topics: Biomarkers; Chromatography, Liquid; Codeine; Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Saliva; Sensitivity and Specificity; Substance Abuse Detection; Time Factors | 2019 |
The polymorphism of dopamine D2 receptor TaqIA gene is associated with brain response to drug cues in male heroin-dependent individuals during methadone maintenance treatment.
Polymorphism of the dopamine D2 receptor TaqIA gene is related to reward response, relapse risks and effect of therapy for drug addiction. Whether the cue-induced craving and brain response was related to dopamine D2 receptor TaqIA gene is unknown.. Forty-nine male heroin-dependent individuals [31 with A1 allele of the TaqIA (A1+), 18 A2 allele carriers (A1-)] under methadone maintenance treatment and 20 healthy control subjects performed a heroin cue-reactivity task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Cue-elicited craving was measured. Difference in cue induced craving and brain response were analyzed among the three groups. Correlation analyses between craving and differential brain response, heroin use and treatment history were performed within A1+ and A1- group respectively.. Compared with A1- group, A1+ group showed greater cue-induced response in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, medial orbitofrontal gyrus, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, pallidum, putamen, thalamus, superior parietal lobule and superior occipital gyrus. No difference in craving was found. The response in right thalamus positively correlated with daily heroin and methadone dose in A1+ group. For A1- group, response in left ventral orbitofrontal cortex, medial orbitofrontal gyrus, ventral anterior cingulate cortex, caudate, precuneus, calcarine and bilateral pallidum negatively correlated with duration of heroin use. The response in left ventral orbitofrontal cortex, medial orbitofrontal gyrus, bilateral calcarine and right cerebellum negatively correlated with duration of methadone maintenance treatment in A1- group.. The findings supported that A1 allele of the TaqIA is associated with higher salience allocation to heroin-related cues in heroin-dependent patients. Topics: Adult; Alleles; Analgesics, Opioid; Brain; Craving; Cues; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Pharmacogenomic Variants; Polymorphism, Genetic; Receptors, Dopamine D2; Recurrence; Reward | 2019 |
Heroin Smoking is Not Common in the United States-Reply.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Opioid Epidemic; Smoking; United States | 2019 |
Retrospective Review of Need for Delayed Naloxone or Oxygen in Emergency Department Patients Receiving Naloxone for Heroin Reversal.
Emergency departments (EDs) are experiencing an increasing number of heroin overdose visits. Currently, there is no generally agreed upon ED observation period for heroin overdose patients who receive naloxone.. We aimed to determine the safety of a 2-h observation period for heroin overdose patients who receive naloxone.. We performed a chart review of all patients who presented with any opioid-related complaint between 2009 and 2014 to our urban academic trauma center. Subset analysis of patients with isolated heroin overdose who received naloxone was performed, with the intent of excluding patients intoxicated with long-acting/enteral opioids. The primary outcome was the number of patients who required delayed intervention-specifically, additional naloxone or supplemental oxygen.. Between 2009 and 2014, we recorded 806 visits to our ED for heroin use after receiving naloxone. Twenty-nine patients (3.6%) received a repeat dose of naloxone, and 17 patients (2%) received oxygen ≥2 h after initial naloxone administration. Our 2-h intervention rate was 4.6% (N = 37). This decreased to 1.9% (N = 15) after 3 h and 0.9% (N = 7) after 4 h. Patients with polysubstance use were more likely to receive repeat naloxone (p < 0.01), but not oxygen (p = 0.10). Preexisting cardiopulmonary conditions did not correlate with a need for supplemental oxygen (p = 0.24) or repeat naloxone (p = 0.30).. A 2-h ED observation period for heroin overdose patients reversed with naloxone resulted in a delayed intervention rate of 5%. Clinicians may consider a 3-h observation period, with extra scrutiny in polysubstance abuse. Topics: Adult; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Oxygen; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors; Time-to-Treatment | 2019 |
Oral healthcare management in heroin and methadone users.
Heroin addiction is associated with poor oral health. Oral and dental care in heroin addiction might be complicated by altered mental status, negative attitude towards oral health, dental anxiety and fear, drug interaction, and associated medical co-morbidity. We present the oral findings and discuss the dental, behavioural, and anaesthetic management considerations in a 46-year-old man who had dental anxiety and had been an intravenous heroin user for the past 23 years. Topics: Dental Care; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Oral Health | 2019 |
Suspected Heroin Overdoses in US Emergency Departments, 2017-2018.
To describe changes in suspected heroin overdose emergency department (ED) visits. Topics: Age Factors; Drug Overdose; Emergency Service, Hospital; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Rural Population; United States; Urban Population | 2019 |
Injecting-related trust, cooperation, intimacy, and power as key factors influencing risk perception among drug injecting partnerships.
Sharing of injection drug use paraphernalia is a dyadic process linked to the transmission of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Despite this, limited research exists identifying specific dyadic interpersonal factors driving injecting partners' engagement in needle/syringe and ancillary injecting equipment sharing among young adults. Using semi-structured in-depth interview data collected between 2014 and 2015 from twenty-seven people who inject drugs (PWID), we applied an inductive approach to identify key injection drug-related interpersonal factors and developed a conceptual model integrating the findings based on interdependence theory. Interactions between injecting partners resulted in varying levels of injecting-related trust, cooperation, intimacy, and power. These factors interacted to collectively influence the type and level of risk perceived and enacted by injecting partners. The relationship between these injecting-related interpersonal factors, on the one hand, and risk perception on the other was dynamic and fluctuated between actions that protect the self (person-centered) and those that protect the partnership (partnership-centered). These findings indicate that the interpersonal context exerts substantial influence that shapes risk perception in all types of injecting partnerships. Partnership-focused prevention strategies should consider the dynamics of trust, cooperation, intimacy, and power, in characterizing dyadic risk perceptions and in understanding risky injecting practices among PWID. Topics: Adult; Female; Hepacivirus; Hepatitis C; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV; HIV Infections; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Needle Sharing; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Trust | 2019 |
The Emergence of "Coachella" Heroin in the Midwest.
Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Midwestern United States; Narcotics; Young Adult | 2019 |
Urban, individuals of color are impacted by fentanyl-contaminated heroin.
The present phase of the overdose epidemic is characterized by fentanyl-contaminated heroin, particularly in the eastern United States (U.S.). However, there is little research examining how changes in drug potency are affecting urban, racial minority individuals who have been affected by both the "old" epidemic of the 1940s through 1980s, as well as the "new" present day epidemic. A focus on the drug using experiences of racial minorities is needed to avoid perpetuating discriminatory responses to drug use in communities of color, which have characterized past U.S. policies. This qualitative study was conducted from March through June 2018 to examine recent experiences of urban, individuals of color who inject drugs to assess the impact of the current overdose epidemic on this understudied population. Interviews were conducted with 25 people who reported current injection drug use. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a general inductive approach to identify major themes. Fifteen of 25 participants reported experiencing a non-fatal overdose in the past two years; eight suspected their overdose was fentanyl-related. Likewise, 15 had ever witnessed someone else overdose at least once. Overdoses that required multiple doses of naloxone were also reported. Participants employed several methods to attempt to detect the presence of fentanyl in their drugs, with varying degrees of success. Carrying naloxone and utilizing trusted drug sellers (often those who also use) were strategies used to minimize risk of overdose. Contaminated heroin and increased risk for overdose was often encountered when trusted sources were unavailable. This population is suffering from high rates of recent overdose. Removal of trusted drug sources from a community may inadvertently increase overdose risk. Ensuring access to harm reduction resources (naloxone, drug testing strips) will remain important for addressing ever-increasing rates of overdose among all populations affected. Topics: Adult; Aged; Drug Contamination; Drug Overdose; Female; Fentanyl; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Racial Groups; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; United States; Urban Population; Young Adult | 2019 |
Perceptions about fentanyl-adulterated heroin and overdose risk reduction behaviors among persons seeking treatment for heroin use.
Fentanyl-adulterated heroin supply chains are increasing risks for fatal overdose in the U.S.. The current study examined the use of overdose risk reduction behaviors among persons seeking treatment for heroin use and whether perceptions about the presence of fentanyl in one's heroin are associated with overdose risk reduction behaviors.. We recruited persons with opioid use disorder entering a managed withdrawal program. We used multiple linear regression to estimate the adjusted associations of participant characteristics and perception of fentanyl exposure with the frequency of engaging in each of five overdose reduction behaviors.. Participants (n = 239; 75.3% male, 81.2% White, 67% injectors) estimated that 69.2% of the heroin they use contains fentanyl, and 94.6% knew that fentanyl increases overdose risk. Approximately 30% of respondents reported usually or always making sure others are around when they use heroin, carrying naloxone, taking "tester" doses of heroin or intentionally using in reduced amounts. While a majority of the sample reported never carrying naloxone or taking tester doses, and 70.2% reported never making sure that others around them carry naloxone, 84.5% had implemented one or more behavior at least rarely. Past month injection drug use was associated with making sure others are around, but perceptions about fentanyl in one's heroin were not associated with use of harm reduction behaviors.. In this sample of people who use heroin, although overdose risk reduction behaviors were not usually used, a majority had tried at least one behavior. That perceived exposure to fentanyl-adulterated heroin was not associated with the use of such behaviors provides important implications for public health education and intervention programming. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Overdose; Female; Fentanyl; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Reduction Behavior | 2019 |
Neuronal representation of individual heroin choices in the orbitofrontal cortex.
Drug addiction is a harmful preference for drug use over and at the expense of other non-drug-related activities. We previously identified in the rat orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) a mechanism that influences individual preferences between cocaine use and an alternative action rewarded by a non-drug reward (i.e. sweet water). Here, we sought to test the generality of this mechanism to a different addictive drug, heroin. OFC neuronal activity was recorded while rats responded for heroin or the alternative non-drug reward separately or while they chose between the two. First, we found that heroin-rewarded and sweet water-rewarded actions were encoded by two non-overlapping OFC neuronal populations and that the relative size of the heroin population represented individual drug choices. Second, OFC neurons encoding the preferred action-which was the non-drug action in the large majority of individuals-progressively fired more than non-preferred action-coding neurons 1 second after the onset of choice trials and around 1 second before the preferred action was actually chosen, suggesting a pre-choice neuronal competition for action selection. Together with a previous study on cocaine choice, the present study on heroin choice reveals important commonalities in how OFC neurons encode individual drug choices and preferences across different classes of drugs. It also reveals some drug-specific differences in OFC encoding activity. Notably, the proportion of neurons that non-selectively encode both the drug and the non-drug reward was higher when the drug was heroin (present study) than when it was cocaine (previous study). We will discuss the potential functional significance of these commonalities and differences in OFC neuronal activity across different drugs for understanding drug choice. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Choice Behavior; Conditioning, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Neurons; Prefrontal Cortex; Pyramidal Cells; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reward; Self Administration | 2018 |
Role of Glutamatergic Projections from the Ventral CA1 to Infralimbic Cortex in Context-Induced Reinstatement of Heroin Seeking.
The prelimbic cortex (PL) and infralimbic cortex (IL) play a role in context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking in an animal model of drug relapse. Both the PL and IL receive direct glutamatergic projections from the ventral CA1 (vCA1), which is also involved in context-induced reinstatement of cocaine and heroin seeking. Here we studied the role of vCA1-PL and vCA1-IL projections in context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking by using electrophysiological, neuropharmacological, chemogenetic, and molecular methods. We showed that context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking caused selective activation of the vCA1-IL but not vCA1-PL glutamatergic projections, decreased synaptosomal GluA2 expression in the IL, impaired basal synaptic transmission, and facilitation of long-term depression (LTD) in the vCA1-IL pathway. Additionally, chemogenetic inactivation of the vCA1-IL but not vCA1-PL pathway decreased context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. Inactivation of the vCA1-IL pathway also reversed synaptosomal GluA2 downregulation and basal transmission reduction, and blocked LTD induction. Taken together, our results demonstrate a critical role of the vCA1-IL glutamatergic projection in context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking in a rat model of drug relapse. Topics: Animals; CA1 Region, Hippocampal; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Glutamic Acid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Long-Term Synaptic Depression; Male; Narcotics; Neural Pathways; Random Allocation; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, AMPA; Self Administration; Synaptic Transmission; Synaptosomes | 2018 |
Effect of initiating drug treatment on the risk of drug-related poisoning death and acquisitive crime among offending heroin users.
A recent Cochrane review of randomised trials identified a lack of evidence for interventions provided to drug-using offenders. We use routine data to address whether contact with treatment services reduces heroin users' likelihood of a future acquisitive offence or drug-related poisoning (DRP) death.. Heroin-users were identified from probation assessments and linked to drug-treatment, mortality and offending records. The study cohort was selected to ensure that the subject was not: in prison, in treatment or had recently left treatment. Subjects were classed as initiators if they attended a triage appointment within two weeks of their assessment; non-initiators otherwise. Initiator and non-initiators were compared over a maximum of one year, with respect to their risk of recorded acquisitive offence or DRP-death. Balance was sought using propensity score matching and missing data were accounted for using multiple imputation.. Nine percent of assessments identified for analysis were classed as initiators. Accounting for observed confounding and missing data, there was a reduction in DRPs associated with initiator assessments, however there was uncertainty around this estimate such that a null-effect could not be ruled out (HR: 0.42, 95% CI 0.17-1.04). There was no evidence of a decrease in the recidivism risk, in fact the analysis showed a small increase (HR: 1.10, 95% CI 1.02-1.18).. For heroin-using offenders, initial contact with treatment services does not appear to reduce the likelihood of a future acquisitive offence. Topics: Adult; Cause of Death; Crime; Criminals; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; United Kingdom | 2018 |
Evidence of validity and reliability of the Opiate Dosage Adequacy Scale (ODAS) in a sample of heroin addicted patients in buprenorphine/naloxone maintenance treatment.
The Opiate Dosage Adequacy Scale (ODAS) is a clinical tool to individually measure the "adequacy" of opioid doses in patients on maintenance treatment. The aim of this paper is to provide evidence for the validity and reliability of the ODAS in a sample of patients in buprenorphine/naloxone (B/N) maintenance treatment.. Cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of B/N-treated patients (n = 316) from four Autonomous Communities in Spain. Participants completed a battery of instruments to assess the following: buprenorphine dose adequacy; heroin dependence severity; psychological adjustment; and patient-desired adjustment of buprenorphine dose.. Exploratory Factor Analysis identified four factors from the ODAS that together account for 85.4% of the total variance: "Heroin craving and use"; "Overmedication"; "Objective opiate withdrawal symptoms (OWS)" and 'Subjective OWS'. Compared to patients with an "inadequate" B/N dose (ODAS), patients with "adequate" doses had less heroin use in the last week (0.01 vs. 0.40; t = -2.73; p < 0.01, 95% CI: -0.67, -0.10), less severe heroin dependence (2.20 vs. 5.26, t = -5.14, p < 0.001; 95% CI: -4.23, -1.88), less psychological distress (3.00 vs. 6.31, t = -4.37, p < 0.001; 95% CI: -4.80, -1.81), and greater satisfaction with their doses (42.1% vs. 13.6%, χ. These findings support the validity and reliability of the ODAS as a tool to measure and assess buprenorphine dose adequacy in the context of an opioid dependency treatment program. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotic Antagonists; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Reproducibility of Results; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult | 2018 |
A Novel Role for Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells (OPCs) and Sox10 in Mediating Cellular and Behavioral Responses to Heroin.
Opiate abuse and addiction have become a worldwide epidemic with great societal and financial burdens, highlighting a critical need to understand the neurobiology of opiate addiction. Although several studies have focused on drug-dependent changes in neurons, the role of glia in opiate addiction remains largely unstudied. RNA sequencing pathway analysis from the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of male rats revealed changes in several genes associated with oligodendrocyte differentiation and maturation following heroin self-administration. Among these genes changed was Sox10, which is regulated, in part, by the chromatin remodeler BRG1/SMARCA4. To directly test the functional role of Sox10 in mediating heroin-induced behavioral plasticity, we selectively overexpressed Sox10 and BRG1 in the PFC. Overexpression of either Sox10 or BRG1 decreased the motivation to obtain heroin infusions in a progressive ratio test without altering the acquisition or maintenance of heroin self-administration. These data demonstrate a critical, and perhaps compensatory, role of Sox10 and BRG1 in oligodendrocytes in regulating the motivation for heroin. Topics: Animals; DNA Helicases; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Gene Expression Regulation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Motivation; Narcotics; Nuclear Proteins; Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells; Prefrontal Cortex; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reward; Self Administration; SOXE Transcription Factors; Transcription Factors | 2018 |
Generalization of effects of environmental enrichment on seeking for different classes of drugs of abuse.
Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by persistent vulnerability to relapse during abstinence. In animal models of addiction, accumulating evidence suggests that exposure to environmental enrichment (EE) during periods of abstinence can have curative effects on addiction and reduce the risks of relapse. However, until present most studies have mainly focused on cocaine. In this study, we investigated whether EE could have beneficial effects on cue-induced seeking for several psychoactive drugs belonging to different pharmacological classes such as methamphetamine (METH), heroin (HER) and nicotine (NIC).. After self-administration training of METH, HER and NIC, rats were housed in enriched (EE) or standard environments (SE) for 21-28 days of forced abstinence and then drug-seeking behavior was assessed in the absence of the drug.. We found that, compared to SE housing, exposure to EE reduced drug seeking behavior for all drugs tested.. These findings suggest that the anti-craving effects of EE are general for a wide variety of drugs and support the hypothesis that environmental stimulation may be a general intervention for attenuating relapse in humans. Topics: Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Animals; Craving; Cues; Disease Models, Animal; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Environment; Generalization, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Housing, Animal; Male; Methamphetamine; Nicotine; Psychotropic Drugs; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Self Administration; Tobacco Use Disorder | 2018 |
Factors associated with sedative use and misuse among heroin users.
Rates of both opioid and sedative use and misuse are rising. Comorbid opioid and sedative use is associated with especially severe consequences (e.g., overdose and poor health outcomes). Heroin users report multiple motivations for sedative use, including self-medication. We aimed to understand differences in lifetime substance use characteristics between heroin users with different sedative use histories.. Substance use data were collected from 385 non-treatment seeking heroin users. Subjects were divided into four lifetime sedative-use groups: no use, medical use only, non-medical use only, and mixed medical and non-medical use. We examined patterns of use of various substances of abuse (tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and sedatives) and individual characteristics associated with each.. Non-medical sedative use (alone or in addition to medical use) was associated with more negative consequences from using all substances. Medical sedative use alone was not related to increased overdose or emergency room visits associated with heroin use. Non-medical sedative use was associated with increases in 15 of the 21 measured heroin consequences and only one of those - health problems - was also associated with medical sedative use.. Concomitant non-medical sedative use and heroin use is associated with significantly greater negative outcomes than those experienced by heroin users who report use of sedatives only as prescribed. Understanding these differences offers insight into risks related to using both substances and may help treatment providers create targeted harm reduction interventions for this population. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Comorbidity; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Male; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Self Medication; Substance-Related Disorders; Young Adult | 2018 |
Enhancing Efficacy and Stability of an Antiheroin Vaccine: Examination of Antinociception, Opioid Binding Profile, and Lethality.
In recent years, drug conjugate vaccines have shown promise as therapeutics for substance use disorder. As a means to improve the efficacy of a heroin conjugate vaccine, we systematically explored 20 vaccine formulations with varying combinations of carrier proteins and adjuvants. In regard to adjuvants, we explored a Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist and a TLR3 agonist in the presence of alum. The TLR9 agonist was cytosine-guanine oligodeoxynucleotide 1826 (CpG ODN 1826), while the TLR3 agonist was virus-derived genomic doubled-stranded RNA (dsRNA). The vaccine formulations containing TLR3 or TLR9 agonist alone elicited strong antiheroin antibody titers and blockade of heroin-induced antinociception when formulated with alum; however, a combination of TLR3 and TLR9 adjuvants did not result in improved efficacy. Investigation of month-long stability of the two lead formulations revealed that the TLR9 but not the TLR3 formulation was stable when stored as a lyophilized solid or as a liquid over 30 days. Furthermore, mice immunized with the TLR9 + alum heroin vaccine gained significant protection from lethal heroin doses, suggesting that this vaccine formulation is suitable for mitigating the harmful effects of heroin, even following month-long storage at room temperature. Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mice; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; Toll-Like Receptor 3; Toll-Like Receptor 9; Vaccination; Vaccines, Conjugate | 2018 |
Association of the SOD2 (rs2758339 and rs5746136) polymorphisms with the risk of heroin dependency and the SOD2 expression levels.
Superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD2, OMIM: 147460) is involved in the detoxification of superoxide anions. The SOD2 mRNA level is down-regulated in cells exposed to morphine. Oxidative stress plays an important role in drug dependency. The rs2758339 (A/C) is located in the vicinity of SP1 and NF-κB transcription element sequences and the rs5746136 (A/G) creates a new glucocorticoid receptor binding site. Taken together, it is hypothesized that these polymorphisms might be associated with the risk of heroin dependency (HD) and the SOD2 expression level.. To investigate the association between the SOD2 polymorphisms and the risk of HD, 442 heroin dependent persons and 799 healthy controls were included. This study also, consisted of 77 healthy students of Shiraz University (Iran) to investigate the association between the SOD2 polymorphisms and the gene expression level.. The AC (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.56-0.93, P = 0.013) and CC (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.45-0.92, P = 0.015) genotypes of the rs2758339 were negatively associated with the risk of HD. The AA genotype of the rs5746136 increased the risk of HD (OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.03-2.07, P = 0.031). The AA haplotype was associated with the risk of HD (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.09-1.58, P = 0.004). There was no relationship between the study genotypes (or diplotypes) and the SOD2 expression level.. The rs2758339 and rs5746136 polymorphisms of the SOD2 are associated with the risk of HD but not associated with the SOD2 expression level. Topics: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Iran; Male; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Risk Factors; RNA, Messenger; Superoxide Dismutase | 2018 |
Genetic variations in genes of the stress response pathway are associated with prolonged abstinence from heroin.
This study assesses whether genetic variants in stress-related genes are associated with prolonged abstinence from heroin in subjects that are not in long-term methadone treatment.. Frequencies of 117 polymorphisms in 30 genes were compared between subjects with history of heroin addiction, either without agonist treatment (n = 129) or in methadone maintenance treatment (n = 923).. SNP rs1500 downstream of CRHBP and an interaction of SNPs rs10482672 (NR3C1) and rs4234955 (NPY1R/NPY5R) were significantly associated with prolonged abstinence without agonist treatment.. This study suggests that variability in stress-related genes may contribute to the ability of certain subjects to remain in prolonged abstinence from heroin, possibly due to higher resilience to stress. Topics: Carrier Proteins; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Stress, Psychological | 2018 |
Differences in time to injection onset by drug in California: Implications for the emerging heroin epidemic.
Heroin use is increasing in the US. Heroin use may predispose users towards injection routes of drug administration as compared to other illicit substances.. To explore the relationship between heroin use and drug injection, we compared time from first use to first injection (referred to as time to injection onset by drug [TTIOD]) of heroin, methamphetamine/speed, cocaine, and crack cocaine among people who inject drugs (PWID).. Age of first use and first injection by drug was collected from 776 PWID. Survival analyses were used to determine TTIOD and to examine demographic factors associated with TTIOD. Cox regression analysis was used to determine demographic factors associated with drug-specific injection onset.. The eventual injection onset rate by the drug was 99% for participants who used heroin, 85% for participants who used methamphetamine/speed, 80% for participants who used powder cocaine, and 38% for participants who used crack cocaine. Hazard ratios for injection use within one year of first use by drug were: 1.37 (median survival time [MST] = 0.61 years) for heroin, 0.66 (MST = 1.10 years) for methamphetamine/speed, 0.50 (MST = 2.93 years) for powder cocaine, and 0.12 (MST = 39.59 years) for crack cocaine. Demographic differences in TTIOD were found for each drug. Demographic differences were found for eventual injection by drug for all substances except heroin.. Among PWID, heroin use was associated with a more rapid transition to injection and a higher rate of eventual heroin injection regardless of demographics. More robust, innovative efforts to reduce heroin use and prevent injection initiation are urgently needed. Topics: Adult; California; Epidemics; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methamphetamine; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Time Factors; Young Adult | 2018 |
Acute progressive paraplegia in heroin-associated myelopathy.
As the opioid epidemic continues, understanding manifestations of abuse, including heroin-associated myelopathy remains essential. Here we describe a young man with a past medical history significant for polysubstance abuse who developed acute-onset, rapidly progressive myelopathy after resumption of intravenous heroin use. He had significant spinal cord involvement with findings suggestive of heroin-associated myelopathy. The salient features of this case include diffusion imaging of the spine and spinal angiography supporting a possible vasculopathy as the pathophysiologic mechanism underlying heroin-associated myelopathy. Additionally, CSF studies showed the transition from a neutrophilic pleocytosis to a lymphocytic pleocytosis suggesting an inflammatory component. Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Disease Progression; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Paraplegia; Spinal Cord Diseases | 2018 |
Factors associated with concurrent heroin use among patients on methadone maintenance treatment in Vietnam: A 24-month retrospective analysis of a nationally representative sample.
Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is highly effective for reducing heroin use and HIV transmission among people who inject opioids. We sought to measure and understand factors associated with continued heroin use, a critical factor affecting treatment outcome among MMT patients in Vietnam.. We collected data from medical charts of a nationally representative sample of patients who were on MMT from May 2008 to December 2013. We selected 10 MMT clinics using probability proportional to size and 50 patients/clinic by systematic random sampling. Concurrent heroin use was defined by self-report/positive urine test recorded in patient charts during month 3, 6, 12, and 24 after MMT initiation. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with concurrent heroin use over the first 24 months in treatment.. All clients used heroin at baseline; concurrent heroin use was 55% at month 3; 19%, 14.6% and 15.2% at month 6, 12, and 24, respectively. Having no family emotional/financial support at baseline versus having this support (AOR = 2.03; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.17-3.53); using heroin for <15 years versus ≥15 years at baseline (AOR = 1.55; 95% CI = 1.01-2.38); being HIV-infected/not on antiretroviral treatment (ART; AOR = 1.79; 95% CI = 1.07-2.98) or being HIV infected/on ART (AOR = 2.39; 95% CI = 1.61-3.55), versus not being HIV infected; baseline methamphetamine use versus non-use (AOR = 2.68; 95% CI = 1.08-6.65), were associated with increased odds of concurrent heroin use among patients.. The association between concurrent heroin use among MMT patients and lack of family emotional/financial support, highlights the critical importance of these types of support for successful treatment. Association with shorter heroin use history suggests motivational enhancement may reduce concurrent heroin use. Living with HIV, whether on ART or not, is associated with increased concurrent heroin use and suggests safe injection commodities and education, and drug-drug interaction management, are needed for this subgroup. Though few MMT clients reported baseline methamphetamine use, its association with later heroin use suggests the need for effective methamphetamine use interventions. Topics: Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Vietnam; Young Adult | 2018 |
Upregulation of P2X2 and P2X3 receptors in rats with hyperalgesia induced by heroin withdrawal.
Drug dependence and withdrawal syndrome induced by abrupt cessation of opioid administration remain a severe obstacle in the clinical treatment of chronic pain and opioid drug addiction. One of the key symptoms during opioid withdrawal is hyperalgesia. The mechanism of opioid withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia remains unclear. P2X2 and P2X3 receptors, members of P2X receptor subunits, act as the integrator of multiple forms of noxious stimuli and play an important role in nociception transduction of chronic neuropathic and inflammatory pain. The process of P2X2 and P2X3 receptor antagonism inhibits inflammatory hyperalgesia, involving the spinal opioid system. However, the role of P2X receptors involved in opioid withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia has seldom been discussed. To explore the role of P2X2 and P2X3 receptors in the opioid-induced hyperalgesia, heroin self-administration rats were adopted, and the thermal and mechanical nociceptive thresholds were evaluated using the paw withdrawal test after abstinence from heroin for 8 days. In addition, the expressions of P2X2 and P2X3 receptors in dorsal root ganglia were analyzed by immunofluorescence. The results showed that after 8 days of abstinence, heroin self-administration rats showed thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. Meanwhile, the expressions of the P2X2 and P2X3 receptors in dorsal root ganglia were increased. These results suggest that upregulation of P2X2 and P2X3 receptors might partially play a role in heroin withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Ganglia, Spinal; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hot Temperature; Hyperalgesia; Male; Pain Threshold; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Purinergic P2X2; Receptors, Purinergic P2X3; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Touch; Up-Regulation | 2018 |
Toots, tastes and tester shots: user accounts of drug sampling methods for gauging heroin potency.
Internationally, overdose is the primary cause of death among people injecting drugs. However, since 2001, heroin-related overdose deaths in the United States (US) have risen sixfold, paralleled by a rise in the death rate attributed to synthetic opioids, particularly the fentanyls. This paper considers the adaptations some US heroin injectors are making to protect themselves from these risks.. Between 2015 and 2016, a team of ethnographers collected data through semi-structured interviews and observation captured in field notes and video recording of heroin preparation/consumption. Ninety-one current heroin injectors were interviewed (Baltimore, n = 22; Chicago, n = 24; Massachusetts and New Hampshire, n = 36; San Francisco, n = 9). Experience injecting heroin ranged from < 1-47 years. Eight participants, who were exclusively heroin snorters, were also interviewed. Data were analyzed thematically.. Across the study sites, multiple methods of sampling "heroin" were identified, sometimes used in combination, ranging from non-injecting routes (snorting, smoking or tasting a small amount prior to injection) to injecting a partial dose and waiting. Partial injection took different forms: a "slow shot" where the user injected a portion of the solution in the syringe, keeping the needle in the injection site, and continuing or withdrawing the syringe or a "tester shot" where the solution was divided into separate injections. Other techniques included getting feedback from others using heroin of the same batch or observing those with higher tolerance injecting heroin from the same batch before judging how much to inject themselves. Although a minority of those interviewed described using these drug sampling techniques, there is clearly receptivity among some users to protecting themselves by using a variety of methods.. The use of drug sampling as a means of preventing an overdose from injection drug use reduces the quantity absorbed at any one time allowing users to monitor drug strength and titrate their dose accordingly. Given the highly unpredictable potency of the drugs currently being sold as heroin in the US, universal precautions should be adopted more widely. Further research is needed into facilitators and barriers to the uptake of these drug sampling methods. Topics: Drug Monitoring; Drug Overdose; Female; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Taste; United States | 2018 |
Comment on "Methadone Dose Adjustments, Plasma R-Methadone Levels and Therapeutic Outcome of Heroin Users: A Randomized Clinical Trial".
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment | 2018 |
Response to Letter to the Editor by Ernesto de Bernadis.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Treatment Outcome | 2018 |
Heroin Abuse Results in Shifted RNA Expression to Neurodegenerative Diseases and Attenuation of TNFα Signaling Pathway.
Repeated administration of heroin results in the induction of physical dependence, which is characterized as a behavioral state of compulsive drug seeking and a high rate of relapse even after periods of abstinence. However, few studies have been dedicated to characterization of the long-term alterations in heroin-dependent patients (HDPs). Herein, we examined the peripheral blood from 810 HDPs versus 500 healthy controls (HCs) according to the inclusion criteria. Compared with the control group, significant decreases of albumin, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels were identified in HDPs (P < 0.001) versus HCs coupled with an insignificant decrease in BMI. Meanwhile, RNA-sequencing analyses were performed on blood of 16 long-term HDPs and 25 HCs. The results showed that the TNFα signaling pathway and hematopoiesis related genes were inhibited in HDPs. We further compared the transcriptome data to those of SCA2 and posttraumatic stress disorder patients, identified neurodegenerative diseases related genes were commonly up-regulated in coupled with biological processes "vesicle transport", "mitochondria" and "splicing". Genes in the categories of "protein ubiquitination" were down-regulated indicating potential biochemical alterations shared by all three comparative to their controls. In summary, this is a leading study performing a series of through investigations and using delicate approaches. Results from this study would benefit the study of drug addiction overall and link long-term heroin abuse to neurodegenerative diseases. Topics: Adult; Behavior, Addictive; Case-Control Studies; Down-Regulation; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Neurodegenerative Diseases; RNA; Self Administration; Signal Transduction; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Transcriptome; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Up-Regulation | 2018 |
Normal glutathione levels in autopsied brain of chronic users of heroin and of cocaine.
Animal studies suggest that exposure to either of the two widely used drugs of abuse, heroin or cocaine, causes depletion of the antioxidant, reduced glutathione, a hallmark of oxidative stress, in the brain. However, the relevance of the animal findings to the human is uncertain and clinical trials with the antioxidant GSH precursor n-acetylcysteine have produced mixed results in cocaine dependence.. Our major objective was to compare glutathione levels, determined by an HPLC-coulometric procedure, in autopsied brain of chronic heroin (n = 11) and cocaine users (n = 9), who were positive for the drugs in the brain, to those of matched controls (n = 16). Six brain regions were examined, including caudate, hippocampus, thalamus and frontal, temporal and insular cortices.. In contrast to experimental animal findings, we found no statistically significant difference between mean levels of reduced or oxidized glutathione in the drug user vs. control groups. Moreover, no correlation was found between levels of drugs in the brain and those of glutathione.. Acknowledging the many generic limitations of an autopsied human brain study and the preliminary nature of the findings, our data nevertheless suggest that any oxidative stress caused by heroin or cocaine in chronic users of the drugs might not be sufficient to cause substantial loss of stores of glutathione in the human brain, at least during early withdrawal. These findings, requiring replication, might also have some relevance to future clinical trials employing glutathione supplement therapy as an anti-oxidative strategy in chronic users of the two abused drugs. Topics: Adult; Antioxidants; Autopsy; Brain; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Female; Glutathione; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Oxidative Stress | 2018 |
Exposure to environmental enrichment attenuates addiction-like behavior and alters molecular effects of heroin self-administration in rats.
Environmental factors profoundly affect the addictive potential of drugs of abuse and may also modulate the neuro-anatomical/neuro-chemical impacts of uncontrolled drug use and relapse propensity. This study examined the impact of environmental enrichment on heroin self-administration, addiction-related behaviors, and molecular processes proposed to underlie these behaviors. Male Sprague-Dawley rats in standard and enriched housing conditions intravenously self-administered similar amounts of heroin over 14 days. However, environmental enrichment attenuated progressive ratio, extinction, and reinstatement session responding after 14 days of enforced abstinence. Molecular mechanisms, namely DNA methylation and gene expression, are proposed to underlie abstinence-persistent behaviors. A global reduction in methylation is reported to coincide with addiction, but no differences in total genomic methylation or repeat element methylation were observed in CpG or non-CpG (CH) contexts across the mesolimbic circuitry as assessed by multiple methods including whole genome bisulfite sequencing. Immediate early gene expression associated with drug seeking, taking, and abstinence also were examined. EGR1 and EGR2 were suppressed in mesolimbic regions with heroin-taking and environmental enrichment. Site-specific methylation analysis of EGR1 and EGR2 promoter regions using bisulfite amplicon sequencing (BSAS) revealed hypo-methylation in the EGR2 promoter region and EGR1 intragenic CpG sites with heroin-taking and environmental enrichment that was associated with decreased mRNA expression. Taken together, these findings illuminate the impact of drug taking and environment on the epigenome in a locus and gene-specific manner and highlight the need for positive, alternative rewards in the treatment and prevention of drug addiction. Topics: Animals; CpG Islands; DNA Methylation; Early Growth Response Protein 1; Early Growth Response Protein 2; Environment; Epigenesis, Genetic; Gene Expression Regulation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Housing, Animal; Male; Narcotics; Random Allocation; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement, Psychology; RNA, Messenger; Self Administration | 2018 |
A pragmatic harm reduction approach to manage a large outbreak of wound botulism in people who inject drugs, Scotland 2015.
People who inject drugs (PWID) are at an increased risk of wound botulism, a potentially fatal acute paralytic illness. During the first 6 months of 2015, a large outbreak of wound botulism was confirmed among PWID in Scotland, which resulted in the largest outbreak in Europe to date.. A multidisciplinary Incident Management Team (IMT) was convened to conduct an outbreak investigation, which consisted of enhanced surveillance of cases in order to characterise risk factors and identify potential sources of infection.. Between the 24th of December 2014 and the 30th of May 2015, a total of 40 cases were reported across six regions in Scotland. The majority of the cases were male, over 30 and residents in Glasgow. All epidemiological evidence suggested a contaminated batch of heroin or cutting agent as the source of the outbreak. There are significant challenges associated with managing an outbreak among PWID, given their vulnerability and complex addiction needs. Thus, a pragmatic harm reduction approach was adopted which focused on reducing the risk of infection for those who continued to inject and limited consequences for those who got infected.. The management of this outbreak highlighted the importance and need for pragmatic harm reduction interventions which support the addiction needs of PWID during an outbreak of spore-forming bacteria. Given the scale of this outbreak, the experimental learning gained during this and similar outbreaks involving spore-forming bacteria in the UK was collated into national guidance to improve the management and investigation of future outbreaks among PWID. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Botulism; Disease Outbreaks; Drug Contamination; Female; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Risk Management; Scotland; Wound Infection; Young Adult | 2018 |
Increased use of heroin as an initiating opioid of abuse: Further considerations and policy implications.
Previously, we reported a marked increase in the use of heroin as an initiating opioid in non-tolerant, first time opioid users. In the current paper, we sought to update and expand upon these results, with a discussion of the policy implications on the overall opioid epidemic.. Opioid initiation data from the original study were updated to include surveys completed through 2017 (N = 8382) from a national sample of treatment-seeking opioid users. In addition, past month abuse of heroin and prescription were analyzed as raw numbers of treatment program entrant in the last five years (2013-2017), drawing from only those treatment centers that participated every year in that time frame.. The updated data confirm and extend the results of our original study: the use of heroin as an initiating opioid increased from 8.7% in 2005 to 31.6% in 2015, with increases in overall Ns per initiation year reflecting a narrowing of the "treatment gap", the time lag between opioid initiation from 2005 to 2015 and later treatment admission (up to 2017). Slight decreases were observed in treatment admissions, but this decline was totally confined to prescription opioid use, with heroin use continuing to increase in absolute numbers.. Given that opioid novices have limited tolerance, the risk of fatal overdose for heroin initiates is elevated compared to prescription opioids, particularly given non-oral administration and often unknown purity/adulterants (i.e., fentanyl). Imprecision of titrating dose among opioid novices may explain observed increases opioid overdoses. Future policy decisions should note that prescription opioid-specific interventions may have little impact on a growing heroin epidemic. Topics: Adult; Age of Onset; Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Overdose; Drug Tolerance; Health Policy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Opioid-Related Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders | 2018 |
Can measurements of heroin metabolites in post-mortem matrices other than peripheral blood indicate if death was rapid or delayed?
In heroin-related deaths, it is often of interest to determine the approximate time span between intake of heroin and death, and to decide whether heroin or other opioids have been administered. In some autopsy cases, peripheral blood cannot be sampled due to decomposition, injuries or burns. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether measurements of heroin metabolites in matrices other than peripheral blood can be used to differentiate between rapid and delayed heroin deaths, and if morphine/codeine ratios measured in other matrices can separate heroin from codeine intakes.. In this study, we included 51 forensic autopsy cases where morphine was detected in peripheral blood. Samples were collected from peripheral and cardiac blood, pericardial fluid, psoas and lateral vastus muscles, vitreous humor and urine. The opioid analysis included 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM), morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) and codeine. Urine was only used for qualitative detection of 6-AM. 45 heroin-intake cases were divided into rapid deaths (n=24), based on the detection of 6-AM in blood, or delayed deaths (n=21), where 6-AM was detected in at least one other matrix but not in blood. An additional 6 cases were classified as codeine-intake cases, based on a morphine/codeine ratio below unity (<1) in peripheral blood, without detecting 6-AM in any matrix.. The median morphine concentrations were significantly higher in the rapid compared with the delayed heroin deaths in all matrices (p=0.004 for vitreous humor and p<0.001 for the other matrices). In the rapid heroin deaths, the M3G/morphine concentration ratios were significantly lower than in the delayed deaths both in peripheral and cardiac blood (p<0.001), as well as in pericardial fluid (p<0.001) and vitreous humor (p=0.006), but not in muscle. The morphine/codeine ratios measured in cardiac blood, pericardial fluid and the two muscle samples resembled the ratios in peripheral blood, although codeine was less often detected in other matrices than peripheral blood.. Measurements of heroin-metabolites in cardiac blood, pericardial fluid and vitreous humor provide information comparable to that of peripheral blood regarding rapid and delayed heroin deaths, e.g. M3G/morphine ratios <2 indicate a rapid death while ratios >3 indicate a delayed death. However, considerable overlap in results from rapid and delayed deaths was observed, and measurements in muscle appeared less useful. Furthermore, matrices other than peripheral blood can be used to investigate morphine/codeine ratios, but vitreous humor seems less suited. Topics: Codeine; Drug Overdose; Forensic Toxicology; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Muscle, Skeletal; Pericardial Fluid; Postmortem Changes; Time Factors; Vitreous Body | 2018 |
Re-evaluation of the KMSK scales, rapid dimensional measures of self-exposure to specific drugs: Gender-specific features.
The Kreek-McHugh-Schluger-Kellogg (KMSK) scales provide a rapid assessment of maximal self-exposure to specific drugs and can be used as a dimensional instrument. This study provides a re-evaluation of the KMSK scales for cannabis, alcohol, cocaine, and heroin in a relatively large multi-ethnic cohort, and also the first systematic comparison of gender-specific profiles of drug exposure with this scale.. This was an observational study of n = 1,133 consecutively ascertained adult volunteers. The main instruments used were the SCID-I interview (DSM-IV criteria) and KMSK scales for cannabis, alcohol, cocaine, and heroin.. Participants were 852 volunteers (297 female) with specific DSM-IV abuse or dependence diagnoses, and 281 volunteers without any drug diagnoses (154 female). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated for concurrent validity of KMSK scores with the respective DSM-IV dependence diagnoses. The areas under the ROC curves for men and women combined were 99.5% for heroin, 97% for cocaine, 93% for alcohol, and 85% for cannabis. Newly determined optimal KMSK "cutpoint" scores were identical for men and women for cocaine and heroin dependence diagnoses, but were higher in men than in women, for cannabis and alcohol dependence diagnoses.. This study confirms the scales' effectiveness in performing rapid dimensional analyses for cannabis, alcohol, cocaine, and heroin exposure, in a cohort larger than previously reported, with "cutpoints" changed from initial determinations, based on this larger sample. The KMSK scales also detected gender differences in self-exposure to alcohol and cannabis that are associated with the respective dependence diagnoses. Topics: Adult; Alcoholism; Cannabis; Cocaine; Cohort Studies; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Marijuana Abuse; Middle Aged; ROC Curve; Sex Characteristics; Substance-Related Disorders; Young Adult | 2018 |
Determining the effective dose of street-level heroin: A new way to consider fluctuations in heroin purity, mass and potential contribution to overdose.
Heroin use is associated with a disproportionately high level of morbidity and mortality with most deaths attributable to drug overdose. Aggregate heroin purity data has been used to examine the relationship between overdose and variability in street-level heroin, however heroin purity data alone may not be the most appropriate nor a sensitive enough measurement tool for this assessment. The aim of this study was to measure the variability in effective dose of street-level heroin seizures, accounting for variation in both purity and mass, and determine the proportion of samples with higher than expected effective dose that would not be detected using a purity-only measure.. Data on Victorian heroin seizures ≤150mg in mass made between 01/01/2012 and 31/12/2013 were obtained from the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department. The effective dose of heroin in each sample was determined by multiplying the mass and purity variables. Effective dose outlier samples were considered as those containing either greater than 1.5-2 times or >2 times the median effective dose of heroin for the sample data.. The 983 street-level heroin samples of ≤150mg had a median mass of 92mg (IQR of 43mg), a median purity of 13% (range 3.6%-80.9%) and a median effective dose of 12.0mg of heroin (IQR 6.6mg; range 0.4mg-111mg). Approximately one in 13 samples (8%) and one in 17 samples (6%) contained between 1.5-2 times and >2 times the median effective dose of heroin respectively.. The effective dose of heroin is a more appropriate measure than purity to identify outlier samples that containing larger than expected doses of heroin compared to typical doses that may be expected by users. Together with other identified risk factors, fluctuation in the effective dose of heroin contained in street-level samples may contribute to the potential for overdose. Topics: Drug Contamination; Drug Overdose; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Linear Models | 2018 |
Psychological features of abstinent heroin users before and after rehabilitation in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The objective of the study was to describe psychological features of abstinent heroin users undergoing rehabilitation in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Study subjects (n = 197) were recruited prospectively at the time of their admission to rehabilitation between March 2010 and May 2011 at 7 inpatient opiate addiction rehabilitation centers in Saint-Petersburg and neighboring regions, Russia. The centers provided varying rehabilitation programs; 6 of them were religious centers. Socio-demographic information and self-reported HIV status were collected. Personality profiles and severity of drug-associated problems were estimated before and after rehabilitation using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2), and the Addiction Severity Index (ASI).. Thirty-three (17%) subjects dropped out before completing rehabilitation (non-completers). All subjects (completers and non-completers) had psychopathological personality profiles according to MMPI-2. These profiles were refractory to clinically significant improvement after rehabilitation, although some statistically significant changes toward improvement were observed. ASI scores showed statistically and clinically significant improvements after rehabilitation on all scales. Participants in longer-term versus shorter-term rehabilitation programs showed similar changes in their pre- and post-rehabilitation MMPI-2 and ASI scores. Our results suggest that unmet psychiatric needs should be addressed to potentially improve treatment completion in this population. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; MMPI; Personality; Personality Disorders; Russia | 2018 |
How digital drug users could help to halt the US opioid epidemic.
Topics: Computer Simulation; Drug Overdose; Drug Tolerance; Drug Users; Drug Utilization; Emergency Service, Hospital; Facilities and Services Utilization; Female; Fentanyl; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Models, Psychological; Naloxone; Opioid-Related Disorders; Prescription Drugs; Rural Population; Social Networking; Unemployment; United States; Video Recording | 2018 |
Heroin self-administration as a function of time of day in rats.
Drug addiction is a complex disease that is impacted by numerous factors. One such factor, time of day, influences drug intake, but there have been no investigations of how time of day affects the amount of drug taken and the development of addiction-like behavior. Previous data from our group show circadian disruption in rats given access to heroin during the light phase, which is important because circadian disruption, itself, can increase drug intake. Thus, the goal of this experiment was to determine how time of day of access affects heroin self-administration and the development of addiction-like behaviors including escalation of heroin intake, willingness to work for heroin on a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement, seeking during extinction, incubation of seeking, and reinstatement of heroin-seeking behavior.. Male Sprague Dawley rats were given the opportunity to self-administer heroin for 6 h per trial during the second half of either the light or dark phase for 18 trials, including one progressive ratio challenge. Rats then underwent 14 days of abstinence, with a 5-h extinction test occurring on both the first and the 14th days of abstinence. The second extinction test was followed by a heroin prime and 1 h of reinstatement testing. On the following day, a subset of rats were tested in an additional extinction test where rats were tested either at the same time of the day as their previous self-administration sessions or during the opposite light/dark phase.. Relative to Light Access rats, Dark Access rats took more heroin, exhibited more goal-directed behavior, exhibited more seeking during the dark phase, failed to extinguish seeking during the 5-h extinction test in the dark phase, and exhibited greater incubation of heroin seeking following abstinence. However, Dark Access rats did not escalate drug taking over trials, work harder for drug, or seek more during drug-induced reinstatement than Light Access rats.. These results show that time of access to heroin affects overall heroin intake and seeking in extinction, but does not affect other addiction-like behaviors in rats. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Circadian Rhythm; Disease Models, Animal; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration | 2018 |
Polydrug use among heroin users in Cleveland, OH.
Since 2000, heroin use patterns have shifted within the United States. How this change may relate to polydrug use among local heroin users is unknown. Although polydrug use has been studied, user perceptions of drug use in terms of health risks, arrest risk, availability, cost, liking, and dependence have not been considered.. Data are presented from a brief, face-to-face survey conducted in 2016 of 200 non-in-treatment heroin users from Cleveland, OH. We assessed the use of and attitudes on alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and prescription drugs. We estimated polydrug (concurrent past month) use with cluster analysis and latent profiles. Regression analysis estimated the strength of relationships between attitudes and frequency of use.. We identified five clusters: Cluster 1 used heroin concomitantly with alcohol and occasionally crack; Cluster 2 used heroin and crack cocaine daily; Cluster 3 used heroin daily and almost exclusively; Cluster 4 used heroin and marijuana daily; and Cluster 5 were part-time drug users. Drug use frequency was associated with liking and being anxious when drugs could not be obtained. High perceived availability of heroin and cocaine and low cost facilitated polydrug use.. Understanding polydrug use clusters among heroin users is important for addressing the larger opioid epidemic. Users' perceptions of a drug's availability and cost appeared to facilitate polydrug use and justify more detailed future research on drug access. Topics: Adult; Alcoholism; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Analgesics, Opioid; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Crack Cocaine; Drug Users; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Marijuana Abuse; Middle Aged; Ohio; Self Report; Substance-Related Disorders | 2018 |
Deletion of the type 2 metabotropic glutamate receptor increases heroin abuse vulnerability in transgenic rats.
Opioid abuse is a rapidly growing public health crisis in the USA. Despite extensive research in the past decades, little is known about the etiology of opioid addiction or the neurobiological risk factors that increase vulnerability to opioid use and abuse. Recent studies suggest that the type 2 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR2) is critically involved in substance abuse and addiction. In the present study, we evaluated whether low-mGluR2 expression may represent a risk factor for the development of opioid abuse and addiction using transgenic mGluR2-knockout (mGluR2-KO) rats. Compared to wild-type controls, mGluR2-KO rats exhibited higher nucleus accumbens (NAc) dopamine (DA) and locomotor responses to heroin, higher heroin self-administration and heroin intake, more potent morphine-induced analgesia and more severe naloxone-precipitated withdrawal symptoms. In contrast, mGluR2-KO rats displayed lower motivation for heroin self-administration under high price progressive-ratio (PR) reinforcement conditions. Taken together, these findings suggest that mGluR2 may play an inhibitory role in opioid action, such that deletion of this receptor results in an increase in brain DA responses to heroin and in acute opioid reward and analgesia. Low-mGluR2 expression in the brain may therefore be a risk factor for the initial development of opioid abuse and addiction. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Gene Deletion; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Locomotion; Male; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Transgenic; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; Reinforcement Schedule; Self Administration | 2018 |
Heroin and Methamphetamine Injection: An Emerging Drug Use Pattern.
We sought to describe an emerging drug use pattern characterized by injection of both methamphetamine and heroin. We examined differences in drug injection patterns by demographics, injection behaviors, HIV and HCV status, and overdose.. Persons who inject drugs (PWID) were recruited as part of the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) system in Denver, Colorado. We used chi-square statistics to assess differences between those who reported only heroin injection, only methamphetamine injection, and combined heroin and methamphetamine injection. We used generalized linear models to estimate unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios to describe the association between drug injection pattern and reported nonfatal overdose in 2015. We also examined changes in the drug reported as most frequently injected across previous NHBS cycles from 2005, 2009, and 2012.. Of 592 participants who completed the survey in 2015, 173 (29.2%) reported only injecting heroin, 123 (20.8%) reported only injecting methamphetamine, and 296 (50.0%) reported injecting both drugs during the past 12 months. Injecting both heroin and methamphetamine was associated with a 2.8 (95% confidence interval: 1.7, 4.5) fold increase in reported overdose in the past 12 months compared with only injecting heroin. The proportion of those reporting methamphetamine as the most frequently injected drug increased from 2.1% in 2005 to 29.6% in 2015 (p < 0.001).. The rapid increase in methamphetamine injection, and the emergence of combining methamphetamine with heroin, may have serious public health implications. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Comorbidity; Female; Hepatitis C; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Methamphetamine; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Young Adult | 2017 |
Pharmacogenomics study on cadherin 2 network with regard to HIV infection and methadone treatment outcome.
Heroin dependent patients have a high incidence of HIV infection. In contrast to the gene expression method, we developed a systemic correlation analysis method built upon the results of pharmacogenomics study in a methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) cohort consisting of 344 Taiwanese heroin dependent patients. We identified genetic variants and their encoding proteins that may be involved with HIV infection and MMT treatment outcome. Cadherin 2 (CDH2) genetic determinants were identified through the genome-wide pharmacogenomic study. We found significant correlations among HIV infection status, plasma levels of CDH2, cytokine IL-7, ADAM10, and the treatment responses to methadone. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms located within CDH2 gene showed associations with blood pressure and plasma CDH2 concentration. Plasma concentration of CDH2 showed correlations with the level of cytokine IL-7, status of HIV infection, and urine morphine test result. Plasma level of IL-7 was correlated with corrected QT interval (QTc) and gooseflesh skin withdrawal symptom score, while level of ADAM10 was correlated with plasma concentrations of vitamin D metabolite, nicotine metabolite, and R-methadone. The results suggest a novel network involving HIV infection and methadone treatment outcome. Topics: ADAM10 Protein; Adult; Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; Antigens, CD; Cadherins; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Interleukin-7; Male; Membrane Proteins; Methadone; Morphine; Pharmacogenetics; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Treatment Outcome; Vitamin D | 2017 |
Heroin.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 2017 |
S&T Policy Forum examines evolving opioid epidemic.
Topics: Adolescent; Drug Overdose; Epidemics; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naloxone; Opioid-Related Disorders; United States; Young Adult | 2017 |
The relationship between initial route of heroin administration and speed of transition to daily heroin use.
The effect of heroin administration route on speed of transition to regular use is unknown. This paper aims to determine whether the speed of transition from initiation of heroin use to daily heroin use differs by route of administration (injecting, chasing/inhaling or snorting).. Privileged access interviewer survey of purposively selected sample of 395 current people who use heroin (both in and not in treatment) in London, UK (historical sample from 1991). Data on age and year of initiation, time from initiation to daily use and routes of administration were collected by means of a structured questionnaire. Generalised ordered logistic models were used to test the relationship between route of initial administration of heroin and speed of transition to daily heroin use. Analyses were adjusted for gender, ethnicity, daily use of other drug(s) at time of initiation, year of initiation and treatment status at interview.. After adjustment, participants whose initial administration route was injecting had a 4.71 (95% confidence interval 1.34-16.5) increase in likelihood of progressing to daily use within 1-3 weeks of initiation, compared to those whose initial administration route was non-injecting.. The speed of transition from first use to daily heroin use is faster if the individual injects heroin at initiation of use. Those who initiate heroin use through injecting have a shorter time frame for intervention before drug use escalation. [Hines LA, Lynskey M, Morley KI, Griffiths P, Gossop M, Powis B, Strang J. The relationship between initial route of heroin administration and speed of transition to daily heroin use. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;00:000-000]. Topics: Age of Onset; Drug Administration Routes; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; London; Male; Time Factors | 2017 |
Telling our stories: heroin-assisted treatment and SNAP activism in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.
This article highlights the experiences of a peer-run group, SALOME/NAOMI Association of Patients (SNAP), that meets weekly in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. SNAP is a unique independent peer- run drug user group that formed in 2011 following Canada's first heroin-assisted treatment trial (HAT), North America Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI). SNAP's members are now made up of former research participants who participated in two heroin-assisted trials in Vancouver. This article highlights SNAP members' experiences as research subjects in Canada's second clinical trial conducted in Vancouver, Study to Assess Longer-term Opioid Medication Effectiveness (SALOME), that began recruitment of research participants in 2011.. This paper draws on one brainstorming session, three focus groups, and field notes, with the SALOME/NAOMI Association of Patients (SNAP) in late 2013 about their experiences as research subjects in Canada's second clinical trial, SALOME in the DTES of Vancouver, and fieldwork from a 6-year period (March 2011 to February 2017) with SNAP members. SNAP's research draws on research principles developed by drug user groups and critical methodological frameworks on community-based research for social justice.. The results illuminate how participating in the SALOME clinical trial impacted the lives of SNAP members. In addition, the findings reveal how SNAP member's advocacy for HAT impacts the group in positive ways. Seven major themes emerged from the analysis of the brainstorming and focus groups: life prior to SALOME, the clinic setting and routine, stability, 6-month transition, support, exiting the trial and ethics, and collective action, including their participation in a constitutional challenge in the Supreme Court of BC to continue receiving HAT once the SALOME trial ended.. HAT benefits SNAP members. They argue that permanent HAT programs should be established in Canada because they are an effective harm reduction initiative, one that also reduces opioid overdose deaths. Topics: British Columbia; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Overdose; Focus Groups; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Needle-Exchange Programs; Parents; Social Justice; Treatment Outcome | 2017 |
Regulation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response and neuroprotective effects of acupuncture on brain injury caused by heroin addiction.
To evaluate regulation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) response by acupuncture and to investigate its neuroprotective effect on brain injury caused by heroin addiction.. A total of 48 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a healthy control group (Control), an untreated heroin exposed group (Heroin) and a heroin exposed group receiving electroacupuncture (EA) treatment at GV14 and GV20 (Heroin+acupuncture) with n=16 rats per group. A rat model of heroin addiction was established by intramuscular injection of incremental doses of heroin for 8 consecutive days. A rat model of heroin relapse was established according to the exposure (addiction) → detoxification method. Apoptotic changes in nerve cells in the hippocampus and ventral tegmental area (VTA) were evaluated in each group of rats using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay. PERK, eIF2a, CHOP, IRE1 and JNK gene expression and protein expression were measured using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) assay and immunohistochemical assay, respectively.. The total number of positive nerve cells in the hippocampus and VTA was significantly lower in the Heroin+acupuncture group than in the Heroin group (p<0.01). Compared with the Heroin group, mRNA and protein expression of PERK, eIF2a, CHOP, IRE1 and JNK in the hippocampus and VTA were significantly downregulated in the Heroin+acupuncture group (p<0.05).. The acupuncture-regulated ERS response appears to mediate the neuroprotective effect of acupuncture in heroin-addicted rats with brain injury. Inhibition of CHOP and JNK upregulation and reduction of nerve cell apoptosis may be the main mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture on heroin addiction-induced brain injury. Topics: Acupuncture Therapy; Animals; Apoptosis; Brain; Brain Injuries; Disease Models, Animal; Electroacupuncture; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Male; Neuroprotective Agents; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Transcription Factor CHOP | 2017 |
Exposure to fentanyl-contaminated heroin and overdose risk among illicit opioid users in Rhode Island: A mixed methods study.
Illicit fentanyl use has become wide spread in the US, causing high rates of overdose deaths among people who use drugs. This study describes patterns and perceptions of fentanyl exposure among opioid users in Rhode Island.. A mixed methods study was conducted via questionnaire with a convenience sample of 149 individuals using illicit opioids or misusing prescription opioids in Rhode Island between January and November 2016. Of these, 121 knew of fentanyl and reported known or suspected exposure to fentanyl in the past year. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the first 47 participants.. Study participants were predominantly male (64%) and white (61%). Demographic variables were similar across sample strata. Heroin was the most frequently reported drug of choice (72%). Self-reported exposure to illicit fentanyl in the past year was common (50.4%, n=61). In multivariate models, regular (at least weekly) heroin use was independently associated with known or suspected fentanyl exposure in the past year (adjusted prevalence ratio (APR)=4.07, 95% CI: 1.24-13.3, p=0.020). In interviews, users described fentanyl as unpleasant, potentially deadly, and to be avoided. Participants reporting fentanyl exposure routinely experienced or encountered non-fatal overdose. Heroin users reported limited ability to identify fentanyl in their drugs. Harm reduction strategies used to protect themselves from fentanyl exposure and overdose, included test hits, seeking prescription opioids in lieu of heroin, and seeking treatment with combination buprenorphine/naloxone. Participants were often unsuccessful in accessing structured treatment programs.. Among illicit opioid users in Rhode Island, known or suspected fentanyl exposure is common, yet demand for fentanyl is low. Fentanyl-contaminated drugs are generating user interest in effective risk mitigation strategies, including treatment. Responses to the fentanyl epidemic should be informed by the perceptions and experiences of local users. The rapid scale-up of buprenorphine/naloxone provision may slow the rate of fentanyl-involved overdose deaths. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; Drug Contamination; Drug Overdose; Female; Fentanyl; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Interviews as Topic; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Rhode Island; Risk; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult | 2017 |
Bidirectional relationships between retention and health-related quality of life in Chinese mainland patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment.
This study aimed to explore the bidirectional relationships between retention and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients from mainland China receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). This prospective cohort study recruited 1,212 eligible MMT patients from the two largest MMT clinics (one privately and another publicly funded) in Xi'an. This study started in March 2012 with a 2-year follow-up until March 2014. Retention was assessed by repeated terminations, past treatment duration, premature terminations, and follow-up treatment duration. HRQoL was evaluated using the Chinese (simple) short-form 36 health survey version 2 (SF-36v2) and the quality of life scale for drug addicts (QOL-DAv2.0). Linear and Cox regression analyses were used to explore relationships between retention and HRQoL. A general linear model was used to further examine the global effect of past treatment duration on HRQoL. Multivariate analyses showed that repeated terminations had no significant impact on HRQoL scores in MMT patients; however, past treatment time (year) influenced the SF-36v2PCS (P = 0.004): treatment for ≥4 years showed a lower SF-36v2PCS score (regression coefficient: -2.39; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -3.80, -0.97; P = 0.001) than treatment for <1 year. In addition, patients with an SF-36v2PCS score > 49 (hazard ratio: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.69, 0.98; P = 0.03) were 17% less likely to terminate MMT than those with scores of ≤49. In conclusion, retention and HRQoL tended to have a bidirectional relationship, which should be considered in the development of retention and health-management programs for patients with MMT. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; China; Drug Users; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Proportional Hazards Models; Quality of Life; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Young Adult | 2017 |
Cold Preparation of Heroin in a Black Tar Market.
Black tar heroin is typically prepared for injection with heat which decreases the risk of HIV transmission by inactivating the virus. We received reports that persons who inject drugs (PWID) in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, a black tar heroin market, were using only water to dissolve heroin.. Because Tijuana abuts San Diego County, CA, United States, we undertook the present analyses to determine the prevalence of this practice among PWID in San Diego, California.. PWID completed quarterly behavioral assessments and serological testing for blood-borne viruses. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to assess for individual, social, and structural correlates of preparing heroin without heat within the preceding 6 months.. Nearly half of black tar heroin users (149/305) reported they had prepared heroin without heat within 6 months. In multivariable analysis, cold preparation was independently associated with younger age (10 year decrease; AOR = 1.25; 95% CI 1.03, 1.53), more drug injecting acquaintances (per 5 acquaintance increase; AOR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.01, 1.09) and prefilled syringe use (injecting drugs from syringes that are already filled with drugs before purchase; AOR = 1.86; 95% CI 1.14, 3.02). Conclusions/Importance: To our knowledge, this is the first paper to report that PWID living in a black tar heroin market are preparing heroin without heat. Additional research is needed to determine whether this is an endemic practice or PWID are engaging in new forms of drug preparation in response to changes in the environment. Topics: Adult; California; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2017 |
Two steps forward, one step back: current harm reduction policy and politics in the United States.
Harm reduction policies and attitudes in the United States have advanced substantially in recent years but still lag behind more advanced jurisdictions in Europe and elsewhere. The Obama administration, particularly in its last years, embraced some harm reduction policies that had been rejected by previous administrations but shied away from more cutting edge interventions like supervised consumption sites and heroin-assisted treatment. The Trump administration will undermine some of the progress made to date but significant state and local control over drug policies in the US, as well as growing Republican support for pragmatic drug policies, motivated in part by the opioid crisis, ensures continuing progress for harm reduction. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Medical; Marijuana Abuse; Needle-Exchange Programs; Politics; Public Policy; United States | 2017 |
Association of testosterone levels and heroin usage characteristics in male heroin users.
Previous studies have shown that heroin abuse can alter the gonadal functions. Few studies examined the association between testosterone levels and heroin use in the existing literature. We aimed to determine the association between gonadal hormones and heroin usage characteristics over 12 weeks of abstinence in heroin users.. We collected data on patient demographics and heroin use patterns for 65 men aged 18 to 45 and for 29 age-matched healthy controls. Serum levels of total testosterone, estradiol, and prolactin were assessed at 5 time points.. Testosterone levels gradually increased and prolactin levels decreased in heroin users in this study. In heroin users, a significant positive correlation was observed between the way of using drug and the testosterone levels, the way of using drug and the estradiol levels, between the duration of heroin dependence and the testosterone levels, between the duration of heroin dependence and the estradiol levels on D0, and between relapse time and testosterone levels on D84.. Our data reveal testosterone might promote injection drug use and repeated relapse in male heroin users. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Estradiol; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prolactin; Testosterone; Young Adult | 2017 |
Estimating heroin abuse in major Chinese cities through wastewater-based epidemiology.
Heroin consumption in major cities across China was estimated for the first time via wastewater-based epidemiology. Influent and effluent wastewater samples were collected from 49 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in 24 major cities that cover all the geographic regions of the country. Concentrations of morphine, 6-acetylmorphine, and codeine were measured. Near complete removal of morphine by wastewater treatment processes was observed, whereas removal rates of codeine were slightly lower. Morphine loads were much higher than codeine loads at most WWTPs in China, a trend opposite to that in many European countries. In addition, morphine and codeine loads were strongly correlated at most WWTPs, indicating morphine and codeine in wastewater were predominantly from the same source, street heroin. At WWTPs in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, codeine loads were considerably higher than morphine loads, consistent with previous reports of codeine abuse (e.g., as cough syrup) among middle and high school students in Guangdong province. Heroin consumption was derived based on morphine loads and taking into account therapeutic use of morphine and codeine, as well as contribution of codeine and acetylcodeine in street heroin. Highest heroin consumption was observed in northwestern and southwestern China. The average heroin consumption of the sampled cities was 64.6±78.7mg/1000inh/d. The nation-wide average heroin consumption was much lower than that of methamphetamine, consistent with seizure data and numbers of registered heroin and methamphetamine users in China. Topics: China; Cities; Codeine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Substance Abuse Detection; Wastewater | 2017 |
Naloxone for heroin, prescription opioid, and illicitly made fentanyl overdoses: Challenges and innovations responding to a dynamic epidemic.
Community-based overdose prevention programs first emerged in the 1990's and are now the leading public health intervention for overdose. Key elements of these programs are overdose education and naloxone distribution to people who use opioids and their social networks. We review the evolution of naloxone programming through the heroin overdose era of the 1990's, the prescription opioid era of the 2000's, and the current overdose crisis stemming from the synthetic opioid era of illicitly manufactured fentanyl and its analogues in the 2010's. We present current challenges arising in this new era of synthetic opioids, including variable potency of illicit drugs due to erratic adulteration of the drug supply with synthetic opioids, potentially changing efficacy of standard naloxone formulations for overdose rescue, potentially shorter overdose response time, and reports of fentanyl exposure among people who use drugs but are opioid naïve. Future directions for adapting naloxone programming to the dynamic opioid epidemic are proposed, including scale-up to new venues and social networks, new standards for post-overdose care, expansion of supervised drug consumption services, and integration of novel technologies to detect overdose and deliver naloxone. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Community Health Services; Drug Overdose; Fentanyl; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Opioid-Related Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders | 2017 |
US regional and demographic differences in prescription opioid and heroin-related overdose hospitalizations.
US opioid overdose death rates have increased between 2000 and 2014. While, the increase in prescription opioid use has been linked to the increase in heroin use, there are reasons to view this relationship as a partial explanation for the recent increase in heroin-related harms. This study documents the differences in trends in prescription opioid overdose-related (POD) and heroin overdose-related (HOD) hospitalizations.. Data come from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) for the years 2000 through 2014. POD and HOD hospitalizations were abstracted from ICD-9 codes. Rates of POD and HOD by census region and census division were constructed along with separate rates for age and race. Regression analysis analyzing trends across region were estimated along with graphs for documenting differences in POD and HOD rates.. POD hospitalization rates were highest in the South and lowest in the Northeast. HOD hospitalization rates were highest in the Northeast region and grew the fastest in the Midwest. There was statistically significant heterogeneity in HOD trends but not POD trends across the four regions between 2000 and 2014. Between 2012 and 2014 POD rates decreased in eight of the nine census divisions, with only New England showing an increase. HOD hospitalization rates increased in all nine census divisions between 2012 and 2014. Both POD and HOD rates show different demographic patterns across the nine census divisions.. Comparing POD and HOD hospitalization trends reveals significant disparities in geographic as well as demographic distributions. These epidemics are evolving and the simple opioid-to-heroin transition story is both supported and challenged by this paper. The opioid pill, heroin and fentanyl crises are intertwined yet increasingly have drivers and outcomes that support examining them as distinct. Addressing these complex and interrelated epidemics will require innovative public health research and interventions which need to consider local and regional contexts. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Overdose; Female; Fentanyl; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Opioid-Related Disorders; United States; Young Adult | 2017 |
Today's fentanyl crisis: Prohibition's Iron Law, revisited.
More than a decade in the making, America's opioid crisis has morphed from being driven by prescription drugs to one fuelled by heroin and, increasingly, fentanyl. Drawing on historical lessons of the era of National Alcohol Prohibition highlights the unintended, but predictable impact of supply-side interventions on the dynamics of illicit drug markets. Under the Iron Law of Prohibition, efforts to interrupt and suppress the illicit drug supply produce economic and logistical pressures favouring ever-more compact substitutes. This iatrogenic progression towards increasingly potent illicit drugs can be curtailed only through evidence-based harm reduction and demand reduction policies that acknowledge the structural determinants of health. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Fentanyl; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Opioid-Related Disorders; Public Policy; United States | 2017 |
Heroin uncertainties: Exploring users' perceptions of fentanyl-adulterated and -substituted 'heroin'.
The US is experiencing an unprecedented opioid overdose epidemic fostered in recent years by regional contamination of the heroin supply with the fentanyl family of synthetic opioids. Since 2011 opioid-related overdose deaths in the East Coast state of Massachusetts have more than tripled, with 75% of the 1374 deaths with an available toxicology positive for fentanyl. Fentanyl is 30-50X more potent than heroin and its presence makes heroin use more unpredictable. A rapid ethnographic assessment was undertaken to understand the perceptions and experiences of people who inject drugs sold as 'heroin' and to observe the drugs and their use.. A team of ethnographers conducted research in northeast Massachusetts and Nashua, New Hampshire in June 2016, performing (n=38) qualitative interviews with persons who use heroin.. (1) The composition and appearance of heroin changed in the last four years; (2) heroin is cheaper and more widely available than before; and (3) heroin 'types' have proliferated with several products being sold as 'heroin'. These consisted of two types of heroin (alone), fentanyl (alone), and heroin-fentanyl combinations. In the absence of available toxicological information on retail-level heroin, our research noted a hierarchy of fentanyl discernment methods, with embodied effects considered most reliable in determining fentanyl's presence, followed by taste, solution appearance and powder color. This paper presents a new 'heroin' typology based on users' reports.. Massachusetts' heroin has new appearances and is widely adulterated by fentanyl. Persons who use heroin are trying to discern the substances sold as heroin and their preferences for each form vary. The heroin typology presented is inexact but can be validated by correlating users' discernment with drug toxicological testing. If validated, this typology would be a valuable harm reduction tool. Further research on adaptations to heroin adulteration could reduce risks of using heroin and synthetic opioid combinations. Topics: Adult; Drug Contamination; Drug Overdose; Drug Users; Female; Fentanyl; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Massachusetts; Middle Aged; New Hampshire; Opioid-Related Disorders; Substance Abuse Detection; Uncertainty; United States; Young Adult | 2017 |
Heroin and fentanyl overdoses in Kentucky: Epidemiology and surveillance.
The study aims to describe recent changes in Kentucky's drug overdose trends related to increased heroin and fentanyl involvement, and to discuss future directions for improved drug overdose surveillance.. The study used multiple data sources (death certificates, postmortem toxicology results, emergency department [ED] records, law enforcement drug submissions, and prescription drug monitoring records) to describe temporal, geographic, and demographic changes in drug overdoses in Kentucky.. Fentanyl- and heroin-related overdose death rates increased across all age groups from years 2011 to 2015 with the highest rates consistently among 25-34-year-olds. The majority of the heroin and fentanyl overdose decedents had histories of substantial exposures to legally acquired prescription opioids. Law enforcement drug submission data were strongly correlated with drug overdose ED and mortality data. The 2016 crude rate of heroin-related overdose ED visits was 104/100,000, a 68% increase from 2015 (62/100,000). More fentanyl-related overdose deaths were reported between October, 2015, and September, 2016, than ED visits, in striking contrast with the observed ratio of >10 to 1 heroin-related overdose ED visits to deaths. Many fatal fentanyl overdoses were associated with heroin adulterated with fentanyl; <40% of the heroin overdose ED discharge records listed procedure codes for drug screening.. The lack of routine ED drug testing likely resulted in underreporting of non-fatal overdoses involving fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. In order to inform coordinated public health and safety responses, drug overdose surveillance must move from a reactive to a proactive mode, utilizing the infrastructure for electronic health records. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Contamination; Drug Overdose; Female; Fentanyl; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Kentucky; Male; Middle Aged; Opioid-Related Disorders; Public Health; Substance-Related Disorders; Young Adult | 2017 |
Reduction in N2 amplitude in response to deviant drug-related stimuli during a two-choice oddball task in long-term heroin abstainers.
Chronic heroin use can cause deficits in response inhibition, leading to a loss of control over drug use, particularly in the context of drug-related cues. Unfortunately, heightened incentive salience and motivational bias in response to drug-related cues may exist following abstinence from heroin use.. The present study aimed to examine the effect of drug-related cues on response inhibition in long-term heroin abstainers.. Sixteen long-term (8-24 months) male heroin abstainers and 16 male healthy controls completed a modified two-choice oddball paradigm, in which a neutral "chair" picture served as frequent standard stimuli; the neutral and drug-related pictures served as infrequent deviant stimuli of different conditions respectively. Event-related potentials were compared across groups and conditions.. Our results showed that heroin abstainers exhibited smaller N2d amplitude (deviant minus standard) in the drug cue condition compared to the neutral condition, due to smaller drug-cue deviant-N2 amplitude compared to neutral deviant-N2. Moreover, heroin abstainers had smaller N2d amplitude compared with the healthy controls in the drug cue condition, due to the heroin abstainers having reduced deviant-N2 amplitude compared to standard-N2 in the drug cue condition, which reversed in the healthy controls.. Our findings suggested that heroin addicts still show response inhibition deficits specifically for drug-related cues after longer-term abstinence. The inhibition-related N2 modulation for drug-related could be used as a novel electrophysiological index with clinical implications for assessing the risk of relapse and treatment outcome for heroin users. Topics: Adult; Choice Behavior; Craving; Cues; Evoked Potentials; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inhibition, Psychological; Male; Middle Aged; Motivation; Recurrence; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Young Adult | 2017 |
Prevalence of pain and its socio-demographic and clinical correlates among heroin-dependent patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment.
To date there have been no studies investigating the characteristics of pain in Chinese heroin-dependent patients (HDPs) receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). This study examined the frequency and socio-demographic and clinical correlates of pain in HDPs under MMT. A consecutive sample of 603 HDPs was recruited from three MMT clinics in Wuhan, China. These patients completed a standardized questionnaire concerning socio-demographic and clinical data. Pain intensity was assessed with the 5-point Verbal Rating Scale ("Overall, how intense is your pain now?") with responses of: 1 = none, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, 4 = severe, 5 = very severe. A pain score of three or higher was used to denote clinical significant pain (CSP). The prevalence of CSP in HDPs receiving MMT was 53.6%. Factors significantly associated CSP in multiple logistics regression analysis were old age, marital status of "non-married", unemployment, having religious beliefs, a history of injecting heroin, a high dose of methadone, and more depressive symptoms. Over a half of Chinese HDPs receiving MMT have CSP. Services for HDPs in MMT settings should include periodic screening for pain, psychosocial supports, and professional treatment for pain. Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Pain; Prevalence; Public Health Surveillance; Socioeconomic Factors; Young Adult | 2017 |
Elderly Man in Respiratory Arrest.
Topics: Aged; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Pneumoperitoneum; Radiography, Thoracic; Respiratory Insufficiency; Stomach; Tomography, X-Ray Computed | 2017 |
The μ-opioid receptor nonsynonymous variant 118A>G is associated with prolonged abstinence from heroin without agonist treatment.
This study assesses whether opioid-related gene variants contribute to reduced vulnerability to relapse to heroin in persons who are not treated with μ-opioid receptor agonist.. Genotypes of 71 SNPs, in nine genes, were analyzed for association with long-term abstinence in former heroin-dependents of European/Middle Eastern ancestry, either without agonist treatment (n = 129) or in methadone maintenance treatment (n = 922).. The functional OPRM1 nonsynonymous SNP rs1799971 (118A>G) showed significant association with long-term abstinence (P. Since the stress axis is regulated in part by β-endorphin, this functional OPRM1 SNP may blunt the endogenous stress response and contribute to reduced vulnerability for relapse. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Female; Genotype; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Receptors, Opioid, mu; White People | 2017 |
Influence of a 50bp Ins/Del polymorphism at promoter of the superoxide dismutase-1 on gene expression and risk of heroin dependency.
Superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1, OMIM: 147450) is one of the major antioxidant enzymes, which plays a vital role in clearance of reactive oxygen species. A genetic polymorphism of 50 bp insertion/deletion (Ins/Del) in the promoter region of the SOD1 was reported. The aims of the present study are to evaluate the influence of this polymorphism on the SOD1 mRNA levels in human peripheral blood cells and its association with risk of heroin dependency.. The present study consisted of 47 healthy students of Shiraz University (south-west Iran) for investigating the association between the Ins/Del polymorphism on expression level of SOD1, also a total of 442 heroin dependent and 799 healthy controls were included in a case-control study investigating the association between the study polymorphism and risk of dependency to heroin. The quantitative SOD1 mRNA expression levels were investigated using quantitative real-time PCR.. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between the study genotypes (t = 5.17; df = 45; P < 0.001). The Del allele of the study polymorphism decreased approximately 33% of the SOD1 mRNA levels of the gene in the heterozygote individuals. Statistical analysis indicating that in both genders, neither the Ins/Del nor the Del/Del genotypes was associated with the risk of heroin addiction.. The present study indicating that although the Ins/Del polymorphism of SOD1 is associated with the SOD1 expression levels, this polymorphism is not associated with the risk of dependency to heroin. Topics: Adult; Female; Gene Expression; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; INDEL Mutation; Iran; Male; Polymorphism, Genetic; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Superoxide Dismutase-1; Young Adult | 2017 |
Case 37-2017. A 36-Year-Old Man with Unintentional Opioid Overdose.
Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Overdose; Fentanyl; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypoxia; Lung; Male; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Pulmonary Edema; Radiography, Thoracic; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2017 |
Comparison of striatal dopamine transporter levels in chronic heroin-dependent and methamphetamine-dependent subjects.
To compare the effects of heroin and methamphetamine (METH) addiction on dopamine transporters (DATs) in the same dose and duration, we assessed DAT levels in the striatum by Topics: Adult; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Caudate Nucleus; Chronic Disease; Corpus Striatum; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methamphetamine; Middle Aged; Putamen; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; Young Adult | 2017 |
Kappa opioid receptor antagonism and chronic antidepressant treatment have beneficial activities on social interactions and grooming deficits during heroin abstinence.
Addiction is a chronic brain disorder that progressively invades all aspects of personal life. Accordingly, addiction to opiates severely impairs interpersonal relationships, and the resulting social isolation strongly contributes to the severity and chronicity of the disease. Uncovering new therapeutic strategies that address this aspect of addiction is therefore of great clinical relevance. We recently established a mouse model of heroin addiction in which, following chronic heroin exposure, 'abstinent' mice progressively develop a strong and long-lasting social avoidance phenotype. Here, we explored and compared the efficacy of two pharmacological interventions in this mouse model. Because clinical studies indicate some efficacy of antidepressants on emotional dysfunction associated with addiction, we first used a chronic 4-week treatment with the serotonergic antidepressant fluoxetine, as a reference. In addition, considering prodepressant effects recently associated with kappa opioid receptor signaling, we also investigated the kappa opioid receptor antagonist norbinaltorphimine (norBNI). Finally, we assessed whether fluoxetine and norBNI could reverse abstinence-induced social avoidance after it has established. Altogether, our results show that two interspaced norBNI administrations are sufficient both to prevent and to reverse social impairment in heroin abstinent animals. Therefore, kappa opioid receptor antagonism may represent a useful approach to alleviate social dysfunction in addicted individuals. Topics: Animals; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; Behavior, Animal; Disease Models, Animal; Fluoxetine; Grooming; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Receptors, Opioid, kappa; Social Behavior; Time; Treatment Outcome | 2017 |
Dissociative role for dorsal hippocampus in mediating heroin self-administration and relapse through CDK5 and RhoB signaling revealed by proteomic analysis.
Addiction is characterized by drug craving, compulsive drug taking and relapse, which is attributed to aberrant neuroadaptation in brain regions implicated in drug addiction, induced by changes in gene and protein expression in these regions after chronic drug exposure. Accumulating evidence suggests that the dorsal hippocampus (DH) plays an important role in mediating drug-seeking and drug-taking behavior and relapse. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects of the DH are unclear. In the present study, we employed a label-free quantitative proteomic approach to analyze the proteins altered in the DH of heroin self-administering rats. A total of 4015 proteins were quantified with high confidence, and 361 proteins showed significant differences compared with the saline control group. Among them, cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) and ras homolog family member B (RhoB) were up-regulated in rats with a history of extended access to heroin. Functionally, inhibition of CDK5 in the DH enhanced heroin self-administration, indicating that CDK5 signaling in the DH acts as a homeostatic compensatory mechanism to limit heroin-taking behavior, whereas blockade of the Rho-Rho kinase (ROCK) pathway attenuated context-induced heroin relapse, indicating that RhoB signaling in the DH is required for the retrieval (recall) of addiction memory. Our findings suggest that manipulation of CDK5 signaling in the DH may be essential in determining vulnerability to opiate taking, whereas manipulation of RhoB signaling in the DH may be essential in determining vulnerability to relapse. Overall, the present study suggests that the DH can exert dissociative effects on heroin addiction through CDK5 and RhoB signaling. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5; Disease Models, Animal; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hippocampus; Male; Narcotics; Proteomics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Recurrence; rhoB GTP-Binding Protein; Self Administration; Signal Transduction | 2017 |
Gender Differences and Correlated Factors of Heroin Use Among Heroin Users.
Gender differences in illicit drug use are becoming increasingly recognized. However, there are few studies concerning differences between male and female heroin users in China.. The study aimed to explore gender differences in terms of socio-demographic characteristics, drug-related behaviors, and treatment history among a heroin-using population in China.. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four cities in December 2013. A total of 788 participants were recruited from several types of sites in each city: compulsory detoxification centers, methadone maintenance treatment clinics, and detention facilities. The data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire. Analysis of variance, chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine gender differences in socio-demographic characteristics, drug-related behaviors, and treatment history.. Female heroin users were more likely to be unemployed, have more education, and use heroin with their spouse/companion (p <.05). Male heroin users were more likely to be in detention facilities and MMT clinics, and relapse when they felt hopeless (p <.05). Conclusions/Importance: Although there were some similarities between male and female heroin users, significant gender differences do exist in some aspects of socio-demographic characteristics and heroin use. The data provide evidence that interventions aimed at preventing the initiation of heroin use and reducing relapse should take gender into account. Topics: Adult; China; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Users; Educational Status; Employment; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Sex Characteristics; Surveys and Questionnaires | 2017 |
Leucoencephalopathy following abuse of sniffed heroin.
A 29-year-old man was admitted for acute cognitive impairment. Three weeks earlier, he had been admitted for coma due to sniffed heroin abuse responsive to naloxone infusion. At admission, the patient presented with apraxia, severe memory impairment and anosognosia. Brain MRI revealed symmetric hyperintensities of supratentorial white matter, sparing brainstem and cerebellum, on FLAIR and B1000 sequences. Four months later, repeated neuropsychological assessment revealed dramatic improvement of global cognitive functions. Toxic leucoencephalopathy excluding the cerebellum and brainstem is a rare complication of heroin abuse, and seems to concern especially patients that use heroin by sniff or injection. In these patients, cognitive troubles are predominant, prognosis seems better and infratentorial brain structures can be spared. In conclusion, our observation emphasizes that heroin-induced encephalopathy can have a favourable outcome and that imaging and clinical patterns can indicate the mode of drug administration. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Brain; Cognition Disorders; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukoencephalopathies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Narcotics; Neuropsychological Tests | 2017 |
Decline in Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Among Non-Injecting Heroin and Cocaine Users in New York City, 2005 to 2014: Prospects for Avoiding a Resurgence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection increases both susceptibility to and transmissibility of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and HSV-2 and HIV are often strongly associated in HIV epidemics. We assessed trends in HSV-2 prevalence among non-injecting drug users (NIDUs) when HIV prevalence declined from 16% to 8% among NIDUs in New York City.. Subjects were current non-injecting users of heroin and/or cocaine and who had never injected illicit drugs. Three thousand one hundred fifty-seven NIDU subjects were recruited between 2005 and 2014 among persons entering Mount Sinai Beth Israel substance use treatment programs. Structured interviews, HIV, and HSV-2 testing were administered. Change over time was assessed by comparing 2005 to 2010 with 2011 to 2014 periods. Herpes simplex virus type 2 incidence was estimated among persons who participated in multiple years.. Herpes simplex virus type 2 prevalence was strongly associated with HIV prevalence (odds ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.9-5.1) from 2005 to 2014. Herpes simplex virus type 2 prevalence declined from 60% to 56% (P = 0.01). The percentage of NIDUs with neither HSV-2 nor HIV infection increased from 37% to 43%, (P < 0.001); the percentage with HSV-2/HIV coinfection declined from 13% to 6% (P < 0.001). Estimated HSV-2 incidence was 1 to 2/100 person-years at risk.. There were parallel declines in HIV and HSV-2 among NIDUs in New York City from 2005 to 2014. The increase in the percentage of NIDUs with neither HSV-2 nor HIV infection, the decrease in the percentage with HSV-2/HIV coinfection, and the low to moderate HSV-2 incidence suggest some population-level protection against resurgence of HIV. Prevention efforts should be strengthened to end the combined HIV/HSV-2 epidemic among NIDUs in New York City. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Coinfection; Drug Users; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Herpes Simplex; Herpesvirus 2, Human; Heterosexuality; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; New York City; Prevalence; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Young Adult | 2017 |
High-Frequency Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus Blocks Compulsive-Like Re-Escalation of Heroin Taking in Rats.
Opioid addiction, including addiction to heroin, has markedly increased in the past decade. The cost and pervasiveness of heroin addiction, including resistance to recovery from addiction, provide a compelling basis for developing novel therapeutic strategies. Deep brain stimulation may represent a viable alternative strategy for the treatment of intractable heroin addiction, particularly in individuals who are resistant to traditional therapies. Here we provide preclinical evidence of the therapeutic potential of high-frequency stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN HFS) for heroin addiction. STN HFS prevented the re-escalation of heroin intake after abstinence in rats with extended access to heroin, an animal model of compulsive heroin taking. STN HFS inhibited key brain regions, including the substantia nigra, entopeduncular nucleus, and nucleus accumbens shell measured using brain mapping analyses of immediate-early gene expression and produced a robust silencing of STN neurons as measured using whole-cell recording ex vivo. These results warrant further investigation to examine the therapeutic effects that STN HFS may have on relapse in humans with heroin addiction. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Compulsive Behavior; Deep Brain Stimulation; Disease Models, Animal; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Membrane Potentials; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; Rats, Wistar; Self Administration; Subthalamic Nucleus; Tissue Culture Techniques | 2017 |
Glutamatergic Projections from the Entorhinal Cortex to Dorsal Dentate Gyrus Mediate Context-Induced Reinstatement of Heroin Seeking.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Dentate Gyrus; Disease Models, Animal; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Entorhinal Cortex; Glutamic Acid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Saccharin; Synaptic Transmission | 2017 |
Role of projections from ventral subiculum to nucleus accumbens shell in context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking in rats.
In humans, exposure to contexts previously associated with heroin use can provoke relapse. In rats, exposure to heroin-paired contexts after extinction of drug-reinforced responding in different contexts reinstates heroin seeking. We previously demonstrated that the projections from ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) to nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell play a role in this reinstatement. The ventral subiculum (vSub) sends glutamate projections to NAc shell and vmPFC. Here, we determined whether these projections contribute to context-induced reinstatement.. We trained rats to self-administer heroin (0.05-0.1 mg/kg/infusion) for 3 h per day for 12 days; drug infusions were paired with a discrete tone-light cue. Lever pressing in the presence of the discrete cue was subsequently extinguished in a different context. We then tested the rats for reinstatement in the heroin- and extinction-associated contexts under extinction conditions. We combined Fos with the retrograde tracer Fluoro-Gold (FG) to determine projection-specific activation during the context-induced reinstatement tests. We also used anatomical disconnection procedures to determine whether the vSub → NAc shell and vSub → vmPFC projections are functionally involved in this reinstatement.. Exposure to the heroin but not the extinction context reinstated lever pressing. Context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking was associated with increased Fos expression in vSub neurons, including those projecting to NAc shell and vmPFC. Anatomical disconnection of the vSub → NAc shell projection, but not the vSub → vmPFC projection, decreased this reinstatement.. Our data indicate that the vSub → NAc shell glutamatergic projection, but not the vSub → vmPFC projection, contributes to context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. Topics: Animals; Cues; Extinction, Psychological; Glutamic Acid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hippocampus; Male; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration | 2016 |
Effects of daily delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol treatment on heroin self-administration in rhesus monkeys.
Opioid abuse remains a significant public health problem; together with the greater availability of marijuana in some regions there is an increasing likelihood that opioids and marijuana will be used together. Polydrug abuse is associated with increased toxicity and poorer treatment outcome; thus, a better understanding of the consequences of repeated coadministration of these drugs will facilitate the development of better prevention and treatment strategies. This study examined the effects of daily treatment with the cannabinoid receptor agonist delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-THC) and its discontinuation on self-administration of heroin in rhesus monkeys (n=4) lever-pressing under a fixed-ratio 30 schedule. Heroin self-administration (0.32-32 μg/kg/infusion, intravenously) generated an inverted U-shaped dose-effect curve. Administered acutely, Δ-THC (0.01-0.32 mg/kg, subcutaneously) dose dependently decreased responding for heroin and flattened the self-administration dose-effect curve. Daily treatment with Δ-THC (0.01-0.1 mg/kg/12 h, subcutaneously) either had no effect on or decreased responding for heroin. In addition, daily treatment did not significantly impact extinction of heroin self-administration or resumption of responding for heroin after extinction. Discontinuation of daily Δ-THC treatment did not systematically impact rates of heroin self-administration. These data suggest that repeated administration of a cannabinoid receptor agonist likely does not increase, and possibly decreases, the positive reinforcing effects of a mu opioid receptor agonist. Topics: Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Conditioning, Operant; Disease Models, Animal; Dronabinol; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Macaca mulatta; Male; Narcotics; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration | 2016 |
Heroin shortage in Coastal Kenya: A rapid assessment and qualitative analysis of heroin users' experiences.
While relatively rare events, abrupt disruptions in heroin availability have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality risk among those who are heroin dependent. A heroin shortage occurred in Coast Province, Kenya from December 2010 to March 2011. This qualitative analysis describes the shortage events and consequences from the perspective of heroin users, along with implications for health and other public sectors.. As part of a rapid assessment, 66 key informant interviews and 15 focus groups among heroin users in Coast Province, Kenya were conducted. A qualitative thematic analysis was undertaken in Atlas.ti. to identify salient themes related to the shortage.. Overall, participant accounts were rooted in a theme of desperation and uncertainty, with emphasis on six sub-themes: (1) withdrawal and strategies for alleviating withdrawal, including use of medical intervention and other detoxification attempts; (2) challenges of dealing with unpredictable drug availability, cost, and purity; (3) changes in drug use patterns, and actions taken to procure heroin and other drugs; (4) modifications in drug user relationship dynamics and networks, including introduction of risky group-level injection practices; (5) family and community response; and (6) new challenges with the heroin market resurgence.. The heroin shortage led to a series of consequences for drug users, including increased risk of morbidity, mortality and disenfranchisement at social and structural levels. Availability of evidence-based services for drug users and emergency preparedness plans could have mitigated this impact. Topics: Drug Users; Female; Focus Groups; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Kenya; Male; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2016 |
Early avoidance of a heroin-paired taste-cue and subsequent addiction-like behavior in rats.
The ability to predict individual vulnerability to substance abuse would allow for a better understanding of the progression of the disease and development of better methods for prevention and/or early intervention. Here we use drug-induced devaluation of a saccharin cue in an effort to predict later addiction-like behavior in a model akin to that used by Deroche-Gamonet et al. (2004) and seek to link such vulnerability to changes in expression of various mu opioid receptor and D2 receptor-interacting proteins in brain. The results show that the greatest heroin-induced suppression of intake of a saccharin cue is associated with the greatest vulnerability to later addiction-like behavior and to differences in the expression of WLS, β-catenin, and NCS-1 in brain compared to rats that exhibited the least suppression of intake of the heroin-paired cue and/or saline controls. Finally, because the self-administration model employed produced no significant differences in drug intake between groups, overall, the resultant changes in protein expression can be more closely linked to individual differences in motivation for drug. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; beta Catenin; Cues; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Saccharin; Self Administration; Taste; Taste Perception | 2016 |
From initiating injecting drug use to regular injecting: Retrospective survival analysis of injecting progression within a sample of people who inject drugs regularly.
The initiation of injecting drug use and the commencement of a pattern of regular injecting are key milestones in injecting careers. The progression from initiation to regular injecting is a poorly understood period in these careers.. Cross-sectional baseline data from a sample of people who inject drugs regularly (N=691), recorded the age at which participants initiated injecting drug use and the age they became regular (at least once per month) injectors. Survival analysis compared the rapidity of progression to regular injecting across sub-groups within the sample using bivariate log-rank testing and multivariable Cox regression.. Half of all participants progressed to regular injecting within 1 year of initiation and by the fourth year post-initiation, 91% had progressed. In bivariate analysis, there were significant differences in equality of hazards by sex (X(2)=7.75, p<0.01), from whom participants learnt to inject (X(2)=22.32, p<0.01) and the drug of injection initiation (X(2)=18.36; p<0.01). In the multivariable Cox model, only initiating injecting with heroin (HR=1.28; 95% CI: 1.09-1.50) compared with other drugs (predominantly methamphetamine) showed a significantly greater hazard, suggesting a faster progression to regular injecting.. This study showed that among our sample of eventual regular injectors, progression from initiation to regular injecting was rapid. By gaining a greater understanding of the dynamics of this progression, the ability to appropriately target interventions and future research is subsequently informed. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease Progression; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methamphetamine; Retrospective Studies; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Survival Analysis; Young Adult | 2016 |
Reward devaluation and heroin escalation is associated with differential expression of CRF signaling genes.
One of the most damaging aspects of drug addiction is the degree to which natural rewards (family, friends, employment) are devalued in favor of seeking, obtaining and taking drugs. We have utilized an animal model of reward devaluation and heroin self-administration to explore the role of the coricotropin releasing factor (CRF) pathway. Given access to a saccharin cue followed by the opportunity to self-administer heroin, animals will parse into distinct phenotypes that suppress their saccharin intake (in favor of escalating heroin self-administration) or vice versa. We find that large saccharin suppressors (large heroin takers) demonstrate increased mRNA expression for elements of the CRF signaling pathway (CRF, CRF receptors and CRF binding protein) within the hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex and the ventral tegmental area. Moreover, there were no gene expression changes of these components in the nucleus accumbens. Use of bisulfite conversion sequencing suggests that changes in CRF binding protein and CRF receptor gene expression may be mediated by differential promoter methylation. Topics: Animals; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Cues; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hippocampus; Male; Nucleus Accumbens; Prefrontal Cortex; Rats; Reward; Saccharin; Self Administration; Ventral Tegmental Area | 2016 |
Assessment of individual differences in the rat nucleus accumbens transcriptome following taste-heroin extended access.
Heroin addiction is a disease of chronic relapse that harms the individual through devaluation of personal responsibilities in favor of finding and using drugs. Only some recreational heroin users devolve into addiction but the basis of these individual differences is not known. We have shown in rats that avoidance of a heroin-paired taste cue reliably identifies individual animals with greater addiction-like behavior for heroin. Here rats received 5min access to a 0.15% saccharin solution followed by the opportunity to self-administer either saline or heroin for 6h. Large Suppressors of the heroin-paired taste cue displayed increased drug escalation, motivation for drug, and drug loading behavior compared with Small Suppressors. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms of these individual differences in addiction-like behavior. We examined the individual differences in mRNA expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of rats that were behaviorally stratified by addiction-like behavior using next-generation sequencing. We hypothesized that based on the avoidance of the drug-paired cue there will be a unique mRNA profile in the NAc. Analysis of strand-specific whole genome RNA-Seq data revealed a number of genes differentially regulated in NAc based on the suppression of the natural saccharine reward. Large Suppressors exhibited a unique mRNA prolife compared to Saline controls and Small Suppressors. Genes related to immunity, neuronal activity, and behavior were differentially expressed among the 3 groups. In total, individual differences in avoidance of a heroin-paired taste cue are associated with addiction-like behavior along with differential NAc gene expression. Topics: Animals; Brain; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Individuality; Male; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reward; Saccharin; Self Administration; Taste; Taste Perception; Transcriptome | 2016 |
Comment on: "Fire in the vein: Heroin acidity and its proximal effect on users' health" by Ciccarone and Harris.
Topics: Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Vascular Diseases | 2016 |
Heroin craving and its correlations with clinical outcome indicators in people with heroin dependence receiving methadone maintenance treatment.
Craving for substance use has been added as one of the diagnostic criteria of substance use disorders in DSM-5. However, further research is necessary to examine and expand the clinical potential of craving in the assessment and treatment for heroin users. This study aimed to examine the psychometrics of the Desire for Drug Questionnaire-Chinese Mandarin version (DDQ-CM) and its clinical utility of assessing craving for heroin measured among heroin users with methadone maintenance treatment (MMT).. Self-reported craving for heroin use was measured on the DDQ-CM and visual analog scale among 314 intravenous heroin users receiving MMT. Self-reported heroin dependence, attitude toward heroin use, readiness to change heroin use, and depression were collected.. The results found that although the original three-factor model was acceptable for applying the DDQ-CM for heroin users with MMT, only the concurrent validity of the subscales of Desire and Intention and Negative Reinforcement was supported but not that of Control. Meanwhile, the levels of craving on the subscales of Desire and Intention and of Negative Reinforcement on the DDQ-CM were positively associated with the levels of heroin dependence, positive and negative attitudes toward heroin use, and depression, but negatively associated with readiness to change heroin use.. This study supported the application of the subscales of Desire and Intention and Negative Reinforcement on the DDQ-CM to measure heroin craving in Taiwanese-Chinese heroin users and supported the clinical implication of craving in heroin users with MMT. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Craving; Depression; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Psychometrics; Surveys and Questionnaires; Taiwan | 2016 |
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum levels in heroin-dependent patients after 26weeks of withdrawal.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of heroin dependence. BDNF expression is dramatically changed during drug withdrawal, and is associated with drug withdrawal syndrome. This study aimed to explore (1) alterations of BDNF serum levels in heroin-dependent patients after long term abstinence; and (2) the association between BDNF serum levels and protracted withdrawal syndrome.. Fifty-three male heroin-dependent patients and fifty-two gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. We measured BDNF serum levels at baseline and 26 weeks after heroin abstinence. Moreover, protracted withdrawal symptoms, depression and anxiety symptoms were measured by Protracted Withdrawal Symptoms of Heroin-dependent patients (PWSHA), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), respectively.. We found that baseline BDNF serum levels were significantly lower in heroin-dependent patients compared to controls (p<0.01). There was also a significantly difference in BDNF serum levels among heroin-dependent patients at baseline and 26-week follow-up (p<0.01). The BDNF serum levels were not associated with age, BMI, years of education, age of initial use, or duration of use. Of the clinical symptoms measured, the change in BDNF serum levels from baseline to 26-week follow-up was negatively associated with the change in PWSHA scores (r = -0.44, p<0.01, see Table 2 and Figure 2 for details).. The results show that the BDNF serum levels in heroin-dependent patients are lower than those of healthy controls at baseline and increased after 26 weeks of abstinence, although the BDNF serum levels are still lower than those of the healthy controls. A negative correlation between the change in BDNF serum levels and protracted withdrawal symptoms was found but needs to be confirmed in further study. The results revealed that BDNF serum level is worth paying attention to in order to further investigate the possibility of it being a biomarker of treatment outcome for opiate dependence. Topics: Adult; Anxiety; Biomarkers; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Case-Control Studies; Conduct Disorder; Depression; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 2016 |
Predictors of transition to heroin use among initially non-opioid dependent illicit pharmaceutical opioid users: A natural history study.
Increases in illicit pharmaceutical opioid (PO) use have been associated with risk for transition to heroin use. We identify predictors of transition to heroin use among young, illicit PO users with no history of opioid dependence or heroin use at baseline.. Respondent-driven sampling recruited 383 participants; 362 returned for at least one biannual structured interview over 36 months. Cox regression was used to test for associations between lagged predictors and hazard of transition to heroin use. Potential predictors were based on those suggested in the literature. We also computed population attributable risk (PAR) and the rate of heroin transition.. Over 36 months, 27 (7.5%) participants initiated heroin use; all were white, and the rate of heroin initiation was 2.8% per year (95% CI=1.9%-4.1%). Mean length of PO at first reported heroin use was 6.2 years (SD=1.9). Lifetime PO dependence (AHR=2.39, 95% CI=1.07-5.48; PAR=32%, 95% CI=-2% to 64%), early age of PO initiation (AHR=3.08, 95%; CI=1.26-7.47; PAR=30%, 95% CI=2%-59%), using illicit POs to get high but not to self-medicate a health problem (AHR=4.83, 95% CI=2.11-11.0; PAR=38%, 95% CI=12%-65%), and ever using PO non-orally most often (AHR=6.57, 95% CI=2.81-17.2; PAR=63%, 95% CI=31%-86%) were significant predictors.. This is one of the first prospective studies to test observations from previous cross-sectional and retrospective research on the relationship between illicit PO use and heroin initiation among young, initially non-opioid dependent PO users. The results provide insights into targets for the design of urgently needed prevention interventions. Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Ohio; Opioid-Related Disorders; Prescription Drug Misuse; Proportional Hazards Models; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; White People; Young Adult | 2016 |
Harm reduction as a complex adaptive system: A dynamic framework for analyzing Tanzanian policies concerning heroin use.
Contrary to popular belief, policies on drug use are not always based on scientific evidence or composed in a rational manner. Rather, decisions concerning drug policies reflect the negotiation of actors' ambitions, values, and facts as they organize in different ways around the perceived problems associated with illicit drug use. Drug policy is thus best represented as a complex adaptive system (CAS) that is dynamic, self-organizing, and coevolving. In this analysis, we use a CAS framework to examine how harm reduction emerged around heroin trafficking and use in Tanzania over the past thirty years (1985-present). This account is an organizational ethnography based on of the observant participation of the authors as actors within this system. We review the dynamic history and self-organizing nature of harm reduction, noting how interactions among system actors and components have coevolved with patterns of heroin us, policing, and treatment activities over time. Using a CAS framework, we describe harm reduction as a complex process where ambitions, values, facts, and technologies interact in the Tanzanian sociopolitical environment. We review the dynamic history and self-organizing nature of heroin policies, noting how the interactions within and between competing prohibitionist and harm reduction policies have changed with patterns of heroin use, policing, and treatment activities over time. Actors learn from their experiences to organize with other actors, align their values and facts, and implement new policies. Using a CAS approach provides researchers and policy actors a better understanding of patterns and intricacies in drug policy. This knowledge of how the system works can help improve the policy process through adaptive action to introduce new actors, different ideas, and avenues for communication into the system. Topics: Drug Trafficking; Harm Reduction; Health Policy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Policy Making; Tanzania | 2016 |
Exchanging expertise and constructing boundaries: The development of a transnational knowledge network around heroin-assisted treatment.
Over the last 20 years, supervised injectable and inhalable heroin prescribing has been developed, tested and in some cases introduced as a second line treatment for limited groups of entrenched heroin users in a number of European countries and Canada. Based on documentary analyses and eleven key informant interviews, this paper investigates the growth of 'expertise' and the sharing of knowledge between scientific stakeholders from different countries involved in researching and developing this area of treatment. Drawing on Stone's concept of the 'knowledge network' (Stone, 2013) and Gieryn's theory of 'boundary-work' (Gieryn, 1983), the analysis demonstrates the collective power of this group of scientists in producing a particular form of knowledge and expertise which has accrued and been exchanged over time. It also illustrates the ways in which this type of science has gained credibility and authority and become legitimised, reinforced and reproduced by those who employ it in both scientific and political debates. Boundaries were constructed by the knowledge network between different types of professions/disciplines, different forms of science and between the production of science and its consumption by non-scientists. The uniformity of the knowledge network in terms of their professional and disciplinary backgrounds, methodological expertise and ideological perspectives has meant that alternative forms of knowledge and perspectives have been neglected. This limits the nature and scope of the scientific evidence on which to base policy and practice decisions impacting on the work of policy makers and practitioners as well as the experiences of those in treatment who are most affected by this research and policy development. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Analgesics, Opioid; Behavior, Addictive; Cooperative Behavior; Drug Users; Evidence-Based Medicine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Interdisciplinary Communication; International Cooperation; Knowledge Bases; Public Opinion; Qualitative Research; Stakeholder Participation; Treatment Outcome | 2016 |
[A married couple suffering from progressive dyspnoea].
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Diagnosis, Differential; Dyspnea; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Pulmonary Emphysema; Spouses; Tomography, X-Ray Computed | 2016 |
Modeling the structure and operation of drug supply chains: The case of cocaine and heroin in Italy and Slovenia.
Multiple layers of dealers connect international drug traffickers to users. The fundamental activity of these dealers is buying from higher-level dealers and re-selling in smaller quantities at the next lower market level. Each instance of this can be viewed as completing a drug dealing "cycle". This paper introduces an approach for combining isolated accounts of such cycles into a coherent model of the structure, span, and profitability of the various layers of the domestic supply chain for illegal drugs. The approach is illustrated by synthesizing data from interviews with 116 incarcerated dealers to elucidate the structure and operation of distribution networks for cocaine and heroin in Italy and Slovenia. Inmates' descriptions of cycles in the Italian cocaine market suggest fairly orderly networks, with reasonably well-defined market levels. The Italian heroin market appears to have more "level-jumpers" who skip a market level by making a larger number of sales per cycle, with each sale being of a considerably smaller weight. Slovenian data are sparser, but broadly consistent. Incorporating prices allows calculation of how much of the revenue from retail sales is retained by dealers at each market level. In the Italian cocaine market, both retail sellers and the international supply chain outside of Italy each appear to receive about 30-40% of what users spend, with the remaining 30% going to higher-level dealers operating in Italy (roughly 10% to those at the multi-kilo level and 20% to lower level wholesale dealers). Factoring in cycle frequencies permits rough estimation of the number of organizations at each market level per billion euros in retail sales, and of annual net revenues for organizations at each level. These analyses provide an approach to gaining insight into the structure and operation of the supply chain for illegal drugs. They also illustrate the value of two new graphical tools for describing illicit drug supply chains and hint at possible biases in how respondents describe their drug dealing activities. Topics: Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Commerce; Drug and Narcotic Control; Drug Costs; Drug Trafficking; Efficiency, Organizational; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Italy; Models, Economic; Models, Organizational; Policy Making; Slovenia | 2016 |
Genome-Wide Pharmacogenomic Study on Methadone Maintenance Treatment Identifies SNP rs17180299 and Multiple Haplotypes on CYP2B6, SPON1, and GSG1L Associated with Plasma Concentrations of Methadone R- and S-enantiomers in Heroin-Dependent Patients.
Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is commonly used for controlling opioid dependence, preventing withdrawal symptoms, and improving the quality of life of heroin-dependent patients. A steady-state plasma concentration of methadone enantiomers, a measure of methadone metabolism, is an index of treatment response and efficacy of MMT. Although the methadone metabolism pathway has been partially revealed, no genome-wide pharmacogenomic study has been performed to identify genetic determinants and characterize genetic mechanisms for the plasma concentrations of methadone R- and S-enantiomers. This study was the first genome-wide pharmacogenomic study to identify genes associated with the plasma concentrations of methadone R- and S-enantiomers and their respective metabolites in a methadone maintenance cohort. After data quality control was ensured, a dataset of 344 heroin-dependent patients in the Han Chinese population of Taiwan who underwent MMT was analyzed. Genome-wide single-locus and haplotype-based association tests were performed to analyze four quantitative traits: the plasma concentrations of methadone R- and S-enantiomers and their respective metabolites. A significant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs17180299 (raw p = 2.24 × 10(-8)), was identified, accounting for 9.541% of the variation in the plasma concentration of the methadone R-enantiomer. In addition, 17 haplotypes were identified on SPON1, GSG1L, and CYP450 genes associated with the plasma concentration of methadone S-enantiomer. These haplotypes accounted for approximately one-fourth of the variation of the overall S-methadone plasma concentration. The association between the S-methadone plasma concentration and CYP2B6, SPON1, and GSG1L were replicated in another independent study. A gene expression experiment revealed that CYP2B6, SPON1, and GSG1L can be activated concomitantly through a constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) activation pathway. In conclusion, this study revealed new genes associated with the plasma concentration of methadone, providing insight into the genetic foundation of methadone metabolism. The results can be applied to predict treatment responses and methadone-related deaths for individualized MMTs. Topics: Adult; Androstanes; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B6; Extracellular Matrix Proteins; Female; Genome-Wide Association Study; Haplotypes; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Pharmacogenetics; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Stereoisomerism | 2016 |
Elevated Hair Cortisol Levels among Heroin Addicts on Current Methadone Maintenance Compared to Controls.
Whether methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) can improve the basal function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is suppressed by long-term heroin consumption, is a matter of debate. The stress state and depression and anxiety symptoms may affect the basal activity of the HPA axis in MMT patients. However, the effect of psychological factors on HPA activity was not simultaneously controlled in previous studies. This study investigated differences in HPA basal activity between MMT patients and controls using psychological variables as covariates. The participants included 52 MMT patients and 41 age-matched, non-heroin-dependent controls. Psychological states were self-reported with the Perceived Stress Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale. The hair cortisol level was adopted as a biomarker of HPA basal activity and was determined with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The results revealed that MMT patients had significantly higher hair cortisol levels than the controls (p<0.05), but the difference was not significant (p>0.05) when the perceived stress, depression and anxiety scores were used as covariates. We concluded that patients with long-term MMT showed higher basal activity of the HPA axis. The high chronic stress state and increase in depression and anxiety symptoms may mask the suppression effect of methadone on the HPA activity. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Pituitary-Adrenal System; Young Adult | 2016 |
The effects of heroin administration and drug cues on impulsivity.
Drug addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and continued use despite negative consequences. Behavioral impulsivity is a strong predictor of the initiation and maintenance of drug addiction. Preclinical data suggest that heroin may exacerbate impulsive characteristics in an individual but this has yet to be assessed in clinical samples. The current secondary data analysis sought to investigate the effects of heroin on impulsivity along with the effects of exposure to drug cues. Using the current data set, we also tentatively assessed the etiological relationship between impulsivity and heroin abuse. Sixteen heroin-dependent participants were recruited to complete Immediate Memory Task/Delayed Memory Task (IMT/DMT) and GoStop tasks following repeated heroin administration, following acute heroin administration, and following a drug cue exposure session. Four preceding days of active heroin availability, compared to four preceding days of placebo drug availability, increased impulsivity assessed using the IMT and DMT. Presentation of drug cues similarly acted to increase impulsivity assessments on all three tasks. It also appears that heavier users were more susceptible to the influence of drug cues on impulsivity. The present study represents a step toward a more comprehensive understanding of the interaction between opioid abuse and impulsivity. A better understanding of these factors could provide critical insight into the maintenance of heroin use and relapse. Topics: Adult; Cues; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Impulsive Behavior; Inhibition, Psychological; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Neuropsychological Tests | 2016 |
Hair analysis for opiates: hydromorphone and hydrocodone as indicators of heroin use.
Identification of external contamination is a challenge in hair analysis. This study investigates metabolite ratios of hydromorphone to morphine and hydrocodone to codeine as indicators to distinguish contamination from heroin use provided that hydromorphone/hydrocodone intake is excluded.. Hair samples after external contamination with street heroin proved to be negative for hydromorphone/hydrocodone. Hair samples from individuals with suspected street heroin use/contamination or opiate medication were analyzed for 6-monoacetylmorphine, morphine, acetylcodeine, codeine, hydromorphone and hydrocodone, and metabolite ratios of hydromorphone to morphine and hydrocodone to codeine were assessed. Hair samples from individuals with medicinal heroin/morphine/codeine use displayed significantly higher metabolite ratios than those with suspected street heroin use/contamination.. Hydromorphone/hydrocodone are solely formed during body passage. Thus, metabolite ratios can be used to distinguish morphine/heroin use from external contamination. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Chromatography, Liquid; Female; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrocodone; Hydromorphone; Male; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Opiate Alkaloids; Substance Abuse Detection; Tandem Mass Spectrometry | 2016 |
Identifying cases of heroin toxicity where 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM) is not detected by toxicological analyses.
Heroin has a half-life of 2-6 min and is metabolized too quickly to be detected in autopsy samples. The presence of 6-acetylmophine (6-AM) in urine, blood, or other samples is convincing evidence of heroin use by a decedent, but 6-AM itself has a half-life of 6-25 min before it is hydrolyzed to morphine, so 6-AM may not be present in sufficient concentration to detect in postmortem samples. Codeine is often present in heroin preparations as an impurity and is not a metabolite of heroin. Studies report that a ratio of morphine to codeine greater than one indicates heroin use. We hypothesize that the ratio of morphine to codeine in our decedents abusing drugs intravenously will be no different in individuals with 6-AM present than in individuals where no 6-AM is detected, and we report our study of this hypothesis.. All accidental deaths investigated by the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner Office from 2010 to 2013 with morphine detected in blood samples collected at autopsy were reviewed. Five deaths where trauma caused or contributed to death were excluded from the review. The presence or absence of 6-AM and the concentrations of morphine and codeine were recorded for each case. The ratio of morphine to codeine was calculated for all decedents. Any individual in whom no morphine or codeine was detected in a postmortem sample was excluded from further study. Absence or presence of drug paraphernalia or evidence of intravascular (IV) drug use was documented in each case to identify IV drug users. The proportion of the IV drug users with and without 6-AM present in a postmortem sample was compared to the M/C ratio for the individuals.. Of the 230 deaths included in the analysis, 103 IV drug users with quantifiable morphine and codeine in a postmortem sample were identified allowing for calculation of an M/C ratio. In these IV drug users, the M/C ratio was greater than 1 in 98 % of decedents. When controlling for the absence or presence of 6-AM there was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of IV drug users when compared to non IV drug users with an M/C ratio of greater than 1 (p = 1.000).. The M/C ratio in IV drug users, if greater than 1, is seen in deaths due to heroin toxicity where 6-AM is detected in a postmortem sample. This study provides evidence that a M/C ratio greater than one in an IV drug user is evidence of a death due to heroin toxicity even if 6-AM is not detected in the blood. Using the M/C ratio, in addition to scene and autopsy findings, provides sufficient evidence to show heroin is the source of the morphine and codeine. Listing heroin as a cause or contributing factor in deaths with evidence of IV drug abuse and where the M/C ratio exceeds 1 will improve identification of heroin fatalities, which will allow better allocation of resources for public health initiatives. Topics: Codeine; Forensic Toxicology; Half-Life; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Narcotics; Postmortem Changes; Retrospective Studies; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2016 |
Environmental enrichment as a potential intervention for heroin seeking.
Heroin-related cues can trigger craving and relapse in addicts or heroin seeking in rats. In the present study we investigated whether environmental enrichment (EE) implemented after heroin exposure can reduce cue-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking and expression of heroin conditioned place preference.. In Experiment 1, male Long Evans rats that already acquired a heroin self-administration habit, were housed in enriched or non-enriched environments, underwent extinction training and later were tested for cue-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. In Experiment 2, rats were conditioned with heroin in one compartment of a CPP apparatus and saline in the other, exposed to 30days of enrichment or no enrichment and were later tested for heroin CPP.. The results showed that exposure to EE significantly reduced responding during the reinstatement test (Experiment 1) and prevented the expression of heroin CPP (Experiment 2).. Our findings suggest that EE can be an effective behavioral approach to diminish the effects of conditioned cues on heroin seeking. Topics: Animals; Conditioning, Psychological; Cues; Environment; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Self Administration | 2016 |
Nationwide increase in hospitalizations for heroin-related soft tissue infections: Associations with structural market conditions.
Little is known about trends in national rates of injection-related skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) and their relationship to the structural risk environment for heroin users. Use of Mexican-sourced "Black Tar" heroin, predominant in western US states, may have greater risk for SSTI compared with eastern US powder heroin (Colombian-sourced) due to its association with non-intravenous injection or from possible contamination.. Using nationally representative hospital admissions data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample and heroin price and purity data from the Drug Enforcement Administration, we looked at rates of hospital admissions for opiate-related SSTI (O-SSTI) between 1993 and 2010. Regression analyses examined associations between O-SSTI and heroin source, form and price.. Hospitalization rates of O-SSTI doubled from 4 to 9 per 100,000 nationally between 1993 and 2010; the increase concentrated among individuals aged 20-40. Heroin market features were strongly associated with changes in the rate of SSTI. Each $100 increase in yearly heroin price-per-gram-pure was associated with a 3% decrease in the rate of heroin-related SSTI admissions. Mexican-sourced-heroin-dominant cities had twice the rate of O-SSTI compared to Colombian-sourced-heroin-dominant cities.. Heroin-related SSTI are increasing and structural factors, including heroin price and source-form, are associated with higher rates of SSTI hospital admissions. Clinical and harm reduction efforts should educate heroin users on local risk factors, e.g., heroin type, promote vein health strategies and provide culturally sensitive treatment services for persons suffering with SSTI. Topics: Adult; Commerce; Costs and Cost Analysis; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Soft Tissue Infections; United States; Young Adult | 2016 |
[Overdose of heroin and influencing factors in intravenous drug users in parts of Yunnan].
To assess the prevalence of overdose of heroin and risk factors in intravenous drug users(IDUs)in Yunnan Province.. During July-August of 2015, IDUs were recruited from four methadone maintenance treatment(MMT)clinics and two compulsory drug rehabilitation centers in Honghe and Dehong prefectures, Yunnan province. The information about IDUs ' demographic characteristics and drug use history, overdose of heroin in previous12 months and the latest overdose of heroin were collected through face to face questionnaire survey. The factors associated with overdose of heroin were evaluated with logistic regression models.. Of the 340 IDUs surveyed, 85.3%(290/340)were males, the mean age was 37.7±8.7 years, 65.6%(223/340)were Han ethnicity, and 49.4%(167/338)were HIV positive, 22.6%(77/340)reported having used club-related drugs(such as ephedrine, methamphetamine, benzodiazepines and ketamine)in the previous 12 months. Of the 340 IDUs, 41.8%(142/340)had at least one overdose of heroin in their lifetime(median: 3 overdoses)and 15.6%(53/340)had at least one overdose of heroin(median : 1 overdose use)in previous 12 months. The mean age of the 53 IDUs was(36.7 ± 8.4)years, and 83.0%(44/53)of them were males, the average drug use history was(16.5 ± 7.6)years. Dosage increase(26.4%, 14/53)and multidrug use(28.3%, 15/53)were the main causes for overdose of heroin. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that methadone maintenance treatment during the past year(OR=0.534, 95%CI: 0.290-0.980)was independently associated with decreased risk of overdose of heroin, needle sharing in the past 6 months(OR=2.735, 95%CI: 1.383-5.407)and being forced to receive drug rehabilitation for less than one year(OR=2.881, 95% CI: 1.226-6.767)were independently associated with increased risk of overdose of heroin.. Overdose of heroin is common among IDUs in Yunnan. It is necessary to encourage IDUs to receive MMT and strengthen the health education about the prevention of overdose of heroin, especially before they leave drug rehabilitation centers. And it is important to establish a referral mechanism from drug rehabilitation center to MMT clinic for drug users. Topics: China; Drug Overdose; Drug Users; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Methadone; Needle Sharing; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Prevalence; Referral and Consultation; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Surveys and Questionnaires | 2016 |
Identifying cases of heroin toxicity where 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM) is not detected by toxicological analyses.
Topics: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Substance Abuse Detection | 2016 |
AUTS2 in the nucleus accumbens is essential for heroin-induced behavioral sensitization.
Autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2) is a gene associated with autism and mental retardation. Recent studies have suggested an association of the AUTS2 gene with heroin dependence, and reduced AUTS2 gene expression may confer increased susceptibility to heroin dependence. However, the functional role of the AUTS2 protein in regulating enduring neuroadaptations in response to heroin exposure has not been established. Here, we investigated the effects of acute and chronic heroin exposure on AUTS2 mRNA and protein expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and caudate-putamen (CPu) to determine whether changes in AUTS2 expression are associated with heroin-induced locomotor sensitization in mice. Moreover, we explored whether AUST2 knockdown affects heroin-induced locomotor sensitization. AUTS2 mRNA and protein expression in the NAc, but not the CPu, was decreased after chronic heroin (1mg/kg) administration. In the NAc, the expression of heroin-induced locomotor sensitization was enhanced through the lentiviral-AUTS2-shRNA-mediated knockdown of AUTS2, while the overexpression of AUTS2 attenuated the locomotor-stimulant effects of heroin. Together, these results indicate that AUTS2 in the NAc, but not the CPu, suppresses the initiation and expression of heroin-induced behavioral sensitization, suggesting that AUST2 may be a potential target for the treatment of heroin dependence. Topics: Animals; Caudate Nucleus; Cytoskeletal Proteins; Disease Models, Animal; Gene Knockdown Techniques; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Motor Activity; Narcotics; Neuropeptides; Nuclear Proteins; Nucleus Accumbens; Putamen; rac1 GTP-Binding Protein; RNA, Messenger; Transcription Factors | 2016 |
Parenthood, Child Care, and Heroin Use: Outcomes After Three Years.
Internationally there is a lack of measurement on the impact of childcare on people who use drugs.. The aim of this article was to longitudinally measure drug use, familial and social status and criminal involvement between parents and nonparents who use heroin and have children in their care.. From 2003 to 2006, 404 participants were recruited to the Research Outcome Study in Ireland Evaluating Drug Treatment Effectiveness (ROSIE) as part of a longitudinal cohort study design. Participants completed the Maudsley Addiction Profile and 88% (n = 356) completed interviews at the 3-year period. One way between groups ANOVA with post hoc tests and backward, stepwise multiple regression were employed for analysis.. At follow-up, parents who had children in their care used heroin (p = .004), illicit methadone (p ≤ .001) and cocaine (p = .024) on fewer days than those who had no children, or those who had children but did not have children in their care. These differences were not observed at intake. Living with someone at intake who used drugs was found to be significantly associated with increased heroin (p ≤ .001), benzodiazepine (p = .039), and tobacco (p = .030) use at 3 years. Furthermore, a change in childcare status to caring for a child was associated with increased cannabis use (p = .025). Conclusion/Importance: While caring for children was associated with reduced heroin use at 3 years, living with a person who used at intake removed this effect, thus indicating that while individual based addiction theories reflected observed outcomes, social network connectedness was more influential. Topics: Child; Child Care; Cohort Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Ireland; Methadone | 2016 |
Intravenous Heroin Abuse and Acute Myocardial Infarction: Association or Causality?
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2016 |
Relationship among methadone dose, polymorphisms of dopamine D2 receptor and tri-dimensional personality questionnaire in heroin-addicted patients.
We investigated whether variation in the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) and tri-dimensional personality questionnaire (TPQ) scores could be used to aid adjustment of daily methadone requirements of heroin addicts. DRD2 TaqI B polymorphisms and TPQ scores were determined in 138 male Taiwanese heroin addicts who were receiving methadone treatment. Borderline index (harm avoidance + novelty seeking-reward dependence) was calculated for each subject, and three groups were defined: high (mean from all subjects plus 1 standard deviation, or greater), low (half of the calculated high score, or lower) and medium (all values between the high and low scores).. No significant differences in age (p = 0.60), mean methadone dose (p = 0.75) or borderline index group (p = 0.25) were observed between subjects bearing the B1/B1, B1/B2 and B2/B2 DRD2 TaqI genotypes. Among the individuals with low (≤10), medium (11-20) and high (≥21) borderline index scores, there was a significant difference in mean methadone dose (p = 0.04), but not age (p = 0.90). Further analysis showed that mean methadone dose was significantly higher in subjects with low borderline index scores than in those with high scores (62.5 vs. 47.0 mg/day, p = 0.03). The odds ratio for a daily methadone requirement ≥60 mg (median dose across the 138 subjects) was 2.64-fold greater in the low borderline index group than in the high group (p = 0.04).. Although the DRD2 TaqI B genotype was not associated with methadone use requirements, borderline index was revealed as a potential predictive marker for the adjustment of methadone dosage requirements in heroin addicts. Topics: Adult; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gene Frequency; Genotype; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Personality; Personality Assessment; Polymorphism, Genetic; Receptors, Dopamine D2; Substance-Related Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires; Taiwan | 2016 |
Addiction, Heroin-Assisted Treatment and the Idea of Abstinence: A reply to Henden.
In our previous article on the question whether heroin addicts are able to give informed consent voluntarily to research on heroin-assisted treatment, we criticized the ongoing bioethical discussion of a flawed conceptualization of heroin addicts' options. As a participant in this discussion, Edmund Henden defends the conceptualization as sufficient for determining whether heroin addicts are able to give informed consent to the research on heroin-assisted treatment voluntarily. This discussion on research on heroin-assisted treatment seems to go astray in several respects. In his reply to our article Henden maintains some of the biases, such as the necessity of abstinence in recovery, that seem to prevail in addiction research on a more general level as well. These biases run the danger of having implausible ethical implications on stakeholders in addiction research and treatment. In our reply to him, we will further clarify and discuss the importance of describing the relevant issues in plausible terms that do justice to the realities of the cases of informed consent in research on heroin-assisted treatment and also raise a wider issue of the ethics of wording as well as of the narrow scope, or 'tunnel vision', in addiction research as currently conducted. Topics: Behavior, Addictive; Choice Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Informed Consent; Male | 2016 |
Acceptability of Extended-Release Naltrexone by Heroin-Dependent Patients and Addiction Treatment Providers in the Netherlands.
Extended-release naltrexone (XRNT) was developed to overcome poor treatment compliance with oral naltrexone in alcohol and opioid-dependent patients. XRNT injections are registered in the United States and Russia, but not in The Netherlands. However, XRNT can be obtained for individual patients, but it is expensive and not reimbursed by the health insurance.. This study evaluates the support for abstinence oriented treatment among heroin-dependent patients and the acceptability of XRNT injections by heroin-dependent patients and treatment providers in The Netherlands.. A sample of 261 patients in methadone maintenance treatment or heroin assisted treatment and a sample of 188 addiction treatment providers completed specially designed questionnaires.. The current study shows that many patients in opioid maintenance treatment (58%) report a desire to become abstinent from opioids and that 83% of the patients with a desire for abstinence are interested in XRNT. The majority of treatment providers (81%) are willing to support the prescription of XRNT injections in opioid-dependent patients to prevent relapse after detoxification.. The current practice of automatic and indefinite continuation of opioid substitution should therefore be reconsidered. However, XRNT injections are very expensive and currently not reimbursed by the health insurance agencies in The Netherlands and thus not really available to most patients. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naltrexone; Netherlands | 2016 |
Anxiety disorders are associated with early onset of heroin use and rapid transition to dependence in methadone maintained patients.
Early onset of heroin use is a severity marker of heroin use disorder. We studied the interaction between early onset and rapid transition to heroin dependence recorded with retrospective interviews in 213 patients with severe heroin dependence and history of methadone maintenance treatment. General linear models were used to identify independent factors associated with early onset, factors associated with rapid transition to dependence, and a multivariate model was used to study the interaction of those two dimensions. Lifetime history of anxiety disorders and age at onset of cannabis use are shared common risk factors and are associated with the interaction. Topics: Adult; Age of Onset; Analgesics, Opioid; Anxiety Disorders; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Time Factors | 2016 |
The toxicology of heroin-related death: estimating survival times.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Narcotics | 2016 |
Response to Ruan and colleagues concerning 'The toxicology of heroin-related death: estimating survival times'.
Topics: Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 2016 |
Variants of opioid system genes are associated with non-dependent opioid use and heroin dependence.
Heroin addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease. Genetic factors are involved in the development of drug addiction. The aim of this study was to determine whether specific variants in genes of the opioid system are associated with non-dependent opioid use and heroin dependence.. Genetic information from four subject groups was collected: non-dependent opioid users (NOD) [n=163]; opioid-dependent (OD) patients in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) [n=143]; opioid-dependent MMT-resistant patients in heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) [n=138]; and healthy controls with no history of opioid use (HC) [n=153]. Eighty-two variants in eight opioid system genes were studied. To establish the role of these genes in (a) non-dependent opioid use, and (b) heroin dependence, the following groups were compared: HC vs. NOD; HC vs. OD (MMT+HAT); and NOD vs. OD (MMT+HAT).. Five unique SNPs in four genes showed nominally significant associations with non-dependent opioid use and heroin dependence. The association of the delta opioid receptor (OPRD1) intronic SNP rs2236861 with non-dependent opioid use (HC vs. NOD) remained significant after correction for multiple testing (OR=0.032; p. This study identifies several new and some previously reported associations of variants with heroin dependence and with non-dependent opioid use, an important and difficult to obtain group not extensively studied previously. Further studies are warranted to confirm and elucidate the potential roles of these variants in the vulnerability to illicit drug use and drug addiction. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Protein Precursors; Receptors, Opioid; Receptors, Opioid, delta | 2016 |
Effects of histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate on heroin seeking behavior in the nucleus accumbens in rats.
Histone acetylation and other modifications of the chromatin are important regulators of gene expression and may contribute to drug-induced behaviors and neuroplasticity. Inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDAC) activity results in the change of some drug-induced behaviors,however, relatively little is known about the effects of HDAC inhibitors on heroin-seeking behavior. In the present study, male rats were trained to self-administer heroin under a FR1 schedule for consecutive 14 days, followed by 14 daily 2h extinction session in the operant chamber. After training, the heroin priming (250μg/kg) was introduced for the reinstatement of heroin-seeking behavior. Pretreatment with sodium butyrate (NaB) (200 or 400mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of HDAC, failed to affect heroin self-administration. Additionally,systemic administration of NaB (400mg/kg, i.p.)increased significantly the reinstatement of heroin-seeking induced by heroin priming when NaB administered 12h, but not 6h before the reinstatement test. The same effect was observed after the intracerebroventricular injection of NaB (5μL, 100μg/μL). Moreover, the levels of histone H3 acetylation at lysine 18(H3K18)and H4 acetylation at lysine 5 or lysine 8(H4K5 or H4K8)in the accumbens nucleus core and shell were remarkably increased during the reinstatement and were further strengthened after intracerebroventricular injection of NaB. These results demonstrated that activation of histone acetylation may be involved in the heroin-seeking behavior, and identifying these epigenetic changes will be critical in proposing a novel pharmacological strategy for treating heroin addiction. Topics: Acetylation; Animals; Butyric Acid; Conditioning, Operant; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Epigenesis, Genetic; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; Histone Deacetylases; Histones; Infusions, Intraventricular; Male; Motor Activity; Narcotics; Nucleus Accumbens; Random Allocation; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Self Administration | 2016 |
Delay discounting in opioid use disorder: Differences between heroin and prescription opioid users.
Among those with opioid use disorder, heroin use is associated with poorer prognosis relative to use of prescription opioids alone. However, relatively little is known about distinguishing features between those who use heroin relative to those who use prescription opioids. In the present study we evaluated differences in delay discounting in those with opioid use disorder based on primary opioid of use. Delay discounting is associated with a range of negative outcomes and is an important therapeutic target in this population.. Treatment-seeking adults with opioid dependence completed self-report measures including past-month opioid use and the Monetary Choice Questionnaire (Kirby and Marakovic, 1996; Kirby et al., 1999), a measure of delay discounting. Participants were divided into two groups based on whether they used any heroin in the past 30days or only prescription opioids, and delay discounting scores were compared between the groups. Group differences in sociodemographic or clinical variables were included in the analysis as covariates.. Results from a forward stepwise linear regression indicated that heroin use was associated with significantly higher delay discounting (B=-0.99, SE. Adults with opioid dependence who exclusively used prescription opioids had lower delay discounting relative to those who used heroin. This finding contributes further to the literature suggesting that heroin use is associated with greater clinical severity among those with opioid use disorder. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Cross-Sectional Studies; Delay Discounting; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Opioid-Related Disorders; Prescription Drug Misuse; Self Report; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult | 2016 |
Development of a filter to prevent infections with spore-forming bacteria in injecting drug users.
In heroin injectors, there have been a number of outbreaks caused by spore-forming bacteria, causing serious infections such as anthrax or botulism. These are, most likely, caused by injecting contaminated heroin, and our aim was to develop a filter that efficiently removes these bacteria and is also likely to be acceptable for use by people who inject drugs (i.e. quick, simple and not spoil the hit).. A prototype filter was designed and different filter membranes were tested to assess the volume of liquid retained, filtration time and efficiency of the filter at removing bacterial spores. Binding of active ingredients of heroin to different types of membrane filters was determined using a highly sensitive analytical chemistry technique.. Heroin samples that were tested contained up to 580 bacteria per gramme, with the majority being Bacillus spp., which are spore-forming soil bacteria. To remove these bacteria, a prototype filter was designed to fit insulin-type syringes, which are commonly used by people who inject drugs (PWIDs). Efficient filtration of heroin samples was achieved by combining a prefilter to remove particles and a 0.22 μm filter to remove bacterial spores. The most suitable membrane was polyethersulfone (PES). This membrane had the shortest filtration time while efficiently removing bacterial spores. No or negligible amounts of active ingredients in heroin were retained by the PES membrane.. This study successfully produced a prototype filter designed to filter bacterial spores from heroin samples. Scaled up production could produce an effective harm reduction tool, especially during outbreaks such as occurred in Europe in 2009/10 and 2012. Topics: Bacillus subtilis; Bacteriological Techniques; Drug Contamination; Equipment Design; Filtration; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Polymers; Spores, Bacterial; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Sulfones | 2016 |
Strain dependence of adolescent Cannabis influence on heroin reward and mesolimbic dopamine transmission in adult Lewis and Fischer 344 rats.
Adolescent Cannabis exposure has been hypothesized to act as a gateway to opiate abuse. In order to investigate the role of genetic background in cannabinoid-opiate interactions, we studied the effect of Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure of adolescent Lewis and Fischer 344 rats on the responsiveness of accumbens shell and core dopamine (DA), as monitored by microdialysis, to THC and heroin at adulthood. Heroin reward and reinstatement by heroin priming were studied by conditioned place preference (CPP) and cognitive and emotional functions by object recognition, Y maze and elevated plus maze paradigms. THC stimulated shell DA in Lewis but not in Fischer 344 rats. Adolescent THC exposure potentiated DA stimulant effects of heroin in the shell and core of Lewis and only in the core of Fischer 344 rats. Control Lewis rats developed stronger CPP to heroin and resistance to extinction compared with Fischer 344 strain. In Lewis rats, THC exposure did not affect heroin CPP but potentiated the effect of heroin priming. In Fischer 344 rats, THC exposure increased heroin CPP and made it resistant to extinction. Lewis rats showed seeking reactions during extinction and hedonic reactions in response to heroin priming. Moreover, adolescent THC exposure affected emotional function only in Lewis rats. These observations suggest that long-term effects of Cannabis exposure on heroin addictive liability and emotionality are dependent on individual genetic background. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; Dopamine; Dronabinol; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Microdialysis; Narcotics; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Rats, Inbred Lew; Reward; Synaptic Transmission | 2015 |
Chronic CRF1 receptor blockade reduces heroin intake escalation and dependence-induced hyperalgesia.
Opioids represent effective drugs for the relief of pain, yet chronic opioid use often leads to a state of increased sensitivity to pain that is exacerbated during withdrawal. A sensitization of pain-related negative affect has been hypothesized to closely interact with addiction mechanisms. Neuro-adaptive changes occur as a consequence of excessive opioid exposure, including a recruitment of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and norepinephrine (NE) brain stress systems. To better understand the mechanisms underlying the transition to dependence, we determined the effects of functional antagonism within these two systems on hyperalgesia-like behavior during heroin withdrawal utilizing models of both acute and chronic dependence. We found that passive or self-administered heroin produced a significant mechanical hypersensitivity. During acute opioid dependence, systemic administration of the CRF1 receptor antagonist MPZP (20 mg/kg) alleviated withdrawal-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. In contrast, several functional adrenergic system antagonists (clonidine, prazosin, propranolol) failed to alter mechanical hypersensitivity in this state. We then determined the effects of chronic MPZP or clonidine treatment on extended access heroin self-administration and found that MPZP, but not clonidine, attenuated escalation of heroin intake, whereas both drugs alleviated chronic dependence-associated hyperalgesia. These findings suggest that an early potentiation of CRF signaling occurs following opioid exposure that begins to drive both opioid-induced hyperalgesia and eventually intake escalation. Topics: Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Clonidine; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hyperalgesia; Narcotics; Prazosin; Propranolol; Pyrimidines; Rats; Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Self Administration | 2015 |
Detection of codeine, morphine, 6-monoacetylmorphine, and meconin in human umbilical cord tissue: method validation and evidence of in utero heroin exposure.
Heroin abuse is a significant public health issue and is on the rise because of the unintended consequences of strengthening controls for nonmedical use of prescription pain killers. Included in this trend is an increase in opiate exposed newborns that are particularly vulnerable to a number of negative health outcomes.. After presenting a fully validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method for codeine, morphine, 6-monoacetylmorphine, and meconin, a metabolite of the heroin contaminant noscapine, we compared the outcome of 46 authentic umbilical specimens with the results generated using a previous less sensitive method that did not include meconin. Additionally, we provided a summary of opiate finding from a year-long survey of specimens received into a commercial reference laboratory.. The limits of detection for all 4 compounds were 0.1 ng/g, the limit of quantitation was 0.2 ng/g, and the assay was linear from 0.2 to 10.0 ng/g. Of the 46 comparative specimens, this method improved the identification of heroin exposure from 2 to 5, and the year-long survey identified 86 heroin-exposed newborns with 11 of them identified by the sole identification of meconin.. This study demonstrated that a more sensitive analytical platform and the inclusion of meconin in the opiates assay improved the ability to distinguish between in utero heroin exposure and maternal administration of codeine or morphine. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Calibration; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Codeine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Noscapine; Pregnancy; Quality Control; Reference Standards; Reproducibility of Results; Solid Phase Extraction; Substance Abuse Detection; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Umbilical Cord | 2015 |
Wasted, overdosed, or beyond saving--to act or not to act? Heroin users' views, assessments, and responses to witnessed overdoses in Malmö, Sweden.
Overdose is a significant cause of death among heroin users. Frequently, other heroin users are present when an overdose occurs, which means the victim's life could be saved. There is a lack of studies that, based on heroin users own stories, examine their views, assessments, and responses to witnessed overdoses.. The study is based on qualitative interviews with thirty-five heroin users who witnessed someone else's overdose.. The heroin users generally had a positive attitude towards assisting peers who had overdosed. A number of factors and circumstances, however, contribute to witnesses often experiencing resistance to or ambivalence about responding. The witness's own high, the difficulty in assessing the seriousness of the situation, an unwillingness to disturb someone else's high, uncertainty about the motive behind the overdose and whether the victim does or does not want assistance as well as fear of police involvement, were common factors that acted as barriers to adequate responses in overdose situations.. The fact that being high makes it difficult to respond to overdoses, using traditional methods, argues for simpler and more effective response techniques. This can include intranasal naloxone programs for heroin users. The findings regarding the uncertainty about the intention of the overdose victim and the sensitivity to the experience of a good high argue for more up-front communication and discussion amongst using peers so that they can make their intentions clear to each other. Issues like this can be addressed in overdose education interventions. Overdose prevention measures also need to address the fact that fear of the police acts as a barrier to call emergency services. Topics: Adult; Attitude to Health; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Peer Group; Police; Sweden; Young Adult | 2015 |
Impulsivity and opioid drugs: differential effects of heroin, methadone and prescribed analgesic medication.
Previous studies have provided inconsistent evidence that chronic exposure to opioid drugs, including heroin and methadone, may be associated with impairments in executive neuropsychological functioning, specifically cognitive impulsivity. Further, it remains unclear how such impairments may relate of the nature, level and extent of opioid exposure, the presence and severity of opioid dependence, and hazardous behaviours such as injecting.. Participants with histories of illicit heroin use (n = 24), former heroin users stabilized on prescribed methadone (methadone maintenance treatment; MMT) (n = 29), licit opioid prescriptions for chronic pain without history of abuse or dependence (n = 28) and healthy controls (n = 28) were recruited and tested on a task battery that included measures of cognitive impulsivity (Cambridge Gambling Task, CGT), motor impulsivity (Affective Go/NoGo, AGN) and non-planning impulsivity (Stockings of Cambridge, SOC).. Illicit heroin users showed increased motor impulsivity and impaired strategic planning. Additionally, they placed higher bets earlier and risked more on the CGT. Stable MMT participants deliberated longer and placed higher bets earlier on the CGT, but did not risk more. Chronic opioid exposed pain participants did not differ from healthy controls on any measures on any tasks. The identified impairments did not appear to be associated specifically with histories of intravenous drug use, nor with estimates of total opioid exposure.. These data support the hypothesis that different aspects of neuropsychological measures of impulsivity appear to be associated with exposure to different opioids. This could reflect either a neurobehavioural consequence of opioid exposure, or may represent an underlying trait vulnerability to opioid dependence. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Analgesics; Executive Function; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Impulsive Behavior; Male; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Young Adult | 2015 |
Explicit and implicit heroin-related cognitions and heroin use among patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment.
Craving is an important issue in substance use disorder. To achieve a better understanding of the cognitive processing systems of craving, the cognitive processes of craving have been considered as two distinct processes. One system, based on rule-based inferences and named explicit cognition, is more conscious and effortful. The other system, based on prior learned association and named implicit cognition, is unconscious and effortless. How explicit and implicit cognitions are associated with heroin use in patients with methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is not clear. This study aimed to explore the relationship between explicit and implicit cognition and heroin use in patients undergoing MMT.. This study recruited one-hundred forty intravenous heroin users. The participants were invited to provide social-demographic data, the severity of substance dependence and explicit cognition with regard to heroin. Then, participants completed a computerized test to assess implicit cognition with regards to heroin.. This study found that explicit and implicit heroin-related cognitions were associated with the frequency of heroin use. There was an interaction effect between implicit and explicit cognition on the frequency of heroin use. This study also found that higher explicit heroin-related cognition was a risk factor for continuing heroin use.. Both explicit and implicit cognitions were associated with the frequency of heroin use in patients undergoing MMT, but only explicit cognition was associated with whether patients could stop using heroin during MMT. Therefore, the status of heroin use in patients undergoing MMT may be related to different cognitive processes. Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Age of Onset; Cognition; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Neuropsychological Tests; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Risk Factors; Sex Characteristics | 2015 |
How do drug market changes affect characteristics of injecting initiation and subsequent patterns of drug use? Findings from a cohort of regular heroin and methamphetamine injectors in Melbourne, Australia.
Changes in drug market characteristics have been shown to affect drug use patterns but few studies have examined their impacts on injecting initiation experiences and subsequent patterns of injecting drug use (IDU).. We collected data on self-reported injecting initiation experiences and past-month patterns of IDU from 688 regular heroin and methamphetamine injectors in Melbourne, Australia, who initiated injecting across three different drug market periods (prior to the Australian heroin shortage ('high heroin')/immediately following the shortage ('low heroin')/'contemporary' markets (fluctuating heroin and methamphetamine availability)). We used univariable and multivariable logistic regression to examine the relationship between period of injecting initiation and first drug injected, and multinomial logistic regression for the relationship between period of injecting initiation and current injecting patterns.. 425 participants (62%) reported initiating injecting in the high heroin period, 146 (21%) in the low heroin period, and 117 (17%) in the contemporary period. Participants who initiated injecting during the low heroin period were twice as likely to initiate injecting using a drug other than heroin (AOR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.27-2.95). The most common patterns of drug use among study participants in the month preceding interview were polydrug use (44%) and primary heroin use (41%). Injecting initiation period was either non-significantly or weakly associated with current drug use pattern, which was more strongly associated with other socio-demographic and drug use characteristics, particularly self-reported drug of choice.. The drug market period in which injecting initiation occurred influenced the first drug injected and influenced some aspects of subsequent drug use. In the context of highly dynamic drug markets in which polydrug use is common there is a need for broad harm reduction and drug treatment services which are flexible and responsive to changing patterns of drug use. Topics: Adult; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Data Collection; Female; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Methamphetamine; Multivariate Analysis; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Time Factors; Victoria; Young Adult | 2015 |
Mouse model of the OPRM1 (A118G) polymorphism: differential heroin self-administration behavior compared with wild-type mice.
Mu-opioid receptors (MOPRs) are the target of heroin and other prescription opioids, which are currently responsible for massive addiction morbidity in the US. The gene coding for the human MOPR (OPRM1) has an important functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), A118G. The OPRM1 A118G genotype results in substantially increased risk of heroin addiction in humans; however, the neurobiological mechanism for this increased risk is not fully understood. This study examined heroin self-administration (SA) behavior in A112G (G/G) mice, harboring a functionally equivalent SNP in Oprm1 with a similar amino acid substitution, in extended (4 h) SA sessions. Adult male and female G/G mice and 'wild-type' litter mates (A/A) were allowed to self-administer heroin (0.25 mg/kg/unit dose, FR1 with a nose poke response) for 4 h/day, for 10 consecutive days. Half of the mice then continued in a heroin dose-response study, while extinction from heroin SA was studied in the other half. In vivo microdialysis was used to measure acute heroin-induced increases of striatal dopamine in the GG vs AA genotypes. Male and female G/G mice responded for heroin significantly more (and thus had greater intake) than A/A mice, in the initial 10 days of heroin SA, and in the subsequent dose-response study. There were no significant differences in extinction of SA between the A/A and G/G mice. Heroin-induced increases in striatal dopamine levels are higher in the GG mice than in the AA mice. Both male and female G/G mice self-administered more heroin than did A/A mice over a 10-day period, possibly because of the greater increases of heroin-induced striatal dopamine in the GG mice. Furthermore, G/G male mice escalated the amount of heroin self-administration across 10 extended-access sessions more than A/A male mice did. These are the first studies to examine the acquisition of heroin SA in this mouse model. These studies may lead to a better understanding of the neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms that underlie greater risk of heroin addiction in carriers of the A118G SNP. Topics: Animals; Catheters, Indwelling; Corpus Striatum; Disease Models, Animal; Dopamine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Mice, Transgenic; Microdialysis; Narcotics; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Self Administration | 2015 |
Hypocretin receptor 2 antagonism dose-dependently reduces escalated heroin self-administration in rats.
The hypocretin/orexin (HCRT) system has been associated with both positive and negative drug reinforcement, implicating HCRT receptor 1 (HCRT-R1) signaling in drug-related behaviors for all major drug classes, including opioids. However, to date there are limited studies investigating the role of HCRT receptor 2 (HCRT-R2) signaling in compulsive-like drug seeking. Escalation of drug intake with extended access has been suggested to model the transition from controlled drug use to compulsive-like drug seeking/taking. The current study examined the effects of a HCRT-R2 antagonist, NBI-80713, on heroin self-administration in rats allowed short- (1 h; ShA) or long- (12 h; LgA) access to intravenous heroin self-administration. Results indicate that systemically administered NBI-80713 dose-dependently decreased heroin self-administration in LgA, but not in ShA, animals. Quantitative PCR analyses showed an increase in Hcrtr2 mRNA levels in the central amygdala, a stress-related brain region, of LgA rats. These observations suggest a functional role for HCRT-R2 signaling in compulsive-like heroin self-administration associated with extended access and indicate HCRT-R2 antagonism as a potential pharmacological target for the treatment of heroin dependence. Topics: Animals; Central Amygdaloid Nucleus; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drinking Behavior; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Feeding Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Locomotion; Male; Narcotics; Orexin Receptor Antagonists; Orexin Receptors; Rats, Wistar; RNA, Messenger; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 2015 |
Rethinking Informed Consent in Research on Heroin-Assisted Treatment.
Can heroin addicts give consent to research on trials in which heroin is prescribed to them? Analyses of addicts and informed consent have been objects of debate in several articles. Informed consent requires the agent not only to be competent but also to give consent voluntarily. This has been questioned because of alleged features of heroin addiction. Until recently the discussion has focused on heroin addicts' desires for heroin, whether these are irresistible and thus pose a problem for giving consent. Still, in light of empirical evidence, there seems to be a consensus more or less that the problem is not whether the addicts can resist their desire for heroin. A recent article concentrates specifically on heroin addicts' false assumptions of options and voluntariness. We argue that the prevailing framing of the options in this discussion in terms of heroin and access to it is problematic. The way in which the options are typically laid out suggests an assumption that participation in the research is allegedly based on the addicts' views on using the drug. We argue that this way of presenting the options is, first, a mismatch to the studies carried out and, second, symptomatic of potential misconceptions about heroin addiction and addicts. Furthermore, we also suggest that the account of voluntariness needs to be realistic in order for subjects to be able to give consent voluntarily in actual situations, and for medical research to carry out studies on improving outcomes in addiction treatment in an ethical way. Topics: Choice Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Informed Consent; Motivation; Personal Autonomy; Volunteers | 2015 |
"It's Russian roulette": adulteration, adverse effects and drug use transitions during the 2010/2011 United Kingdom heroin shortage.
Between late 2010 and mid 2011 there was a significant heroin shortage in the United Kingdom (UK), resulting in a rapid drop in street heroin purity and increase in price. The most well documented event of this kind is the 2000-2001 Australian heroin shortage, with little published research addressing the UK context. In this paper we draw on qualitative data to explore the impact of, and responses to, the 2010/2011 shortage among London-based heroin users.. Data collection comprised longitudinal life history and narrative interviews with 37 PWID in 2010-2011. The average age of participants was 40, with a 20-year average duration of injecting. Heroin was the drug of choice for the majority of participants (25), with 12 preferring to inject a crack-cocaine and heroin mix. Recruitment took place through London drug and alcohol services and peer networks.. The majority of participants continued to source and inject heroin despite reported decline in purity and increased adulteration. Transitions to poly-drug use during the heroin shortage were also common, increasing vulnerability to overdose and other drug related harms. Participants enacted indigenous harm reduction strategies in attempting to manage changes in drug purity and availability, with variable success.. Epidemiological data gathered during periods of heroin shortage is often drawn on to emphasise the health benefits of reductions in supply. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding the ways in which heroin shortages may increase, as well as reduce, harm. There is a need for enhanced service provision during periods of drug shortage as well as caution in regard to the posited benefits of supply-side drug law enforcement. Topics: Adult; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Crack Cocaine; Data Collection; Drug Contamination; Drug Overdose; Female; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; United Kingdom; Young Adult | 2015 |
Alterations in brain connectivity in three sub-regions of the anterior cingulate cortex in heroin-dependent individuals: Evidence from resting state fMRI.
Previous studies that utilized task-based approaches have demonstrated that the chronic use of heroin is associated with altered activity of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). However, few studies have focused on examining the variation in resting-state functional connectivity in heroin-dependent individuals, which might help further understanding the mechanisms underlying heroin addiction. Due to the structural and functional heterogeneity of the ACC, we systematically mapped the resting-state functional connectivity patterns of three sub-regions of the ACC in heroin-dependent individuals, wondered whether the partition of three sub-regions of the ACC is feasible in heroin-dependent individuals, and identified how heroin affected the correlated activities among three sub-regions of the ACC using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In the present study, fMRI data were acquired from 21 heroin-dependent individuals (Her group) and 15 non-addicted controls (CN group). Compared to controls, there were reduced functional connectivities in the dorsal ACC (dACC) and rostral ACC (rACC) networks with different areas of the dorsal striatum (the caudate and the putamen) in the Her group. Meanwhile, there exhibited an inverted alteration of pattern for orbital frontal cortex (OFC) and superior frontal gyrus (SFG) in the functional connectivity network with the dACC and subcallosal ACC (sACC), and a different alteration of the cerebellum and the amygdala in the functional connectivity network with the rACC and the sACC. In addition, we also found reduced connectivities between dACC and rACC, as well as reduced connectivities between sACC and dACC. Our findings of variations of functional connectivities in three sub-regions of ACC in Her group implied that these sub-regions of the ACC together with other key brain areas (such as dorsal striatum, OFC, SFG, cerebellum, amygdale, etc.) might potentially play independent and/or overlapping roles in heroin addiction, which might indicate the potential direction of future research. Topics: Adult; Brain Mapping; Gyrus Cinguli; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Narcotics; Rest | 2015 |
Dissociation of heroin-induced emotional dysfunction from psychomotor activation and physical dependence among inbred mouse strains.
Opiate addiction is a brain disorder emerging through repeated intoxication and withdrawal episodes. Epidemiological studies also indicate that chronic exposure to opiates may lead in susceptible individuals to the emergence of depressive symptoms, strongly contributing to the severity and chronicity of addiction. We recently established a mouse model of heroin abstinence, characterized by the development of depressive-like behaviors following chronic heroin exposure.. While genetic factors regulating immediate behavioral responses to opiates have been largely investigated, little is known about their contribution to long-term emotional regulation during abstinence. Here, we compared locomotor stimulation and physical dependence induced by heroin exposure, as well as emotional dysfunction following abstinence, across mice strains with distinct genetic backgrounds.. Mice from three inbred strains (C57BL/6J, Balb/cByJ, and 129S2/SvPas) were exposed to an escalating chronic heroin regimen (10-50 mg/kg). Independent cohorts were used to assess drug-induced locomotor activity during chronic treatment, naloxone-precipitated withdrawal at the end of chronic treatment, and emotional-like responses after a 4-week abstinence period.. Distinct behavioral profiles were observed across strains during heroin treatment, with no physical dependence and low locomotor stimulation in 129S2/SvPas. In addition, different behavioral impairments developed during abstinence across the three strains, with increased despair-like behavior in 129S2/SvPas and Balb/cByJ, and low sociability in 129S2/SvPas and C57BL/6J.. Our results indicate that depressive-like behaviors emerge during heroin abstinence, whatever the severity of immediate behavioral responses to the drug. In addition, inbred mouse strains will allow studying several aspects of mood-related deficits associated with addiction. Topics: Animals; Arousal; Emotions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Motor Activity; Naloxone; Social Behavior; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2015 |
Tracking the evolution of drug abuse in China, 2003-10: a retrospective, self-controlled study.
To characterize trends in drug abuse in China before and after the 2005 initiation of the 'People's War on Drugs'.. Retrospective self-controlled study.. Annual, nation-wide surveillance from 2003 to 2010 of all registered drug users in China's National Surveillance System on Drug Abuse (NSSDA).. A total of 1,184,124 drug users registered in NSSDA were involved in this study and were classified into three groups based on registered dates-pre-war group (n=230,278) registered 2003-04, phase I group (n=518,651) registered 2005-07 and phase II group (n=435,195) registered 2008-10.. Indicators included proportions of:(i) new and relapsed drug users, (ii) heroin and synthetic drug users among new users, (iii) people aged 35 years or younger and (iv) women. Comparisons were made across groups using annual data to describe temporal trends.. Between 2003 and 2010 the proportion of heroin users decreased by 52.3% and synthetic drugs use increased 860.7% among new users, while a 12.8% decrease in the proportion of heroin users and a 918.8% increase in synthetic drug use in all users was detected. Compared with the pre-war group, the proportion of relapsed users decreased 2.6% and 29.1% in the phase I and phase II groups, respectively, but a significant increase in the proportion of new users was found in phase I (OR=1.24, CI=1.15-1.35, p<0.0001), followed by an apparent decrease in phase II compared with phase I (OR=0.75, CI=0.70-0.80, p<0.0001). Similarly, the proportion of heroin users decreased 15.1 and 24.2% among new drug users in phase I and phase II in comparison with the pre-war group.. The decrease in proportions of drug users in China between 2003/4 and 2008/10 may suggest some positive influence of the 'People's War on Drugs', especially in the decreased proportion of relapsed users. In contrast, there was a rapid increase in new synthetic drug use over the same period. Topics: Adult; China; Drug Users; Epidemics; Epidemiological Monitoring; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Recurrence; Retrospective Studies; Self Report | 2015 |
Simultaneous quantitation of amphetamines and opiates in human hair by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
In this study, an incubation, solid-phase extraction (SPE) and LC-MS-MS procedure was developed, validated and used for simultaneous analysis of amphetamine (AP), methamphetamine (MA), morphine (MOR), codeine (COD), 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM) and 6-acetylcodeine (6-AC) in hair. Hair samples were initially cut into sections, washed with dichloromethane, then sonicated in a methanol-trifluoroacetic acid mixture. The resulting solutions were processed with a SPE procedure before undergoing LC-MS-MS analysis. Mass spectrometric analysis was performed in positive-ion, multiple reactions monitoring (MRM) mode, using appropriate collision energy for each selected precursor ion. The overall protocol, when applied to the analysis of hair (50 mg) samples fortified with 100-10,000 pg/mg of the analytes, was found to achieve 55.5-74.6% recovery of the six analytes with the following analytical parameters: (i) intra- and interday precision/accuracy data for the six analytes in the 1.6-7.6%/-6.0-12.8% and 1.3-6.6%/-6.9-9.3% ranges, respectively; (ii) r(2) > 0.998 for all six analytes and (iii) LOD 2 pg/mg for AP and MA, and 8 pg/mg for MOR, COD, 6-AM and 6-AC; LOQ 10 pg/mg for all six analytes. This method was then utilized to (i) analyze hair samples collected from 86 self-reported drug users and (ii) evaluate the deposition pattern of drugs in head hairs from four female MA and heroin users in a rehabilitation facility. This relatively simple protocol was found superior over the GC-MS methods we have previously developed and utilized in our laboratory for the analysis of these six analytes. Topics: Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Amphetamines; Calibration; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Female; Forensic Toxicology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Limit of Detection; Linear Models; Predictive Value of Tests; Reference Standards; Reproducibility of Results; Solid Phase Extraction; Substance Abuse Detection; Tandem Mass Spectrometry | 2015 |
Painful and petechial rash after injecting black tar heroin.
A painful petechial rash developed in a patient after the subcutaneous or intravenous injection of reported black tar heroin. Additional history and the appearance of the skin lesion suggested otherwise. Topics: Adult; Exanthema; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Pain; Skin; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2015 |
Long-term mortality, remission, criminality and psychiatric comorbidity of heroin dependence: 11-year findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study.
To determine the long-term mortality, remission, criminality and psychiatric comorbidity during 11 years among heroin-dependent Australians.. Longitudinal cohort study.. Sydney, Australia.. A total of 615 participants were recruited and completed baseline interviews between 2001 and 2002. Participants completed follow-up interviews at 3, 12, 24 and 36 months post-baseline, and again at 11 years post-baseline; 431 (70.1%) of the original 615 participants completed the 11-year follow-up.. Participants were administered the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS) structured interview, addressing demographics, treatment history, drug use, heroin overdose, criminality, health and mental health at all interviews. Overall, 96.1% of the cohort completed at least one follow-up interview.. At 11 years, 63 participants (10.2%) were deceased. The proportion of participants who reported using heroin in the preceding month decreased significantly from baseline (98.7%) to 36-month follow-up (34.0%; odds ratio = 0.01; 95% confidence interval = 0.00, 0.01) with further reductions evident between 36 months and 11 years (24.8%). However, one in four continued to use heroin at 11 years, and close to one-half (46.6%) were in current treatment. The reduction in current heroin use was accompanied by reductions in risk-taking, crime and injection-related health problems, and improvements in general physical and mental health. The relationship with treatment exposure was varied. Major depression was associated consistently with poorer outcome.. In an 11-year follow-up of patients undergoing treatment for heroin dependence, 10.2% had died and almost half were still in treatment; the proportion still using heroin fell to a quarter, with major depression being a significant predictor of continued use. Topics: Adult; Cohort Studies; Crime; Depressive Disorder, Major; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); Drug Overdose; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Needle Sharing; New South Wales; Personality Disorders; Sex Distribution; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Treatment Outcome | 2015 |
Estimation of the Time Interval between the Administration of Heroin and the Sampling of Blood in Chronic Inhalers.
To develop a model for estimating the time delay between last heroin consumption and blood sampling in chronic drug users. Eleven patients, all heroin inhalers undergoing detoxification, were included in the study. Several plasma samples were collected during the detoxification procedure and analyzed for the heroin metabolites 6-acetylmorphine (6AM), morphine (MOR), morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) and morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), according to a UHPLC/MSMS method. The general linear mixed model was applied to time-related concentrations and a pragmatic four-step delay estimation approach was proposed based on the simultaneous presence of metabolites in plasma. Validation of the model was carried out using the jackknife technique on the 11 patients, and on a group of 7 test patients. Quadratic equations were derived for all metabolites except 6AM. The interval delay estimation was 2-4 days when only M3G present in plasma, 1-2 days when M6G and M3G were both present, 0-1 day when MOR, M6G and M3G were present and <2 h for all metabolites present. The 'jackknife' correlation between declared and actual estimated delays was 0.90. The overall precision of the delay estimates was 8-9 h. The delay between last heroin consumption and blood sampling in chronic drug users can be satisfactorily predicted from plasma heroin metabolites. Topics: Adult; Biotransformation; Blood Specimen Collection; Forensic Toxicology; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inhalation Exposure; Linear Models; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Substance Abuse Detection; Time Factors | 2015 |
Adolescents at risk: pain pills to heroin: part II.
Casually exposing adolescents to prescription opioid agents may escalate to daily use. A trend exists for adolescents using prescription opioid agents to substitute heroin because it is significantly cheaper than pills (approximately half of the cost) and is often more readily available. Additionally, it is more potent than most prescription opioid agents and carries increased risks of overdose and death. Although treatment for substance use disorders has traditionally centered on total abstinence, opioid replacement therapy (ORT) is an option that saves lives and prevents overdose deaths. In the United States, ORT is based on two medicines: methadone and buprenorphine. These drugs can be substituted for other opiate agents and have much lower overdose risks. Nursing implications and web-based resources for teaching are presented. Topics: Adolescent; Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Overdose; Drug Substitution; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Nurse-Patient Relations; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Risk Factors; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; United States | 2015 |
Intraparenchymal hemorrhage after heroin use.
Heroin-associated stroke is a rare complication of use. Various proposed mechanisms of heroin-associated ischemic stroke have been proposed, including the following: cardioembolism in the setting of infective endocarditis, hypoxic ischemic brain injury in the setting of hypoxemia and hypotension, and infective arteritis or vasculitis from drug adulterants. A previously healthy 28-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with altered mental status and normal vitals after she was found wandering outside her apartment. During ambulance transport, she endorsed heroin use. The patient was alert but could not recall her name, place, or time. She intermittently responded "I don't know" to questioning and could not perform simple commands. No motor or sensory deficits were apparent other than sluggish pinpoint pupils. There were no signs of trauma other than antecubital track marks. Her laboratory results were unremarkable. Reevaluation at 2 hours after presentation showed persistent confusion and disorientation. A computed tomographic scan of the head was obtained, which showed a large 5.1 × 5-cm intraparenchymal hemorrhage in the left frontal lobe, vasogenic edema, and a 5-mm midline shift. A workup for cardioembolic, vasculitis, and other etiologies for stroke did not reveal an underlying cause. The patient remained confused with significant memory loss throughout her hospital stay and was eventually discharged to a long-term care facility. Drug abuse should be considered a risk factor for stoke in young adults. In patients with persistent neurologic deficits, physicians must be vigilant and order appropriate workup while managing drug overdose. Topics: Adult; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Radiography; Stroke | 2015 |
The association between heroin expenditure and dopamine transporter availability--a single-photon emission computed tomography study.
One of the consequences of heroin dependency is a huge expenditure on drugs. This underlying economic expense may be a grave burden for heroin users and may lead to criminal behavior, which is a huge cost to society. The neuropsychological mechanism related to heroin purchase remains unclear. Based on recent findings and the established dopamine hypothesis of addiction, we speculated that expenditure on heroin and central dopamine activity may be associated. A total of 21 heroin users were enrolled in this study. The annual expenditure on heroin was assessed, and the availability of the dopamine transporter (DAT) was assessed by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using [(99m)TC]TRODAT-1. Parametric and nonparametric correlation analyses indicated that annual expenditure on heroin was significantly and negatively correlated with the availability of striatal DAT. After adjustment for potential confounders, the predictive power of DAT availability was significant. Striatal dopamine function may be associated with opioid purchasing behavior among heroin users, and the cycle of spiraling dysfunction in the dopamine reward system could play a role in this association. Topics: Adult; Costs and Cost Analysis; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neostriatum; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon | 2015 |
Inflammatory response in heroin addicts undergoing methadone maintenance treatment.
Opioid addiction influences many physiological functions including reactions of the immune system. The objective of this study was to investigate the immune system function in heroin addicted patients undergoing methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) compared to healthy controls. We tested the cytokine production of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α from a group of heroin addicts (n=34) and healthy controls (n=20). The results show that production of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 was significantly higher in the group of methadone-maintained patients than in the healthy control group. Plasma TNF-α and IL-6 levels were significantly correlated with the dairy methadone dosage administered, and the IL-1β level was significantly correlated with the duration of methadone maintenance treatment. These findings suggest that methadone maintenance treatment influences the immune system functions of opioid-dependent patients and may also induce long-term systemic inflammation. Topics: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inflammation; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-1beta; Interleukin-6; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha | 2015 |
Commentary on Metrebian et al (2015): What is addiction treatment research about? Some comments on the secondary outcomes of the Randomized Injectable Opioid Treatment Trial.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone | 2015 |
The price elasticity of demand for heroin: Matched longitudinal and experimental evidence.
This paper reports estimates of the price elasticity of demand for heroin based on a newly constructed dataset. The dataset has two matched components concerning the same sample of regular heroin users: longitudinal information about real-world heroin demand (actual price and actual quantity at daily intervals for each heroin user in the sample) and experimental information about laboratory heroin demand (elicited by presenting the same heroin users with scenarios in a laboratory setting). Two empirical strategies are used to estimate the price elasticity of demand for heroin. The first strategy exploits the idiosyncratic variation in the price experienced by a heroin user over time that occurs in markets for illegal drugs. The second strategy exploits the experimentally induced variation in price experienced by a heroin user across experimental scenarios. Both empirical strategies result in the estimate that the conditional price elasticity of demand for heroin is approximately -0.80. Topics: Adult; Commerce; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; United States | 2015 |
Increased functional connectivity in the resting-state basal ganglia network after acute heroin substitution.
Reinforcement signals in the striatum are known to be crucial for mediating the subjective rewarding effects of acute drug intake. It is proposed that these effects may be more involved in early phases of drug addiction, whereas negative reinforcement effects may occur more in later stages of the illness. This study used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore whether acute heroin substitution also induced positive reinforcement effects in striatal brain regions of protracted heroin-maintained patients. Using independent component analysis and a dual regression approach, we compared resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) strengths within the basal ganglia/limbic network across a group of heroin-dependent patients receiving both an acute infusion of heroin and placebo and 20 healthy subjects who received placebo only. Subsequent correlation analyses were performed to test whether the rsFC strength under heroin exposure correlated with the subjective rewarding effect and with plasma concentrations of heroin and its main metabolites morphine. Relative to the placebo treatment in patients, heroin significantly increased rsFC of the left putamen within the basal ganglia/limbic network, the extent of which correlated positively with patients' feelings of rush and with the plasma level of morphine. Furthermore, healthy controls revealed increased rsFC of the posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus in this network relative to the placebo treatment in patients. Our results indicate that acute heroin substitution induces a subjective rewarding effect via increased striatal connectivity in heroin-dependent patients, suggesting that positive reinforcement effects in the striatum still occur after protracted maintenance therapy. Topics: Adult; Basal Ganglia; Brain; Brain Mapping; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Morphine; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Rest; Reward | 2015 |
Aberrant default-mode functional and structural connectivity in heroin-dependent individuals.
Little is known about connectivity within the default mode network (DMN) in heroin-dependent individuals (HDIs). In the current study, diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) were combined to investigate both structural and functional connectivity within the DMN in HDIs.. Fourteen HDIs and 14 controls participated in the study. Structural (path length, tracts count, (fractional anisotropy) FA and (mean diffusivity) MD derived from DTI tractography)and functional (temporal correlation coefficient derived from rs-fMRI) DMN connectivity changes were examined in HDIs. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to compare the structural/functional indices and duration of heroin use/Iowa gambling task(IGT) performance in HDIs.. HDIs had lower FA and higher MD in the tract connecting the posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus (PCC/PCUN) to right parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), compared to the controls. HDIs also had decreased FA and track count in the tract connecting the PCC/PCUN and medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), as well as decreased functional connectivity between the PCC/PCUN and bilateral PHG and MPFC, compared to controls. FA values for the tract connecting PCC/PCUN to the right PHG and connecting PCC/PCUN to the MPFC were negatively correlated to the duration of heroin use. The temporal correlation coefficients between the PCC/PCUN and the MPFC, and the FA values for the tract connecting the PCC/PCUN to the MPFC were positively correlated to IGT performance in HDIs.. Structural and functional connectivity within the DMN are both disturbed in HDIs. This disturbance progresses as duration of heroin use increases and is related to deficits in decision making in HDIs. Topics: Adult; Brain; Brain Mapping; Case-Control Studies; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Gyrus Cinguli; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Parahippocampal Gyrus; Radiography | 2015 |
Implicit processing of heroin and emotional cues in abstinent heroin users: early and late event-related potential effects.
The abnormal cognitive processing of drug cues is a core characteristic of drug dependence. Previous research has suggested that the late positive potential (LPP) of heroin users is increased by heroin-related stimuli because of the attention-grabbing nature of such stimuli.. The present research used a modified emotional Stroop (eStroop) task to examine whether there was an early posterior negativity (EPN) modulation to heroin cues compared with emotional or neutral stimuli in heroin dependent subjects.. Fifteen former heroin users and 15 matched controls performed the eStroop task, which was composed of positive, negative, heroin-related, and neutral pictures with superimposed color squares. Participants responded to the color of the square and not to the picture while behavioral data and event-related potentials were recorded.. There were no significant differences of EPN amplitudes to emotional and neutral stimuli between heroin users and controls. However, heroin users displayed increased EPN modulation for heroin cues, whereas this modulation was absent in controls.. Drug-related cues acquire motivational salience and automatically capture the attention of heroin users at early processing stages, even when engaged in a non-drug-related task. The EPN to heroin cues could represent a novel electrophysiological index with clinical implications for selecting abstinent drug users who are at increased risk of relapse or to evaluate treatment interventions. Topics: Adult; Attention; Brain; Cues; Emotions; Evoked Potentials; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Photic Stimulation; Reaction Time | 2015 |
Drug users should be able to get heroin from the health system.
Topics: Canada; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; United States | 2015 |
Heroin inhalation complicated by refractory hydrocephalus: A novel presentation.
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrocephalus; Narcotics; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt | 2015 |
Functional mu opioid receptor polymorphism (OPRM1 A(118) G) associated with heroin use outcomes in Caucasian males: A pilot study.
Heroin's analgesic, euphoric and dependence-producing effects are primarily mediated by the mu opioid receptor (MOR). A single gene, OPRM1, encodes the MOR. The functional polymorphism A(118)G, located in exon 1 of the OPRM1 gene, results in anatomically-specific reductions in MOR expression, which may alter an individual's response to heroin. In prior studies 118G (rare allele) carriers demonstrated significantly greater opioid tolerance, overdose vulnerability, and pain sensitivity than 118AA homozygotes. Those findings suggest OPRM1 genotype may impact characteristics of heroin use.. The present pilot study characterized the impact of OPRM1 genotype (rs1799971, 118G allele carriers vs. 118AA homozygotes) on heroin-use phenotypes associated with heroin dependence severity in a sample of male, Caucasian chronic heroin users (n = 86).. Results indicate that 118G allele carriers reported significantly more heroin use-related consequences and heroin-quit attempts, and were more likely to have sought treatment for their heroin use than 118AA homozygotes.. These preliminary findings, consistent with extant data, illustrate a role for OPRM1 allelic variation on heroin use characteristics, and provide support for considering genotype in heroin treatment and relapse prevention. Topics: Adult; Alleles; Black or African American; Drug Overdose; Exons; Female; Genetic Carrier Screening; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Polymorphism, Genetic; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Retrospective Studies; White People | 2015 |
Trends and characteristics of heroin overdoses in Wisconsin, 2003-2012.
Heroin abuse has increased substantially during the past decade in the United States. This study describes trends and demographic shifts of heroin overdoses and heroin-related fatalities in Wisconsin and contrasts these with prescription opioid overdoses.. This study was cross-sectional using databases of emergency department (ED) visits, hospital admissions, and death certificates in Wisconsin, United States, during 2003-2012. Cases were Wisconsin residents treated for heroin or prescription opioid overdose, and residents who died of heroin-related drug poisoning. Primary measurements were rates over time and by geographic region, and rates and rate ratios for selected demographic characteristics.. During 2003-2012, age-adjusted rates of heroin overdoses treated in EDs increased from 1.0 to 7.9/100,000 persons; hospitalized heroin overdoses increased from 0.7 to 3.5/100,000. Whites accounted for 68% of hospitalized heroin overdoses during 2003-2007 but 80% during 2008-2012. Heroin-related deaths were predominantly among urban residents; however, rural fatalities accounted for zero deaths in 2003 but 31 (17%) deaths in 2012. Among patients aged 18-34 years, those hospitalized with heroin overdose were more often men (73.0% versus 54.9%), uninsured (44.2% versus 29.9%), and urban (84.3% versus 73.2%) than those with prescription opioid overdose. Rates of ED visits for heroin overdose in this age group exceeded rates for prescription opioid overdose in 2012 (26.1/100,000 versus 12.6/100,000 persons, respectively).. An epidemic of heroin abuse is characterized by demographic shifts toward whites and rural residents. Rates of heroin overdose in younger persons now exceed rates of prescription opioid overdose. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Analgesics, Opioid; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Overdose; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Rural Population; Sex Factors; Time Factors; Urban Population; Wisconsin; Young Adult | 2015 |
Breathlessness in a drug user.
A 40-year-old heroin smoking man presented with acute onset severe shortness of breath. Radiological investigations revealed an unexpected loculated pneumothorax. Respiratory physicians inserted a chest drain which relieved his breathlessness. His exercise tolerance is much improved 6 months on. The side effects of smoking illicit substances are poorly understood. There is a growing trend for drug users to smoke rather than intravenously inject. It is therefore important for clinicians to be aware of the associated morbidity. The authors believe this is the first ever reported case of loculated pneumothorax associated with heroin smoking. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Chest Tubes; Dyspnea; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Pneumothorax; Smoking; Treatment Outcome | 2015 |
Efficacy, but not antibody titer or affinity, of a heroin hapten conjugate vaccine correlates with increasing hapten densities on tetanus toxoid, but not on CRM197 carriers.
Vaccines against drugs of abuse have induced antibodies in animals that blocked the biological effects of the drug by sequestering the drug in the blood and preventing it from crossing the blood-brain barrier. Drugs of abuse are too small to induce antibodies and, therefore, require conjugation of drug hapten analogs to a carrier protein. The efficacy of these conjugate vaccines depends on several factors including hapten design, coupling strategy, hapten density, carrier protein selection, and vaccine adjuvant. Previously, we have shown that 1 (MorHap), a heroin/morphine hapten, conjugated to tetanus toxoid (TT) and mixed with liposomes containing monophosphoryl lipid A [L(MPLA)] as adjuvant, partially blocked the antinociceptive effects of heroin in mice. Herein, we extended those findings, demonstrating greatly improved vaccine induced antinociceptive effects up to 3% mean maximal potential effect (%MPE). This was obtained by evaluating the effects of vaccine efficacy of hapten 1 vaccine conjugates with varying hapten densities using two different commonly used carrier proteins, TT and cross-reactive material 197 (CRM197). Immunization of mice with these conjugates mixed with L(MPLA) induced very high anti-1 IgG peak levels of 400-1500 μg/mL that bound to both heroin and its metabolites, 6-acetylmorphine and morphine. Except for the lowest hapten density for each carrier, the antibody titers and affinity were independent of hapten density. The TT carrier based vaccines induced long-lived inhibition of heroin-induced antinociception that correlated with increasing hapten density. The best formulation contained TT with the highest hapten density of ≥30 haptens/TT molecule and induced %MPE of approximately 3% after heroin challenge. In contrast, the best formulation using CRM197 was with intermediate 1 densities (10-15 haptens/CRM197 molecule), but the %MPE was approximately 13%. In addition, the chemical synthesis of 1, the optimization of the conjugation method, and the methods for the accurate quantification of hapten density are described. Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Antibody Affinity; Bacterial Proteins; Crystallography, X-Ray; Drug Carriers; Female; Haptens; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Immunization; Immunoglobulin G; Lipid A; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Models, Molecular; Tetanus Toxoid; Vaccines, Conjugate | 2015 |
Reversal of overdose on fentanyl being illicitly sold as heroin with naloxone nasal spray: A case report.
This is a case report describing a reversal of fentanyl overdose with naloxone nasal spray. The patient was not aware that he overdosed on fentanyl being sold as heroin.. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has implemented an initiative to provide education for veterans, their families, friends and significant others about opioid overdose and use of naloxone reversal kits. The Atlanta VA Medical Center adopted this program to reduce the risk of opioid overdose in high risk patients.. Over the past year, we provided educational sessions for 63 veterans and their families. We also prescribed 41 naloxone kits. We have received three reports of opioid overdose reversal with use of naloxone kits prescribed by the Atlanta VA Medical Center.. The authors recommend that public health administrators and policy makers advocate for the implementation of these programs to reduce the rising number of overdose death in the United States and worldwide. Topics: Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; Drug Overdose; Fentanyl; First Aid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Naloxone; Nasal Sprays; Recurrence; Veterans | 2015 |
Fire in the vein: Heroin acidity and its proximal effect on users' health.
The loss of functioning veins (venous sclerosis) is a root cause of suffering for long-term heroin injectors. In addition to perpetual frustration and loss of pleasure/esteem, venous sclerosis leads to myriad medical consequences including skin infections, for example, abscess, and possibly elevated HIV/HCV risks due to injection into larger jugular and femoral veins. The etiology of venous sclerosis is unknown and users' perceptions of cause/meaning unexplored. This commentary stems from our hypothesis that venous sclerosis is causally related to heroin acidity, which varies by heroin source-form and preparation. We report pilot study data on first ever in vivo measurements of heroin pH and as well as qualitative data on users' concerns and perceptions regarding the caustic nature of heroin and its effects. Heroin pH testing in natural settings is feasible and a useful tool for further research. Our preliminary findings, for example, that different heroin source-forms and preparations have a two log difference in acidity, have potentially broad, vital and readily implementable harm reduction implications. Topics: Acids; Adult; Biomedical Research; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Pilot Projects; Sclerosis; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Vascular Diseases; Veins | 2015 |
A case of rhabdomyolysis associated with severe opioid withdrawal.
While the risk of opioid overdose is widely accepted, the dangers of opioid withdrawal are far less clearly defined. The purpose of this publication is to provide evidence against the erroneous clinical dictum that opioid withdrawal is never life-threatening.. This case report (N = 1) illustrates an unfortunate, common scenario of a man abusing prescription opioids and heroin. His attempt at self-detoxification with buprenorphine-naloxone resulted in life-threatening opioid withdrawal. A detailed account of each day of his withdrawal period was documented by patient and family report and review of all medical records. The patient was contacted three months after hospitalization to verify information and determine progress in treatment and abstinence from drugs and alcohol.. A review of the literature was completed on severe cases of precipitated and spontaneous opioid withdrawal followed by a discussion of the significance as it relates to this case.. Given the widespread use of prescription opioids and opioid maintenance treatment, physicians should be aware of the complications of acute opioid withdrawal and should be equipped to treat these complications. Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Administration, Intranasal; Administration, Oral; Administration, Sublingual; Analgesics, Opioid; Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Male; Opioid-Related Disorders; Oxycodone; Oxymorphone; Prescription Drugs; Rhabdomyolysis; Self Medication; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Young Adult | 2015 |
Toxic leucoencephalopathy after 'chasing the dragon'.
Toxic leucoencephalopathy (TLE) is a rare neurological complication of heroin abuse. 'Chasing the dragon' is an inhalational mode of heroin abuse that originated in Southeast Asia. Intriguingly, no cases of TLE have been reported from this region, although the inhalational mode of heroin abuse is common. We herein report the case of a middle-aged man with a history of polysubstance abuse who presented with progressive neurological symptoms and progressed to an uncommunicative state. While the initial impression was that of iatrogenic parkinsonism, diffuse leucoencephalopathy with sparing of the cerebellum was noted on magnetic resonance imaging. In view of his history of inhalational heroin abuse close to the onset of the neurological symptoms, a diagnosis of TLE was made. No clinical improvement was noted with administration of a dopaminergic agent. This is the first known case of delayed TLE following heroin inhalation from Southeast Asia with the unusual feature of cerebellar sparing. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Brain; Disease Progression; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukoencephalopathies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Nervous System Diseases; Singapore | 2015 |
Heroin-assisted treatment: has a controversial treatment come of age?†.
This editorial considers the findings of the systematic review of heroin-assisted treatment, with six different studies from six different countries, published in this issue. The meta-analysis focuses on supervised injected heroin and reports significant crime reduction and an overall cost-effectiveness of treatment. Despite this body of evidence, policy makers remain reluctant to develop this treatment further. The question remains, what else is required to convince policy makers of the value of such treatment for severe and refractory heroin dependence? Topics: Administrative Personnel; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone | 2015 |
Heroin-related overdose: The unexplored influences of markets, marketing and source-types in the United States.
Heroin overdose, more accurately termed 'heroin-related overdose' due to the frequent involvement of other drugs, is the leading cause of mortality among regular heroin users. (Degenhardt et al., 2010) Heroin injectors are at greater risk of hospital admission for heroin-related overdose (HOD) in the eastern United States where Colombian-sourced powder heroin is sold than in the western US where black 'tar' heroin predominates. (Unick et al., 2014) This paper examines under-researched influences on HOD, both fatal and non-fatal, using data from a qualitative study of injecting drug users of black tar heroin in San Francisco and powder heroin in Philadelphia Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews carried out in 2012 that were conducted against a background of longer-term participant-observation, ethnographic studies of drug users and dealers in Philadelphia (2007-12) and of users in San Francisco (1994-2007, 2012). Our findings suggest three types of previously unconsidered influences on overdose risk that arise both from structural socio-economic factors and from the physical properties of the heroin source-types: 1) retail market structure including information flow between users; 2) marketing techniques such as branding, free samples and pricing and 3) differences in the physical characteristics of the two major heroin source forms and how they affect injecting techniques and vascular health. Although chosen for their contrasting source-forms, we found that the two cities have contrasting dominant models of drug retailing: San Francisco respondents tended to buy through private dealers and Philadelphia respondents frequented an open-air street market where heroin is branded and free samples are distributed, although each city included both types of drug sales. These market structures and marketing techniques shape the availability of information regarding heroin potency and its dissemination among users who tend to seek out the strongest heroin available on a given day. The physical characteristics of these two source-types, the way they are prepared for injecting and their effects on vein health also differ markedly. The purpose of this paper is to examine some of the unexplored factors that may lead to heroin-related overdose in the United States and to generate hypotheses for further study. Topics: Anthropology, Cultural; Drug Overdose; Drug Users; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Marketing; Philadelphia; Qualitative Research; San Francisco; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2015 |
Food restriction-induced augmentation of heroin seeking in female rats: manipulations of ovarian hormones.
Food restriction augments heroin seeking in chronically food-restricted male rats under withdrawal, an effect not yet examined in female rats. Importantly, women and female rats possess an increased vulnerability to drugs of abuse, which may be mediated by fluctuations in ovarian hormones.. We investigated the role of estradiol and progesterone in augmented heroin seeking in chronically food-restricted female rats, under withdrawal.. Female rats self-administered heroin for 10-12 days and were then allowed unrestricted (sated) or restricted access to food (FDR; ∼10 % reduction in body weight) for 14 days. On day 14, rats underwent a heroin-seeking test. Exp. 1: Rats underwent ovariectomy or sham surgery and were treated with a low dose of estradiol (5.0 % in cholesterol; subcutaneous capsule). Exp. 2: Rats underwent ovariectomy and were administered with a high dose of estradiol (0.5 mg/kg; subcutaneous) for 8 days before testing. Exp. 3: Progesterone injections (2.0 mg/kg; subcutaneous) were administered 24 h and 2 h before testing.. Food restriction resulted in augmented heroin seeking, compared to sated controls. While ovariectomy had no effect, estradiol replacement attenuated the food restriction effect. Injections of progesterone had no effect on heroin seeking in either the sated or FDR groups.. The effect of food restriction on heroin seeking in female rats under withdrawal is as robust as previously found in males. Interestingly, estradiol replacement, but not progesterone, attenuates the food restriction effect in the ovariectomized rats, possibly due to its anorexic properties. Topics: Animals; Estradiol; Female; Food Deprivation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Ovariectomy; Ovary; Progesterone; Rats; Self Administration | 2015 |
Clinical and Forensic Diagnosis of Very Recent Heroin Intake by 6-acetylmorphine Immunoassay Test and LC-MS/MS Analysis in Urine and Blood.
The study evaluates the suitability of a specific immunoassay screening test for 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM) in the setting of suspected very recent heroin consumption for forensic and clinical purposes.. The EMIT® II Plus 6-AM immunoassay was applied in 65 cases that had already tested positive for morphine in urine or blood. Biological samples (n.65 urine and n.53 blood) were obtained from workplace drug tests (WDT n. 5), tests for driving under the influence of drugs (DUID n. 30), vehicle accidents (n. 10), overdoses (n. 12) and heroin-related deaths (n. 8) cases. The 6-AM screening assay results were confirmed with the LC-MS/MS analysis in relation to the cut-off set at 10 ng/mL for both urine and blood.. Among the 65 urine samples (all morphine-positive), 38 samples were 6-AM-positive and 27 were 6-AM-negative with 100% agreement between the positive/negative results of the two assays. Among the 53 blood samples (34 positive and 19 negative for the morphine), 16 were 6-AM positive and 37 were negative. Only one of the blood samples, positive for 6-AM by LC-MS/MS at 10.3 ng/mL, was negative by the immunoassay test. Based on the concordance between the results of the 6-AM immunoassay versus the LC-MS/MS, the sensitivity of the 6-AM assay was calculated as 100% and 95% for urine and blood respectively, with a specificity and accuracy of 100% for both biological samples. In addition, the study demonstrated that the 6-AM assay test, originally developed for urine, is also sufficiently sensitive to identify 6-AM in blood. Therefore, it could be applied in cases of vehicle accidents or overdose to distinguish rapidly between very recent heroin use and the intake of other opiates for therapeutic purposes. Topics: Driving Under the Influence; Female; Forensic Medicine; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunoassay; Male; Morphine Derivatives; ROC Curve; Substance Abuse Detection; Tandem Mass Spectrometry | 2015 |
FORENSIC SCIENCE AROUND THE WORLD.
Topics: Forensic Sciences; Guidelines as Topic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; History, 20th Century; Human Experimentation; Humans; Poisons; Risk Assessment; United States; United States Department of Agriculture | 2015 |
[Heroin makes asthma difficult and sometimes nearly fatal].
Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Administration, Oral; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adult; Asthma; Disease Progression; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Severity of Illness Index | 2015 |
On the science of heroin injection preparation: A response to Ciccarone and Harris.
Topics: Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Vascular Diseases | 2015 |
A qualitative analysis of transitions to heroin injection in Kenya: implications for HIV prevention and harm reduction.
Heroin injection is emerging as a significant dimension of the HIV epidemic in Kenya. Preventing transitions to injecting drug use from less harmful forms of use, such as smoking, is a potentially important focus for HIV prevention. There is, however, little evidence to support comprehensive programming in this area, linked to a shortage of analysis of the social and structural context for transitions, particularly in low-income settings. We explore accounts of transitions from smoking to injecting in Kenya to understand the role of individual, social and structural processes.. We combine data from two separate studies conducted in Kenya: an in-depth qualitative study of HIV care access for people who inject drugs (study 1) and an ethnographic study of the political economy of the heroin trade in Kenya (study 2). In-depth interviews with PWID and community observation from study 1 are triangulated with accounts from stakeholders involved in the heroin trade and documentary data from study 2.. People who inject drugs link transitions to injecting from smoking to a range of social and behavioural factors, as well as particular aspects of the local drug supply and economy. We present these results in the form of two narratives that account for factors shaping transitions. A dominant narrative of 'managing markets and maintaining a high' results from a process of trying to manage poverty and a shifting heroin supply, in the context of deepening addiction to heroin. A secondary narrative focuses on people's curiosity for the 'feeling' of injecting, and the potential pleasure from it, with less emphasis on structural circumstances.. The narratives we describe represent pathways through which structural and social factors interact with individual experiences of addiction to increase the risk of transitions to injecting. In response, HIV and harm reduction programmes need combinations of different strategies to respond to varied experiences of transitions. These strategies should include, alongside behaviour-oriented interventions, structural interventions to address economic vulnerability and the policing of the drug supply. Topics: Adult; Comorbidity; Drug Users; Female; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Kenya; Male; Middle Aged; Qualitative Research; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Young Adult | 2015 |
Mortality among heroin users and users of other internationally regulated drugs: A 27-year follow-up of users in the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program household samples.
In contrast to research on more restricted samples of drug users, epidemiological studies open up a view of death rates and survivorship of those who have tried heroin a few times, with no acceleration toward sustained use patterns often seen in treatment and criminal justice samples. At their best, epidemiological estimates of heroin effects on risk of dying are not subject to serious selection biases faced with more restricted samples.. Data are from 7207 adult participants aged 18-48 years in United States Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program field surveys, launched in 1980-1984. US National Death Index (NDI) records through 2007 disclosed 723 deaths. NDI enabled estimation of heroin-associated risk of dying as well as survivorship.. Estimated cumulative mortality for all 18-48 year old participants is 3.9 deaths per 1000 person-years (95% confidence interval, CI=3.7, 4.2), relative to 12.4 deaths per 1000 person-years for heroin users (95% CI=8.7, 17.9). Heroin use, even when non-sustained, predicted a 3-4 fold excess of risk of dying prematurely. Post-estimation record review showed trauma and infections as top-ranked causes of these deaths.. Drawing strengths from epidemiological sampling, standardized baseline heroin history assessments, and very long-term NDI follow-up, this study of community-dwelling heroin users may help clinicians and public health officials who need facts about heroin when they seek to prevent and control heroin outbreaks. Heroin use, even when sporadic or non-sustained, is predictive of premature death in the US, with expected causes of death such as trauma and infections. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Drug Users; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality, Premature; Public Health; Risk; Substance-Related Disorders; Survival Rate; United States; Young Adult | 2015 |
The selective dopamine D3 receptor antagonist, SR 21502, reduces cue-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking and heroin conditioned place preference in rats.
Because the role of dopamine (DA) D3 receptors has been investigated primarily in relation to cocaine-related behaviors little is known of the role of these receptors in heroin seeking.. To investigate the effect of the selective DA D3 receptor antagonist, SR 21502, on cue-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking and heroin conditioned place preference (CPP).. In experiment 1, rats were trained to self-administer intravenous heroin for 15 days followed by extinction. Following extinction animals were treated with one of several SR 21502 doses (0, 7.5, 10 or 15mg/kg) and a cue-induced reinstatement test was conducted. In experiment 2, animals were conditioned to experience heroin in one compartment of a CPP apparatus and saline in the other. On the test day animals were treated with 0, 3.75, 7.5, 10 or 15mg/kg of SR 21502 and tested for their CPP.. The results from experiment 1 showed a significant dose-related reduction in cue-induced reinstatement of active lever pressing in the 7.5 and 10mg groups and an absence of the reinstatement effect in the 15mg group. In experiment 2, animals treated with vehicle or 3.75mg of SR 21502 showed significant heroin place preferences but those treated with the higher doses showed no CPP.. Our findings suggest that DA D3 receptors play a significant role in heroin approach behaviors driven by conditioned stimuli. As such, we propose that SR 21502 holds potential as an effective pharmacotherapeutic agent for relapse prevention and should be studied further. Topics: Animals; Conditioning, Classical; Cues; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Extinction, Psychological; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Imidazoles; Male; Pyridines; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Receptors, Dopamine D3; Recurrence; Self Administration; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2015 |
[Effect of Heroin on DLG4 Expression in Hippocampus, Amygdala and Frontal Cortex of Rats].
To observe the expression of discs large homolog 4 (DLG4) protein in hippocampus, amygdala and frontal cortex of rats and evaluate postsynaptic density in heroin dependence.. The rat heroin dependent model was established by increasing intraperitoneal injection of heroin. DLG4 proteins in hippocampus, amygdala and frontal cortex of heroin dependent 9, 18, 36 days rats were detected with immunohistochemical staining and compared with that in the control group.. DLG4 proteins in hippocampus, amygdala and frontal cortex were gradually reduced with extension of heroin dependent time.. Heroin dependence can affect postsynaptic density of hippocampus, amygdala and frontal cortex. The changes become more apparent with extension of heroin dependence time. Topics: Amygdala; Animals; Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; Frontal Lobe; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hippocampus; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Membrane Proteins; Rats | 2015 |
Understanding Heroin Overdose: A Study of the Acute Respiratory Depressant Effects of Injected Pharmaceutical Heroin.
Opioids are respiratory depressants and heroin/opioid overdose is a major contributor to the excess mortality of heroin addicts. The individual and situational variability of respiratory depression caused by intravenous heroin is poorly understood. This study used advanced respiratory monitoring to follow the time course and severity of acute opioid-induced respiratory depression. 10 patients (9/10 with chronic airflow obstruction) undergoing supervised injectable opioid treatment for heroin addiction received their usual prescribed dose of injectable opioid (diamorphine or methadone) (IOT), and their usual prescribed dose of oral opioid (methadone or sustained release oral morphine) after 30 minutes. The main outcome measures were pulse oximetry (SpO2%), end-tidal CO2% (ETCO2%) and neural respiratory drive (NRD) (quantified using parasternal intercostal muscle electromyography). Significant respiratory depression was defined as absence of inspiratory airflow >10s, SpO2% < 90% for >10s and ETCO2% per breath >6.5%. Increases in ETCO2% indicated significant respiratory depression following IOT in 8/10 patients at 30 minutes. In contrast, SpO2% indicated significant respiratory depression in only 4/10 patients, with small absolute changes in SpO2% at 30 minutes. A decline in NRD from baseline to 30 minutes post IOT was also observed, but was not statistically significant. Baseline NRD and opioid-induced drop in SpO2% were inversely related. We conclude that significant acute respiratory depression is commonly induced by opioid drugs prescribed to treat opioid addiction. Hypoventilation is reliably detected by capnography, but not by SpO2% alone. Chronic suppression of NRD in the presence of underlying lung disease may be a risk factor for acute opioid-induced respiratory depression. Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Capnography; Drug Overdose; Electromyography; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypoventilation; Injections, Intramuscular; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Morphine; Oximetry; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive | 2015 |
Low expression of D2R and Wntless correlates with high motivation for heroin.
Drug overdose now exceeds car accidents as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Of those drug overdoses, a large percentage of the deaths are due to heroin and/or pharmaceutical overdose, specifically misuse of prescription opioid analgesics. It is imperative, then, that we understand the mechanisms that lead to opioid abuse and addiction. The rewarding actions of opioids are mediated largely by the mu-opioid receptor (MOR), and signaling by this receptor is modulated by various interacting proteins. The neurotransmitter dopamine also contributes to opioid reward, and opioid addiction has been linked to reduced expression of dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) in the brain. That said, it is not known if alterations in the expression of these proteins relate to drug exposure and/or to the "addiction-like" behavior exhibited for the drug. Here, we held total drug self-administration constant across acquisition and showed that reduced expression of the D2R and the MOR interacting protein, Wntless, in the medial prefrontal cortex was associated with greater addiction-like behavior for heroin in general and with a greater willingness to work for the drug in particular. In contrast, reduced expression of the D2R in the nucleus accumbens and hippocampus was correlated with greater seeking during signaled nonavailability of the drug. Taken together, these data link reduced expression of both the D2R and Wntless to the explicit motivation for the drug rather than to differences in total drug intake per se. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Gene Expression; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hippocampus; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Male; Motivation; Narcotics; Nucleus Accumbens; Prefrontal Cortex; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Dopamine D2; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Reward; Self Administration | 2015 |
Patterns and Correlates of Sustained Heroin Abstinence: Findings From the 11-Year Follow-Up of the Australian Treatment Outcome Study.
We report on patterns and correlates of sustained abstinence at the 11-year follow-up of the Australian Treatment Outcome Study cohort.. This report is a longitudinal cohort analysis of patterns of recent and sustained abstinence.. A total of 431 (70.1%) of the original 615 participants were interviewed, and 10.2% were deceased. The mean elapsed time since heroin initiation was 20.4 years (SD = 7.2). At the 11-year follow-up, heroin abstinence over the preceding month was reported by 75.2%. A period of at least 1 month's abstinence across the follow-up was reported by 97.7% and at least 1 year by 89.9%, whereas 52.2% reported an abstinence period of 5 or more consecutive years. Sustained abstinence across the entire follow-up period was reported by 5.6%. Independent correlates of 5 or more consecutive years of heroin abstinence were female gender (odds ratio [OR] = 1.73), not being currently enrolled in a drug treatment program (OR = 2.16), and fewer treatment episodes across the follow-up (OR = 0.90, 95% CI [0.85, 0.96]).. The clinical profile of the cohort at the 11-year follow-up was encouraging, with the majority currently heroin abstinent, a proportion that has increased across time. Although only a small minority maintained abstinence over the entire period, half had sustained abstinence for at least 5 consecutive years. With the exception of gender, baseline characteristics made poor predictors of long-term abstinence. Treatment stability, however, appears crucial in maintaining abstinence. Topics: Adult; Aged; Australia; Cohort Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Treatment Outcome | 2015 |
Heroin delay discounting: Modulation by pharmacological state, drug-use impulsivity, and intelligence.
Delay discounting (DD) refers to how rapidly an individual devalues goods based on delays to receipt. DD usually is considered a trait variable but can be state dependent, yet few studies have assessed commodity valuation at short, naturalistically relevant time intervals that might enable state-dependent analysis. This study aimed to determine whether drug-use impulsivity and intelligence influence heroin DD at short (ecologically relevant) delays during two pharmacological states (heroin satiation and withdrawal). Out-of-treatment, intensive heroin users (n = 170; 53.5% African American; 66.7% male) provided complete DD data during imagined heroin satiation and withdrawal. Delays were 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours; maximum delayed heroin amount was thirty $10 bags. Indifference points were used to calculate area under the curve (AUC). We also assessed drug-use impulsivity (subscales from the Impulsive Relapse Questionnaire [IRQ]) and estimated intelligence (Shipley IQ) as predictors of DD. Heroin discounting was greater (smaller AUC) during withdrawal than satiation. In regression analyses, lower intelligence and IRQ Capacity for Delay as well as higher IRQ Speed (to return to drug use) predicted greater heroin discounting in the satiation condition. Lower intelligence and higher IRQ Speed predicted greater discounting in the withdrawal condition. Sex, race, substance use variables, and other IRQ subscales were not significantly related to the withdrawal or satiation DD behavior. In summary, heroin discounting was temporally rapid, pharmacologically state dependent, and predicted by drug-use impulsivity and estimated intelligence. These findings highlight a novel and sensitive measure of acute DD that is easy to administer. Topics: Adult; Delay Discounting; Emotional Intelligence; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Impulsive Behavior; Intelligence; Male; Middle Aged; Reward; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Young Adult | 2015 |
Heroin inhalation complicated by refractory hydrocephalus: A novel presentation.
Topics: Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrocephalus; Narcotics | 2015 |
[Acute compartment syndrome secondary to an intravenous injection of heroin in a drug abuser: report of a case].
Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Compartment Syndromes; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male | 2015 |
Author Response.
Topics: Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrocephalus; Narcotics | 2015 |
Increased densities of nitric oxide synthase expressing neurons in the temporal cortex and the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of polytoxicomanic heroin overdose victims: possible implications for heroin neurotoxicity.
Heroin is one of the most dangerous drugs of abuse, which may exert various neurotoxic actions on the brain (such as gray matter loss, neuronal apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, synaptic defects, depression of adult neurogenensis, as well as development of spongiform leucoencephalopathy). Some of these toxic effects are probably mediated by the gas nitric oxide (NO). We studied by morphometric analysis the numerical density of neurons expressing neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in cortical and hypothalamic areas of eight heroin overdose victims and nine matched controls. Heroin addicts showed significantly increased numerical densities of nNOS immunoreactive cells in the right temporal cortex and the left paraventricular nucleus. Remarkably, in heroin abusers, but not in controls, we observed not only immunostained interneurons, but also cortical pyramidal cells. Given that increased cellular expression of nNOS was accompanied by elevated NO generation in brains of heroin addicts, these elevated levels of NO might have contributed to some of the known toxic effects of heroin (for example, reduced adult neurogenesis, mitochondrial pathology or disturbances in synaptic functioning). Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Case-Control Studies; Drug Overdose; Female; Glutamate Decarboxylase; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus; Temporal Lobe | 2014 |
Cue-induced renewal of heroin place preference: involvement of the basolateral amygdala.
It is well established that re-exposure to a context paired with the effects of drugs of abuse can renew extinguished drug seeking behavior. A context, however, typically includes several stimuli, which may differ in their ability to control drug-oriented behaviors. Hence, the primary objective of this study was to assess whether a heroin-induced place preference could be recovered by re-exposure to a contextual stimulus that was part of the conditioning context before extinction. The second objective was to explore the role of the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) in this conditioned effect. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with 3 mg/kg heroin and confined in a compartment that was distinguished by a variety of contextual stimuli, including a ceramic floor tile. During extinction, the floor stimulus was removed, and it was reintroduced for a drug-free test of preference. A control experiment evaluated the unconditioned preference for the floor stimulus. It was found that reintroduction of the floor stimulus caused the recovery of heroin place preference. This effect was not observed in rats infused in the BLA with muscimol (0.03 nmol) and baclofen (0.3 nmol) just prior to the test. These data suggest that an extinguished heroin place preference can be renewed by a contextual tactual stimulus that was part of the conditioning context, and that this process requires an intact BLA. Topics: Amygdala; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Baclofen; Conditioning, Psychological; Cues; Extinction, Psychological; GABA-A Receptor Agonists; GABA-B Receptor Agonists; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Muscimol; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Space Perception; Time Factors | 2014 |
Canada in breach of ethical standards for clinical trials.
Topics: Canada; Clinical Trials as Topic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydromorphone; Narcotics; Therapeutic Human Experimentation | 2014 |
Facial recognition of heroin vaccine opiates: type 1 cross-reactivities of antibodies induced by hydrolytically stable haptenic surrogates of heroin, 6-acetylmorphine, and morphine.
Novel synthetic compounds similar to heroin and its major active metabolites, 6-acetylmorphine and morphine, were examined as potential surrogate haptens for the ability to interface with the immune system for a heroin vaccine. Recent studies have suggested that heroin-like haptens must degrade hydrolytically to induce independent immune responses both to heroin and to the metabolites, resulting in antisera containing mixtures of antibodies (type 2 cross-reactivity). To test this concept, two unique hydrolytically stable haptens were created based on presumed structural facial similarities to heroin or to its active metabolites. After conjugation of a heroin-like hapten (DiAmHap) to tetanus toxoid and mixing with liposomes containing monophosphoryl lipid A, high titers of antibodies after two injections in mice had complementary binding sites that exhibited strong type 1 ("true") specific cross-reactivity with heroin and with both of its physiologically active metabolites. Mice immunized with each surrogate hapten exhibited reduced antinociceptive effects caused by injection of heroin. This approach obviates the need to create hydrolytically unstable synthetic heroin-like compounds to induce independent immune responses to heroin and its active metabolites for vaccine development. Facial recognition of hydrolytically stable surrogate haptens by antibodies together with type 1 cross-reactivities with heroin and its metabolites can help to guide synthetic chemical strategies for efficient development of a heroin vaccine. Topics: Animals; Antibody Specificity; Cross Reactions; Female; Haptens; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Lipid A; Liposomes; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Nociception; Vaccines | 2014 |
Understanding Swiss drug policy change and the introduction of heroin maintenance treatment.
The aim of this paper is to illustrate how Switzerland was able to play such a pioneering role in the field of addiction treatment, in creating a drug policy that includes the medical prescription of diacetylmorphine (heroin). The paper will also describe the role of knowledge brokering processes and coalition building in the different phases of the development of the Swiss drug policy.. The medical prescription of diacetylmorphine was the exotic element of the Swiss drug policy of 1991 and probably still is one of the most controversial practices in clinical medicine despite its documented effectiveness. Coalitions of change actors, across stakeholder groups from many professions and politicians on various levels, succeeded in formulating and starting initiatives for a new drug policy and its innovations. Clear, shared objectives and a common feeling of urgency brought the coalitions together.. In the case of Switzerland, the Confederation took a leading role by facilitating communication, encouraging scientific knowledge and bringing the various stakeholders on a platform to deliver a consensual political policymaking basis. This was facilitated by the Swiss direct democracy system. Sustained dialogue between researchers and the users of research enhances the likelihood of research affecting policy. Topics: Harm Reduction; Health Policy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Maintenance Chemotherapy; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Switzerland; Treatment Outcome | 2014 |
Injection route and TLR9 agonist addition significantly impact heroin vaccine efficacy.
Active immunization is an effective means of blocking the pharmacodynamic effects of drugs and holds promise as a treatment for heroin addiction. Previously, we demonstrated the efficacy of our first-generation vaccine in blocking heroin self-administration in rats, however, many vaccine components can be modified to further improve performance. Herein we examine the effects of varying heroin vaccine injection route and adjuvant formulation. Mice immunized via subcutaneous (sc) injection exhibited inferior anti-heroin titers compared to intraperitoneal (ip) and sc/ip coadministration injection routes. Addition of TLR9 agonist cytosine-guanine oligodeoxynucleotide 1826 (CpG ODN 1826) to the original alum adjuvant elicited superior antibody titers and opioid affinities compared to alum alone. To thoroughly assess vaccine efficacy, full dose-response curves were generated for heroin-induced analgesia in both hot plate and tail immersion tests. Mice treated with CpG ODN 1826 exhibited greatly shifted dose-response curves (10-13-fold vs unvaccinated controls) while non-CpG ODN vaccine groups did not exhibit the same robust effect (2-7-fold shift for ip and combo, 2-3-fold shift for sc). Our results suggest that CpG ODN 1826 is a highly potent adjuvant, and injection routes should be considered for development of small molecule-protein conjugate vaccines. Lastly, this study has established a new standard for assessing drugs of abuse vaccines, wherein a full dose-response curve should be performed in an appropriate behavioral task. Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Alum Compounds; Analgesics; Animals; Antibodies; Drug Administration Routes; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Immunization; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Mice; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; Rats; Toll-Like Receptor 9; Vaccines, Conjugate | 2014 |
Effectiveness of methadone treatment for heroin addiction.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Outcome Assessment, Health Care | 2014 |
Authors' reply.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Outcome Assessment, Health Care | 2014 |
Post-mortem whole body computed tomography of opioid (heroin and methadone) fatalities: frequent findings and comparison to autopsy.
To investigate frequent findings in cases of fatal opioid intoxication in whole-body post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT).. PMCT of 55 cases in which heroin and/or methadone had been found responsible for death were retrospectively evaluated (study group), and were compared with PMCT images of an age- and sex-matched control group. Imaging results were compared with conventional autopsy.. The most common findings in the study group were: pulmonary oedema (95 %), aspiration (66 %), distended urinary bladder (42 %), cerebral oedema (49 %), pulmonary emphysema (38 %) and fatty liver disease (36 %). These PMCT findings occurred significantly more often in the study group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The combination of lung oedema, brain oedema and distended urinary bladder was seen in 26 % of the cases in the study group but never in the control group (0 %). This triad, as indicator of opioid-related deaths, had a specificity of 100 %, as confirmed by autopsy and toxicological analysis.. Frequent findings in cases of fatal opioid intoxication were demonstrated. The triad of brain oedema, lung oedema and a distended urinary bladder on PMCT was highly specific for drug-associated cases of death.. Frequent findings in cases of fatal opioid intoxication were investigated. Lung oedema, brain oedema and full urinary bladder represent a highly specific constellation. This combination of findings in post-mortem CT should raise suspicion of intoxication. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Autopsy; Brain Edema; Cardiomegaly; Cause of Death; Female; Forensic Pathology; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Pulmonary Edema; Retrospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Urinary Bladder; Whole Body Imaging; Young Adult | 2014 |
The effect of heroin dependence on resumption of heroin self-administration in rats.
It has been proposed that relapse vulnerability in previously dependent individuals results from augmentation of drug-induced reinforcement due to repeated associations between the interoceptive properties of the drug and reduction of acute withdrawal distress.. To test this hypothesis, male Sprague-Dawley rats self-administered 0.05 mg/kg/inf heroin on continuous reinforcement (CR) and progressive ratio (PR) schedules. During this period, they also received injections of vehicle or escalating doses of heroin. Following tests of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal, as well as a drug-free period (4 days), and extinction (9 sessions), they were pre-treated with vehicle or yohimbine (0.5mg/kg, IV) and tested for resumption of heroin self-administration (0.05 mg/kg/inf) on CR and PR schedules, or tested for reinstatement in extinction conditions.. Increased self-administration on the CR schedule was observed in the heroin-injected rats, but no group differences were observed on the PR schedule, in spite of greater signs of withdrawal precipitated by naloxone in the heroin-injected rats. More importantly, there were no group differences in resumption of heroin self-administration, and this was not altered by yohimbine.. These results suggest that relapse vulnerability cannot be uniquely ascribed to enhanced reinforcing action of drugs; contextual and other conditioning factors must play a role in modulating resumption of drug intake after abstinence. Topics: Animals; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Naloxone; Rats; Reinforcement Schedule; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Yohimbine | 2014 |
The phenomenon of low-frequency heroin injection among street-based urban poor: drug user strategies and contexts of use.
Dominant public health and medical discourse has relied on a pharmacocentric conception of heroin use-that is, the notion that heroin users inject compulsively to stave off physical and psychological withdrawal. Previous research disputes this claim suggesting that other patterns of heroin use, such as occasional, recreational, or controlled use are possible. In our previous cross-sectional epidemiological research, we identified the phenomenon of low frequency heroin injection (low-FHI), among street-based drug users. The goal of the current study was to qualitatively assess and contextualise this phenomenon over time among a sample of street-based low-FHI.. 29 low-FHI and 25 high frequency heroin injectors (high-FHI) were followed for 2 years, during which they participated in a series of in-depth interviews. Qualitative data were coded using an inductive analysis approach. As similarities and differences between participants were discovered, transcripts were queried for supportive quotations as well as negative cases.. We found the social context among low-FHI and high-FHI to be similar with the exception of their patterns of heroin use. Thus, we focused this analysis on understanding motivations for and management of low-FHI. Two major categories of low-FHI emerged from the data: maintenance and transitioning low-FHI. Maintenance low-FHI sustained low-FHI over time. Some of these heroin users were circumstantial low-FHI, who maintained low-FHI as a result of their social networks or life events, and others maintained low-FHI purposefully. Transitioning low-FHI did not sustain low use throughout the study. We found that heroin use patterns frequently shift over time and these categories help identify factors impacting drug use within particular moments in an individual's life.. Given the various patterns of heroin use that were identified in this study, when working with IDUs, one must assess the specifics of heroin use patterns including drug preferences, desire for substance abuse treatment, as well as basic physical and mental health care needs. Topics: Adult; Data Collection; Drug Users; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Motivation; Poverty; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Time Factors; Urban Population | 2014 |
A monoclonal antibody specific for 6-monoacetylmorphine reduces acute heroin effects in mice.
Immunotherapy against drugs of abuse is being studied as an alternative treatment option in addiction medicine and is based on antibodies sequestering the drug in the bloodstream and blocking its entry into the brain. Producing an efficient vaccine against heroin has been considered particularly challenging because of the rapid metabolism of heroin to multiple psychoactive molecules. We have previously reported that heroin's first metabolite, 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM), is the predominant mediator for heroin's acute behavioral effects and that heroin is metabolized to 6-MAM primarily prior to brain entry. On this basis, we hypothesized that antibody sequestration of 6-MAM is sufficient to impair heroin-induced effects and therefore examined the effects of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific for 6-MAM. In vitro experiments in human and rat blood revealed that the antibody was able to bind 6-MAM and block the metabolism to morphine almost completely, whereas the conversion of heroin to 6-MAM remained unaffected. Mice pretreated with the mAb toward 6-MAM displayed a reduction in heroin-induced locomotor activity that corresponded closely to the reduction in brain 6-MAM levels. Intraperitoneal and intravenous administration of the anti-6-MAM mAb gave equivalent protection against heroin effects, and the mAb was estimated to have a functional half-life of 8 to 9 days in mice. Our study implies that an antibody against 6-MAM is effective in counteracting heroin effects. Topics: Adult; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Binding Sites; Brain; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Molecular Structure; Morphine Derivatives; Motor Activity; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tissue Distribution | 2014 |
Impact of P-glycoprotein at the blood-brain barrier on the uptake of heroin and its main metabolites: behavioral effects and consequences on the transcriptional responses and reinforcing properties.
Transport across the BBB is a determinant of the rate and extent of drug distribution in the brain. Heroin exerts its effects through its principal metabolites 6-monoacetyl-morphine (6-MAM) and morphine. Morphine is a known substrate of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) at the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) however, little is known about the interaction of heroin and 6-MAM with P-gp.. The objective of this paper is to study the role of the P-gp-mediated efflux at the BBB in the behavioral and molecular effects of heroin and morphine.. The transport rates of heroin and its main metabolites, at the BBB, were measured in mice by in situ brain perfusion. We then examined the effect of inhibition of P-gp on the acute nociception, locomotor activity, and gene expression modulations induced by heroin and morphine. The effect of P-gp inhibition during the acquisition of morphine-induced place preference was also studied.. Inhibition of P-gp significantly increased the uptake of morphine but not that of heroin nor 6-MAM. Inhibition of P-gp significantly increased morphine-induced acute analgesia and locomotor activity but did not affect the behavioral effects of heroin; in addition, acute transcriptional responses to morphine were selectively modulated in the nucleus accumbens. Increasing morphine uptake by the brain significantly increased its reinforcing properties in the place preference paradigm.. The present study demonstrated that acute inhibition of P-gp not only modulates morphine-induced behavioral effects but also its transcriptional effects and reinforcing properties. This suggests that, in the case of morphine, transport across the BBB is critical for the development of dependence. Topics: Animals; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; Behavior, Animal; Blood-Brain Barrier; Conditioning, Operant; Cyclosporins; Gene Expression; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Mice; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Motor Activity; Narcotics; Nociception; Nucleus Accumbens; Pain Measurement; Transcription, Genetic | 2014 |
Synaptic glutamate spillover due to impaired glutamate uptake mediates heroin relapse.
Reducing the enduring vulnerability to relapse is a therapeutic goal in treating drug addiction. Studies with animal models of drug addiction show a marked increase in extrasynaptic glutamate in the core subcompartment of the nucleus accumbens (NAcore) during reinstated drug seeking. However, the synaptic mechanisms linking drug-induced changes in extrasynaptic glutamate to relapse are poorly understood. Here, we discovered impaired glutamate elimination in rats extinguished from heroin self-administration that leads to spillover of synaptically released glutamate into the nonsynaptic extracellular space in NAcore and investigated whether restoration of glutamate transport prevented reinstated heroin seeking. Through multiple functional assays of glutamate uptake and analyzing NMDA receptor-mediated currents, we show that heroin self-administration produced long-lasting downregulation of glutamate uptake and surface expression of the transporter GLT-1. This downregulation was associated with spillover of synaptic glutamate to extrasynaptic NMDA receptors within the NAcore. Ceftriaxone restored glutamate uptake and prevented synaptic glutamate spillover and cue-induced heroin seeking. Ceftriaxone-induced inhibition of reinstated heroin seeking was blocked by morpholino-antisense targeting GLT-1 synthesis. These data reveal that the synaptic glutamate spillover in the NAcore results from reduced glutamate transport and is a critical pathophysiological mechanism underling reinstated drug seeking in rats extinguished from heroin self-administration. Topics: Animals; Aspartic Acid; Ceftriaxone; Conditioning, Operant; Disease Models, Animal; Down-Regulation; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials; Glutamic Acid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Morpholinos; Neurons; Nucleus Accumbens; Potassium; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Secondary Prevention; Synapses | 2014 |
[A guide in the nursing home: respectful management of heroin addicted patients].
Topics: Health Resources; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Nursing Homes; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Patient Care Team; Rehabilitation Centers; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Switzerland | 2014 |
Increased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels during opiate withdrawal.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of opiate addiction. Both increased and decreased serum BDNF levels have been reported in heroin addicts. Moreover, the role of BDNF in heroin-dependent patients during withdrawal has not been studied. This study aimed to explore the differences in serum BDNF levels of heroin addicts and healthy controls, and investigate the changes of serum BDNF levels in heroin addicts at baseline and at one month after heroin cessation. Seventy-two heroin-dependent patients and ninety age- and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. We measured serum BDNF levels at baseline (both heroin addicts and healthy controls) and one month after heroin cessation (heroin addicts only). A total of 37 (51.4%) heroin addicts completed the one-month study. We found that baseline serum BDNF levels were significantly higher in heroin addicts compared to controls (F=36.5, p=0.001). There was no difference in serum BDNF levels among heroin addicts at baseline and one month after heroin cessation (F=1.101, p=0.301). These results indicate that BDNF may play a critical role in the course of opiate addiction and withdrawal. Topics: Adult; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Case-Control Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2014 |
The phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor rolipram attenuates heroin-seeking behavior induced by cues or heroin priming in rats.
Inhibition of phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4), an enzyme that specifically hydrolyzes cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) increases intracellular cAMP/cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) signaling. Activation of this signaling is considered as an important compensatory response that decreases motivational properties of drugs of abuse. However, it is not known whether PDE4 is involved in heroin seeking. Self-administration of heroin (50 μg/kg/infusion) was performed under the fixed ratio 1 (FR1) schedule for 14 d and then drug seeking was extinguished for 10 d. The progressive ratio schedule was used to evaluate the relative motivational value of heroin reinforcement. After training, the conditioned cue or heroin priming (250 μg/kg) was introduced for the reinstatement of heroin-seeking behavior. Pretreatment (i.p.) with rolipram (0.03-0.3 mg/kg), a prototypical, selective PDE4 inhibitor, failed to inhibit heroin self-administration under the FR1 schedule, but decreased the reward values under the progressive ratio schedule in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, rolipram decreased the reinstatement of heroin seeking induced by cues or heroin priming even at the lowest dose (0.03 mg/kg); in contrast, the highest dose (0.3 mg/kg) of rolipram was required to decrease sucrose reinforcement. Finally, the effects of rolipram on heroin-seeking behavior were correlated with the increases in expression of phosphorylated CREB in the nucleus accumbens. The study demonstrated that rolipram inhibited heroin reward and heroin-seeking behavior. The results suggest that PDE4 plays an essential role in mediating heroin seeking and that PDE4 inhibitors may be used as a potential pharmacotherapeutic approach for heroin addiction. Topics: Animals; Conditioning, Operant; CREB-Binding Protein; Cues; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement Schedule; Reward; Rolipram; Self Administration | 2014 |
Abnormal intracellular calcium homeostasis associated with vulnerability in the nerve cells from heroin-dependent rat.
The cellular mechanisms by which opiate addiction develops with repetitive use remain largely unresolved. Intercellular calcium homeostasis is one of the most critical elements to determine neuroadaptive changes and neuronal fate. Heroin, one of the most addictive opiates, may induce neurotoxicity potentially inducing brain impairment, especially for those chronic users who get an overdose. Here we examined changes in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) after repeated exposure to heroin using cultured cerebral cortical neurons. Dynamic changes in [Ca2+]i indicated by fluo-3-AM were monitored using confocal laser scan microscopy, followed by cytotoxicity assessments. It showed that the cells dissociated from heroin-dependent rats had a smaller depolarization-induced [Ca2+]i responses, and a higher elevation in [Ca2+]i when challenged with a high concentration of heroin (500 μM). The restoration ability to remove calcium after washout of these stimulants was impaired. Calcium channel blocker verapamil inhibited the heroin-induced [Ca2+]i elevations as well as the heroin-induced cell damage. The relative [Ca2+]i of the nerve cells closely correlated with the number of damaged cells induced by heroin. These results demonstrate that nerve cells from heroin-dependent rats manifest abnormal [Ca2+]i homeostasis, as well as vulnerability to heroin overdose, suggesting involvement of [Ca2+]i regulation mechanisms in heroin addiction and neurotoxicity. Topics: Animals; Calcium; Cells, Cultured; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Homeostasis; Male; Narcotics; Neurons; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley | 2014 |
Prevalence of heroin markers in urine for pain management patients.
Surveys of current trends indicate heroin abuse is associated with nonmedical use of pain relievers. Consequently, there is an interest in evaluating the presence of heroin-specific markers in chronic pain patients who are prescribed controlled substances. A total of 926,084 urine specimens from chronic pain patients were tested for heroin/diacetylmorphine (DAM), 6-acetylmorphine (6AM), 6-acetylcodeine (6AC), codeine (COD), and morphine (MOR). Heroin and markers were analyzed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Opiates were analyzed following hydrolysis using LC-MS-MS. The prevalence of heroin use was 0.31%, as 2871 were positive for one or more heroin-specific markers including DAM, 6AM, or 6AC (a known contaminant of illicit heroin). Of these, 1884 were additionally tested for the following markers of illicit drug use: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), methamphetamine (MAMP), 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ(9)-tetracannabinol (THCCOOH), and benzoylecgonine (BZE); 654 (34.7%) had positive findings for one or more of these analytes. The overall prevalence of heroin markers were as follows: DAM 1203 (41.9%), 6AM 2570 (89.5%), 6AC 1082 (37.7%). MOR was present in 2194 (76.4%) and absent ( Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Biomarkers; Buprenorphine; Chromatography, Liquid; Chronic Pain; Codeine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Methadone; Morphine Derivatives; Pain Clinics; Tandem Mass Spectrometry | 2014 |
Distinct mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptor mechanisms underlie low sociability and depressive-like behaviors during heroin abstinence.
Addiction is a chronic disorder involving recurring intoxication, withdrawal, and craving episodes. Escaping this vicious cycle requires maintenance of abstinence for extended periods of time and is a true challenge for addicted individuals. The emergence of depressive symptoms, including social withdrawal, is considered a main cause for relapse, but underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we establish a mouse model of protracted abstinence to heroin, a major abused opiate, where both emotional and working memory deficits unfold. We show that delta and kappa opioid receptor (DOR and KOR, respectively) knockout mice develop either stronger or reduced emotional disruption during heroin abstinence, establishing DOR and KOR activities as protective and vulnerability factors, respectively, that regulate the severity of abstinence. Further, we found that chronic treatment with the antidepressant drug fluoxetine prevents emergence of low sociability, with no impact on the working memory deficit, implicating serotonergic mechanisms predominantly in emotional aspects of abstinence symptoms. Finally, targeting the main serotonergic brain structure, we show that gene knockout of mu opioid receptors (MORs) in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) before heroin exposure abolishes the development of social withdrawal. This is the first result demonstrating that intermittent chronic MOR activation at the level of DRN represents an essential mechanism contributing to low sociability during protracted heroin abstinence. Altogether, our findings reveal crucial and distinct roles for all three opioid receptors in the development of emotional alterations that follow a history of heroin exposure and open the way towards understanding opioid system-mediated serotonin homeostasis in heroin abuse. Topics: Animals; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; Depression; Disease Models, Animal; Dorsal Raphe Nucleus; Fluoxetine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Memory Disorders; Memory, Short-Term; Mice, 129 Strain; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Narcotics; Receptors, Opioid, kappa; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Social Behavior; Spatial Memory; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2014 |
Opioid use in Albuquerque, New Mexico: a needs assessment of recent changes and treatment availability.
New Mexico has consistently high rates of drug-induced deaths, and opioid-related treatment admissions have been increasing over the last two decades. Youth in New Mexico are at particular risk: they report higher rates of nonmedical prescription opioid use than those over age 25, are more likely than their national counterparts to have tried heroin, and represent an increasing proportion of heroin overdoses.. Commissioned by the City of Albuquerque, semistructured interviews were conducted from April to June of 2011 with 24 substance use treatment agencies and eight key stakeholders in Albuquerque to identify recent changes in the treatment-seeking population and gaps in treatment availability. Themes were derived using template analysis and data were analyzed using NVivo 9 software.. Respondents reported a noticeable increase in youth seeking treatment for opioid use and a general increase in nonmedical prescription opioid use. Most noted difficulties with finding buprenorphine providers and a lack of youth services. Additionally, stigma, limited interagency communication and referral, barriers to prescribing buprenorphine, and a lack of funding were noted as preventing opioid users from quickly accessing effective treatment.. Recommendations for addressing these issues include developing youth-specific treatment programs, raising awareness about opioid use among youth, increasing the availability of buprenorphine through provider incentives and education, developing a resource guide for individuals seeking treatment in Albuquerque, and prioritizing interagency communication and referrals. Topics: Adolescent; Age Factors; Analgesics, Opioid; Buprenorphine; Cause of Death; Cooperative Behavior; Cross-Sectional Studies; Health Planning Councils; Health Services Accessibility; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interdisciplinary Communication; Needs Assessment; New Mexico; Opioid-Related Disorders; Prescription Drugs; Referral and Consultation; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Young Adult | 2014 |
Patterns of cortical activation following motor tasks and psychological-inducing movie cues in heroin users: an fMRI study.
Drug abuse and addiction are worldwide health problems. However, few studies have used fMRI to investigate the effect of chronic heroin use on brain activation. This is a study along this line.. fMRI positive sites in the brain were recorded during different motor and sensory activities.. Following motor activities, heroin users had more sites globally activated in the brain than in normal volunteers, with ex-heroin users being least reactive. Conversely, a "heroin puffing" movie produced more activation in ongoing-heroin and ex-heroin users than in the normal individuals, whereas a movie with explicit sexual content was less stimulatory in both groups of heroin users compared to normal individuals.. These significant findings relative to the function of specific brain nuclei are discussed. Topics: Adult; Arousal; Attention; Brain Mapping; Cerebellum; Cerebral Cortex; Corpus Callosum; Cues; Evoked Potentials; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Motion Pictures; Motor Activity; Proprioception; Reference Values | 2014 |
Synthesis and immunological effects of heroin vaccines.
Three haptens have been synthesized with linkers for attachment to carrier macromolecules at either the piperidino-nitrogen or via an introduced 3-amino group. Two of the haptens, with a 2-oxopropyl functionality at either C6, or at both the C3 and C6 positions on the 4,5-epoxymorphinan framework, as well as the third hapten (DiAmHap) with diamido moieties at both the C3 and C6 positions, should be much more stable in solution, or in vivo in a vaccine, than a hapten with an ester in one of those positions, as found in many heroin-based haptens. A "classical" opioid synthetic scheme enabled the formation of a 3-amino-4,5-epoxymorphinan which could not be obtained using palladium chemistry. Our vaccines are aimed at the reduction of the abuse of heroin and, as well, at the reduction of the effects of its predominant metabolites, 6-acetylmorphine and morphine. One of the haptens, DiAmHap, has given interesting results in a heroin vaccine and is clearly more suited for the purpose than the other two haptens. Topics: Animals; Female; Haptens; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Macromolecular Substances; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Molecular Conformation; Vaccines | 2014 |
Anabolic-androgenic steroids and heroin use: a qualitative study exploring the connection.
Topics: Adult; Anabolic Agents; Androgens; Focus Groups; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Substance-Related Disorders; Young Adult | 2014 |
Patterns and correlates of non-fatal heroin overdose at 11-year follow-up: findings from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study.
Overdose is a major cause of morbidity and mortality amongst opioid users. This paper reported recent non-fatal overdose amongst the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS) cohort at 11-year follow-up, and characteristics that predict recent overdose.. Longitudinal cohort, with 431 (70.1%) of the original 615 participants interviewed. Participants were administered the ATOS structured interview, addressing demographics, treatment history, drug use, heroin overdose, criminality, health and psychopathology.. Mean time since heroin initiation was 20.4 years. By 11-year follow-up, the proportion who had overdosed was 67.5%, and 24.4% had experienced five or more overdoses. In the 12 months preceding 11-year follow-up, 4.9% had overdosed (11.8% of those who had used heroin in that period). Of the 21 participants who had recently overdosed, 20 (95.2%) had overdosed previously, and 19 (90.5%) were not enrolled in a treatment programme at the time. Those who had recently overdosed reported higher levels of use of opiates other than heroin (57.1% vs 24.9%), benzodiazepines (61.9% vs 30.5%,), methamphetamine (38.1% vs 16.8%) and cocaine (19.0% vs 3.7%). They also had exhibited higher levels of heroin use and other drug use at baseline, 12 and 24 month follow-ups.. While the prevalence had declined, overdoses still occurred. A history of overdose and polydrug use patterns continued to provide strong markers for those at continued risk. Topics: Adult; Australia; Cohort Studies; Drug Overdose; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome | 2014 |
Commentary on Unick et al. (2014): policy, price and purity.
Topics: Commerce; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 2014 |
[A wireless telemetry study on the electrical activity in nucleus accumbens of heroin-induced place preference rats].
To analyze the electrical activity property changes in nucleus accumbens (NAc) of heroin-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) rats during different stages of heroin dependence and to explore NAc's roles in the formation of drug dependence.. Recording electrodes were bilaterally embedded into the NAcs of rats with the aid of stereotaxic apparatus, followed by establishment of heroin-dependent rat model. The NAc electrical activity during 3 different stages of heroin dependence, including heroin pre-exposure, immediate post-exposure and heroin withdrawal, were respectively recorded using EEG wireless telemetry techniques. The frequency distribution (ranging from 0.5 to 30 Hz) and the amplitude of NAc electrical activity were analyzed and measured.. Heroin-dependent rat models were successfully established and their withdrawal symptoms were evident. All rats showed a conditioned place preference (CPP) for the white box after 5-10 days of heroin-exposure, and displayed a maximum withdrawal symptoms on 2d after heroin- withdrawal. During all statges of heroin-dependence, the NAc electrical activity contained the highest proportion of delta rhythm and the lowest proportion of alpha2 rhythm. The discharge frequence band was similar across different stages. There was a significantly increased ratio of low-frequency discharges (delta rhythm) and decreased ratio of high-frequency discharges (beta rhythm) in NAc of rats during the immediate post- heroin exposure stage when compared with that during pre-exposure and heroin withdrawal stages. During the withdrawal stage, the ratio of at rhythm was significantly lower than during pre- and post-heroin exposure stages (P < 0.01). Further, the mean discharge amplitude in NAcs during immediate post-exposure and withdrawal stages was significantly increased relative to pre-exposure stage. However, the mean discharge amplitude during heroin withdrawal stage was significantly lower than during immediate post-exposure stage.. The electrical activity properties in rat NAcs showed a significant change during different stages of heroin-dependence, which suggested that neuronal activities in NAcs might contribute to the modulation of drug-dependence. Topics: Animals; Conditioning, Operant; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Telemetry | 2014 |
Decreased whole blood RNA expression of cathelicidin in HIV-infected heroin users in Bandung, Indonesia.
The antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin is critical in killing pathogens by innate immune cells, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Candida albicans. These pathogens often cause infections in opioid users, a risk that is greatly increased with concurrent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Therefore, we examined the association between opioid use and cathelicidin in HIV-infected subjects from Bandung, Indonesia. The following three groups of HIV-infected individuals were included: (i) Active drug users: used heroin in the last 30 days; (ii) Methadone clients: received methadone maintenance therapy in the last 30 days; and (iii). never used opioids or did not use opioids in the year preceding inclusion. In addition to interviews, blood samples were taken to examine the RNA expression of cathelicidin. We found that the RNA expression of cathelicidin was significantly decreased (p=0.007) in heroin users, compared with controls. Opioids are associated with immunosuppression, and cathelicidin could be an important factor in this association. However, more research is needed to examine the direct effects of decreased cathelicidin levels. Topics: Adult; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Blood Cells; Cathelicidins; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Indonesia; Interviews as Topic; Male; RNA, Messenger; Young Adult | 2014 |
Blockade of mGluR5 in the nucleus accumbens shell but not core attenuates heroin seeking behavior in rats.
Glutamatergic neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is crucial for the relapse to heroin seeking. The aim of this study was to determine whether mGluR5 in the NAc core or shell involved in heroin seeking behavior in rats.. Male SD rats were self-administered heroin under a fixed-ratio 1 (FR1) reinforcement schedule for 14 d, and subsequently withdrawn for 2 weeks. The selective mGluR5 antagonist 2-methyl-6-phenylethynyl-pyridine (MPEP, 5, 15 and 50 nmol per side) was then microinjected into the NAc core or shell 10 min before a heroin-seeking test induced by context, cues or heroin priming.. Microinjection of MPEP into the NAc shell dose-dependently decreased the heroin seeking induced by context, cues or heroin priming. In contrast, microinjection of MPEP into the NAc core did not alter the heroin seeking induced by cues or heroin priming. In addition, microinjection with MPEP (15 nmol per side) in the NAc shell reversed both the percentage of open arms entries (OE%) and the percentage of time spent in open arms (OT%) after heroin withdrawal. Microinjection of MPEP (50 nmol per side) in the striatum as a control location did not affect the heroin seeking behavior. Microinjection of MPEP in the 3 locations did not change the locomotion activities.. Blockade of mGluR5 in NAc shell in rats specifically suppresses the relapse to heroin-seeking and anxiety-like behavior, suggesting that mGluR5 antagonists may be a potential candidate for the therapy of heroin addiction. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Anxiety; Behavior, Animal; Cues; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Locomotion; Male; Nucleus Accumbens; Pyridines; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5; Recurrence; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 2014 |
Ultrasound-guided diagnosis and aspiration of subdeltoid abscess from heroin injection.
A 49-year-old man presented to the emergency department (ED) with shoulder pain after intramuscular injection of heroin into his right deltoid muscle. Point-of-care (POC) ultrasound identified a subdeltoid abscess, and ultrasound-guided aspiration of the fluid collection was performed. The patient was admitted and improved on antibiotics and made a complete recovery. POC ultrasound and ultrasound-guided aspiration can assist in the diagnosis and treatment of deep musculoskeletal abscesses. Topics: Abscess; Biopsy, Fine-Needle; Deltoid Muscle; Drainage; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intramuscular; Male; Middle Aged; Point-of-Care Systems; Shoulder Pain; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Ultrasonography, Interventional | 2014 |
Failure to identify or effectively manage prescription opioid dependence acted as a gateway to heroin use-buprenorphine/naloxone treatment and recovery in a surgical patient.
The prescribing of opioid pain medication has increased markedly in recent years, with strong opioid dispensing increasing 18-fold in Tayside, Scotland since 1995. Despite this, little data is available to quantify the problem of opioid pain medication dependence (OPD) and until recently there was little guidance on best-practice treatment. We report the case of a young mother prescribed dihydrocodeine for postoperative pain relief who became opioid dependent. When her prescription was stopped without support, she briefly used heroin to overcome her withdrawal. After re-exposure to dihydrocodeine following surgery 9 years later and treatment with methadone for dependency, she was transferred to buprenorphine/naloxone. In our clinical experience and in agreement with Department of Health and Royal College of General Practitioner guidance, buprenorphine/naloxone is the preferred opioid substitution treatment for OPD. Our patient remains within her treatment programme and has returned to work on buprenorphine 16 mg/naloxone 4 mg in conjunction with social and psychological support. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Buprenorphine; Codeine; Disease Management; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Naloxone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Pain, Postoperative; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Young Adult | 2014 |
Pharmacokinetic correlates of the effects of a heroin vaccine on heroin self-administration in rats.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a morphine-conjugate vaccine (M-KLH) on the acquisition, maintenance, and reinstatement of heroin self-administration (HSA) in rats, and on heroin and metabolite distribution during heroin administration that approximated the self-administered dosing rate. Vaccination with M-KLH blocked heroin-primed reinstatement of heroin responding. Vaccination also decreased HSA at low heroin unit doses but produced a compensatory increase in heroin self-administration at high unit doses. Vaccination shifted the heroin dose-response curve to the right, indicating reduced heroin potency, and behavioral economic demand curve analysis further confirmed this effect. In a separate experiment heroin was administered at rates simulating heroin exposure during HSA. Heroin and its active metabolites, 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM) and morphine, were retained in plasma and metabolite concentrations were reduced in brain in vaccinated rats compared to controls. Reductions in 6-AM concentrations in brain after vaccination were consistent with the changes in HSA rates accompanying vaccination. These data provide evidence that 6-AM is the principal mediator of heroin reinforcement, and the principal target of the M-KLH vaccine, in this model. While heroin vaccines may have potential as therapies for heroin addiction, high antibody to drug ratios appear to be important for obtaining maximal efficacy. Topics: Animals; Brain; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Rats; Self Administration; Vaccines, Conjugate | 2014 |
[The efficacy of antiviral therapy and drug resistance analysis among HIV/AIDS patients with heroin addiction in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region].
To investigate the impact of heroin for antiviral treatment, drug resistance, mutation types and frequency in HIV/AIDS patients in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.. HIV/AIDS patients were recruited in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Clinics, HIV/AIDS Clinic and HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center Liuzhou and Baise city from April 2008 to October 2009. The patients were grouped by the situation of antiviral treatment and use of heroin. A total of 435 HIV/AIDS patients were recruited, among which 108 cases in antiviral treatment and heroin group, 93 cases in antiviral treatment and never using drug group, 105 cases in no antiviral treatment and using heroin group, 129 cases in no antiviral treatment and never using drug group. The effect of antiviral treatment was evaluated by questionnaire survey, viral load measurement and CD4(+) T lymphocyte count. HIV-1 RNA from plasma was extracted, and then the pol genes were amplified and sequenced. The sequences were analyzed for HIV-1 genotype drug-resistance.. For the patients who received antiviral treatment, the viral load in heroin group was higher than that in never using drug group (lg (2.61 ± 1.24) vs lg (2.08 ± 0.80), t = 3.54, P < 0.05) , and the percentage of viral load lower than 1 000 copies/ml in heroin group was significantly less than that in never using drug group (63.9% vs 86.0%,χ(2) = 12.76, P < 0.05). For the patients who received antiviral treatment, the difference has no significance in CD4(+) T lymphocyte count between heroin group and never using drug group ((337.92 ± 181.66) vs (326.14 ± 254.98), t = 0.38, P = 0.703). For the patients who didn't receive antiviral treatment, the difference also has no significance in CD4(+) T lymphocyte count between heroin group and never using drug group ((373.73 ± 155.97) vs (337.53 ± 209.26), t = 1.47, P = 0.143). For the patients who received antiviral treatment, there was no difference in the percentage of the CD4(+) T lymphocyte count more than 350/ml between heroin group and never using drug group (48.1% vs 43.0%, χ(2) = 0.53, P = 0.466). 319 HIV-1 pol gene sequences were obtained. Among the patients who received antiviral treatment, the mutation frequency of M184V/I, T215Y/F, L210W and T69N/S in heroin abuser group were significantly higher than that in never using drug group (14.9% (11/74) vs 4.4% (3/68), 12.2% (9/74) vs 1.5% (1/68), 12.2% (9/74) vs 1.5% (1/68) and 10.8% (8/74) vs 1.5% (1/68) respectively) (P < 0.05).. Using heroin may promote HIV replication, reducing the virological response to antiviral treatment and increasing the frequencies of drug resistance loci among HIV/AIDS patients.Heroin rehabilitation may benefit from the antiviral treatment and obtain better antiviral effect. Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiviral Agents; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; China; Drug Resistance; Drug Resistance, Viral; Genes, pol; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Mutation; Mutation Rate; Viral Load | 2014 |
Evaluation of the effect of diacetyl morphine on salivary factors and their changes after methadone therapy.
Psychoactive drugs are responsible for pathological changes in the mouth including dental caries, which most troublesome. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of heroin on several salivary factors which are involved in the oral health and their changes after methadone maintenance therapy (MMT).. Forty patients with heroin abuse history, who referred to Imam Reza Hospital for MMT were included. Saliva sampling was carried out two times; at the first visit (time 1) and repeated 1 month after MMT (time 2). The saliva was analyzed immediately to evaluate the total volume, Ph, CPR, the Uric acid concentration, nitric oxide and antioxidant capacity.. The mean values for saliva volume, pH, CRP, Uric acid, antioxidant and nitric oxide were 0.38 ± 0.14, 7.63 ± 1.22, 5.2 ± 2.3, 1.47 ± 0.8, 0.80 ± 0.23, and 0.26 ± 0.03, respectively at first visit and 0.34 ± 0.22, 7.37 ± 1.01, 6.1 ± 2.6, 2.18 ± 0.9, 0.74 ± 0.3 and 0.29 ± 0.08 after 1 month of MMT. These values are below the normal ranges; however, there was no significant difference between two times in term of saliva volume, pH and saliva component (p > 0.05).. Heroin addiction changed the effective salivary factors and therefore could negatively contribute to oral health. These factors were not return to the normal range after 1 month of MMT. Physicians should be informed about focusing on oral health in patients under MMT. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antioxidants; C-Reactive Protein; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Nitric Oxide; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Peroxidase; Saliva; Uric Acid; Young Adult | 2014 |
Role of ventral subiculum in context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking in rats.
In rats, reexposure to heroin-paired contexts after extinction of lever responding in a different context reinstates heroin seeking. Previous reports indicate that ventral hippocampus/Ca1 region plays a critical role in cocaine-, cue- and context-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking. Here, we examined whether ventral subiculum, the output region of ventral hippocampus, is involved in context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. We found that reversible inactivation of ventral subiculum, but not posterior Ca1, with the gamma-aminobutyric acid agonists muscimol + baclofen decreased context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. Our findings, together with previous studies on cocaine seeking, indicate a critical role of ventral subiculum in context-induced relapse across drug classes. Topics: Animals; Baclofen; Cues; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Extinction, Psychological; GABA-A Receptor Agonists; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hippocampus; Muscimol; Narcotics; Rats; Recurrence; Self Administration | 2014 |
Microvascular damage is involved in the pathogenesis of heroin induced spongiform leukoencephalopathy.
To investigate whether microvascular damage is involved in the pathogenesis of heroin induced spongiform leukoencephalopathy (HSLE).. The brain tissues were collected from 4 HSLE patients and 5 controls and then fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde. The frontal lobe, corpus callosum and cerebellum were separated. The expressions of myelin base protein (MBP) and CD34 were detected by immunohistochemistry. TUNEL staining was applied to detect cell apoptosis. The correlation between microvascular changes and pathological vacuoles was evaluated.. No obvious abnormalities were found in the brain of controls. Immunohistochemistry for MBP showed the collapse and fracture of myelin sheath and vacuole formation in the subcortical white matter, corpus callosum, and cerebellar white matter of HSLE patients. TUNEL staining showed the number of apoptotic cells in the cerebellar white matter and corpus callosum of HSLE patients was significantly higher than that in controls (F = 389.451, P < 0.001). Masson's trichrome staining revealed vacuolar degeneration in the cerebral white matter of HSLE patients, and the vacuoles were distributed around the microvessels. Immunohistochemistry revealed CD34 positive cells were seldom found besides the vessels in the cerebellar white matter and corpus callosum of HSLE patients, but a variety of CD34 positive cells was found in the vascular wall of controls (F = 838.500, P < 0.001).. Apoptosis of oligodendrocytes may be related to the HSLE. Cerebral vascular injury and microcirculation dysfunction are involved in the pathogenesis of HSLE. The interrelation between apoptosis of oligodendrocytes and the microvascular damage are required to be studied in future investigations. Topics: Adult; Antigens, CD34; Apoptosis; Canavan Disease; Cerebellum; Cerebrovascular Trauma; Corpus Callosum; Female; Frontal Lobe; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Microvessels; Middle Aged; Myelin Basic Protein; Oligodendroglia | 2013 |
Effect of chronic heroin and cocaine administration on global DNA methylation in brain and liver.
Drug abuse is associated with epigenetic changes, such as histone modifications and DNA methylation. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of chronic cocaine and heroin administration on global DNA methylation in brain and liver. Male, 8 week old, C57BL/6J mice received heroin in a chronic 'intermittent' escalating dose paradigm, or cocaine in a chronic escalating dose 'binge' paradigm, which mimic the human pattern of opioid or cocaine abuse respectively. Following sacrifice, livers and brains were removed and DNA was extracted from them. The extracted DNA was hydrolyzed and 2'-deoxycytidine and 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine were determined by HPLC-UV. The % 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine content of DNA was significantly higher in the brain compared to the liver. There were no differences between the control animals and the cocaine or heroin treated animals in neither of the tissues examined, which is surprising since cocaine administration induced gross morphological changes in the liver. Moreover, there was no difference in the % 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine content of DNA between the cocaine and the heroin treated animals. The global DNA methylation status in the brain and liver of mice chronically treated with cocaine or heroin remains unaffected, but this finding cannot exclude the existence of anatomical region or gene-specific methylation differences. This is the first time that global DNA methylation in the liver and whole brain has been studied following chronic cocaine or heroin treatment. Topics: Animals; Biomarkers; Brain; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Deoxycytidine; Disease Models, Animal; DNA Methylation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Liver; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; Time Factors | 2013 |
Trends of heroin use and heroin injection epidemics in Europe: findings from the EMCDDA treatment demand indicator (TDI).
We estimate trends and geographical differences in the heroin epidemic in the European Union plus Croatia and Turkey by analyzing aggregated data on first heroin treatment admissions (cases) during 2000-2009. In 2005-2009 the proportion of drug injectors was higher in Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) than in Western European countries (WECs), whereas the opposite occurred with mean age at first heroin use and first treatment. During this period, the number of cases, cases per center, and proportion of injectors in WECs declined, whereas mean age at first treatment and first heroin use increased. The opposite occurred in Turkey, except for proportion of injectors, while trends were less clear in the other CEECs. In the 7 WECs with data, trends in 2000-2005 and 2005-2009 were similar. This suggests that the number of recent-onset heroin users and heroin injectors may have declined some years before the study period, especially in WECs. Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Europe; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Time Factors; Young Adult | 2013 |
Cotton fever: an evanescent process mimicking sepsis in an intravenous drug abuser.
Although many complications of intravenous drug abuse are well described, "cotton fever" has had little mention in recent medical literature. Cotton fever is street terminology for the post-injection fever experienced by many drug users after "shooting up" with heroin reclaimed from a previously used cotton filter.. We report on a 22-year-old man with a history of intravenous drug abuse with fever 30 min after injecting heroin. He was intensely diaphoretic, tachycardic, and febrile. His workup was negative for any infectious etiology and he later admitted to reusing the same cotton balls for heroin filtration several times over in order to preserve more of the drug.. Although it is usually a benign situation, cotton fever can have a dramatic clinical and hematologic course. We present a typical case of cotton fever followed by a description of the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of this entity. Topics: Cotton Fiber; Diagnosis, Differential; Equipment Reuse; Fever; Filtration; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Sepsis; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Tachycardia; Young Adult | 2013 |
'It's more about the heroin': injection drug users' response to an overdose warning campaign in a Canadian setting.
To assess heroin injectors' perceptions of and responses to a warning issued by public health officials regarding high-potency heroin and increases in fatal overdoses.. Semi-structured qualitative interviews.. Vancouver, Canada.. Eighteen active heroin injectors.. Semi-structured interview guide focussing on heroin injectors' perceptions of and responses to the overdose warning, including reasons for failing to adhere to risk reduction recommendations.. Although nearly all participants were aware of the warning, their recollections of the message and the timing of its release were obscured by on-going social interactions within the drug scene focussed on heroin quality. Many injection drug users reported seeking the high potency heroin and nearly all reported no change in overdose risk behaviours. Responses to the warning were shaped by various social, economic and structural forces that interacted with individual behaviour and undermined efforts to promote behavioural change, including sales tactics employed by dealers, poverty, the high cost and shifting quality of available heroin, and risks associated with income-generating activities. Individual-level factors, including emotional suffering, withdrawal, entrenched injecting routines, perceived invincibility and the desire for intense intoxication also undermined risk reduction messages.. Among heroin injectors in British Columbia, a 2011 overdose warning campaign appeared to be of limited effectiveness and also produced unintended negative consequences that exacerbated overdose risk. Topics: Adult; British Columbia; Drug Overdose; Drug Users; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Public Health Practice; Qualitative Research; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2013 |
Yet they failed to do so: recommendations based on the experiences of NAOMI research survivors and a call for action.
This article highlights the experiences of a unique group. In January 2011, Dave Murray organized a group of participants from the North American Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI) heroin-assisted treatment clinical trials from 2005 to 2008 in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver (DTES), B.C., Canada. The NAOMI Patients Association (NPA) is an independent group that currently meets every Saturday in the DTES. Currently, all members of the NPA are former participants in the heroin stream of the clinical trial. The NPA offers support, education, and advocacy to its members.. Drawing on brainstorming sessions and focus groups that were conducted in the summer of 2011, this paper highlights the experiences of NPA members in their own words.. The findings provide a lens to understand how becoming a research subject for the NAOMI trial impacted the lives of NPA members, both positive and negative. The NPA members discuss ethics, consent, recommendations for future HAT programs and studies, and ongoing advocacy. Topics: Attitude to Health; Biomedical Research; British Columbia; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cost of Illness; Crime; Ethics, Research; Female; Health Policy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Male; Narcotics; Prescription Drugs; Self-Help Groups; Survivors | 2013 |
Cue-induced resumption of heroin and cocaine seeking in rats using a conflict model of abstinence and relapse.
Most animal research on drug relapse involves the reinstatement model where abstinence is a result of drug removal (extinction). However, abstinence in humans often results from the aversive consequences that accompany drug seeking (conflict situation). This study was aimed at using a conflict-based animal model of abstinence/relapse in rats self-administering heroin or cocaine.. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin (0.05 mg kg(-1) injection(-1)) or cocaine (0.5 mg kg(-1) injection(-1)) with each injection paired with a light cue. After stable responding was demonstrated, the floor near the levers was electrified, creating a barrier, in order to model the negative consequences of continued drug seeking. Shock intensities were increased over sessions until no responses occurred for three consecutive sessions. During a relapse test, where shock was maintained,the capacity of noncontingent drug cue presentations to induce active lever pressing was assessed.. Ten of ten heroin animals and three of eight cocaine animals exposed to noncontingent cue presentations resumed responding. During the relapse test, for both drug groups, active lever pressing was significantly higher than during abstinence but only in the heroin group was it significantly higher than inactive lever pressing.. The implementation of negative consequences for drug seeking can result in its cessation just as they might in human addicts. Similarly, exposure to drug cues can lead to resumption of drug seeking. This model may be useful for studying the mechanisms underlying abstinence and relapse and for developing strategies to prevent relapse. Topics: Animals; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Conflict, Psychological; Cues; Disease Models, Animal; Electroshock; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Recurrence; Self Administration | 2013 |
Dynamic vaccine blocks relapse to compulsive intake of heroin.
Heroin addiction, a chronic relapsing disorder characterized by excessive drug taking and seeking, requires constant psychotherapeutic and pharmacotherapeutic interventions to minimize the potential for further abuse. Vaccine strategies against many drugs of abuse are being developed that generate antibodies that bind drug in the bloodstream, preventing entry into the brain and nullifying psychoactivity. However, this strategy is complicated by heroin's rapid metabolism to 6-acetylmorphine and morphine. We recently developed a "dynamic" vaccine that creates antibodies against heroin and its psychoactive metabolites by presenting multihaptenic structures to the immune system that match heroin's metabolism. The current study presents evidence of effective and continuous sequestration of brain-permeable constituents of heroin in the bloodstream following vaccination. The result is efficient blockade of heroin activity in treated rats, preventing various features of drugs of abuse: heroin reward, drug-induced reinstatement of drug seeking, and reescalation of compulsive heroin self-administration following abstinence in dependent rats. The dynamic vaccine shows the capability to significantly devalue the reinforcing and motivating properties of heroin, even in subjects with a history of dependence. In addition, targeting a less brain-permeable downstream metabolite, morphine, is insufficient to prevent heroin-induced activity in these models, suggesting that heroin and 6-acetylmorphine are critical players in heroin's psychoactivity. Because the heroin vaccine does not target opioid receptors or common opioid pharmacotherapeutics, it can be used in conjunction with available treatment options. Thus, our vaccine represents a promising adjunct therapy for heroin addiction, providing continuous heroin antagonism, requiring minimal medical monitoring and patient compliance. Topics: Animals; Antibodies; Chromatography, Liquid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Motivation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Secondary Prevention; Self Administration; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Vaccines | 2013 |
Progressive white matter microstructure damage in male chronic heroin dependent individuals: a DTI and TBSS study.
To investigate the WM microstructure deficits in heroin dependent individuals (HDIs) with different length of heroin dependence, and to investigate whether these WM deficits can be related to the duration of heroin use and to decision-making deficits in HDIs.. Thirty-six HDIs [including eighteen sHDIs (duration of heroin dependent is less than 10 years) and eighteen lHDIs (duration of dependent is between 10:20 years)] and sixteen healthy controls participated in this study. Whole brain voxel-wise analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (Da) and radial diffusivity (Dr) were performed by tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) to localize abnormal WM regions among groups. TBSS demonstrated that sHDIs had significantly lower FA than controls in right orbito-frontal WM, bilateral temporal WM and right parietal WM. The lHDIs had significantly lower FA throughout the brain compared with the controls and sHDIs. The lHDIs had significantly lower Da than controls in bilateral inferior frontaloccipital fasciculus, bilateral splenium of corpus callosum, left inferior longitudinal fasciculus, and had significantly higher Dr than controls in bilateral uncinatus fasciculus, bilateral inferior frontaloccipital fasciculus and bilateral cortical spinal fasciculus. Volume-of-interest (VOI) analyses detect the changes of diffusivity indices in the regions with FA abnormalities revealed by control vs sHDIs. In most VOIs, FA reductions were caused by the increase in Dr as well as the decrease in Da. Correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between FA and behavioral measures in HDIs and controls available. Significantly positively correlations were found between the FA values in the right orbital-frontal WM, right parietal WM and IGT performance.. The extent and severity of WM integrity deficits in HDIs was associated with the length of heroin dependent. Furthermore, abnormal WM microstructure may correlate with decision-making impairments in HDIs. Topics: Adult; Anisotropy; Case-Control Studies; Cerebral Cortex; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Games, Experimental; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Neuroimaging; Neuropsychological Tests | 2013 |
Commentary on Kerr et al. (2013): advertising high-potency heroin.
Topics: Drug Overdose; Drug Users; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2013 |
The long-term outcomes of heroin dependent-treatment-resistant patients with bipolar 1 comorbidity after admission to enhanced methadone maintenance.
The aim of this study was to compare the long-term outcomes of treatment-resistant bipolar 1 heroin addicts with peers who were without DSM-IV axis I psychiatric comorbidity (dual diagnosis).. 104 Heroin-dependent patients (TRHD), who also met criteria for treatment resistance - 41 of them with DSM-IV-R criteria for Bipolar 1 Disorder (BIP1-TRHD) and 63 without DSM-IV-R axis I psychiatric comorbidity (NDD-TRHD) - were monitored prospectively (3 years on average, min. 0.5, max. 8) along a Methadone Maintenance Treatment Programme (MMTP).. The rates for survival-in-treatment were 44% for NDD-TRHD patients and 58% for BIP1-TRHD patients (p=0.062). After 3 years of treatment such rates tended to become progressively more stable. BIP1-TRHD patients showed better outcome results than NDD-TRHD patients regarding CGI severity (p<0.001) and DSM-IV GAF (p<0.001). No differences were found regarding urinalyses for morphine between groups during the observational period. Bipolar 1 patients needed a higher methadone dosage in the stabilization phase, but this difference was not statistically significant.. The observational nature of the protocol, the impossibility of evaluating a follow-up in the case of the patients who dropped out, and the multiple interference caused by interindividual variability, the clinical setting and the temporary use of adjunctive medications.. Contrary to expectations, treatment-resistant patients with bipolar 1 disorder psychiatric comorbidity showed a better long-term outcome than treatment-resistant patients without psychiatric comorbidity. Topics: Adult; Bipolar Disorder; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Prospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult | 2013 |
Referring heroin users from compulsory detoxification centers to community methadone maintenance treatment: a comparison of three models.
Both compulsory detoxification treatment and community-based methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) exist for heroin addicts in China. We aim to examine the effectiveness of three intervention models for referring heroin addicts released from compulsory detoxification centers to community methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province, China.. Using a quasi-experimental study design, three different referral models were assigned to four detoxification centers. Heroin addicts were enrolled based on their fulfillment to eligibility criteria and provision of informed consent. Two months prior to their release, information on demographic characteristics, history of heroin use, and prior participation in intervention programs was collected via a survey, and blood samples were obtained for HIV testing. All subjects were followed for six months after release from detoxification centers. Multi-level logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors predicting successful referrals to MMT clinics.. Of the 226 participants who were released and followed, 9.7% were successfully referred to MMT(16.2% of HIV-positive participants and 7.0% of HIV-negative participants). A higher proportion of successful referrals was observed among participants who received both referral cards and MMT treatment while still in detoxification centers (25.8%) as compared to those who received both referral cards and police-assisted MMT enrollment (5.4%) and those who received referral cards only (0%). Furthermore, those who received referral cards and MMT treatment while still in detoxification had increased odds of successful referral to an MMT clinic (adjusted OR = 1.2, CI = 1.1-1.3). Having participated in an MMT program prior to detention (OR = 1.5, CI = 1.3-1.6) was the only baseline covariate associated with increased odds of successful referral.. Findings suggest that providing MMT within detoxification centers promotes successful referral of heroin addicts to community-based MMT upon their release. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; China; Community Health Services; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Mandatory Programs; Methadone; Middle Aged; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Police; Referral and Consultation; Young Adult | 2013 |
Essential ("precursor") chemical control for heroin: impact of acetic anhydride regulation on US heroin availability.
To reduce heroin availability, the United Nations (UN) has encouraged nations to control acetic anhydride, an essential ("precursor") chemical typically necessary to the drug's production. This effort, a major environmental prevention policy, has received little evaluation. The United States, per the UN's lead, implemented acetic anhydride regulation in 11/1989. The present study examines whether the US regulation impacted US heroin availability.. Monthly series of three heroin availability indicators-heroin purity, heroin price, and amount of heroin seized-were constructed for the conterminous United States, the US Southwest (supplied predominantly with Mexican-produced heroin), and the US Northeast (supplied predominantly, at the time, with Southeast Asian-produced heroin). Data came from the System to Retrieve Information from Drug Evidence (01/1987-04/2011). Impacts were assessed using ARIMA-intervention time series analysis.. In each US area, heroin purity and amount seized rose and price decreased throughout the pre-intervention period. All of the indicators then reversed course at the time of the regulation. In the conterminous United States, the US Northeast, and the US Southwest, purity decreased (-40%, -25% and -50%, respectively); amount seized decreased (-27%, -37% and -39%, respectively); and price rose (+93%, +102% and +296%, respectively). Impacts lasted 2-5 years.. US heroin availability decreased in association with the US acetic anhydride regulation. The impacts in the US Southwest and US Northeast suggest that heroin production in Mexico and Southeast Asia, respectively, was constrained. This study lends support to the contention that essential ("precursor") chemical control can be used to help address heroin. Topics: Acetic Anhydrides; Algorithms; Databases, Factual; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Legislation, Drug; Narcotics; New England; Southwestern United States; United States | 2013 |
Oxidative stress enzyme status and frequency of micronuclei in heroin addicts in Turkey.
Heroin is among the most widely used and dangerous addictive opiate. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that more than 15 million people are under the influence of opiate addiction. The aim of this study was to investigate copper zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD), catalase (CAT) and selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GPx) antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the frequency of micronuclei (MN) in addicts using heroin, the most commonly abused opiate in Turkey. Addicts were defined as individuals diagnosed according to "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV)" criteria by the "Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment and Education Centre-Ankara (AMATEM)". The control group had no addiction. In comparisons between the groups, a significant decrease in Cu,Zn-SOD activity and increases in MDA levels and MN frequency were observed in addicts. It can be concluded that opiates may cause oxidative stress and that antioxidant supplementation, in addition to pharmacological and psychiatric approaches, can reduce the toxicological effects of these opiates. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Catalase; Erythrocytes; Glutathione Peroxidase; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Malondialdehyde; Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective; Micronucleus Tests; Middle Aged; Oxidative Stress; Superoxide Dismutase; Turkey; Young Adult | 2013 |
Health minister ends special access to prescription heroin.
Topics: Canada; Drug Prescriptions; Government Programs; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics | 2013 |
Necrosis of the intranasal structures and soft palate as a result of heroin snorting: a case series.
The link between nasal inhalation of cocaine and nasal and palatal necrosis is well documented. In contrast, few data are available concerning nasal mucosa necrosis related to heroin snorting. The authors report here the retrospective analysis of 24 cases of orofacial lesions in patients with nasal heroin usage, collected between 2006 and 2012.. The cases concern 17 males and 7 females (median age 29.5 (range: 24-42)) with chronic consumption of intranasal heroin (from 2 months to more than 10 years). Six patients had a history of cocaine abuse. The median daily amount of heroin consumption was 5 g (range: 0.5-10). The complications were nasal perforation (11 cases), nasal ulceration or erythema (5 cases), nasal septum necrosis (5 cases), pharyngeal ulceration (3 cases), and palate damages (5 cases). The most common clinical signs and symptoms were nasal pain, purulent sputum, dysphagia, and rhinitis. Maintenance therapy with methadone (19 cases) or buprenorphine (3 cases) was initiated. In 8 cases, the injury improved.. The potential of heroin to induce destructive orofacial lesions should be considered when nasal damages are observed in patients with drug abuse. A multidisciplinary approach seems to be the most effective means of managing such patients. Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Buprenorphine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Necrosis; Nose; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Palate, Soft; Pharynx | 2013 |
Injectable heroin - effective treatment for opiate misusers, but is it cost-effective?
Implementation of injectable heroin treatment for patients with chronic heroin dependence unresponsive to oral methadone maintenance treatment has stagnated, even though the evidence for its effectiveness in this population continues to accrue. This is due to a range of political and environmental factors, not least of which is the cost of the treatment. The article by Byford et al in this issue of the Journal goes some way to increasing the evidence base for the cost-effectiveness of injectable heroin treatment compared with other treatment options. Questions still remain though about the funding implications for government departments, commissioners and providers, given that the sector that is responsible for the majority of the cost, healthcare, is not the same sector that sees the majority of the cost savings, criminal justice. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Outcome Assessment, Health Care | 2013 |
A procedure to study the effect of prolonged food restriction on heroin seeking in abstinent rats.
In human drug addicts, exposure to drug-associated cues or environments that were previously associated with drug taking can trigger relapse during abstinence. Moreover, various environmental challenges can exacerbate this effect, as well as increase ongoing drug intake. The procedure we describe here highlights the impact of a common environmental challenge, food restriction, on drug craving that is expressed as an augmentation of drug seeking in abstinent rats. Rats are implanted with chronic intravenous i.v. catheters, and then trained to press a lever for i.v. heroin over a period of 10-12 days. Following the heroin self-administration phase the rats are removed from the operant conditioning chambers and housed in the animal care facility for a period of at least 14 days. While one group is maintained under unrestricted access to food (sated group), a second group (FDR group) is exposed to a mild food restriction regimen that results in their body weights maintained at 90% of their nonrestricted body weight. On day 14 of food restriction the rats are transferred back to the drug-training environment, and a drug-seeking test is run under extinction conditions (i.e. lever presses do not result in heroin delivery). The procedure presented here results in a highly robust augmentation of heroin seeking on test day in the food restricted rats. In addition, compared to the acute food deprivation manipulations we have used before, the current procedure is a more clinically relevant model for the impact of caloric restriction on drug seeking. Moreover, it might be closer to the human condition as the rats are not required to go through an extinction-training phase before the drug-seeking test, which is an integral component of the popular reinstatement procedure. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Conditioning, Operant; Female; Food Deprivation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Rats; Self Administration | 2013 |
[About the biochemical criteria of heroin (narcotic) intoxication].
The article deals with the data of study of biochemical indicators and activity of particular proteolytic enzymes in blood serum of patients with heroin drug addiction. The results can be applied to detect the typical laboratory changes intrinsic to this kind of intoxication. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Peptide Hydrolases | 2013 |
[A difficult confrontation for some].
Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Hospitals, University; Humans; Nurse-Patient Relations; Nursing Staff, Hospital; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Switzerland | 2013 |
Development and validation of a reliable method for studying the distribution pattern for opiates metabolites in brain.
Brain distribution pattern of "street" heroin metabolites (morphine and codeine) was investigated in two fatalities due to "acute narcotism". A suitable sample pretreatment prior to solid-phase-extraction was developed to achieve a good recovery of the analytes and to eliminate the interfering species. After derivatization with MSTFA, samples were analyzed by GC/MS. Specificity, accuracy, precision and linearity of the method were evaluated; LOD and LOQ were, respectively, 10ng/25ng for morphine and 5ng/10ng for codeine. This method was applied to the analysis of six brain areas (hippocampus, frontal lobe, occipital lobe, nuclei, bulb and pons) coming from two cases of heroin-related deaths. No evidence of accumulation of metabolites in a specific brain region was found. Topics: Adult; Brain; Codeine; Drug Overdose; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Limit of Detection; Male; Molecular Structure; Morphine; Reproducibility of Results; Substance Abuse Detection; Tissue Distribution | 2013 |
Low-frequency heroin injection among out-of-treatment, street-recruited injection drug users.
In this paper, we explore the understudied phenomenon of "low-frequency" heroin injection in a sample of street-recruited heroin injectors not in drug treatment. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 2,410 active injection drug users (IDUs) recruited in San Francisco, California from 2000 to 2005. We compare the sociodemographic characteristics and injection risk behaviors of low-frequency heroin injectors (low-FHI; one to 10 self-reported heroin injections in the past 30 days) to high-frequency heroin injectors (high-FHI; 30 or more self-reported heroin injections in the past 30 days). Fifteen percent of the sample met criteria for low-FHI. African American race, men who have sex with men (MSM) behavior, and injection and noninjection methamphetamine use were independently associated with low-FHI. Compared to high-FHI, low-FHI were less likely to report syringe sharing and nonfatal heroin overdose. A small but significant proportion of heroin injectors inject heroin 10 or less times per month. Additional research is needed to qualitatively examine low-frequency heroin injection and its relationship to drug use trajectories. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Confidence Intervals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Needle Sharing; Odds Ratio; San Francisco; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult | 2013 |
Tolerance and sensitization to chronic escalating dose heroin following extended withdrawal in Fischer rats: possible role of mu-opioid receptors.
Heroin addiction is characterized by recurrent cycles of drug use, abstinence, and relapse. It is likely that neurobiological changes during chronic heroin exposure persist across withdrawal and impact behavioral responses to re-exposure. We hypothesized that, after extended withdrawal, heroin-withdrawn rats would express behavioral tolerance and/or sensitization in response to heroin re-exposure and that these responses might be associated with altered mu-opioid receptor (MOPr) activity.. Male Fischer rats were exposed chronically to escalating doses of heroin (7.5-75 mg/kg/day), experienced acute spontaneous withdrawal and extended (10-day) abstinence, and were re-exposed chronically to heroin. Homecage behaviors and locomotor activity in response to heroin, as well as somatic withdrawal signs, were recorded. Separate groups of rats were sacrificed after extended abstinence and MOPr expression and G-protein coupling were analyzed using [(3)H]DAMGO and [(35)S]GTPγS assays.. The depth of behavioral stupor was lower during the initial days of heroin re-exposure compared to the initial days of the first exposure period. Behavioral responses (e.g., stereotypy) and locomotion were elevated in response to heroin re-exposure at low doses. Rats conditioned for heroin place preference during the chronic re-exposure period expressed heroin preference during acute withdrawal; this preference was stronger than rats conditioned during chronic heroin exposure that followed chronic saline and injection-free periods. Extended withdrawal was associated with increased MOPr expression in the caudate-putamen and frontal and cingulate cortices. No changes in G-protein coupling were identified.. Aspects of tolerance/sensitization to heroin are present even after extended abstinence and may be associated with altered MOPr density. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Behavior, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Tolerance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Motor Activity; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2013 |
Metabolic phenotype of rats exposed to heroin and potential markers of heroin abuse.
Metabolomics allows the high-throughput analysis of low molecular mass compounds in biofluids, which can reflect the metabolic response of the body to heroin exposure and potentially reveal biomarkers of heroin abuse.. Heroin was administered to Sprague-Dawley rats in increasing doses from 3 to 16.5 mg kg(-1)d(-1) (i.p.) for 10 days, then withdrawn and re-administered for 4 days. The analytes in serum and urine were profiled using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and metabolic patterns were evaluated based on the metabolomics data.. Both the administration and withdrawal of heroin resulted in aberrant behaviour in the rats; however, the rats gradually became adapted to heroin. Metabolomics data showed that heroin administration caused deviations in the metabolic patterns, whereas heroin withdrawal restored the metabolic patterns towards baseline. Re-administration of heroin caused the metabolic patterns to deviate again. Analysis of the metabolites revealed that heroin induced an acceleration of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the metabolism of free fatty acids that may contribute to the reduction in observed body weight in the heroin group. Heroin administration decreased tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels in peripheral serum but increased urinary tryptophan and 5-hydroxyindoleacetate. Withdrawal of heroin for 4 days efficiently restored all metabolites to baseline, except serum myo-inositol-1-phosphate, threonate, and hydroxyproline in the urine.. Heroin administration significantly perturbed metabolic pathways, elevated energy metabolism, whereas heroin withdrawal restored all but a few metabolites to baseline. These peripheral metabolites were indicated as the surrogates characterising the metabolic effect of heroin on central nervous system function. Topics: Animals; Biomarkers; Energy Metabolism; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Male; Metabolomics; Phenotype; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley | 2013 |
The effects of chronic food restriction on cue-induced heroin seeking in abstinent male rats.
Previous research with an animal model of relapse has shown that acute food deprivation will reinstate extinguished drug seeking. Recent evidence with humans, however, suggests that chronic food restriction rather than acute food deprivation is related to increases in drug taking and relapse, emphasizing a need for an animal model to elucidate the neural mechanisms mediating the effects of chronic food restriction on drug seeking. Here we studied the effects of chronic food restriction during a period of abstinence on heroin seeking in rats.. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin over 10 days (0.1 mg/kg/infusion; i.v.). Rats were then removed from the operant conditioning chambers and exposed to a mild food restriction (resulting in 10-15 % decrease in body weight) or given unrestricted access to food for 14 days while abstinent. The abstinence period was followed by a drug-seeking test under extinction conditions. Subsequent experiments manipulated the length of restriction and test conditions.. Rats that were food restricted throughout the abstinence period demonstrated a robust increase in cue-induced heroin seeking compared to sated rats. Re-feeding prior to testing or decreasing the length of the food restriction period prevented the augmentation of drug seeking.. A combination of chronic food restriction and a concurrent state of hunger appears to be necessary for an increase in cue-induced heroin seeking following abstinence. The procedure presented here may serve as a useful model to study the increased risk for relapse following dietary manipulations in abstinent subjects. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Disease Models, Animal; Eating; Food Deprivation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hunger; Male; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Recurrence; Self Administration; Time Factors | 2013 |
Attenuated effects of experimenter-administered heroin in adolescent vs. adult male rats: physical withdrawal and locomotor sensitization.
Early onset of heroin use during adolescence might increase chances of later drug addiction. Prior work from our laboratory suggests, however, that adolescent male rats are actually less sensitive than adults to some enduring effects of heroin self-administration. In the present study, we tested two likely correlates of sensitivity to behavioral reinforcement in rats: physical withdrawal and locomotor sensitization.. Adolescent (35 days old at start) and adult (79 days old) male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered escalating doses of heroin, increasing from 1.0 to 8.0 mg/kg (i.p.) every 12 h, across 13 days. Somatic signs of spontaneous withdrawal were scored 12 and 24 h after the last injection, and then every 24 h for 5 days; locomotion was recorded concurrently. Challenge injections of heroin (1 mg/kg i.p.) were given at four points: as the first of the escalating doses (day 1), at days 7 and 13 during the escalating regimen, and after 12 days of forced abstinence. Body mass and food intake were measured throughout experimentation.. A heroin withdrawal syndrome was not observed among adolescents as it was among adults, including somatic signs as well as reduced locomotion, body mass, and food intake. On the other hand, heroin-induced locomotor sensitization did not differ across ages.. Reduced withdrawal is consistent with the attenuated reinforcing effects of heroin among adolescent male rats that we reported previously. Thus, it is possible that adolescent rats could reveal important neuroprotective factors for use in treatment of heroin dependence. Topics: Aging; Animals; Body Weight; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Eating; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Motor Activity; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2013 |
DBS of nucleus accumbens on heroin seeking behaviors in self-administering rats.
Surgical ablation of select brain areas has been frequently used to alleviate psychological dependence on opiate drugs in certain countries. However, ablative brain surgery was stopped in China in 2004 due to the related ethical controversy and possible side effects. Deep brain stimulation (DBS), a less invasive, reversible and adjustable process of neuromodulation, was adopted to attenuate relapses in studies of drug addiction.. Preclinical experiments were designed to assess the long-term effects of DBS of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) on cue- and heroin-induced reinstatement of drug seeking behaviors. After a rat self-administration model of heroin relapse was established, DBS was administered bilaterally or unilaterally to the NAc core through concentric bipolar electrodes. A 1-h long continuous stimulation (130 Hz, 100 μs, 0-150 μA) was given daily for 7 days during the abstinence session. Drug seeking behaviors were elicited by conditioned cues or a small dose of heroin.. 75 μA and 150 μA bilateral NAc DBS attenuated cue- and heroin-induced reinstatement of drug seeking, and unilateral DBS of the right NAc achieved effects almost equivalent to bilateral DBS. Additional experiments showed that DBS had no long-term influence on locomotor activity and spatial learning and retention capabilities in Morris water maze tasks. Subsequent immunohistochemistry measurements revealed that the behavioral consequences were associated with a significant increase in the expression of pCREB and a reduction in the expression of ΔFosB in the NAc.. These findings indicate that the NAc DBS could be an effective and safe therapeutic option for preventing relapse to heroin addiction. Topics: Animals; Catheterization; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; Deep Brain Stimulation; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Electrodes, Implanted; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Immunohistochemistry; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Male; Maze Learning; Motor Activity; Narcotics; Nucleus Accumbens; Phosphorylation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Self Administration | 2013 |
Sexual risk behavior associated with transition to injection among young non-injecting heroin users.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of transitioning from non-injection heroin use to injection drug use on sexual risk behavior. Non-injecting heroin users age 16-30 were enrolled from 2002 to 2005, and were re-interviewed at 6-month intervals for up to three years; 561 participants completed at least one follow-up interview. The majority of participants were non-Hispanic (NH) Black (54 %), 23 % were Hispanic, and 21 % were NH white. During follow-up, 154 participants (27.5 %) transitioned to injecting drugs. Logistic regression analyses were conducted using generalized estimating equations (GEE) to estimate the effect of transition to injection drug use on changes in sexual risk behavior during follow-up. Transition to injection drug use during follow-up was associated with increased likelihood of sexual risk behavior, especially for men. Harm reduction efforts that focus on preventing initiation or return to injection among non-injecting drug users may also ameliorate HIV sexual risk behaviors. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Black or African American; Chicago; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Substitution; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hispanic or Latino; HIV Infections; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Socioeconomic Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Unsafe Sex; White People; Young Adult | 2013 |
A role for the prefrontal cortex in heroin-seeking after forced abstinence by adult male rats but not adolescents.
Adolescent drug abuse is hypothesized to increase the risk of drug addiction. Yet male rats that self-administer heroin as adolescents show attenuated drug-seeking after abstinence, compared with adults. Here we explore a role for neural activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in age-dependent heroin-seeking. Adolescent (35-day-old at start; adolescent-onset) and adult (86-day-old at start) male rats acquired lever-pressing maintained by heroin using a fixed ratio one reinforcement schedule (0.05 and 0.025 mg/kg per infusion). Following 12 days of forced abstinence, rats were tested for heroin-seeking over 1 h by measuring the number of lever presses on the active lever. Unbiased stereology was then used to estimate the number of Fos-ir(+) and Fos-ir(-) neurons in prelimbic and infralimbic mPFC. As before, adolescents and adults self-administered similar amounts of heroin, but subsequent heroin-seeking was attenuated in the younger rats. Similarly, the adolescent-onset group failed to show significant neural activation in the prelimbic or infralimbic mPFC during the heroin-seeking test, whereas the adult-onset heroin self-administration group showed two to six times more Fos-ir(+) neurons than their saline counterparts in both mPFC subregions. Finally, the overall number of neurons in the infralimbic cortex was greater in rats from the adolescent-onset groups than adults. The mPFC may thus have a key role in some age-dependent effects of heroin self-administration. Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Conditioning, Operant; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Prefrontal Cortex; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Self Administration | 2013 |
Cost-effectiveness of distributing naloxone to heroin users for lay overdose reversal.
Opioid overdose is a leading cause of accidental death in the United States.. To estimate the cost-effectiveness of distributing naloxone, an opioid antagonist, to heroin users for use at witnessed overdoses.. Integrated Markov and decision analytic model using deterministic and probabilistic analyses and incorporating recurrent overdoses and a secondary analysis assuming heroin users are a net cost to society.. Published literature calibrated to epidemiologic data.. Hypothetical 21-year-old novice U.S. heroin user and more experienced users with scenario analyses.. Lifetime.. Societal.. Naloxone distribution for lay administration.. Overdose deaths prevented and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER).. In the probabilistic analysis, 6% of overdose deaths were prevented with naloxone distribution; 1 death was prevented for every 227 naloxone kits distributed (95% CI, 71 to 716). Naloxone distribution increased costs by $53 (CI, $3 to $156) and quality-adjusted life-years by 0.119 (CI, 0.017 to 0.378) for an ICER of $438 (CI, $48 to $1706).. Naloxone distribution was cost-effective in all deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity and scenario analyses, and it was cost-saving if it resulted in fewer overdoses or emergency medical service activations. In a "worst-case scenario" where overdose was rarely witnessed and naloxone was rarely used, minimally effective, and expensive, the ICER was $14 000. If national drug-related expenditures were applied to heroin users, the ICER was $2429.. Limited sources of controlled data resulted in wide CIs.. Naloxone distribution to heroin users is likely to reduce overdose deaths and is cost-effective, even under markedly conservative assumptions.. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Topics: Adult; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Decision Support Techniques; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospital Costs; Humans; Markov Chains; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; United States; Young Adult | 2013 |
High rates of midazolam injection and associated harms in Bangkok, Thailand.
To identify the prevalence and correlates of midazolam injection among injecting drug users in Thailand.. Serial cross-sectional mixed-methods study.. Bangkok, Thailand.. A total of 435 adults who had injected drug(s) in the past 6 months were recruited through peer outreach and word of mouth in Bangkok in 2011.. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze self-reported data collected through an interviewer-administered survey in July-October 2011 (n = 435). Additionally, qualitative data were collected in June-July 2009 (n = 10) and analyzed to explore the health problems attributable to midazolam injection.. Among 435 survey participants, the prevalence of daily midazolam injection in the past 6 months was 37.0% (95% confidence interval: 32-42). While 75.8% of the daily midazolam injectors identified heroin as their drug of choice, 91.8% of these individuals reported substituting heroin with midazolam when heroin was unavailable. In multivariable analyses, daily midazolam injection was associated with femoral vein injection [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.48], polydrug use (AOR = 4.94), daily heroin injection (AOR = 3.25), binge use (AOR = 1.75) and perceived increase in policing pressure (AOR = 1.95) (all P < 0.05). Qualitative accounts indicated severe health problems associated with midazolam injection, including nerve and vascular injuries.. Midazolam misuse is increasing among injecting drug users in Bangkok and appears to be used primarily as a substitute for heroin. Midazolam injection was associated independently with various risk factors for injection-related complications. Given the many deleterious effects of midazolam injection, novel interventions for midazolam injectors are needed urgently. Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Male; Midazolam; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Self Report; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Thailand | 2013 |
Distinguishing heroin abuse from codeine administration in the urine of Chinese people by UPLC-MS-MS.
Heroin is a highly addictive drug, and heroin abuse is considered to be a serious criminal act. The major metabolite of heroin, morphine, can usually be detected as evidence of heroin abuse. However, it is difficult to determine heroin use when morphine and codeine are both detected, because codeine use will also result in the presence of morphine in urine. Therefore, it is important to distinguish heroin abuse from codeine administration. In this study, urine samples from 21 volunteers with various ingestion patterns of a compound codeine phosphate oral solution were used as negative controls, and urine samples from 89 alleged heroin users were used as positive controls. Urine from single and multiple doses of codeine administration were collected at different time points for a systematic comparison. After protein precipitation, the urine samples were analyzed for the presence of free morphine, free codeine and their metabolites by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The method of percentiles, with median and standard interquartile ranges, was used to describe and analyze the data based on the normality of the distribution. The ratios of concentration of morphine and morphine to codeine were found to be the possible criteria to distinguish heroin users from codeine users in Chinese people. Topics: Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Asian People; Biomarkers; Biotransformation; Calibration; China; Chromatography, Liquid; Codeine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine; Predictive Value of Tests; Reference Values; Reproducibility of Results; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Substance Abuse Detection; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Young Adult | 2013 |
A multi-state model to estimate incidence of heroin use.
Existing incidence estimates of heroin use are usually based on one information source. This study aims to incorporate more sources to estimate heroin use incidence trends in Spain between 1971 and 2005.. A multi-state model was constructed, whereby the initial state "heroin consumer" is followed by transition to either "admitted to first treatment" or to "left heroin use" (i.e. permanent cessation or death). Heroin use incidence and probabilities of entering first treatment ever were estimated following a back-calculation approach.. The highest heroin use incidence rates in Spain, around 1.5 per 1,000 inhabitants aged 10-44, occurred between 1985 and 1990; subdividing by route of administration reveals higher incidences of injection between 1980 and 1985 (a mean of 0.62 per 1.000) and a peak for non-injectors in 1990 (0.867 per 1,000).. A simple conceptual model for heroin users' trajectories related to treatment admission, provided a broader view of the historical trend of heroin use incidence in Spain. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Emergency Service, Hospital; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Incidence; Likelihood Functions; Middle Aged; Poisson Distribution; Population Surveillance; Spain; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Young Adult | 2013 |
Effects of post-training heroin and d-amphetamine on consolidation of win-stay learning and fear conditioning.
It has been proposed that the reinforcing properties of drugs of abuse are due, in part, to their ability to enhance memory consolidation. To test this hypothesis, heroin (0.03-3 mg/kg, SC) and d-amphetamine (0.5-2 mg/kg, SC) were administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats immediately or 4 h after training on win-stay and fear conditioning tasks. On the win-stay, immediate post-training administration of lower doses of heroin and d-amphetamine enhanced acquisition, and probe tests further revealed that these drugs enhanced different aspects of learning. Higher doses had no effect or impaired performance, particularly when administered repeatedly. On fear conditioning, the memory-enhancing effects of immediate post-training administration of lower heroin and d-amphetamine doses were revealed only when a single tone-shock pairing procedure was employed. Therefore, under appropriate experimental conditions, mildly stimulatory doses of heroin and d-amphetamine enhanced the acquisition of tasks thought to involve different types of learning. These results support the hypothesis that one of the ways in which drugs of abuse such as opiates and psychomotor stimulants reinforce behavior is by enhancing memory consolidation processes. Topics: Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Animals; Avoidance Learning; Behavior, Animal; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Dextroamphetamine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Locomotion; Male; Maze Learning; Memory, Long-Term; Memory, Short-Term; Narcotics; Nootropic Agents; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement, Psychology | 2013 |
Low dose risperidone attenuates cue-induced but not heroin-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking in an animal model of relapse.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of pretreatment with risperidone on heroin self-administration and heroin-seeking behaviour induced by cues and heroin priming. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin under a fixed ratio 1 schedule for 2 wk and nose-poke responding was extinguished for 10 d, after which reinstatement of drug seeking was induced by conditioned cues or heroin priming. Acute risperidone administration at doses 10-100 μg/kg potently and dose-dependently inhibited reinstatement of conditioned cue-induced heroin seeking; the minimum dose of inhibition was 30 μg/kg. In contrast, risperidone at the same doses did not attenuate reinstatement induced by two priming doses of heroin (100 or 250 μg/kg s.c.). Risperidone at these doses failed to alter heroin self-administration and locomotion activity. These data demonstrate that acute treatment with low-dose risperidone inhibits conditioned cue-induced heroin seeking and risperidone may be an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of heroin addiction. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Disease Models, Animal; Dopamine Antagonists; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement, Psychology; Risperidone; Secondary Prevention; Self Administration | 2013 |
Passive multistate surveillance for neutropenia after use of cocaine or heroin possibly contaminated with levamisole.
To characterize the demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic features of levamisole-associated neutropenia in cocaine or heroin users.. State health departments were recruited for participation when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was notified of potential cases by a clinician, a health department official, or a poison center between October 15, 2009, and May 31, 2010. A case was defined as a person with an absolute neutrophil count less than 1,000 cells/μL (or a WBC count <2,000 cells/μL) and a self-reported history or laboratory confirmation of cocaine or heroin use. Health department officials abstracted data from medical charts, attempted a patient interview, and submitted data to CDC for descriptive analysis.. Of the 46 potential cases reported from 6 states, half met eligibility criteria and had medical chart abstractions completed (n=23; 50%). Of these, close to half of the patients were interviewed (n=10; 43%). The average age was 44.4 years; just over half were men (n=12; 52%). The majority of patients presented to emergency departments (n=19; 83%). More than half presented with infectious illnesses (n=12; 52%), and nearly half reported active skin lesions (n=10; 44%). The majority of interview respondents used cocaine greater than 2 to 3 times a week (n=9; 90%), used cocaine more than 2 years (n=6; 60%), and preferred crack cocaine (n=6; 60%). All were unaware of exposure to levamisole through cocaine and of levamisole's inherent toxicity (n=10; 100%).. Physicians should suspect levamisole exposure in patients using illicit drugs, cocaine in particular, who present with unexplained neutropenia. Most patients reported chronic cocaine use and were unaware of levamisole exposure. Cocaine use is more prevalent among men; however, our results identified a higher-than-expected proportion of female users with neutropenia, suggesting women may be at higher risk. Emergency physicians and practitioners are uniquely positioned to recognize these patients early during their hospital course, elucidate a history of cocaine or other drug exposure, and optimize the likelihood of confirming exposure by arranging for appropriate drug testing. Topics: Adult; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Drug Contamination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Levamisole; Male; Middle Aged; Neutropenia; Population Surveillance; United States | 2013 |
HIV and recent illicit drug use interact to affect verbal memory in women.
HIV infection and illicit drug use are each associated with diminished cognitive performance. This study examined the separate and interactive effects of HIV and recent illicit drug use on verbal memory, processing speed, and executive function in the multicenter Women's Interagency HIV Study.. Participants included 952 HIV-infected and 443 HIV-uninfected women (mean age = 42.8, 64% African-American). Outcome measures included the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised and the Stroop test. Three drug use groups were compared: recent illicit drug users (cocaine or heroin use in past 6 months, n = 140), former users (lifetime cocaine or heroin use but not in past 6 months, n = 651), and nonusers (no lifetime use of cocaine or heroin, n = 604).. The typical pattern of recent drug use was daily or weekly smoking of crack cocaine. HIV infection and recent illicit drug use were each associated with worse verbal learning and memory (P < 0.05). Importantly, there was an interaction between HIV serostatus and recent illicit drug use such that recent illicit drug use (compared with nonuse) negatively impacted verbal learning and memory only in HIV-infected women (P < 0.01). There was no interaction between HIV serostatus and illicit drug use on processing speed or executive function on the Stroop test.. The interaction between HIV serostatus and recent illicit drug use on verbal learning and memory suggests a potential synergistic neurotoxicity that may affect the neural circuitry underlying performance on these tasks. Topics: Adult; Aged; Black or African American; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Cognition; Crack Cocaine; Executive Function; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Memory; Middle Aged; Sex Factors; Verbal Learning; Young Adult | 2013 |
Oral fluid results compared to self reports of recent cocaine and heroin use by methadone maintenance patients.
Although self reports of illicit drug use may not be reliable, this information is frequently collected and relied upon by national drug surveys and by counselors in drug treatment programs. The addition of oral fluid testing to these programs would provide objective information on recent drug use.. The goal of this study was to compare oral fluid tests for cocaine, benzoylecgonine, 6-acetylmorphine, morphine, codeine and 6-acetylcodeine to self reports of recent cocaine and heroin use by patients in an outpatient methadone treatment program.. Patients (n=400) provided an oral fluid specimen and completed a short questionnaire on illicit drug use over the last seven days. Oral fluid was collected with the Intercept Oral Fluid Collection device. Oral fluid was analyzed by a validated assay using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The presence of an analyte was confirmed if all identification criteria were met and its concentration (ng/mL) was ≥ LOQ (cocaine, 0.4; benzoylecgonine, 0.4; morphine, 2; codeine, 2; 6-acetylmorphine, 0.4; and 6-acetylcodeine, 1).. Analyses of oral fluid specimens collected from the 400 methadone maintained patients revealed that a majority (95%) of subjects who admitted to recent cocaine use were confirmed positive, whereas slightly more than 50% were confirmed positive who admitted to heroin over the last seven days. For those patients who denied recent cocaine and heroin use, approximately 30% were positive for cocaine and 14% were positive for heroin.. Oral fluid testing provides an objective means of verifying recent drug use and for assessment of patients in treatment for substance use disorders. Topics: Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Codeine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Saliva; Self Report; Substance Abuse Detection | 2012 |
Chronic food restriction augments the reinstatement of extinguished heroin-seeking behavior in rats.
Currently, there are no existing procedures that model in animals the situation where exposure to prolonged mild food restriction results in relapse to drug abuse. Here, reinstatement of extinguished heroin-seeking behavior was assessed in rats under extinction conditions. Ten, but not 7, days of food restriction (∼80% of sated body weight) induced reinstatement of heroin seeking, over and above the spontaneous recovery of the behavior. It is suggested that chronic, mild, food restriction following extinction of drug seeking behavior might serve as a useful model to study the increased risk for relapse to drug abuse due to dietary challenges. Topics: Animals; Conditioning, Psychological; Disease Models, Animal; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Extinction, Psychological; Food Deprivation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Rats; Recurrence; Self Administration; Time Factors | 2012 |
Wound botulism resulting from heroin abuse: can you recognize it?
Topics: Botulinum Antitoxin; Botulism; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections; Middle Aged; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2012 |
[Toxic leucoencephalopathy after use of sniffed heroin, an unrecognized form of beneficial evolution].
Serious leukoencephalopathy can be related to heroin injection or inhalation.. We report the first case of leukoencephalopathy observed three weeks after a 46-year-old man sniffed heroin. The clinical presentation included cognitive and behaviour disorders, pyramidal irritation and slight gait instability. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid analyse were normal. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed diffuse, symmetrical supratentorial white matter lesions producing high intense signals on FLAIR and b1000-weighted sequences. Proton spectroscopy revealed an increased rate of cholin, in favour of active demyelinated lesions. Brain biopsy showed intramyelinic oedema with reactive gliosis. After two and a half years, moderate attentional fluctuations and difficulties in initiating activities persisted. Repeated MRI showed a reduction of the leukoencephalopathy.. Heroin could be a cause more common than thought of leukoencephalopathy. The clinical and radiological expression and prognosis could be related to the mode of consummation (inhalation, intravenous injection, sniffing). This parameter may modulate severity and localization of brain lesions. More systematic use of MRI for patients with psychiatric symptoms after heroin intoxications could lead to a better evaluation of heroin-related neurotoxicity and potentially improve prevention. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Biopsy; Brain Chemistry; Brain Edema; Choline; Cognition Disorders; Demyelinating Diseases; Gliosis; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukoencephalopathies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Prognosis | 2012 |
Measuring the incentive value of escalating doses of heroin in heroin-dependent Fischer rats during acute spontaneous withdrawal.
Although continued heroin use and relapse are thought to be motivated, in part, by the positive incentive-motivational value attributed to heroin, little is understood about heroin's incentive value during the relapse-prone state of withdrawal. This study uses place preference to measure the incentive value attributed to escalating-dose heroin in the context of heroin dependence.. Male Fischer rats were exposed chronically to escalating doses of heroin in the homecage and during place preference conditioning sessions. Conditioned preference for the context paired with escalating-dose heroin was tested after homecage exposure was discontinued and rats entered acute spontaneous withdrawal. Individuals' behavioral and locomotor responses to heroin and somatic withdrawal signs were recorded.. Conditioned preference for the heroin-paired context was strong in rats that received chronic homecage exposure to escalating-dose heroin and were tested in acute withdrawal. Behavioral responses to heroin (e.g., stereotypy) varied widely across individuals, with rats that expressed stronger heroin preference also expressing stronger behavioral activation in response to heroin. Individual differences in preference were also related to locomotor responses to heroin but not to overt somatic withdrawal signs.. Escalating doses of heroin evoked place preference in rats, suggesting that positive incentive-motivational value is attributed to this clinically relevant pattern of drug exposure. This study offers an improved preclinical model for studying dependence and withdrawal and provides insight into individual vulnerabilities to addiction-like behavior. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Conditioning, Psychological; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Motivation; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2012 |
Bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss caused by alcohol abuse and heroin sniffing.
Objective. Acute or chronic heroin abuse has been associated with various central neurologic pathologies and, occasionally, with peripheral nervous system damage. The effect of heroin on hearing has not been adequately documented, although several cases with sudden hearing loss owed to heroin abuse have been reported. We present a young male with bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss, following heroin sniffing and alcohol consumption. Methods. Our patient underwent a detailed clinical and audiological evaluation, including auditory brainstem responses and otoacoustic emission. Routine laboratory blood tests and imaging studies were performed. Results. The patient was treated with corticosteroids and magnesium, resulting in complete restoration of hearing after one month. Conclusion. Sudden hearing loss owed to heroin abuse is usually curable, following adequate treatment. Topics: Adult; Alcoholism; Audiometry; Central Nervous System Depressants; Ethanol; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; Hearing Loss, Bilateral; Hearing Loss, Sudden; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous | 2012 |
A limited role for ghrelin in heroin self-administration and food deprivation-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking in rats.
Food deprivation (FD) or restriction augments the locomotor activating and reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse. It has been proposed that these effects might be mediated by FD-induced increase in plasma levels of ghrelin, a 28-amino acid orexigenic peptide demonstrated to functionally interact with the mesolimbic dopaminergic system. However, a role for ghrelin has been demonstrated only with psychostimulant drugs and alcohol associated behaviors. We therefore examined the role of ghrelin in ongoing heroin self-administration and FD-induced reinstatement of extinguished heroin seeking. As expected, infusions of ghrelin [0.0, 1.5 and 3.0 µg/rat, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.)] produced increases in breakpoints on a progressive ratio schedule of heroin reinforcement. In contrast, central administration of a ghrelin receptor antagonist, [D-Lys-3]-GHRP-6 (0.0, or 20.0 µg/rat, i.c.v.) had no effect on ongoing heroin self-administration under a fixed-ratio 1 schedule, or on FD-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. These results suggest that signals mediated through ghrelin receptors play a limited role in FD-induced augmentation of heroin reinforcement and reinstatement of extinguished heroin seeking. Topics: Animals; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Extinction, Psychological; Food Deprivation; Ghrelin; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hormone Antagonists; Male; Motivation; Narcotics; Oligopeptides; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Reinforcement, Psychology | 2012 |
Staff concerns in heroin-assisted treatment centres.
Heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) is a solution for improving the condition of treatment-resistant heroin addicts. Since 1994, six randomized controlled trials have concluded that HAT is more efficacious than oral methadone for severe heroin addicts. We visited seven HAT treatment centres in four countries in order to observe diacetylmorphine (DAM) administration and to study the main concerns of the staff. Nurses were concerned by the risk taken if a previously intoxicated patient received his dose of DAM. Another concern was the smuggling of DAM doses. The HAT centres face a dilemma: treating patients while at the same time allowing their risky street habits in the centre. Topics: Ambulatory Care; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Psychiatric Nursing; Security Measures; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers | 2012 |
Concurrent heroin use among methadone maintenance clients in China.
The study examined concurrent illicit heroin use among methadone maintenance clients in China and its association with clients' demographic characteristics, treatment experience, and personal social network.. Face-to-face surveys were conducted with 178 clients randomly recruited from six methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics in Sichuan, China. Concurrent heroin use was measured based on self-report of heroin use during the past 30 days and a confirmatory urine morphine test. The participants' demographic characteristics and treatment factors were measured and examined. The drug use status of their family members and friends was also assessed.. A total of 80 participants (44.9%) who either reported illicit heroin use in the past 30 days or had a positive urine test were defined as using heroin concurrently. Having drug-using friends was significantly associated with increased concurrent heroin use. Longer length of treatment (2 years or longer) was associated with increased concurrent heroin use. Among those who had both drug-using family members and friends, more women (71.4%) than men (50.0%) used heroin. For those who had no drug-using family members or friends, more men (34.8%) than women (20.8%) used heroin.. Study findings indicate an urgent need to address concurrent illicit heroin use among MMT clients. Further examination of the influence of social networks on concurrent drug abuse behavior is encouraged. Results also highlight the importance of understanding gender differences in treatment seeking and behavioral changes, which is crucial to the development of gender-specific treatment strategies. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; China; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Risk Factors; Self Report; Sex Distribution; Social Support; Socioeconomic Factors; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult | 2012 |
Development of mechanical hypersensitivity in rats during heroin and ethanol dependence: alleviation by CRF₁ receptor antagonism.
Animal models of drug dependence have described both reductions in brain reward processes and potentiation of stress-like (or anti-reward) mechanisms, including a recruitment of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) signaling. Accordingly, chronic exposure to opiates often leads to the development of mechanical hypersensitivity. We measured paw withdrawal thresholds (PWTs) in male Wistar rats allowed limited (short access group: ShA) or extended (long access group: LgA) access to heroin or cocaine self-administration, or in rats made dependent on ethanol via ethanol vapor exposure (ethanol-dependent group). In heroin self-administering animals, after transition to LgA conditions, thresholds were reduced to around 50% of levels observed at baseline, and were also significantly lower than thresholds measured in animals remaining on the ShA schedule. In contrast, thresholds in animals self-administering cocaine under either ShA (1 h) or LgA (6 h) conditions were unaltered. Similar to heroin LgA rats, ethanol-dependent rats also developed mechanical hypersensitivity after eight weeks of ethanol vapor exposure compared to non-dependent animals. Systemic administration of the CRF1R antagonist MPZP significantly alleviated the hypersensitivity observed in rats dependent on heroin or ethanol. The emergence of mechanical hypersensitivity with heroin and ethanol dependence may thus represent one critical drug-associated negative emotional state driving dependence on these substances. These results also suggest a recruitment of CRF-regulated nociceptive pathways associated with escalation of intake and dependence. A greater understanding of relationships between chronic drug exposure and pain-related states may provide insight into mechanisms underlying the transition to drug addiction, as well as reveal new treatment opportunities. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder'. Topics: Alcoholism; Animals; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hyperalgesia; Male; Pain Perception; Pain Threshold; Physical Stimulation; Pyrimidines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Reward; Self Administration | 2012 |
Mortality among young injection drug users in San Francisco: a 10-year follow-up of the UFO study.
This study examined associations between mortality and demographic and risk characteristics among young injection drug users in San Francisco, California, and compared the mortality rate with that of the population. A total of 644 young (<30 years) injection drug users completed a baseline interview and were enrolled in a prospective cohort study, known as the UFO ("U Find Out") Study, from November 1997 to December 2007. Using the National Death Index, the authors identified 38 deaths over 4,167 person-years of follow-up, yielding a mortality rate of 9.1 (95% confidence interval: 6.6, 12.5) per 1,000 person-years. This mortality rate was 10 times that of the general population. The leading causes of death were overdose (57.9%), self-inflicted injury (13.2%), trauma/accidents (10.5%), and injection drug user-related medical conditions (13.1%). Mortality incidence was significantly higher among those who reported injecting heroin most days in the past month (adjusted hazard ratio = 5.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.4, 24.3). The leading cause of death in this group was overdose, and primary use of heroin was the only significant risk factor for death observed in the study. These findings highlight the continued need for public health interventions that address the risk of overdose in this population in order to reduce premature deaths. Topics: Adult; Cause of Death; Drug Overdose; Drug Users; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Methamphetamine; Multivariate Analysis; Proportional Hazards Models; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; San Francisco; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Young Adult | 2012 |
The effect of intermittent alcohol vapor or pulsatile heroin on somatic and negative affective indices during spontaneous withdrawal in Wistar rats.
Once dependent on alcohol or opioids, negative affect may accompany withdrawal. Dependent individuals are hypothesized to "self-medicate" in order to cope with withdrawal, which promotes escalated alcohol and drug use.. The current study aimed to develop a reliable animal model to assess symptoms that occur during spontaneous alcohol and opioid withdrawal.. Dependence was induced using intermittent alcohol exposure or pulsatile heroin delivery and assessed for the presence of withdrawal symptoms during acute withdrawal by measuring somatic signs, behavior in the forced swim test (FST), and air-puff-induced 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). Additional animals subjected to 8 weeks of alcohol vapor exposure were evaluated for altered somatic signs, operant alcohol self-administration, and 22-kHz USV production, as well as performance in the elevated plus maze (EPM).. During spontaneous withdrawal from pulsatile heroin or intermittent alcohol vapor, animals displayed increased somatic withdrawal signs, FST immobility, and 22-kHz USV production but did not show any behavioral change in the EPM unless the duration of alcohol exposure was extended to 4 weeks. Following 8 weeks of alcohol vapor exposure, animals displayed somatic withdrawal signs, escalated alcohol self-administration, and increased 22-kHz USVs.. These paradigms provide consistent methods to evaluate the behavioral ramifications, and neurobiological substrates, of alcohol and opioid dependence during spontaneous withdrawal. As immobility in the FST and percent open-arm time in the EPM were dissociable, with 22-kHz USVs paralleling immobility in the FST, assessment of air-puff-induced 22-kHz USVs could provide an ethologically valid alternative to the FST. Topics: Affect; Alcoholism; Animals; Conditioning, Operant; Disease Models, Animal; Ethanol; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Maze Learning; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Swimming; Time Factors; Vocalization, Animal | 2012 |
Characteristics of psychopathology and the relationship between routes of drug administration and psychiatric symptoms in heroin addicts.
The objective of this study was to explore the characteristics of comorbid psychiatric symptoms and the relationship between different routes of drug administration and psychiatric symptoms. Five hundred and nine heroin addicts were studied in Drug Detoxification and Rehabilitation Centers in Yunnan and Heilongjiang provinces of China. The measure instrument, including demographic characteristics, history of drug abuse, and the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) scale (Chinese version), was administered to eligible heroin addicts. Among the subjects, comorbid psychopathology conditions were more severe on all dimensions of SCL-90 comparing with normal adults and the average score of Depression was highest among the 9 dimensions in heroin addicts; psychiatric symptoms were more severe in heroin injecting group than in "chasing the dragon" group and only the difference in Obsessive-Compulsive was significant, but more significant differences were found between snorting heroin addicts and chasing or injecting heroin addicts, and the average score of each dimension of SCL-90 was higher in the snorting group than in the other 2 groups. The reasons of the results and meaning for the present study are discussed. In summary, comorbid psychiatric symptoms in the heroin addicts were very common and severe and their severity varied with different routes of drug administration, suggesting that routes of drug administration should be considered as an important risk factor to mental health of heroin addicts. Topics: Adult; Analysis of Variance; China; Comorbidity; Depressive Disorder; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2012 |
White matter abnormalities correlating with memory and depression in heroin users under methadone maintenance treatment.
Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) has elevated rates of co-morbid memory deficit and depression that are associated with higher relapse rates for substance abuse. White matter (WM) disruption in MMT patients have been reported but their impact on these co-morbidities is unknown. This study aimed to investigate changes in WM integrity of MMT subjects using diffusion tensor image (DTI), and their relationship with history of heroin and methadone use in treated opiate-dependent individuals. The association between WM integrity changes from direct group comparisons and the severity of memory deficit and depression was also investigated. Differences in WM integrity between 35 MMT patients and 23 healthy controls were evaluated using DTI with tract-based spatial statistical analysis. Differences in DTI indices correlated with diminished memory function, Beck Depression Inventory, duration of heroin use and MMT, and dose of heroin and methadone administration. Changes in WM integrity were found in several WM regions, including the temporal and frontal lobes, pons, cerebellum, and cingulum bundles. The duration of MMT was associated with declining DTI indices in the superior longitudinal fasciculus and para-hippocampus. MMT patients had more memory and emotional deficits than healthy subjects. Worse scores in both depression and memory functions were associated with altered WM integrity in the superior longitudinal fasciculus, para-hippocampus, and middle cerebellar peduncle in MMT. Patients on MMT also had significant WM differences in the reward circuit and in depression- and memory-associated regions. Correlations among decreased DTI indices, disease severity, and accumulation effects of methadone suggest that WM alterations may be involved in the psychopathology and pathophysiology of co-morbidities in MMT. Topics: Adult; Anisotropy; Brain; Brain Mapping; Depressive Disorder; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Memory; Methadone; Middle Aged; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated; Neuropsychological Tests; Prospective Studies; Young Adult | 2012 |
A memory retrieval-extinction procedure to prevent drug craving and relapse.
Drug use and relapse involve learned associations between drug-associated environmental cues and drug effects. Extinction procedures in the clinic can suppress conditioned responses to drug cues, but the extinguished responses typically reemerge after exposure to the drug itself (reinstatement), the drug-associated environment (renewal), or the passage of time (spontaneous recovery). We describe a memory retrieval-extinction procedure that decreases conditioned drug effects and drug seeking in rat models of relapse, and drug craving in abstinent heroin addicts. In rats, daily retrieval of drug-associated memories 10 minutes or 1 hour but not 6 hours before extinction sessions attenuated drug-induced reinstatement, spontaneous recovery, and renewal of conditioned drug effects and drug seeking. In heroin addicts, retrieval of drug-associated memories 10 minutes before extinction sessions attenuated cue-induced heroin craving 1, 30, and 180 days later. The memory retrieval-extinction procedure is a promising nonpharmacological method for decreasing drug craving and relapse during abstinence. Topics: Amygdala; Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Conditioning, Classical; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Memory; Mental Recall; Models, Animal; Prefrontal Cortex; Protein Kinase C; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Recurrence; Self Administration; Time Factors | 2012 |
Understanding changes in heroin availability in Europe over time: emerging evidence for a slide, a squeeze and a shock.
Topics: Europe; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Narcotics | 2012 |
Supervised injectable heroin treatment is expensive but cost effective, report says.
Topics: Cost-Benefit Analysis; Evidence-Based Medicine; Germany; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Subcutaneous; Narcotics; Netherlands; Prescription Drugs; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Switzerland; Treatment Outcome | 2012 |
Disrupted integrity of white matter in heroin-addicted subjects at different abstinent time.
To investigate and compare the integrity of white matter in heroin-addicted and healthy control subjects at different abstinent time using diffusion tensor imaging.. We performed voxelwise analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in 35 currently abstinent heroin abusers who were divided into long-term group (n = 17) and short-term group (n = 18) and 17 healthy volunteers. Measurements of FA and ADC of the identified regions (genu and splenium of corpus callosum, bilateral frontal lobe) were obtained from all subjects.. The FA at callosal splenium was higher in the long-term group than in the short-term group (P < 0.05). The FA at left prefrontal cortex was higher in the short-term group than in the long-term group (P < 0.05). No significant difference in ADC was found among the 3 groups. The education history had a positive correlation with the FA value on the gena of corpus callosum (r = 0.402, P = 0.017). Months of abstinence had a negative correlation with left frontal FA (r = -0.366, P = 0.03) and a positive correlation with splenium FA (r = 0.348, P = 0.04).. Heroin abuse seems to alter white matter microstructure differentially in long-term and short-term heroin addicts. This study will contribute to the current literature by examining the quality of white matter fiber structure in heroin abstinence. Topics: Adult; Aged; Brain; Corpus Callosum; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Frontal Lobe; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukoencephalopathies; Male; Middle Aged; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Young Adult | 2012 |
[Effects of purine nucleotide on the expressions of FSH and LH and the ultrastructure of endocrine cells in the pituitary gland of heroin-addicted male rats].
To investigate the effects of purine nucleotide on the expressions of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteotrophic hormone (LH) and the ultrastructures of the distal somatotrophic and gonadotrophic cells in the pituitary gland of heroin-addicted and -withdrawal rats.. Ninety-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group (ip saline for 14 d), a nucleotide group (ip AMP and GMP for 10 d), a heroin group (ip heroin for 10 d), a heroin + nucleotide group (ip AMP and GMP + heroin for 10 d), a 3 d withdrawal group (ip heroin for 10 d and killed at 14 d), a 9 d withdrawal group (ip heroin for 10 d and killed at 20 d), a 3 d nucleotide group (ip nucleotide for 3 d after 10 d heroin administration and killed at 14 d), and a 9 d nucleotide group (ip nucleotide for 9 d after 10 d heroin administration and killed at 20 d). Changes in the mRNA expressions of FSH and LH in the pituitary gland of the rats were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and alterations in the ultrastructures of the distal somatotrophic and gonadotrophic cells were observed under the microscope.. The expression of FSH mRNA was significantly increased in the nucleotide, heroin + nucleotide, 3 d nucleotide and 9 d nucleotide groups (0.099 +/- 0.018, 0.177 +/- 0.046, 0.151 +/- 0.030 and 0.184 +/- 0.028) as compared with the control group (0.045 +/- 0.009) (P < 0.01); and so was that of LH mRNA in the heroin + nucleotide, 3 d nucleotide and 9 d nucleotide groups (0.950 +/- 0.169, 0.990 +/- 0.171 and 0.960 +/- 0.147) in comparison with the control group (0.700 +/- 0.099) (P < 0.01). In the heroin group, the nuclei of the distal somatotrophic and gonadotrophic cells exhibited morphological abnormality, unclear membrane, slightly pyknotic matrix, marginal and agglutinated heterochromatin, dilated rough endoplasmic reticula, swollen mitochondria, broken and vacuolated cristae in the cytoplasm, obviously decreased number of secretory granules, and myelin bodies in some cells. However, the heroin + nucleotide group showed no significant changes in the ultrastructures of somatotrophic and gonadotrophic cells compared with the control group.. Short-term use of heroin does not obviously affect the expressions of FSH and LH mRNA in the pituitary gland of rats, while heroin + nucleotide, or nucleotide following heroin withdrawal can enhance their expressions significantly. Heroin damages the ultrastructures of the distal somatotrophic and gonadotrophic cells in the pituitary gland of male rats, and purine nucleotide can diminish or inhibit this damage. Topics: Animals; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Gene Expression; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Luteinizing Hormone; Male; Pituitary Gland; Purine Nucleotides; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2012 |
Cheese: an old drug in a new wrapper.
An unexpected outbreak of "cheese" heroin, which contained diphenhydramine and usually acetaminophen, began in Dallas around 2004. Onset occurred among youths living in neighborhoods populated by first-generation Hispanic immigrants. Little was known about the problem or the social strengths and deficits of these youth, who were primarily inhalers ("snorters") but at risk of transitioning to injection.. Multiple data sources were used, including surveys, data from emergency departments, law enforcement, treatment programs, and coroner, and interviews with users and key informants.. Among heroin users under age 20, overdose deaths peaked in 2006, the school survey responses to using "cheese" heroin peaked in 2007, and treatment admissions peaked in 2008. Hispanic youth entering treatment were less likely to be injectors and report fewer problems than their Anglo counterparts and they were more likely to live with their families and to be supported by them. Sixty percent of the Hispanic youth had been in treatment previously and only 53% completed treatment. Cocaine and/or benzodiazepines were involved in 32% of the adolescent heroin deaths.. The timely use of multiple data sources enabled this outbreak to be quickly identified and monitored, and the Cheese Heroin Task Force used the collected data to help respond to the problem, although retention in treatment and readmissions remained problematic. Cultural problems including immigration status, language, and misunderstandings about the nature of treatment were barriers to successful treatment outcomes. Completion of treatment as an inhaler is critical to reducing the likelihood of transitioning to injection. Topics: Acetaminophen; Adolescent; Age Factors; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Animals; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Diphenhydramine; Disease Outbreaks; Drug Overdose; Emergency Medical Services; Female; Health Surveys; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hispanic or Latino; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Humans; Lactose; Male; Narcotics; Poison Control Centers; Schools; Texas; White People; Young Adult | 2012 |
Association of time-dependent changes in mu opioid receptor mRNA, but not BDNF, TrkB, or MeCP2 mRNA and protein expression in the rat nucleus accumbens with incubation of heroin craving.
Responding to heroin cues progressively increases after cessation of heroin self-administration (incubation of heroin craving). We investigated whether this incubation is associated with time-dependent changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) signaling and mu opioid receptor (MOR) expression in nucleus accumbens (NAc), dorsal striatum (DS), and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). We also investigated the effect of the preferential MOR antagonist naloxone on cue-induced heroin seeking during abstinence.. We trained rats to self-administer heroin or saline for 9-10 days and then dissected the NAc, DS, and mPFC at different abstinence days and measured mRNA and protein levels of BDNF, TrkB, and MeCP2, as well as MOR mRNA (Oprm1). In other groups, we assessed cue-induced heroin seeking in extinction tests after 1, 11, and 30 abstinence days, and naloxone's (0-1.0 mg/kg) effect on extinction responding after 1 and 15 days.. Cue-induced heroin seeking progressively increased or incubated during abstinence. This incubation was not associated with changes in BDNF, TrkB, or MeCP2 mRNA or protein levels in NAc, DS, or mPFC; additionally, no molecular changes were observed after extinction tests on day 11. In NAc, but not DS or mPFC, MOR mRNA decreased on abstinence day 1 and returned to basal levels over time. Naloxone significantly decreased cue-induced heroin seeking after 15 abstinence days but not 1 day.. Results suggest a role of MOR in incubation of heroin craving. As previous studies implicated NAc BDNF in incubation of cocaine craving, our data suggest that different mechanisms contribute to incubation of heroin versus cocaine craving. Topics: Animals; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Cues; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gene Expression Regulation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptor, trkB; Receptors, Opioid, mu; RNA, Messenger; Self Administration; Time Factors | 2012 |
Thallium poisoning: one additional and unexpected risk of heroin abuse.
Topics: Adult; Drug Contamination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Iran; Male; Thallium; Young Adult | 2012 |
Association between cholesterol plasma levels and craving among heroin users.
Lipids may play some roles in the central nervous system functions that are associated with drug addiction. To date, cholesterol is known to influence relapse of cocaine use. However, the relationship between cholesterol and heroin craving is unclear. This study examined the concurrent association between cholesterol and craving.. The serum lipid levels of 70 heroin users who were undergoing or had undergone a methadone maintenance therapy were measured. Their craving and demographic data were assessed.. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are negatively associated with craving before (r = -0.33, P < 0.01, and r = -0.36, P < 0.01, respectively) and after controlling for the effects of potential confounders (β = -0.38, P < 0.01, and β = -0.42, P < 0.01, respectively).. Cholesterol could be associated with the cognitive aspect of craving and may be a potential marker to predict risk of drug relapse. Topics: Adult; Body Mass Index; Cholesterol; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Motivation; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Statistics as Topic; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Surveys and Questionnaires | 2012 |
Role of orbitofrontal cortex neuronal ensembles in the expression of incubation of heroin craving.
In humans, exposure to cues previously associated with heroin use often provokes relapse after prolonged withdrawal periods. In rats, cue-induced heroin seeking progressively increases after withdrawal (incubation of heroin craving). Here, we examined the role of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) neuronal ensembles in the enhanced response to heroin cues after prolonged withdrawal or the expression of incubation of heroin craving. We trained rats to self-administer heroin (6 h/d for 10 d) and assessed cue-induced heroin seeking in extinction tests after 1 or 14 withdrawal days. Cue-induced heroin seeking increased from 1 to 14 d and was accompanied by increased Fos expression in ∼12% of OFC neurons. Nonselective inactivation of OFC neurons with the GABA agonists baclofen + muscimol decreased cue-induced heroin seeking on withdrawal day 14 but not day 1. We then used the Daun02 inactivation procedure to assess a causal role of the minority of selectively activated Fos-expressing OFC neurons (that presumably form cue-encoding neuronal ensembles) in cue-induced heroin seeking after 14 withdrawal days. We trained c-fos-lacZ transgenic rats to self-administer heroin and 11 d later reexposed them to heroin-associated cues or novel cues for 15 min (induction day), followed by OFC Daun02 or vehicle injections 90 min later; we then tested the rats in extinction tests 3 d later. Daun02 selectively decreased cue-induced heroin seeking in rats previously reexposed to the heroin-associated cues on induction day but not in rats exposed previously to novel cues. Results suggest that heroin-cue-activated OFC neuronal ensembles contribute to the expression of incubation of heroin craving. Topics: Animals; Baclofen; Behavior, Animal; Buprenorphine; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Daunorubicin; Extinction, Psychological; GABA-B Receptor Agonists; Gene Expression Regulation; Glutamate Decarboxylase; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Muscimol; Narcotic Antagonists; Neurons; Oncogene Proteins v-fos; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; Prefrontal Cortex; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Self Administration | 2012 |
Heroin dependence duration influences the metabolic parameters: mechanisms and consequences of impaired insulin sensitivity in hepatitis C virus seronegative heroin dependents.
Carbohydrate metabolism disorder in heroin dependence is an issue with long history and contradicting results. The aim of the study was to evaluate basal insulin sensitivity in hepatitis C virus seronegative heroin dependents with normal body mass index, taking into consideration the duration of heroin dependence.. 78 heroin dependents and 32 healthy controls were enrolled in the cross-sectional, prospective study. The dependents were observed in 2 groups: group 1 with dependence duration less than or equal to 3 years and group 2 with more than 3 years. Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and β-cell function (HOMA-B%) were used to define basal glucose-insulin homeostasis.. The group with longer dependence duration had HOMA-IR (2.23 ± 3.15) significantly higher compared with the control group (1.23 ± 0.53, P = 0.016) but lower compared with the group with the shorter dependence duration (2.65 ± 2.66, P = 0.024), after adjustment for HOMA-B%, waist circumference, and aspartate aminotransferase. The decrease in HOMA-IR during prolonged heroin addiction was significantly associated with the reduced β-cell function (P < 0.001) and waist circumference (P = 0.004).. Heroin dependence is associated with increased insulin resistance in hepatitis C virus seronegative heroin dependents. Prolonged heroin use is associated with reduction of basal β-cell pancreatic function with decreased insulin resistance controlled for waist circumference, but still inducing significantly decreased basal insulin sensitivity. Topics: Adult; Body Mass Index; Buprenorphine; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hepatitis C; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Homeostasis; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Insulin-Secreting Cells; Male; Metabolic Syndrome; Models, Theoretical; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Prospective Studies; Republic of North Macedonia; Statistics as Topic; Waist Circumference; Young Adult | 2012 |
Heroin spongiform leukoencephalopathy (HSLE).
An increasing number of heroin addicts-especially young and first-time users-prefer inhaling the drug to intravenous injection. A rare complication of inhaling heroin is the development of a spongiform leukoencephalopathy (HSLE).. Pathological background, symptoms, imaging, and therapeutical options are discussed on the basis of an example case.. Pathophysiologically, a dysfunction of the oligodendrocyte mitochondria is suspected. Three distinct stages based on key symptoms are defined. Patients may remain in one stage, or pass through two, or all three stages. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is necessary for diagnosis. There are few therapeutical options. Antioxidants and coenzyme Q may be beneficial. The disorder is self-limiting in the majority of cases. Complications such as hydrocephalus and diffuse cerebellar swelling may, however, require neurosurgical intervention.. HSLE is a rare occurrence in patients with heroin abuse. The number of undetected cases in drug-related deaths may be high. Clinical appearance may be easily mistaken for withdrawal symptoms. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Apoptosis; Cerebellum; Diagnosis, Differential; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Image Enhancement; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Leukoencephalopathies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mitochondria; Narcotics; Neurologic Examination; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Oligodendroglia; Remission, Spontaneous; Tomography, X-Ray Computed | 2012 |
[Opiates, harm reduction and polysubstance abuse].
Opioid dependence is a chronic metabolic brain disease and several individual, sociological and biological factors are implicated in its development. Program (needle exchange, low threshold access to treatment) prevent harms associated with opioid use (HIV, overdose…). Effective treatment involves a set of pharmacological and psychosocial interventions. The benefits of maintenance programmes increase as long as the person remains in treatment (many years). Relapse is a symptom of the disorder or a sign of abstinence failure. Treatment aims to improve quality of life in a comprehensive and individualised assessment. Topics: Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Needle-Exchange Programs; Prescription Drug Misuse | 2012 |
Changes of some humoral immunologic indicators and clinical manifestations of cryoglobulinemia in heroin addicts.
Different autoantibodies and immunologic abnormalities have been described in heroin addicts.. dpending on the route of heroin application in heroin addicts to determine: 1) immunoglobulins: IgA, IgG, IgM; 2) complement (C3, C4); 3) some other autoantibodies RF, anti β2GP1 fractions: IgA, IgG, IgM, ANA; 4) CIC; 5)monitoring the cryoglobulin presence; 6) clinical manifestations in cryoglobulin positive heroin addicts. A total of 363 heroin addicts were analyzed after previously completed questionnaire; biochemical analyses of blood and urine; creatinine clearance (eC(Cr)) by Cockcroft-Gault formula; proteinuria; 24-hour proteinuria (Uprot/Ucreat); ECG; toxicological analyses; complement (C3, C4); immunoglobulins IgA, IgG, IgM; rheumatoid factor; cryoglobulins; circulating immune complexes; antiphospholipid antibodies (anti β2GP1: IgA, IgG, IgM); antinuclear antibodies. Male patients were predominating (82.09%). Of them 161 were using intravenous heroin (45.4%). IgA was statistically significantly lower in intravenous heroin addicts. Intravenous heroin addicts contrary to those who inhaled heroin had highly significant levels of IgG, IgM, IgG, antiβ2GP1 cryoglobulins; significantly higher mean values of: RF, anti β2GP1 IgA and IgM. Cryoglobulin positive (CP) heroin addicts compared to cryoglobulin negative (CN) presented significantly more frequently with clinical signs of arthralgia, vasculitis, hematuria; whereas highly significantly were manifested respiratory difficulties, neurological disorders, Raynaud phenomenon, proteinuria, 24-hour proteinuria, highly significantly lower mean values of renal clearance. Intravenous heroin addicts compared to the non-parenteral heroin addicts have shown greater changes in certain parameters of humoral immunity. CP heroin addicts have presented with more frequent clinical manifestations than CN heroin addicts. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Adult; Autoantibodies; Cryoglobulinemia; Cryoglobulins; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunity, Humoral; Injections, Intraventricular; Male; Middle Aged; Monitoring, Physiologic; Young Adult | 2012 |
Retrospective study of outcomes, for patients admitted to a drug treatment centre board.
Retrospective study of urinary heroin outcomes of a cohort (123) of patients commenced on a methadone treatment program. Significantly poorer outcomes were associated with urines positive for cocaine (OR 0.69 CI 0.59-0.81) benzodiazepines (OR 0.7 CI 0.53-0.93) with prescribing of low dose methadone (OR 0.65 CI 0.48-0.87), with urines positive for heroin at time of admission (OR 0.74 CI 0.56-0.97) and with behavioural sanctions (OR 0.8, CI 0.65-0.98). Improved outcomes were associated with granting of take away methadone (OR 1.34 CI 1.1-1.62). with an indication of improved outcomes associated with alcohol positive urines (OR 1.34 CI 0.95-1.9) and increased duration of clinic attendance (OR 1.21 CI 0.99-1.47). On multiple regression analysis low dose methadone (0.07 CI 0.01-0.33) prescribing remained negatively associated with urine heroin outcomes. Topics: Adult; Cannabinoids; Cocaine; Cohort Studies; Comorbidity; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Inpatients; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Regression Analysis; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Secondary Prevention; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance-Related Disorders; Young Adult | 2012 |
The roles of melatonin and vitamin E plus selenium in prevention of oxidative stress induced by naloxone-precipitated withdrawal in heroin-addicted rats.
The therapeutic effects of melatonin or vitamin E plus Se (vE + Se) on the restrain of the heroin withdrawal-induced oxidative stress were studied. For this, rats were divided into ten groups. The rats were injected by fixed or variable doses of heroin for 16 consecutive days, and naloxone was given 1 h after the last heroin injection. One hour after naloxone administration, some groups were treated with melatonin or vE + Se. After 1 h this, blood samples were taken, and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in whole blood, ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, retinol, β-carotene, nitrite, nitrate, and ceruloplasmin levels in the serum were measured. Our findings showed that, naloxone administration precipitated the heroin withdrawal. This also increased the level of MDA and decreased the levels of GSH in blood. Melatonin or vE + Se administration prevented the rise in MDA levels and increased the GSH levels. On the other hand, there were some significant differences between α-tocopherol, retinol, β-carotene, nitrite, nitrate, and ceruloplasmin levels of experimental groups. Results of present study showed that heroin withdrawal increased the lipid peroxidation and depressed endogenous antioxidative systems. Additionally, melatonin or vE + Se administrations prevented lipid peroxidation and augmented endogenous antioxidant defense systems. Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Ceruloplasmin; Glutathione; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Malondialdehyde; Melatonin; Naloxone; Nitrates; Nitrites; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Selenium; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Vitamin E | 2011 |
Predictors of offending among prisoners: the role of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and substance use.
The aim of the study was to investigate predictors of offending among prisoners from official records after controlling for age at first conviction and antisocial personality disorder. The participants were 198 Scottish prisoners, who had completed Diagnostic Statistical Manual IV screens for child and adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III for Axis I and Axis II disorders. The ADHD symptomatic group had significantly higher rates of total, acquisitive and violent offending than other prisoners, as well as greater regular heroin use. Hierarchical multiple regressions, using child and adult symptoms as dimensions, showed that frequent use of heroin in the year prior to imprisonment was the single most powerful predictor of the extent of total offending, with ADHD symptoms also adding independently to the variance in offending. In contrast, for violent offending, ADHD symptoms were the strongest predictor followed by alcohol dependence. The findings demonstrate the importance of heroin use and ADHD symptoms in the persistence of offending. There is an urgent need to treat drug addiction and ADHD symptoms in order to reduce offending among the most persistent offenders. Recently, treatment programmes have been developed for adults with ADHD, heroin and crack cocaine addiction which can be applied to this population. Topics: Alcoholism; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Criminals; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Prisoners; Scotland; Substance-Related Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires; Violence | 2011 |
The influence of heroin abuse on glutathione-dependent enzymes in human brain.
Heroin is an illicit narcotic abused by millions of people worldwide. In our earlier studies we have shown that heroin intoxication changes the antioxidant status in human brain. In the present work we continued our studies by estimating the effect of heroin abuse on reduced glutathione (GSH) and enzymes related to this cofactor, such as glutathione S-transferase detoxifying electrophilics (GST) and organic peroxides (as Se-independent glutathione peroxidase-GSHPx), and Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GSHPx) specific mainly for hydrogen peroxide. Studies were conducted on human brains obtained from autopsy of 9 heroin abusers and 8 controls. The level of GSH and the activity of glutathione-related enzymes were determined spectrophotometrically. The expression of GST pi on mRNA and protein level was studied by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The results indicated significant increase of GST and GSHPx activities, unchanged Se-GSHPx activity, and decreased level of GSH in frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital cortex, brain stem, hippocampus, and white matter of heroin abusers. GST pi expression was increased on both mRNA and protein levels, however the increase was lower in brain stem than in other regions. Heroin affects all regions of human brain, and especially brain stem. Its intoxication leads to an increase of organic rather then inorganic peroxides in various brain regions. Glutathione S-transferase plays an important role during heroin intoxication, however its protective effect is lower in brain stem than in brain cortex or hippocampus. Topics: Antioxidants; Brain; Glutathione; Glutathione Peroxidase; Glutathione Reductase; Glutathione Transferase; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 2011 |
Infrequent opioid overdose risk reduction behaviours among young adult heroin users in cities with wide coverage of HIV prevention programmes.
Opioid overdose risk reduction behaviours include some preventive behaviours to avoid overdoses (PB) and others to avoid death after overdose, such as never using heroin while alone (NUA). Few studies have examined the prevalence and predictors of these behaviours.. To establish the prevalence and predictors of PBs and NUA among heroin users, both injectors and non-injectors, in three Spanish cities.. 516 injecting and 475 non-injecting heroin users aged 18-30 were street-recruited in 2001-2003 and interviewed by face-to-face computer-assisted interview. PBs and NUA in the last 12 months were explored using open-ended and precoded questions, respectively. Specific predictors for three PB categories were investigated: control of route of drug administration, control of quantity or type of heroin used, and control of co-use of other drugs. Bivariate and logistic regression methods were used.. Overall, the most prevalent PBs were: using a stable and not excessive amount of heroin (12.7%), injecting or using the whole heroin dose slowly or dividing it into smaller doses (12.4%), reducing or stopping heroin injection (8.3%), and not mixing heroin with tranquillisers (5.1%). Most PBs were significantly more prevalent among injectors than non-injectors. No one mentioned reducing the amount of heroin after an abstinence period. Some 36.2% had NUA. In multiple regression analysis, knowledge of risk factors for opioid overdose was a predictor of specific PBs, although this was not always the case. Use of syringe exchange programmes was a predictor of PB among injectors. However, attending methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) or other drug-dependence treatment was not a predictor of any opioid overdose reduction behaviour. Only ever having witnessed or experienced an overdose predicted PB in both injectors and non-injectors.. The proportion of heroin users with opioid overdose risk reduction behaviours is very low. Additional specific measures to prevent overdose are needed, as well as increased emphasis on reducing the risk of overdose in programmes to prevent HIV and other blood-borne infections in heroin injectors. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Risk Factors; Risk Reduction Behavior; Spain; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult | 2011 |
Mining Affymetrix microarray data for long non-coding RNAs: altered expression in the nucleus accumbens of heroin abusers.
Although recent data suggest that some long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert widespread effects on gene expression and organelle formation, lncRNAs as a group constitute a sizable but poorly characterized fraction of the human transcriptome. We investigated whether some human lncRNA sequences were fortuitously represented on commonly used microarrays, then used this annotation to assess lncRNA expression in human brain. A computational and annotation pipeline was developed to identify lncRNA transcripts represented on Affymetrix U133 arrays. A previously published dataset derived from human nucleus accumbens was then examined for potential lncRNA expression. Twenty-three lncRNAs were determined to be represented on U133 arrays. Of these, dataset analysis revealed that five lncRNAs were consistently detected in samples of human nucleus accumbens. Strikingly, the abundance of these lncRNAs was up-regulated in human heroin abusers compared to matched drug-free control subjects, a finding confirmed by quantitative PCR. This study presents a paradigm for examining existing Affymetrix datasets for the detection and potential regulation of lncRNA expression, including changes associated with human disease. The finding that all detected lncRNAs were up-regulated in heroin abusers is consonant with the proposed role of lncRNAs as mediators of widespread changes in gene expression as occur in drug abuse. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Brain Chemistry; Data Mining; Gene Expression Regulation; Genetic Markers; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Nucleus Accumbens; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Reward; RNA, Untranslated; Up-Regulation | 2011 |
Endogenous GDNF in ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens does not play a role in the incubation of heroin craving.
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) activity in ventral tegmental area (VTA) mediates the time-dependent increases in cue-induced cocaine-seeking after withdrawal (incubation of cocaine craving). Here, we studied the generality of these findings to incubation of heroin craving. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin for 10 days (6 hours/day; 0.075 mg/kg/infusion; infusions were paired with a tone-light cue) and tested for cue-induced heroin-seeking in extinction tests after 1, 11 or 30 withdrawal days. Cue-induced heroin seeking was higher after 11 or 30 days than after 1 day (incubation of heroin craving), and the time-dependent increases in extinction responding were associated with time-dependent changes in GDNF mRNA expression in VTA and nucleus accumbens. Additionally, acute accumbens (but not VTA) GDNF injections (12.5 µg/side) administered 1-3 hours after the last heroin self-administration training session enhanced the time-dependent increases in extinction responding after withdrawal. However, the time-dependent increases in extinction responding after withdrawal were not associated with changes in GDNF protein expression in VTA and accumbens. Additionally, interfering with endogenous GDNF function by chronic delivery of anti-GDNF monoclonal neutralizing antibodies (600 ng/side/day) into VTA or accumbens had no effect on the time-dependent increases in extinction responding. In summary, heroin self-administration and withdrawal regulate VTA and accumbens GDNF mRNA expression in a time-dependent manner, and exogenous GDNF administration into accumbens but not VTA potentiates cue-induced heroin seeking. However, based on the GDNF protein expression and the anti-GDNF monoclonal neutralizing antibodies manipulation data, we conclude that neither accumbens nor VTA endogenous GDNF mediates the incubation of heroin craving. Topics: Animals; Association Learning; Cues; Extinction, Psychological; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; RNA, Messenger; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Ventral Tegmental Area | 2011 |
Social defeat stress in rats: escalation of cocaine and "speedball" binge self-administration, but not heroin.
Exposure to intermittent episodes of social defeat stress can increase drug seeking and leads to intense drug taking in rats.. This study investigated the consequences of repeated, intermittent social defeat stress on patterns of drug self-administration in rats with access to heroin, cocaine, or a heroin-cocaine combination ("speedball").. Male Long-Evans rats were either handled (controls) or subjected to 25-min social defeat stress episodes on days 1, 4, 7, and 10 during confrontations with an aggressive resident. Ten days following the last defeat, rats were assessed for locomotor cross-sensitization in response to heroin or cocaine. Animals were then prepared with intrajugular catheters for drug self-administration. Separate groups of controls and defeated rats were examined for self-administration of heroin (experiment 1), a heroin-cocaine combination (experiment 2), or cocaine (experiment 3). Drug self-administration patterns were evaluated using fixed or progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement during limited access sessions or a 24-h unlimited access binge.. Rats with a history of intermittent social defeat stress showed sensitized locomotor behavior when challenged with heroin or cocaine relative to controls. During the 24-h binge session, defeated rats escalated cocaine-taking behavior (ca. 110 mg/kg vs. 66 mg/kg in controls), persisted in self-administering cocaine or the heroin-cocaine mixture for more hours, and showed a tendency for increased heroin-cocaine intake, but no effects on heroin taking.. A history of social defeat stress seems to preferentially promote escalated intake of cocaine but not heroin, unless a heroin-cocaine combination is available. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Dominance-Subordination; Drug Synergism; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Motor Activity; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Reinforcement Schedule; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration; Stress, Psychological | 2011 |
Ethical and legal consideration of prisoner's hunger strike in Serbia.
Hunger strike of prisoners and detainees remains a major human rights and ethical issue for medical professionals. We are reporting on a case of a 48-year-old male sentenced prisoner, intravenous heroin user, who went on a hunger strike and died 15 days later. Throughout the fasting period, the prisoner, who was capable of decision making, refused any medical examination. Autopsy findings were not supporting prolonged starvation, while toxicology revealed benzodiazepines and opiates in blood and urine. Cause of death was given as "heroin intoxication" in keeping with detection of 6-MAM. Legal and ethical issues pertinent to medical examination and treatment of prisoners on hunger strike are explored in accordance with legislation and professional ethical standards in Serbia. A recommendation for the best autopsy practice in deaths following hunger strike has been made. Topics: Carbamazepine; Codeine; Dissent and Disputes; Fasting; Forensic Toxicology; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis; Male; Middle Aged; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Narcotics; Prisoners; Serbia | 2011 |
Ventral medial prefrontal cortex neuronal ensembles mediate context-induced relapse to heroin.
In a rat model of context-induced relapse to heroin, we identified sparsely distributed ventral medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) neurons that were activated by the heroin-associated context. Selective pharmacogenetic inactivation of these neurons inhibited context-induced drug relapse. A small subset of ventral mPFC neurons formed neuronal ensembles that encode the learned associations between heroin reward and heroin-associated contexts; re-activation of these neuronal ensembles by drug-associated contexts during abstinence provoked drug relapse. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Nerve Net; Neurons; Prefrontal Cortex; Rats; Secondary Prevention; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2011 |
"Chasing the dragon"--heroin-associated spongiform leukoencephalopathy.
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Brain; Cerebellum; Dysarthria; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukoencephalopathies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Nystagmus, Pathologic; Smoke; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Young Adult | 2011 |
Patients on injectable diacetylmorphine maintenance have low bone mass.
Risk factors for osteoporosis are prevalent in chronic heroin users who often start using opiates in their late teens. This study was the first to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) in relatively young heroin-dependent patients on injectable heroin maintenance.. Using cross-sectional design, BMD was assessed in a convenience sample of 19 patients (mean age ± SD = 33.9 ± 5.4; 13 men) prescribed injectable diacetylmorphine for heroin dependence. BMD of the lumbar spine and proximal femur was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Substance use and menstrual history, psychopathology and risk factors for low BMD were assessed by questionnaire-based interviews.. According to World Health Organisation criteria almost three-quarters (74%) of the sample had osteopenia (n = 11) or osteoporosis (n = 3) at one or more sites of measurement. All patients showed multiple risk factors for bone loss, with pack-years of tobacco use and years of heroin use reaching marginally significant associations with spine Z-scores. Moreover, BMD Z-scores correlated significantly negatively with increasing age at all sites, indicating that the older the patient, the greater the BMD deviation from an age-controlled population.. Prolonged heroin dependence appears to be associated with lower-than-normal bone mass already at early age and these individuals might be at greater risk for fracture with advancing age. The negative correlation of age-adjusted Z-scores with increasing age suggests factors other than age for low BMD in this population (e.g. smoking, heroin use). Prospective studies are warranted to determine the necessity for diagnostic and preventive measures. Topics: Adult; Bone Density; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Femur; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Lumbar Vertebrae; Male; Narcotics; Osteoporosis; Radiography | 2011 |
Vagus nerve stimulation inhibits heroin-seeking behavior induced by heroin priming or heroin-associated cues in rats.
Vagus nerve stimulation has been used for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as epilepsy. However, little is known whether it is also effective for the treatment of heroin dependence, in particular for relapse to heroin seeking. In the present study, we investigated the effects of vagus nerve stimulation on reinstatement (relapse) of heroin-seeking behavior induced by heroin priming or heroin-associated cues. The rats were trained for heroin self-administration for 14days and followed by extinction training in which heroin was replaced by saline and heroin-associated cues were turned off. In addition, animals were also received daily electric stimulation of vagus nerve (30Hz, pulse width of 0.5ms, 0.5mA (low-intensity) or 1mA (high-intensity); 30s on, 5min off; 10 continuous cycle per day) or false stimulation during extinction training. We found that such vagus nerve stimulation significantly inhibited heroin priming (0.25mg/kg, s.c.) - or heroin-associated conditioned cue-induced reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior, when compared to false stimulation control. Further, such a behavioral inhibition was correlated to a reduction in the expression of FosB and an increase in the expression of phosphorylation of cAMP response element binding protein (p-CREB) in nucleus accumbens. The data suggest that vagus nerve stimulation may inhibit heroin- or heroin cue-induced relapse, possibly by regulation of the expression of Fos and CREB in nucleus accumbens. Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Blotting, Western; Cues; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Nucleus Accumbens; Phosphorylation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Self Administration; Vagus Nerve Stimulation | 2011 |
White matter impairment in heroin addicts undergoing methadone maintenance treatment and prolonged abstinence: a preliminary DTI study.
Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) might cause the impairments of neuropsychological and neurotransmitter function in opioid addicts. Whether long-term MMT could lead to the impairment of white matter (WM) in heroin addiction brain is unclear. This study compared the WM integrity in the bilateral frontal lobe, temporal lobe, splenium and genu of corpus collasum (CC) between MMT patients (n=13), former heroin addicts (n=11) in prolonged abstinence (PA), and healthy control subjects (n=15) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and eigenvalues (λ(⊥), λ(||)) were measured. The correlation between DTI measures and accumulated former heroin dose, total methadone consumption, and PA duration were determined. Although the PA subjects showed no difference in DTI measures relative to the controls, the extensive correlations between the former heroin consumption and the DTI measures were noted. The MMT subjects showed a decreased FA values in the left genu, as well as the increased ADC and λ(⊥) values in the left splenium of CC in comparison to the controls. Compared with the PA, the MMT subjects had a significantly increased ADC value in the bilateral splenium of CC. Importantly, the methadone dosage used in the MMT group was correlated with the FA value in the left splenium of CC and in the right frontal lobe. Our preliminary results suggest that methadone plays a role in the impairment of WM integrity in heroin users on long-term MMT and the normalization of WM injury may occur during abstinence. Topics: Adult; Anisotropy; Brain; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated; Regression Analysis | 2011 |
Escalation patterns of varying periods of heroin access.
The prevalence of opioid abuse and dependence has been on the rise in just the past few years. Animal studies indicate that extended access to heroin produces escalation of intake over time, whereas stable intake is observed under limited-access conditions. Escalation of drug intake has been suggested to model the transition from controlled drug use to compulsive drug seeking and taking. Here, we directly compared the pattern of heroin intake in animals with varying periods of heroin access. Food intake was also monitored over the course of escalation. Rats were allowed to lever press on a fixed-ratio 1 schedule of reinforcement to receive intravenous infusions of heroin for 1, 6, 12, or 23h per day for 14 sessions. The results showed that heroin intake in the 12 and 23h groups markedly increased over time, whereas heroin intake in the 1h group was stable. The 6h group showed a significant but modest escalation of intake. Total heroin intake was similar in the 12 and 23h groups, but the rate of heroin self-administration was two-fold higher in the 12h group compared with the 23h group. Food intake decreased over sessions only in the 12h group. The 12 and 23h groups showed marked physical signs of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. These findings suggest that 12h heroin access per day may be the optimal access time for producing escalation of heroin intake. The advantages of this model and the potential relevance for studying drug addiction are discussed. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Disease Models, Animal; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Naloxone; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 2011 |
Influence of treatment with inhalable heroin on pulmonary function.
This study aims to asses the influence of inhalable heroin on pulmonary function in chronic heroin-dependent patients treated with inhalable heroin. Among 32 patients (all cigarette smokers), a spirometric test was conducted at baseline and after an average period of 10 months of treatment with medically prescribed heroin. Patients showed a high frequency of pulmonary dysfunction at baseline [34%, with percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (%FEV1)<80%]. However, after excluding those who started pulmonary treatment (n=2) or who used heroin intravenously only (n=2), no statistically significant differences in %FEV1 between baseline and follow-up were observed (n=28; mean %FEV1 86% at baseline vs. 91% at follow-up; p=0.09). This small and relatively brief study suggests that 10 months of co-prescribed inhalable heroine base does not seem to (further) deteriorate pulmonary function in chronic, cigarette smoking treatment refractory heroin addicts. Screening for and treatment of pulmonary dysfunction is recommended for methadone patients with and without co-prescribed heroin. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Forced Expiratory Volume; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Lung; Male; Prospective Studies; Respiratory Function Tests; Treatment Outcome | 2011 |
Heroin purchasing is income and price sensitive.
Semi-structured interviews were used to assess behavioral economic drug demand in heroin dependent research volunteers. Findings on drug price, competing purchases, and past 30-day income and consumption, established in a previous study, are replicated. We extended these findings by having participants indicate whether hypothetical environmental changes would alter heroin purchasing. Participants (n = 109) reported they would significantly (p < .005) decrease heroin daily purchasing amounts (DPA) from past 30-day levels (M = $60/day) if: (a) they encountered a 33% decrease in income (DPA = $34), (b) family/friends no longer paid their living expenses (DPA = $32), or (c) they faced four-fold greater likelihood of police arrest at their purchasing location (DPA = $42). Participants in higher income quartiles (who purchase more heroin) show greater DPA reductions (but would still buy more heroin) than those in lower income quartiles. For participants receiving government aid (n = 31), heroin purchasing would decrease if those subsidies were eliminated (DPA = $28). Compared to participants whose urine tested negative for cocaine (n = 31), cocaine-positive subjects (n = 32) reported more efficient heroin purchasing, that is, they live closer to their primary dealer; are more likely to have heroin delivered or walk to obtain it (and less likely to ride the bus), thus reducing purchasing time (52 vs. 31 min, respectively); and purchase more heroin per episode. These simulation results have treatment and policy implications: Daily heroin users' purchasing repertoire is very cost-effective, more so for those also using cocaine, and only potent environmental changes (income reductions or increased legal sanctions) may impact this behavior. Topics: Adult; Commerce; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Income; Male; Middle Aged | 2011 |
The effect of heroin on verbal memory.
As a result of long-term heroin abuse we can see impairment of cerebral structures, that leads to specific psychopathological and neuro - physiological deficits in the cognitive and connative areas. There is a positive correlation between the mentioned deficits and the duration of heroin abuse. The memory is a cognitive function highly sensitive to toxic effects of opiates. The aim of this study was to establish the psychiatric and psychological consequences of heroin abuse, in the sense of verbal memory deficits, and the specific relation between mentioned deficits with the duration of abuse.. The research was devised as a prospective study, including ninety heroin addicts, divided into three groups, based on the abuse duration. The following instruments were used for data collecting: questionnaire, with basic social-demographic and addictive characteristics of subjects and Rey Test of Verbal Learning, a neuropsychological test for verbal memory estimation.. Only the examinees who have abused heroin for less than a year obtained scores within the domain of the expected performances within the part of the test which relates to the direct verbal memory, as well as, the part of the test that relates to delayed verbal memory. With regard to the mentioned criteria, the difference between examinees with different length of opiates abuse is statistically important (direct memory: F=2.706; p=0.063, delayed memory: F=2.538; p=0.045). With the increase of heroin abuse length the number of examinees with a rising learning curve is decreased significantly, and the number of examinees with a flat learning curve is increased (Chi-square=19.589; p=0.003).. Heroin abuse, lasting longer than one year, is connected with impairment of short-term and delayed verbal memory. The intensity of the mentioned effects is higher with addicts who use a higher daily dose of heroin. Topics: Adult; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Memory, Short-Term; Narcotics; Neuropsychological Tests; Prospective Studies; Psychometrics; Retention, Psychology; Time Factors; Verbal Learning; Wechsler Scales; Young Adult | 2011 |
Accelerated transition to injection among male heroin initiates in Hanoi, Vietnam: implications for early harm reduction interventions.
This paper examines changes in the interval between first heroin smoking and onset of injection in a large, out-treatment sample of male heroin users in Hanoi, Vietnam (n = 1,115). Mean age at initiation of heroin use (smoking) was 18.4 and mean age of onset of heroin injection was 20.9 years. Full multivariate analysis indicates that the interval between first heroin use (smoking) and first heroin injection has been significantly attenuated among more recent heroin initiates (P = 0.0043), suggesting that heroin users in Vietnam may be at increased risk for exposure to HIV relatively soon after onset of heroin use, highlighting the need for behavioral interventions that target heroin smokers. Critical intervention goals include delaying the onset of injection and improved education about safer drug sharing and drug injection practices. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Adult; Age of Onset; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease Progression; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Smoking; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Time Factors; Vietnam; Young Adult | 2011 |
[Effectiveness of "supervised" heroin].
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics | 2011 |
Pharmaceutical opioid analgesic and heroin dependence: how do treatment-seeking clients differ in Australia?
Non-prescribed use of pharmaceutical opioid analgesics (POA) has been escalating internationally. In Australia, few studies have examined if POA users have similar characteristics and treatment needs to heroin users. The aim of this study was to compare those presenting for treatment where heroin versus POA were the primary drugs of concern.. A convenience sample of 192 treatment entrants were recruited from alcohol and drug treatment services in four Australian jurisdictions. A structured interview collected data on demographic characteristics, substance use, self-perceived mental and physical health, crime and harms resulting from drug use. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify characteristics which may differentiate those seeking treatment for heroin compared with POA.. Most treatment entrants sampled reported a history of injection drug use and use of both heroin and POA. However, those with primary POA problems were less likely to report an overdose history (adjusted odds ratio 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.81-0.99) and more likely to initiate opioid use for pain (adjusted odds ratio 2.52, 95% confidence interval 1.04-6.12) than those with primary heroin problems. Latent Class Analysis found that, while most of the POA group were similar to heroin users in demographics, health and injecting drug use, there was a small, distinct group of primary POA problem users that did not typically inject and who commonly initiated opioid use for pain and also experienced elevated physical and mental health disability.. While some differences existed, this study of Australian treatment seekers found many similar characteristics between those with primary problems with heroin and POA. Few non-injecting POA were recruited in this sample. This finding contrasts with reports of a growing population of opioid-dependent people with characteristics that are distinct from traditional opioid-dependent populations, which may reflect the orientation of current treatment systems in Australia towards injection drug users. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Australia; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Opioid-Related Disorders; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Self Report; Young Adult | 2011 |
Distinct resting-state brain activities in heroin-dependent individuals.
Previous functional imaging studies on heroin addicts have focused on abnormal brain functions based on specific tasks, while few fMRI studies concentrated on the resting-state abnormalities of heroin-dependent individuals. In the current study, we applied the pattern classification technique, which employs the feature extraction method of non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) and a support vector machine (SVM) classifier. Its main purpose was to characterize the discrepancy in activation patterns between heroin-dependent individuals and healthy subjects during the resting state. The results displayed a high accuracy in the activation pattern differences of the two groups, which included the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), cingulate gyrus, frontal and para-limbic regions such as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), hippocampal/parahippocampal region, amygdala, caudate, putamen, as well as the posterior insula and thalamus. These findings indicate that significant biomarkers exist among the network of circuits that are involved in drug abuse. The implications from our study may help explain the behavioral and neuropsychological deficits in heroin-dependent individuals and shed light on the mechanisms underlying heroin addiction. Topics: Adult; Biomarkers; Brain Mapping; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Neurological; Narcotics; Rest | 2011 |
Differences in cigarette smoking behaviors among heroin inhalers versus heroin injectors.
The high prevalence of cigarette smoking among heroin users has triggered many studies to explore possible interactions between cigarette smoking and heroin addiction; however, little is known about the relationship between cigarette smoking behaviors and routes of heroin administration. The present study provided the first examination of cigarette smoking status, motivation, and cigarette smoking cue reactivity among injecting or inhaling heroin users.. Forty-six heroin-dependent patients were recruited in the present study. A battery of self-report questionnaires was used to assess cigarette smoking status and the reasons for smoking. In the clinical laboratory study, participants completed a cue-reactivity procedure that involved collecting psychophysical and motivational data in response to cigarette smoking slides.. The average number of cigarette per day among heroin inhalers was higher than that among heroin injectors. Most heroin inhalers reported that the primary reason for smoking was "maintaining drug pleasure," whereas heroin injectors reported that the primary smoking reason was "nicotine pleasure." Compared with heroin injectors, heroin inhalers provided increased ratings of heroin craving and desire to heroin use when exposed to cigarette smoking cues. Number of cigarettes per day was significantly correlated with cue-induced overall mean motivation in heroin inhalers but not in heroin injectors.. Cigarette smoking behaviors were different among heroin inhalers from among heroin injectors. These results emphasize the stronger association between cigarette smoking and heroin inhaling. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Behavior, Addictive; Cues; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospital Records; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; Motivation; Prevalence; Self Report; Smoking | 2011 |
A vaccine strategy that induces protective immunity against heroin.
Heroin addiction is a wide-reaching problem with a spectrum of damaging social consequences. A vaccine capable of blocking heroin's effects could provide a long-lasting and sustainable adjunct to heroin addiction therapy. Heroin, however, presents a particularly challenging immunotherapeutic target, as it is metabolized to multiple psychoactive molecules. To reconcile this dilemma, we examined the idea of a singular vaccine with the potential to display multiple drug-like antigens; thus two haptens were synthesized, one heroin-like and another morphine-like in chemical structure. A key feature in this approach is that immunopresentation with the heroin-like hapten is thought to be immunochemically dynamic such that multiple haptens are simultaneously presented to the immune system. We demonstrate the significance of this approach through the extremely rapid generation of robust polyclonal antibody titers with remarkable specificity. Importantly, both the antinociceptive effects of heroin and acquisition of heroin self-administration were blocked in rats vaccinated using the heroin-like hapten. Topics: Animals; Antibody Specificity; Cattle; Drug Carriers; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Haptens; Hemocyanins; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hot Temperature; Immunoconjugates; Male; Molecular Structure; Morphine; Narcotics; Pain; Psychotropic Drugs; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Secondary Prevention; Self Administration; Serum Albumin, Bovine; Structure-Activity Relationship; Touch; Vaccines | 2011 |
Ventral tegmental area-basolateral amygdala-nucleus accumbens shell neurocircuitry controls the expression of heroin-conditioned immunomodulation.
The present investigations sought to determine whether the ventral tegmental area (VTA), basolateral amygdala (BLA), and nucleus accumbens shell (NAC) comprise a circuitry that mediates heroin-induced conditioned immunomodulation. Rats were given conditioning trials in which they received an injection of heroin upon placement into a distinctive environment. Prior to testing, rats received unilateral intra-BLA microinfusion of a D(1) antagonist concomitantly with unilateral intra-NAC shell microinfusion of an NMDA antagonist. Disconnection of the VTA-BLA-NAC circuit impaired the ability of the heroin-paired environment to suppress lipopolysaccharide-induced immune responses, defining for the first time a specific neural circuit involved in conditioned neural-immune interactions. Topics: Amygdala; Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Conditioning, Psychological; Disease Models, Animal; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Immunomodulation; Male; Neural Pathways; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Ventral Tegmental Area | 2011 |
Histone H3 phosphoacetylation is critical for heroin-induced place preference.
We investigated the role of histone H3 phosphoacetylation in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in heroin-conditioned place preference paradigm. Heroin could dose-dependently increase histone H3 phosphoacetylation specifically in the NAc and could enhance heroin place preference. Injection of trichostatin A into the NAc significantly augmented heroin-induced histone H3 phosphoacetylation and enhanced heroin place preference. Conversely, injection of MK-801 into the NAc attenuated histone H3 phosphoacetylation and reduced heroin place preference. These data suggest that histone H3 phosphoacetylation in the NAc may play a critical role in heroin addiction. Topics: Acetylation; Animals; Brain; Conditioning, Operant; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Histones; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Narcotics; Phosphorylation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley | 2011 |
The impact of heroin on visual memory.
Heroin abuse can lead to organic damage of cerebral structures, including sequels in cognitive and affective sphere, which are in positive relation with the duration of substance usage. Memory is one of the cognitive functions which is highly sensitive to opiate toxic effects. The aim of this research was determination of heroin impact on the visual memory of addicts, as well as the existence of specific relation of potential deficiencies in visual memory with the duration of substance use.. The research included 90 examinees, divided into three groups, depending on the duration of heroin intake. We used questionnaire for basic socio-demographic and addictological traits of examinees; Wechsler's scale for the assessment of the intelligence and Visual Memory Test (TVP), for the assessment of the visual memory.. The achievements of heroin addicts with different duration of the substance abuse differ significantly (F = 1.83; df = 12; p < 0.05). Total number of errors examinees make in the first series of TVP (immediate visual memory) grows, almost linearly in the function of the duration of heroin abuse (p < 0.05), but in neither of groups meets criteria for the visual memory impairment. Deficiency of the delayed visual memory occurs in examinees who use heroin for one (total number of errors = 6.46; participation of typical organic errors = 31.7%) and longer than five years (total number of errors = 7.66; participation of typical organic errors = 26.7%). Univariate covariance analysis separates the average daily dosage of heroin as the most significant variable that contributes to the expression of the aforementioned deficiencies (F = 4.21; df = 2; p < 0.05).. Heroin abuse leads to damage of delayed visual memory, whereby for the observed effect intake of the substance for a period longer than one year is necessary. Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Memory; Prospective Studies; Visual Perception | 2011 |
Criminal convictions among dependent heroin users during a 3-year period prior to opioid maintenance treatment: a longitudinal national cohort study.
This study investigates frequency and types of criminal convictions among a national sample of heroin users during a 3-year period prior to opioid maintenance treatment (OMT). All heroin users (N = 3,789) in Norway who applied for and were eligible for OMT (1997-2003) were included. The OMT records were cross-linked to Norwegian crime statistics. During observation, 24,478 convictions were recorded among 60.9% of the sample. Differences of criminal convictions were found within the group; a large proportion (39.1%) had no convictions, whereas 10% of the sample was responsible for 37.8% of all convictions. Convictions for acquisitive crimes and drug crimes were the most common. Variations in the cohort's individual crime sequences were found. The heavy involvement of heroin users with the criminal justice system provides an opportunity to intervene with dependent offenders. Coordination between treatment providers and police or courts can play an important role in improving outcomes through better access to treatment. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Cohort Studies; Crime; Criminals; Databases, Factual; Drug Users; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Judicial Role; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Methadone; Norway; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Time Factors; Violence | 2011 |
Activation of caspase-3 and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase signaling pathways involving heroin-induced neuronal apoptosis.
Heroin has been shown to cause spongiform leukoencephalopathy (SLE) in heroin addicts. In this study, we found that heroin could induce apoptosis of primary cultured cerebellar granule cells (CGC) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway is activated during CGCs apoptosis. Inhibiting JNK with a specific inhibitor, SP600125, reduced the levels of c-Jun phosphorylation and caspase-3 activation. We also showed that use the JNK inhibitor SP600125, caspase inhibitor z-VAD, or use SP600125 and z-VAD together significantly suppressed cell death induced by heroin. These results indicate that JNK pathway is an important mediator of the neurotoxic effects of heroin and inhibiting JNK activity may represent a new and effective strategy to treat heroin-induced SLE. Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Apoptosis; Caspase 3; Caspase Inhibitors; Cerebellum; Cytoplasmic Granules; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme Activation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8; Narcotics; Neurons; Primary Cell Culture; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley | 2011 |
Valsalva manoeuvre effect on distribution of lung damage in heroin inhalation.
This article reports the case of a patient demonstrating acute bilateral pneumonitis almost completely confined to the upper lobes as a result of inhaling heroin. We attribute this distribution to the patient performing the Valsalva manoeuvre immediately after inhaling heroin. This pattern has not been reported before and we believe it may be seen more frequently owing to a switch amongst drug users from intravenous to inhaled heroin. Topics: Acute Disease; Acute Lung Injury; Administration, Inhalation; Blood Gas Analysis; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Middle Aged; Pneumonia; Radiography, Thoracic; Valsalva Maneuver | 2011 |
A morphine/heroin vaccine with new hapten design attenuates behavioral effects in rats.
Heroin use has seriously threatened public heath in many countries, but the existing therapies continue to have many limitations. Recently, immunotherapy has shown efficacy in some clinical studies, including vaccines against nicotine and cocaine, but no opioid vaccines have been introduced in clinical studies. The development of a novel opioid antigen designed specifically for the prevention of heroin addiction is necessary. A morphine-keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugate was prepared and administered subcutaneously in rats. Antibody titers in plasma were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Competitive ELISA was used to assess the selectivity of the antibodies. Dopamine concentrations in the nucleus accumbens in rats after vaccine administration were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The effects of the vaccine on the heroin-primed restatement of self-administration and locomotor sensitization were evaluated. A novel hapten, 6-glutarylmorphine, was produced, and the vaccine generated a high antibody titer response. This vaccine displayed specificity for both morphine and heroin, but the anti-morphine antibodies could not recognize dissimilar therapeutic opioid compounds, such as buprenorphine, methadone, naloxone, naltrexone, codeine, and nalorphine. The morphine antibody significantly decreased morphine-induced locomotor activity in rats after immunization. Importantly, rats immunized with this vaccine did not exhibit heroin-primed reinstatement of heroin seeking when antibody levels were sufficiently high. The vaccine reduced dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens after morphine administration, which is consistent with its behavioral effects. These results suggest that immunization with a novel vaccine is an effective means of inducing a morphine-specific antibody response that is able to attenuate the behavioral and psychoactive effects of heroin. Topics: Animals; Antibodies; Antibody Specificity; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Conditioning, Operant; Disease Models, Animal; Dopamine; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Extinction, Psychological; Hemocyanins; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Motor Activity; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration; Vaccines, Conjugate | 2011 |
Interaction between dysfunctional connectivity at rest and heroin cues-induced brain responses in male abstinent heroin-dependent individuals.
The majority of previous heroin cue-reactivity functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies focused on local function impairments, such as inhibitory control, decision-making and stress regulation. Our previous studies have demonstrated that these brain circuits also presented dysfunctional connectivity during the resting state. Yet few studies considered the relevance of resting state dysfunctional connectivity to task-related neural activity in the same chronic heroin user (CHU).. We employed the method of graph theory analysis, which detected the abnormality of brain regions and dysregulation of brain connections at rest between 16 male abstinent chronic heroin users (CHUs) and 16 non-drug users (NDUs). Using a cue-reactivity task, we assessed the relationship between drug-related cue-induced craving activity and the abnormal topological properties of the CHUs' resting networks. Comparing NDUs' brain activity to that of CHUs, the intensity of functional connectivity of the medial frontal gyrus (meFG) in patients' resting state networks was prominently greater and positively correlated with the same region's neural activity in the heroin-related task; decreased functional connectivity intensity of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in CHUs at rest was associated with more drug-related cue-induced craving activities.. These results may indicate that there exist two brain systems interacting simultaneously in the heroin-addicted brain with regards to a cue-reactivity task. The current study may shed further light on the neural architecture that supports craving responses in heroin dependence. Topics: Adult; Brain; Chronic Disease; Cues; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Nerve Net; Rest | 2011 |
A heroin prescription trial: case studies from Montreal and Vancouver on crime and disorder in the surrounding neighbourhoods.
This study evaluates whether the instauration of a heroin prescription trial ('NAOMI') generated an impact on the occurrence of crime and disorder in surrounding areas. The clinical trial was initiated in Vancouver and Montreal in 2005, with the aim of assessing the benefits of heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) in Canada. While experiences from other jurisdictions where HAT trials have been implemented clearly demonstrate substantial crime reduction effects for trial participants, there is overall concern that HAT clinics - similar to other interventions aiming at problematic street drug users - may induce a 'honeypot' effect, leading to increases in crime and/or disorder problems in the vicinity of interventions. It has been argued that HAT clinics will attract undesirable behaviour associated with cultures of street drug use and thereby produce negative impacts on the community.. This study examined the incidence of crime and disorder in the Vancouver and Montreal sites before and during the NAOMI trial (2002-2006), using police calls for service and arrest data. Data were analysed by autoregression analyses.. The analysis suggested that most indicators remained stable during the pre- and implementation phase of the NAOMI trial in both sites.. While the attribution of observed crime and disorder trends to the specific clinical interventions in Montreal and Vancouver is difficult and many extrinsic factors may play a role, this study has not generated any clear evidence from institutional police data to suggest increases or decreases in community-based problems associated with HAT programs in Canada. Topics: British Columbia; Civil Disorders; Clinical Trials as Topic; Community Health Centers; Crime; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Quebec; Residence Characteristics; Safety; Statistics as Topic | 2010 |
Heroin-assisted treatment in Switzerland: a case study in policy change.
Switzerland introduced a pragmatic national drug policy when the former conservative abstinence-orientated politics proved unable to cope with an escalating number of users and related negative consequences for public health and public order. The high visibility of 'needle parks' and the size of the acquired immune deficiency disorder (AIDS) epidemic called for a new approach and for national leadership.. To describe the intentions, the process and the results of setting up the new treatment approach of prescribing heroin to treatment resistant heroin addicts, as an example of drug policy change.. A systematic collection of relevant documents is analysed and used as evidence for describing the process of policy change.. Measures to reduce the negative consequences of continued use and to prevent the spread of AIDS were started mainly by private initiatives and soon taken up officially in the 'four-pillar' drug policy (including harm reduction, prevention, treatment and law enforcement). Medical prescription of heroin to chronic, treatment-resistant heroin addicts was one of the innovations, based on extensive scientific and political preparation. Detailed documentation and evaluation, ample communication of results, adaptations made on the basis of results and extensive public debate helped to consolidate the new policy and heroin-assisted treatment, in spite of its limitations as an observational cohort study. All necessary steps were taken to proceed from a scientific experiment to a routine procedure.. Comparable policy changes have been observed in a few other countries, such as The Netherlands and Germany, based on the Swiss experience, with equally positive results of heroin-assisted treatment. These experiments were designed as randomised controlled trials, comparing intravenous heroin against oral methadone, thereby demonstrating the specific value of pharmaceutical diamorphine for maintenance treatment in opiate dependence. The positive impact of policy change and the positive outcomes of heroin-assisted treatment were acknowledged increasingly nationally and internationally, but made it difficult to continue the process of adapting policy to new challenges, due to the low visibility of present drug problems and to changing political priorities.. A major change in drug policy was effectively realised under typical conditions of a federalist country with a longstanding tradition of democratic consensus building. Facilitating factors were the size and visibility of the heroin problem, the rise of the Aids epidemic, and a pragmatic attitude of tolerating private initiatives opening the way to official policy change. Topics: Cohort Studies; Drug and Narcotic Control; Germany; Harm Reduction; Health Plan Implementation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Needle-Exchange Programs; Netherlands; Political Systems; Program Evaluation; Public Health; Students; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Switzerland; Treatment Outcome | 2010 |
[Cocaine-related gastric perforation].
Since the 1980s the abuse of cocaine has been -associated with gastroduodenal perforations in the United States. Here, we report the case of a 28-year-old man who came to our hospital with severe abdominal pain after smoking cocaine. Physical examination revealed generalised abdominal guarding. His X-ray did not show any free intraperitoneal air. However, there was a slightly elevated white blood cell count. Upon laparoscopic exploration of the abdomen, the -patient was found to have a generalised peritonitis secondary to a perforation of the prepyloric anterior wall. The operative procedure consisted of ulcer excision and primary closure with a pyloroplasty as well as an extensive abdominal irrigation after laparotomy. Topics: Abdomen, Acute; Adult; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Diagnosis, Differential; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Laparoscopy; Male; Narcotics; Peptic Ulcer Perforation; Peritonitis; Pylorus; Stomach Ulcer; Vasoconstrictor Agents | 2010 |
Unsuspected prenatal opioid exposure: long-term detection by alternative matrices.
We describe a suspicious case involving a previous heroin addict and her newborn child experiencing symptoms suggestive of withdrawal. Therapeutic drug monitoring was used to determine whether in utero exposure took place. Topics: Diazepam; Drug Monitoring; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Infant, Newborn; Male; Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; Pregnancy | 2010 |
Commentary on Blanken et al. (2010): long-term heroin-assisted treatment-some more questions and answers.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Long-Term Care; Narcotics; Treatment Outcome | 2010 |
The Andalusian trial on heroin-assisted treatment: a 2 year follow-up.
In 2003, a randomised controlled trial comparing injected diacetylmorphine and oral methadone was carried out in Andalusia, Spain. The subsequent follow-up study evaluated the health and drug use status of participants, 2 years after the completion of the trial.. This follow-up cohort study was carried out between March and August 2006. Data collected included information on socio-demographics, drug use, health and health-related quality of life. We compared data collected before randomisation and at 2 years for the following three groups: those currently on heroin-assisted treatment (C-HAT), those who have discontinued HAT (D-HAT), and those who have never received HAT (N-HAT).. From the total 62 randomised participants in 2003, 54 (87%) were interviewed for this study. Participants were distributed as follow: C-HAT 44.4% (24), N-HAT 22.2% (12) and D-HAT 33.3% (18). Illicit heroin use had a statistically significant decrease in the three groups from baseline to 2 years post trial. Mean days of heroin use were 2.42 (SD = 3.02); 6.56 (SD = 9.48) and 13.92 (SD = 12.59) for the C-HAT, D-HAT and N-HAT groups, respectively. Those currently on HAT were the only group that sustained at 2 years, their marked improvement in health after 9 months of treatment during the trial period.. Patients who received HAT showed better outcomes compared with those not on HAT. The results of this study strengthen the evidence showing that HAT can improve and stabilise the health of long-term heroin users with severe comorbidities and high mortality. Topics: Adult; Cohort Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Spain; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome | 2010 |
A method to diagnose opioid dependence resulting from heroin versus prescription opioids using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview.
Treatment research with opioid-dependent populations has not traditionally distinguished between those dependent on prescription opioids versus dependent upon heroin. Evidence suggests there is a substantial subpopulation of individuals with opioid dependence resulting largely or exclusively from prescription opioid use. Because this subpopulation may respond to treatment differently from heroin users, a method for discriminating DSM-IV opioid dependence due to prescription opioid use would provide more precision when examining this population. This paper describes an innovative method using a currently available diagnostic instrument, to diagnose DSM-IV opioid dependence and distinguish between dependence resulting from prescription opioids versus dependence upon heroin. Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Prescription Drugs; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales | 2010 |
Heroin markers in hair of a narcotic police officer: active or passive exposure?
On March 2007, a police officer (46-year-old man) and a clerk (37-year-old woman) were arrested and subjected to investigation on the charges of drugs of abuse trafficking. The loving couple was exploiting their administrative positions to make money with the resale of seized drugs. The laboratory was requested to analyse their hair for drugs of abuse. Hair of the 2 subjects tested positive for heroin by GC-MS. A few days later, analysis of hair obtained from 11 other police officers of the same unit was requested, in order to compare the results, as external contamination was proposed to account for the positive results. The aim of the investigations was to demonstrate that passive contamination could not occur for persons dealing every day with drugs of abuse with minimal caution and hygiene, and that the measured concentrations in the arrested subjects correspond to personal abuse. All the narcotic team tested negative, irrespective of the compound. Topics: Adult; Biomarkers; Codeine; Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Narcotics; Occupational Exposure; Police | 2010 |
Neural effects of heroin--relation to anxiety stress.
Topics: Animals; Anxiety; Brain; Emotions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Nervous System Diseases; Rats; Stress, Psychological | 2010 |
Heroin contaminated with anthrax has killed 11 people.
Topics: Anthrax; Drug Contamination; Germany; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; United Kingdom | 2010 |
Prospective comparative assessment of buprenorphine overdose with heroin and methadone: clinical characteristics and response to antidotal treatment.
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist with a "ceiling effect" for respiratory depression. Despite this, it has been associated with severe overdoses. Conflicting data exist regarding its response in overdose to naloxone. We compared clinical overdose characteristics of buprenorphine with heroin and methadone and assessed responses to naloxone and flumazenil. Patients admitted to two intensive care units with severe opioid overdoses were enrolled into this 4-year prospective study. Urine and blood toxicological screening were performed to identify overdoses involving predominantly buprenorphine, heroin, or methadone. Eighty-four patients with heroin (n = 26), buprenorphine (n = 39), or methadone (n = 19) overdoses were analyzed. In the buprenorphine group, sedative drug coingestions were frequent (95%), whereas in the methadone group, suicide attempts were significantly more often reported (p = .0007). Buprenorphine overdose induced an opioid syndrome not differing significantly from heroin and methadone in mental status (as measured by Glasgow Coma Score) or arterial blood gases. Mental status depression was not reversed in buprenorphine overdoses with naloxone (0.4-0.8 mg) but did improve with flumazenil (0.2-1 mg) if benzodiazepines were coingested. In conclusion, buprenorphine overdose causes an opioid syndrome clinically indistinguishable from heroin and methadone. Although mental status and respiratory depression are often unresponsive to low-dose naloxone, flumazenil may be effective in buprenorphine overdoses involving benzodiazepines. Topics: Adult; Antidotes; Buprenorphine; Drug Overdose; Female; Flumazenil; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Prospective Studies; Suicide, Attempted | 2010 |
Initial experience of heroin use under a two-chained operant schedule influences drug-seeking behavior after one month of abstinence.
To evaluate the influence of an initial heroin experience under a modified two-chained training schedule on drug-seeking behavior after a long abstinence period.. Rats were trained to respond for intravenous heroin (120 microg/kg) under a heterogeneous chained schedule of reinforcement using different responses in the first and second links of the chain. Animals received low-frequency drug administration training for four days and were then subjected to one month of abstinence in their home cages. Heroin-seeking behavior induced by re-exposure to the first chain associated context or discriminative stimuli was assessed after abstinence.. Almost all animals could acquire operant skills quickly under the two-chained schedule training for four days, as measured in first active response latency, travel speed and goal-box enter latency. Both first chain associated context and discriminative stimulus could reinstate heroin-seeking behavior after one month abstinence.. These observations suggest that an early experience of drug use is sufficient to maintain heroin-seeking behavior even after a one month abstinence. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Conditioning, Operant; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley | 2010 |
Toxic leukoencephalopathy after heroin abuse without heroin vapor inhalation: MR imaging and clinical features in three patients.
Toxic leukoencephalopathy has been associated with illicit heroin vapor inhalation. Despite the nonspecific and variable clinical presentation of these patients, they show typical radiologic findings. Previous studies evaluated typical radiologic findings with symmetric infratentorial hyperintense signal changes and similar alteration in the posterior limb of the internal capsule, the splenium of corpus callosum, the medial lemniscus and the lateral brainstem. In context with the reviewed literature, a series of another three cases with toxic leukoencephalopathy after heroin abuse other than vapor inhalation is presented.. All three patients underwent magnet resonance imaging (MRI) including additional diffusion- weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient maps. Clinical and laboratory findings were recorded.. MRI of all three patients revealed similar symmetric supratentorial hyperintense signal changes involving the frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal lobes. The cortex was spared and the subcortical U fibers were partially involved. Further, the brainstem and the cerebellar white matter were not affected.. Toxic leukoencephalopathy without involvement of the cerebellum and brainstem is a rare complication of heroin abuse. The pattern of heroin-induced toxic leukoencephalopathy on MRI might not only be related to an unknown adulterant, but also to the mode of drug administration. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Brain Stem; Cerebellar Diseases; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukoencephalopathies; Male | 2010 |
Upregulation of SOCS-3 and PIAS-3 impairs IL-12-mediated interferon-gamma response in CD56 T cells in HCV-infected heroin users.
CD56(+) T cells are abundant in liver and play an important role in host innate immunity against viral infections, including hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a common infection among heroin abusers. We thus investigated the in vivo impact of heroin use or heroin use plus HCV infection on the CD56(+) T cell frequency and function.. A total of 37 heroin users with (17) or without (20) HCV infection and 17 healthy subjects were included in the study. Although there was no significant difference in CD56(+) T cell frequency in PBMCs among three study groups, CD56(+) T cells isolated from the heroin users had significantly lower levels of constitutive interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) expression than those from the normal subjects. In addition, when stimulated by interleukin (IL)-12, CD56(+) natural T cells from HCV-infected heroin users produced significantly lower levels of IFN-gamma than those from the normal subjects. This diminished ability to produce IFN-gamma by CD56(+) T cells was associated with the increased plasma HCV viral loads in the HCV-infected heroin users. Investigation of the mechanisms showed that although heroin use or heroin use plus HCV infection had little impact on the expression of the key positive regulators (IL-12 receptors, STAT-1, 3, 4, 5, JAK-2, and TYK-2) in IL-12 pathway, heroin use or heroin use plus HCV infection induced the expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling protein-3 (SOCS-3) and protein inhibitors of activated STAT-3 (PIAS-3), two key inhibitors of IL-12 pathway.. These findings provide compelling in vivo evidence that heroin use or heroin use plus HCV infection impairs CD56(+) T cell-mediated innate immune function, which may account for HCV infection and persistence in liver. Topics: CD56 Antigen; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; Hepacivirus; Hepatitis C; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-12; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Liver; Molecular Chaperones; Protein Inhibitors of Activated STAT; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; T-Lymphocytes; Up-Regulation | 2010 |
[Association of cytochrome P4502D6 gene polymorphism with the susceptibility of heroin spongiform leucoencephalopathy].
To elucidate the relation between cytochrome P4502D6 (CYP2D6) gene polymorphism and the susceptibility of heroin spongiform leucoencephalopathy (HSLE).. With polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique, the cytochrome P4502D6 gene polymorphisms were analyzed in HSLE cases and control subjects.. The frequencies of CYP2D6 (CYP2D6/C188, CYP2D6/L2938, CYP2D6/G4268) gene mutations were higher in HSLE patients than in the controls.. The CYP2D6 gene mutation is associated with a high risk of HSLE. Topics: Adult; Canavan Disease; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mutation; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Young Adult | 2010 |
Beyond neoclassical economics: Social process, agency and the maintenance of order in an Australian illicit drug marketplace.
The dominant Australian approaches to understanding illicit drug marketplaces are surveillance and criminological research. These approaches rely on the elementary neoclassical economic model of the market which focuses primarily on supply and demand. In this paper, we draw on anthropological and sociological research to develop an alternative framework for understanding Australian illicit drug marketplaces that emphasises their constituent processes.. The paper draws on two years of ethnographic research among heroin user/sellers of Vietnamese ethnicity in an Australian heroin marketplace.. Trade and barter were key modes of exchange in this marketplace. We identified active negotiation and bargaining over price on the basis of social relationships, with dealers and customers actively working to develop and maintain such ties. Dealers set price collectively and this was shaped by moral and cultural elements such as notions of a 'fair' price. Social processes and relations as well as shared cultural expectations helped to generate trust and maintain order in the marketplace.. Our ethnographic research suggests that the dominant Australian approaches to the study of illicit drug markets, with their reliance on the elementary neoclassical economic market model, ignore the social processes and social relations through which such sites are made and remade. Nor do they adequately capture the complex character of the subjects who act within these sites. If we are to expand our understanding of illicit drug markets and marketplaces in Australia, we must look beyond the conceptions offered by surveillance and criminological approaches. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anthropology, Cultural; Australia; Commerce; Cultural Evolution; Drug and Narcotic Control; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Income; Male; Social Environment; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Vietnam; Young Adult | 2010 |
Heroin-assisted treatment in the Netherlands: History, findings, and international context.
This monograph describes the history, findings and international context of heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) in the Netherlands. The monograph consists of (1) a short introduction and seven paragraphs describing the following aspects of HAT in the Netherlands: (2) history of HAT studies and implementation of routine HAT in the Netherlands; (3) main findings on efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness from the two randomized controlled HAT trials in the Netherlands; (4) new findings from a large cohort study on the effectiveness of HAT in routine clinical practice in the Netherlands; (5) unique data on the patient's perspective of HAT; (6) data on the pharmacological and pharmaceutical basis for HAT in the Netherlands; (7) description of the registration process; and (8) account of the international context of HAT. Together, these data show that HAT can now be considered a safe and proven-effective intervention for the treatment of chronic, treatment-resistant heroin dependent patients. Topics: Adult; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Drug Prescriptions; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Netherlands; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome | 2010 |
Multiple-drug toxicity caused by the coadministration of 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) and heroin.
An accidental death caused by the combined use of a new designer drug, 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone), and heroin is reported. A 22-year-old Caucasian male was found unresponsive in his living quarters and was transported to the hospital where he died. During autopsy, needle marks were found along the decedent's lower legs and ankles. Investigators discovered the decedent and his roommate had been using "Black Tar" heroin and mephedrone. Routine toxicological analysis detected morphine in the decedent's blood at 0.06 mg/L. Additionally, 6-acetylmorphine, morphine, codeine, and doxylamine were detected in his urine. A designer drug screen, employing a basic liquid-liquid extraction followed by pentafluropropionic anhydride derivatization, was used to isolate mephedrone from both blood and urine specimens. The derivatized extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS) operating in full-scan mode. Quantitative analysis of mephedrone was performed by GC-MS operating in selective ion monitoring mode using methamphetamine-d(14) as an internal standard. Mephedrone was confirmed in the decedent's blood and urine at 0.50 and 198 mg/L, respectively. The physiological and pharmacological effects of mephedrone and any associated toxicity have not been reported. However, because of its structural similarities with methcathinone and the high concentration in the decedent's blood, the overall contribution of mephedrone to the death could not be minimized. Therefore, the medical examiner reported the cause of death as multiple-drug toxicity and the manner of death as accidental. Topics: Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Chromatography, Gas; Codeine; Doxylamine; Drug Overdose; Fatal Outcome; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunoassay; Male; Methamphetamine; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Reproducibility of Results; Substance Abuse Detection; Young Adult | 2010 |
[Heroin seized in France. Statistical data from National database of Forensic Laboratories].
This article aims at exploiting the statistical data of the qualitative and quantitative analyses of heroin circulating in France over more than 20 years. This information, systematically recorded by the Forensic Laboratories from Institut national de police scientifique is a good source of knowledge of this product at both the chemical and sanitary levels (street level, wholesalers, imports, etc.). Topics: Crime; Databases, Factual; Forensic Toxicology; France; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Laboratories; Law Enforcement | 2010 |
Multidisciplinary antenatal care for opiate-using women: Child-care issues.
The fact that particular parents suffer afflictions limiting their ability to care does not mean that they should automatically be deemed unsuitable parents. Prompted by neonatal team concerns about child-care issues, a local multidisciplinary group was set up to care for substance-abusing pregnant women in our region.. This project was conducted in order to review the records of all the women who had been discussed at our management planning meetings over the past 5 years. Our assessment tool records were reviewed and analysed using spss.. A total of 233 women were assessed. The majority of patients booked before 20 weeks (62%) and 96 women (41%) attended over 80% of their antenatal appointments. There was little change in substance use during the course of pregnancy. Overall, at delivery, 196 of the 233 women (84%) used methadone and 89(38%) used heroin. There was no correlation between usage and foster care of the baby (methadone: chi(2) = 0.5, P = 0.8 NS) (heroin: chi(2) = 3.1, P = 0.08 NS). There was an absolute correlation between social services involvement and foster care (chi(2) = 2.33, P < 0.0001). Adherence with planned antenatal appointments significantly increased the likelihood of a child being discharged with his mother (chi(2) = 6.7, P = 0.009).. The majority of newborns were discharged home with their mothers directly with the most significant factor in placing a child in foster care being prior involvement of social services. However, many of these families will continue to need support during the children's early years. Topics: Appointments and Schedules; Female; Foster Home Care; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Methadone; Opioid-Related Disorders; Patient Compliance; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prenatal Care; Social Work | 2010 |
Science and politics of heroin prescription.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections; Methadone; Narcotics; Politics; Prescription Drugs | 2010 |
Toxic leukoencephalopathy after intravenous heroin injection: a case with clinical and radiological reversibility.
Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukoencephalopathies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Narcotics | 2010 |
Evaluation of prooxidant-antioxidant balance in chronic heroin users in a single assay: an identification criterion for antioxidant supplementation.
Opiate abuse has been linked to oxidative stress, through the separate evaluation of oxidants and antioxidants.. To determine prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) in chronic heroin users in a single assay, easily applied in a clinical setting. Specifically, to examine whether PAB values correlate with the duration of abuse or with the presence of anti-HCV antibodies.. Sixty-four chronic heroin users - 34 cases and 30 controls - participated in this study. PAB was determined by an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, developed by members of the study group.. In heroin users, oxidative balance was disrupted in favor of prooxidants. There was no correlation of PAB values with the duration of abuse or with the presence of anti-Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies.. Chronic heroin users can benefit from an antioxidant therapy, and the method currently presented can be used as an identification criterion. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Antioxidants; Case-Control Studies; Greece; Hepatitis C Antibodies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Oxidants; Oxidative Stress; Young Adult | 2010 |
Methadone maintenance treatment: a protective factor for cocaine injection in a street-recruited cohort of heroin users.
To evaluate the effect of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) on cocaine use and cocaine injection among heroin users.. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to examine the association between MMT enrollment (0, <12, ≥12 months) and changes in frequency of cocaine use or injection in two consecutive follow-up visits among heroin users in the Itinere cohort, and to determine whether these changes were independent of equivalent changes in heroin use or injection. Seven multivariate models were constructed, one for each outcome variable on drug use changes.. Of the 992 participants recruited in 2001-2003, 628 (63.3%) had at least one follow-up visit. Of these, 55.8% were enrolled in MMT at baseline and an additional 23.2% initiated MMT during follow-up. In multivariate GEE, changes significantly and positively associated with MMT enrollment were: less cocaine use [MMT<12 months (OR=1.70, 95% CI=1.17-2.48)] and less cocaine injection [MMT≥12 months (OR=2.98, 95% CI=1.51-5.89)]. Being on MMT≥12 months was negatively associated with more cocaine use (OR=0.62, 95% CI=0.38-0.99) and with more cocaine injection (OR=0.52, 95% CI=0.28-0.98). When equivalent changes in heroin were used as a covariate, the MMT effect on less cocaine use was hardly modified (OR=1.69, 95% CI=1.07-2.65), and the effect on changes in cocaine injection disappeared.. MMT enrollment is a protective factor against both cocaine use and injection among heroin users. The effect of MMT on cocaine injection appears to be mediated by heroin injection, whereas its effect on cocaine use is more direct. Topics: Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Cohort Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2010 |
Extracellular matrix plasticity and GABAergic inhibition of prefrontal cortex pyramidal cells facilitates relapse to heroin seeking.
Successful treatment of drug addiction is hampered by high relapse rates during periods of abstinence. Neuroadaptation in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is thought to have a crucial role in vulnerability to relapse to drug seeking, but the molecular and cellular mechanisms remain largely unknown. To identify protein changes that contribute to relapse susceptibility, we investigated synaptic membrane fractions from the mPFC of rats that underwent 21 days of forced abstinence following heroin self-administration. Quantitative proteomics revealed that long-term abstinence from heroin self-administration was associated with reduced levels of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. After extinction of heroin self-administration, downregulation of ECM proteins was also present in the mPFC, as well as nucleus accumbens (NAc), and these adaptations were partially restored following cue-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. In the mPFC, these ECM proteins are condensed in the perineuronal nets that exclusively surround GABAergic interneurons, indicating that ECM adaptation might alter the activity of GABAergic interneurons. In support of this, we observed an increase in the inhibitory GABAergic synaptic inputs received by the mPFC pyramidal cells after the re-exposure to heroin-conditioned cues. Recovering levels of ECM constituents by metalloproteinase inhibitor treatment (FN-439; i.c.v.) prior to a reinstatement test attenuated subsequent heroin seeking, suggesting that the reduced synaptic ECM levels during heroin abstinence enhanced sensitivity to respond to heroin-conditioned cues. We provide evidence for a novel neuroadaptive mechanism, in which heroin self-administration-induced adaptation of the ECM increased relapse vulnerability, potentially by augmenting the responsivity of mPFC GABAergic interneurons to heroin-associated stimuli. Topics: Animals; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Drug Administration Schedule; Enzyme Inhibitors; Extracellular Matrix; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hydroxamic Acids; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Mass Spectrometry; Narcotics; Oligopeptides; Prefrontal Cortex; Proteomics; Pyramidal Cells; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reinforcement Schedule; Self Administration; Signal Transduction; Synaptic Potentials | 2010 |
The effect of methamphetamine and heroin price on polydrug use: A behavioural economics analysis in Sydney, Australia.
A key aim of supply-side drug law enforcement is to reduce drug use by increasing the retail price of drugs. Since most illicit drug users are polydrug users the effectiveness of this strategy depends on the extent to which drug users reduce their overall consumption of drugs. The literature shows that drug users do reduce their consumption of a drug when its price increases. However the extent of that decrease and the implications for the use of other drugs vary across studies.. A sample of 101 Australian methamphetamine users was surveyed using a behavioural economics approach. Participants were given a hypothetical fixed drug budget, presented with a range of drug price lists and asked how many units of each drug they would purchase. Methamphetamine and heroin prices were varied independently across trials.. While demand for both methamphetamine and heroin was found to be price elastic, elasticity estimates were influenced by the nature of participants' drug dependence. The group least responsive to changes in methamphetamine price were those dependent only on methamphetamine, while the group most responsive were dependent only on heroin. Similar findings emerged in relation to changes in heroin price. Cross-price elasticity analysis showed limited substitution into other drugs as the price of methamphetamine increased. In contrast, for heroin, there was significant substitution into pharmaceutical opioids and to a lesser extent, benzodiazepines and methamphetamine. However, for the most part, the decreases in methamphetamine or heroin consumption outweighed any substitution into other drugs.. The reduction in overall drug consumption and expenditure in response to price increases in heroin and methamphetamine observed in this sample lend support to supply-side enforcement strategies that aim to increase retail drug price. Notably, this analysis highlights the importance of accounting for the nature of users' drug dependence in estimating price responsiveness. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Australia; Commerce; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Law Enforcement; Male; Mental Health Services; Methamphetamine; Middle Aged; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Substance-Related Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult | 2010 |
Service use and barriers to care among heroin users: results from a national survey.
Heroin use is associated with many serious consequences.While effective treatments exist, barriers to services persist. Understanding service use and barriers to treatment can structure treatment practice and target interventions for those who are most at risk.. To describe patterns and correlates of substance abuse service utilization and treatment barriers among a nationally representative sample of heroin users.. Data for this study were derived from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. This study focused on lifetime heroin users (N = 150).. Fifty-nine percent of heroin users reported receiving at least one treatment service. The most common services used were 12-step programs, detoxification, and rehabilitation. Approximately 44% reported at least one barrier to treatment. The most common were lack of motivation and beliefs that it could be managed alone. In a multivariate logistic regression, having a heroin use disorder was associated with a greater likelihood of receiving services (OR = 6.09) and experiencing a barrier (OR = 11.11) compared to those without a disorder.. High rates of service use and barriers were observed for all levels of heroin involvement. These findings underscore the importance of improving access to services for this group, even when full criteria for a drug disorder is not met. Integration of motivational approaches is also needed within the most common services used. To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe patterns and correlates of service use using a nationally representative community sample of heroin users. Topics: Adult; Data Collection; Female; Health Services Accessibility; Healthcare Disparities; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mental Health Services; Middle Aged; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; United States | 2010 |
Trait-like impulsivity does not predict escalation of heroin self-administration in the rat.
The neural and psychological mechanisms underlying vulnerability to drug addiction are poorly understood. Although a number of animal models have been developed to investigate vulnerability to stimulant addiction, few have considered how vulnerability traits such as impulsivity predict hallmark features of heroin addiction including the escalation of drug intake and increased propensity for relapse following protracted abstinence.. The aim of this study was to investigate whether high impulsivity in rats predicts the propensity to escalate intravenous heroin self-administration and to relapse following an extended withdrawal period from heroin.. High (HI)- and low (LI)-impulsive rats, defined by the extent of premature responding on the 5-choice serial reaction time test (5-CSRTT), were catheterized and allowed to self-administer heroin (40 μg/100 μl/infusion). After 5 days of short access (1 h/day) to heroin, rats were then given extended (6 h/day) access to heroin for 18 consecutive days.. High impulsivity predicted neither a greater tendency to acquire heroin SA nor an increased escalation of heroin self-administration. Moreover, high impulsivity was not associated with an increased propensity to relapse after protracted withdrawal from heroin. Nevertheless, marked inter-individual differences in the escalation of heroin self-administration were observed.. Although high impulsivity on the 5-CSRTT has been shown to predict loss of control over cocaine intake, this does not generalize to a loss of control over heroin self-administration. These findings suggest important distinctions in vulnerability mechanisms underlying cocaine and heroin addiction with trait-like impulsivity playing a role in stimulant but not opiate addiction. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Attention; Behavior, Addictive; Behavior, Animal; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Infusions, Intravenous; Male; Rats; Recurrence; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 2010 |
[Analysis on opioid compounds in the hair of heroin addicts with LC-MS/MS].
To evaluate the effects of washing process on hair samples from heroin addicts, and compare the extracting method of enzymatic digestion with homogenization of hair samples.. After washing samples for 3.15 h, a mild enzymatic digestion procedure at pH 6.6 and a buffer incubating procedure in water bath at 48 degrees C during 18h was used. The samples were pre-treated by solid phase extraction using mixed mode sorbent columns (MCX Oasis). Quantitative analysis of morphine, codeine, 6-acetylmorphine, heroin, acetylcodeine by chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed.. Heroin accounted for 21.82% of the total equivalents of morphine. The ratio of morphine to 6-MAM in enzymatic digestion hair samples was 0.9875 and that in homogenized hair samples was 0.3948.. The results suggested that the procedures were not sufficient to remove the contaminants penetrating into hair from external sources. Topics: Chromatography, Liquid; Codeine; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Solid Phase Extraction; Tandem Mass Spectrometry | 2010 |
Patterns of childhood trauma and psychological distress among injecting heroin users in China.
Childhood trauma has been reported as a possible cause of future substance abuse in some countries. This study reports the prevalence of childhood trauma and examines its association with psychological distress among injecting drug users from mainland China.. The study was conducted in three government-operated drug rehabilitation facilities in Shanghai, China in 2007. The Early Trauma Inventory Self Report-Short Form (ETISR-SF) was used to evaluate 4 types (general, emotional, physical and sexual) and severity of childhood trauma, and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) to evaluate psychological distress.. Among 341 injecting drug users who completed the study, about 80% reported one or more types of childhood trauma, specifically 53% general trauma, 56% physical abuse, 36% emotional abuse and 26% sexual abuse. Compared to female injecting drug users, males reported significantly higher scores of general trauma and physical abuse, but lower sexual abuse scores. Hierarchical linear regression analyses showed that greater physical and emotional abuse in childhood predict greater current psychopathological distress among these injecting drug users in China.. The results reveal a high prevalence of childhood trauma among injecting drug users in China, and it is comparable to other similar studies in Western countries. It is important to consider the role of childhood trauma in the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. Topics: Adult; Child; Child Abuse; China; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Prevalence; Regression Analysis; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2010 |
[Efficacy diacetylmorphine (pharmaceutical heroin) for heroin treatment ].
Before implementing the TADAM project in Belgium (a heroin-assisted treatment trial), our research team studied the trials in other countries. Since 1994, six randomised controlled trials have been developed using the same treatment model of heroin-assisted treatment (HAT). Each trial concluded that HAT had more efficacy than methadone treatment. We analysed those trials in order to find on which levels patients in a HAT treatment are expected to improve. Improvements appeared after at least six months on the level of street heroin use, (physical and mental) health and criminal behaviour. In the longer term, the continuation of treatment had positive but limited effects on the social level. Due to his higher cost, this treatment should remain a second-line treatment for this special target group: severe heroin addicts, using continuously street heroin in spite of a methadone treatment. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic | 2010 |
Psychological mood state of opiate addicted women during pregnancy and postpartum in comparison to non-addicted healthy women.
Opiate addiction has been widely documented to have negative impact on pregnancy course and outcome. Unfavorable psychosocial situation of addicted women predispose for poor processing of the physiological and psychological demands of pregnancy. Thus aim of our study was to investigate the psychological mood state of opiate addicts during pregnancy and postpartum in comparison to healthy women. In a case-controlled, prospective, longitudinal study nine pregnant opiate addicts and nine healthy pregnant women matched by age, level of education and gestational age at birth were interviewed in the third trimester of pregnancy and postpartum. Standardized questionnaires and inventories for assessment of the general psychopathology and emotional state, the perceived self-efficacy expectancy, the psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy and the fear of delivery, respectively were applied. Addicted women achieved significantly higher scores in the test assessing general psychopathology and emotional state before delivery compared to abstinent women. Interestingly this difference was unverifiable postpartum. This study reaffirms the presumption of a disadvantageous psychological condition in pregnant opiate addicts in comparison to healthy pregnant women for the first time in a prospective case-control study design. Topics: Adult; Affect; Anxiety; Case-Control Studies; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Comorbidity; Depression, Postpartum; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Longitudinal Studies; Narcotics; Parturition; Personality Inventory; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prospective Studies; Psychometrics; Self Efficacy; Social Support; Young Adult | 2009 |
Cocaine and opiate concentrations in hair from subjects in a heroin maintenance program in comparison to a methadone substituted group.
One month before (T-1) and 12 months after (T12) controlled i.v. administration of pharmaceutical heroin-HCl (10-100 mg/day) in the context of a heroin maintenance program (HMP), concentrations of opiates and cocaine as well as its metabolites were determined in head hair (n = 46) using a validated gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method. In addition, a patient collective of a methadone maintenance program (MMP, daily doses 15-260 mg) was examined (n = 35). The incidence of additional cocaine consumption decreased in both groups during the study period (T-1 to T12): in HMP from 64.6% to 45.8% and in MMP from 71.4% to 60.0%. A significant reduction of cocaine consumption was defined as an at least 30% reduction of analyte concentrations in hair (Deltac > 30%). Accordingly, in HMP, a decrease in 45.8% of initially (T-1) cocaine-positive patients was determined; in MMP, the reduction was 48.6%. In 22.9% of HMP and 37.1% of MMP, an increase of cocaine concentrations was detected. Codeine and acetylcodeine were found in 50.0% and 43.5% (T-1) and 13.0% and 10.9% (T12) of the samples of the HMP, as well as in 45.7% and 25.7% (T-1) and 17.1% and 5.7% (T12) in MMP, respectively. The missing of acetylcodeine, in particular at T-1, questions its applicability as a characteristic marker of a preceding consumption of illicit heroin in hair analysis. Topics: Cocaine; Codeine; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Linear Models; Methadone; Narcotics; Substance Abuse Detection | 2009 |
The alpha1 adrenergic receptor antagonist prazosin reduces heroin self-administration in rats with extended access to heroin administration.
Previous studies have reported that noradrenergic antagonists alleviate some of the symptoms of opiate withdrawal and dependence. Clinical studies also have shown that modification of the noradrenergic system may help protect patients from relapse. The present study tested the hypothesis that a dysregulated noradrenergic system has motivational significance in heroin self-administration of dependent rats. Prazosin, an alpha1-adrenergic antagonist (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/kg, i.p.), was administered to adult male Wistar rats with a history of limited (1 h/day; short access) or extended (12 h/day; long access) access to intravenous heroin self-administration. Prazosin dose-dependently reduced heroin self-administration in long-access rats but not short-access rats, with 2 mg/kg of systemic prazosin significantly decreasing 1 h and 2 h heroin intake. Prazosin also reversed some changes in meal pattern associated with extended heroin access, including the taking of smaller and briefer meals (at 3 h), while also increasing total food intake and slowing the eating rate within meals (both 3 h and 12 h). Thus, prazosin appears to stimulate food intake in extended access rats by restoring meals to the normal size and duration. The data suggest that the alpha1 adrenergic system may contribute to mechanisms that promote dependence in rats with extended access. Topics: Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Agonists; Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; Animals; Conditioning, Operant; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drinking; Eating; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Prazosin; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reinforcement Schedule; Self Administration; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2009 |
Mechanisms of withdrawal-associated increases in heroin self-administration: pharmacologic modulation of heroin vs food choice in heroin-dependent rhesus monkeys.
Opioid withdrawal can produce a constellation of physiological and behavioral signs, including an increase in opioid self-administration. Different mechanisms mediate different withdrawal signs, and the present study used pharmacologic tools to assess mechanisms underlying withdrawal-associated increases in opioid reinforcement. Five rhesus monkeys were rendered heroin dependent via daily 21-h heroin self-administration sessions. One hour after each heroin self-administration session, monkeys chose between heroin (0-0.1 mg/kg per injection) and food (1 g pellets) during 2-h choice sessions. Under these conditions, heroin maintained a dose-dependent increase in heroin choice, such that monkeys responded primarily for food when low heroin doses were available (0-0.01 mg/kg per injection) and primarily for heroin when higher heroin doses were available (0.032-0.1 mg/kg per injection). Periods of spontaneous withdrawal were intermittently introduced by omitting one 21-h heroin self-administration session, and test drugs were administered during these withdrawal periods. Untreated withdrawal robustly increased heroin choice during choice sessions. Withdrawal-associated increases in heroin choice were completely suppressed by the mu opioid agonist morphine (0.032-0.32 mg/kg/h, i.v.), but not by the alpha-2 noradrenergic agonist clonidine (0.01-0.1 mg/kg/h, i.v.), the dopamine/norepinephrine releaser amphetamine (0.032-0.1 mg/kg/h, i.v.), or the kappa-opioid antagonist 5'-guanidinonaltrindole (1.0 mg/kg, i.m.). The corticotropin-releasing factor 1 antagonist antalarmin (1.0-10 mg/kg per day, i.m.) produced a morphine-like suppression of withdrawal-associated increases in heroin choice in one of three monkeys. These results suggest that mechanisms of withdrawal-associated increases in the relative reinforcing efficacy of opioid agonists may be different from mechanisms of many other somatic, mood-related, and motivational signs of opioid withdrawal. Topics: Adrenergic Agents; Adrenergic Agonists; Amphetamine; Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Choice Behavior; Clonidine; Dopamine Agents; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Food; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Macaca mulatta; Male; Morphine; Narcotic Antagonists; Pyrimidines; Pyrroles; Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2009 |
Mu opioid receptor knockdown in the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area by synthetic small interfering RNA blocks the rewarding and locomotor effects of heroin.
Mu opioid receptors (MOP-r) play an important role in the rewarding and locomotor stimulatory effects of heroin. The aim of the current study was to determine whether infusion of small interfering RNAs (siRNA) targeting MOP-r into the midbrain could knock down MOP-r mRNA and affect heroin-induced locomotor activity or heroin-induced conditioned place preference. Ten-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were surgically implanted bilaterally with guide cannulae directed between the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. After 4 days' recovery, mice were infused bilaterally with siRNAs that target the MOP-r (2 mMx0.75 microl/side/day for 3 days) or control siRNA. Seven days after the last infusion, a procedure for conditioned place preference was begun with four heroin (3 mg/kg i.p.) administration sessions alternating with four saline sessions. While heroin induced an increase in locomotor activity in all groups, siRNAs targeting specific regions of MOP-r significantly attenuated this effect. Of particular interest, mice infused with specific siRNAs targeting the MOP-r failed to develop and express conditioned place preference to heroin, or showed a significantly attenuated preference. These alterations in reward-related behaviors are likely due to the reduction in MOP-r mRNA and protein, shown in separate studies by in situ hybridization and autoradiography using the same MOP-r- siRNA infusions. Taken together, these studies demonstrate the utility of siRNA in the neurobiological study of specific components of the reward system and should contribute to the study of other complex behaviors. Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Autoradiography; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Locomotion; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Reaction Time; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Reward; RNA, Small Interfering; Substantia Nigra; Time Factors; Ventral Tegmental Area | 2009 |
Heroin in brown, black and white: structural factors and medical consequences in the US heroin market.
Heroin coming into the United States historically comes from three widely dispersed geographical regions: Southwest Asia, Southeast Asia and Mexico. A fourth source of US-bound heroin, from Colombia, originated in the early 1990s. The fact that the four heroin sources produce differing morphologies and qualities of heroin has not been critically examined. In addition, it is not well established how the contemporary competing dynamics of interdiction, or restriction of heroin flows across international boundaries, and neoliberal, e.g., global expansion of free trade, policies are affecting heroin markets. This paper will highlight changes in the US heroin market, including source trends, the political economy of the now dominant source and the resultant effects on the heroin risk environment by US region.. Using a structural and historical framework this paper examines two decades of secondary data sources, including government and drug control agency documents, on heroin flows together with published work on the political and economic dynamics in Latin America.. Co-occurring neoliberal economic reforms may have contributed to paradoxical effects of US/Colombian interdiction efforts. Since entering the US market, heroin from Colombia has been distributed at a much higher quality and lower retail price. An increasingly exclusive market has developed with Mexican and Colombian heroin gaining market share and displacing Asian heroin. These trends have had dramatic effects on the risk environment for heroin consumers. An intriguing factor is that different global sources of heroin produce substantially different products. Plausible associations exist between heroin source/form and drug use behaviours and harms. For example, cold water-soluble powdered heroin (sources: Asia, Colombia) may be associated with higher HIV prevalence in the US, while low-solubility "black tar" heroin (BTH; source: Mexico) is historically used in areas with reduced HIV prevalence. BTH is associated with soft tissue infections caused by Clostridium bacteria.. Source and type of heroin are structural factors in the risk environment of heroin users: source dictates distribution and type predicts practice. How specific types of heroin are used and with what risk is therefore distributed geographically. Continued flux in the heroin market and its effects on the risk environment for drug users deserves further attention. Topics: Clostridium Infections; Commerce; Crime; Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; HIV Infections; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Politics; Public Policy; Risk; Risk-Taking; United States | 2009 |
Environmental enrichment decreases the rewarding but not the activating effects of heroin.
Environmental conditions during adolescence, a critical period of brain maturation, can have important consequences on subsequent vulnerability to drugs of abuse. We have recently found that the behavioral effects of cocaine as well as its ability to increase expression of zif-268 are reduced in mice reared in enriched environments (EE).. The present experiments examined whether environmental enrichment has protective influences on the effects of heroin, a drug of addiction whose mechanism of action differs from that of cocaine.. Mice were housed either in standard environments (SE) or in EE from weaning to adulthood before any drug exposure. EE were constituted by big housing cages and contained constantly a running wheel and a small house and four to five toys that were changed once a week with new toys of different shapes and colors. We assessed the influence of EE on the ability of heroin to (1) induce conditioned place preferences, (2) induce behavioral sensitization, (3) increase dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), and (4) increase expression of the immediate early gene zif-268 in the striatum.. Conditioned place preference but not behavioral sensitization was reduced in EE mice compared to SE mice. Heroin induced similar increases in dopamine levels and in the expression of zif-268 in the NAc of EE and SE mice.. The rewarding effects of heroin are blunted by EE and appear to be, at least in part, independent from activation of the mesolimbic system. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Conditioning, Psychological; Environment; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Reward | 2009 |
Haemodynamic changes in acute opiate withdrawal.
Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Aorta; Blood Pressure; Buprenorphine; Female; Hemodynamics; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2009 |
Effects of training and withdrawal periods on heroin seeking induced by conditioned cue in an animal of model of relapse.
A high incidence of relapse can be triggered by exposure to conditioned cues previously associated with heroin. Extended access to drug and withdrawal are thought to affect the motivation for drug seeking.. The present study evaluated how different periods of training to self-administer heroin and different periods of withdrawal affected drug seeking.. Following 1 to 14 days of heroin self-administration, rats were left in the home environment for 1 or 14 days. Subsequently, rats were evaluated for extinction of nose poke during the first hour after being returned to the training apparatus. One hour later, a conditioned stimulus was presented to initiate cue-induced reinstatement.. Extending the training period from 1 to 14 days caused an escalation of reinstatement of drug seeking induced by conditioned cues. Increasing the withdrawal period from 1 to 14 days produced a similar increase in reinstatement of drug seeking induced by cues. Reinstatement of drug seeking induced by cues was augmented by pretreatment with naltrexone (1, 5 mg/kg) 24 h prior to reinstatement on day 1, but not at 14 days of withdrawal from heroin self-administration.. These experiments demonstrate that increasing the duration of either heroin self-administration or the withdrawal periods from heroin self-administration augments the reinstatement induced by cues that were associated previously with heroin reinforcement. Additionally, we provide one of the first demonstrations that opiate withdrawal induces heroin seeking, as assessed in the reinstatement model. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Behavior, Animal; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Exploratory Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement, Psychology; Secondary Prevention; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2009 |
Distribution of 6-monoacetylmorphine and morphine in head and pubic hair from heroin-related deaths.
There is limited published data to aid interpretation of analytical findings from hair analysis. The aim of the study was to collate 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-AM) and morphine concentrations in head and pubic hair from heroin users and to propose reference ranges and relate these to the amount of heroin used. The ratio of morphine-to-6-AM was also investigated. A total of 82 head hair samples divided into 173 segments of various lengths and 15 pubic hair samples were collected at postmortem from heroin users. The hair was analysed using a previously published method. A statistical evaluation demonstrated that in head hair, the lower, middle and upper concentration ranges of 6-AM were 0.1-0.9, 0.9-12.5 and 12.5-154.1 ng/mg and those of morphine were 0.1-0.8, 0.8-6.0 and 6.0-36.3 ng/mg. In pubic hair, the lower, middle and upper concentration ranges of 6-AM were 0.2-0.5, 0.5-2.3 and 2.3-18.2 ng/mg and those of morphine were 0.2-0.4, 0.4-2.4 and 2.4-13.3 ng/mg. The morphine-to-6-AM ratio showed a large variation. The ratio tended to decrease from proximal to distal segments. The statistical results suggest low, middle and high concentration ranges which we propose can be used for estimating the amount of heroin consumed into corresponding low or occasional, regular or habitual and heavy or excessive drug use. The ratio of morphine-to-6-AM showed great variation and did not support the proposal that a ratio less than 0.77 is needed to prove ingestion of heroin. Topics: Forensic Toxicology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Narcotics; Substance Abuse Detection | 2009 |
Phosphorylation of GluR1, ERK, and CREB during spontaneous withdrawal from chronic heroin self-administration.
Negative motivational symptoms are observed soon after withdrawal from chronic opiate administration, and are thought to mediate dependence. Examination of brain region-specific signaling changes that accompany early withdrawal may shed light on neural mechanisms underlying negative reinforcement and dependence. Thus, we measured alterations in protein phosphorylation in multiple limbic brain regions in rats undergoing 24 h spontaneous or naltrexone-precipitated withdrawal from chronic (6 h/day) i.v. heroin self-administration. Region-specific increases in cyclic AMP-dependent GluR(1) (S845) phosphorylation were found in the nucleus accumbens shell, basolateral amygdala, hippocampal CA1 and CA3 subregions, and premotor cortex from 12 to 24 h of spontaneous withdrawal, and there were no changes in prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens core or caudate-putamen. Increased GluR(1) (S845) phosphorylation was detected earlier (12 h withdrawal) in the central amygdala and ventral tegmental area. In contrast, prominent increases in extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation were found in both prefrontal and premotor cortex, and CA1 and CA3 between 12 and 24 h withdrawal. Phosphorylation of striatal cyclic AMP response element binding protein increased in the caudate-putamen but not in the nucleus accumbens. Naltrexone administration after 24 h withdrawal increased extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation in the central amygdala, and nucleus accumbens core and shell. Thus, spontaneous withdrawal from heroin self-administration produces region- and time-dependent changes in cyclic AMP and extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity that could contribute to the behavioral manifestation of opiate dependence. Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Brain; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Phosphorylation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, AMPA; Self Administration; Serine | 2009 |
Drug context differently regulates cocaine versus heroin self-administration and cocaine- versus heroin-induced Fos mRNA expression in the rat.
We have previously reported that cocaine self-administration is facilitated in male rats not residing in the test chambers (Non Resident rats) relative to rats living in the test chambers at all times (Resident rats). Surprisingly, the opposite was found for heroin.. We predicted that, when given access to both cocaine and heroin on alternate days, Non Resident rats would take more cocaine relative to heroin than Resident rats. Heroin (25.0 microg/kg) and cocaine (400 microg/kg), were made alternately available for 14 self-administration sessions, on a fixed ratio (FR) schedule that was progressively increased from FR1 to FR5. Next, some rats underwent a progressive-ratio procedure for heroin and cocaine. The other rats continued to alternate heroin and cocaine self-administration for 12 additional sessions, during which the FR schedule was progressively increased from FR10 to FR100. The second aim of the study was to investigate Fos mRNA expression in Resident and Non Resident rats treated with non-contingent intravenous infusion of "self-administration doses" of heroin (25.0 microg/kg) and cocaine (400 microg/kg).. We found that: (1) drug-taking context differentially modulates intravenous cocaine versus heroin self-administration; (2) very low doses of cocaine and heroin are sufficient to induce Fos mRNA expression in the posterior caudate; (3) drug-administration context differentially modulates cocaine- versus heroin-induced Fos mRNA expression.. Our study indicates that the context of drug taking can play a powerful role in modulating cocaine versus heroin intake in the laboratory rat. Topics: Animals; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Conditioning, Operant; Gene Expression; Genes, fos; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; In Situ Hybridization; Male; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement Schedule; RNA, Messenger; Self Administration; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2009 |
Enhancing effect of heroin on social recognition learning in male Sprague-Dawley rats: modulation by heroin pre-exposure.
There is evidence that pre-exposure to drugs of abuse can induce sensitization to several of their effects.. Four experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of heroin pre-exposure on modulation of memory consolidation as indexed by heroin's action on rate of learning.. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were tested on a social recognition learning task which assesses changes in investigation during repeated exposure to the same rat (habituation training: four sessions) and during exposure to a novel rat (dishabituation test). In the first experiment, rats received 0, 0.3, or 1 mg/kg heroin s.c. immediately following each training session, or 1 mg/kg heroin 2 h post-training. In experiments 2 and 3, rats received 1 mg/kg heroin post-training after a 7-day drug-free period from heroin pre-exposure achieved through conditioned place preference (1 mg/kg s.c., 1 injection/day x 4 days) or intravenous self-administration (0.05 mg/kg/infusion i.v., 3 h/day x 9 days) training. In experiment 4, rats received 0, 0.03, 0.3, or 3 mg/kg heroin post-training after a 7-day drug-free period from a regimen of heroin administration (i.e., 1 mg/kg heroin/day s.c. x 7 days) that induced locomotor sensitization.. Post-training administration of heroin enhanced social recognition learning in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Importantly, no regimen of heroin pre-exposure significantly altered this effect of heroin.. These results do not support the hypothesis that heroin pre-exposure leads to sensitization to its effect on memory consolidation of non-drug-related learning. However, this requires further testing using alternative heroin pre-exposure regimens, a wider range of post-training heroin doses, as well as other types of learning tasks. Topics: Animals; Association Learning; Conditioning, Operant; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Habituation, Psychophysiologic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Infusions, Intravenous; Learning; Memory; Motor Activity; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Recognition, Psychology; Self Administration; Social Behavior | 2009 |
Patterns of major depression and drug-related problems amongst heroin users across 36 months.
The study aimed to determine patterns of major depression (MD) across 36 months, and the relationship to outcomes for the treatment of heroin dependence. As part of a longitudinal cohort study, 429 heroin users were interviewed at 36 month follow-up. MD declined from 23.8% at baseline to 8.2% at 36 months. Females were more likely to have MD at both baseline (31.1 vs. 19.8) and 36 months (11.9 vs. 6.1%). Those with MD at baseline were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with MD at a follow-up interview (40.2 vs. 15.9%) and at 36 months (14.7 vs. 6.1%). Antidepressant use did not decrease across 36 months amongst either gender. Baseline MD was not related to treatment exposure across 36 months. There were large and significant declines in drug use and drug-related problems, and improvements in physical health with no group differences evident at 36 months. Despite improvements in global mental health, at both baseline and 36 months those with MD at baseline had significantly lower SF12 mental health scores. It was concluded that, with the exception of depression, the prognosis of depressed heroin users is not worse than that of non-depressed users. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Buprenorphine; Cohort Studies; Comorbidity; Crime; Depressive Disorder, Major; Drug Overdose; Female; Health Status; Health Status Indicators; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Needle Sharing; New South Wales; Prognosis; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Suicide, Attempted; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult | 2009 |
A fatal heroin addict with myocardial lesion.
This is a histological report of a myocardial lesion of a 44-year-old white man who was found dead in a hotel with circumstances strongly suggestive of heroin intoxication. Based on. autopsy findings and toxicologic analysis, the present case was an instance of straight forward heroin overdose in snorter. The most striking pathologic finding of the heart was a few patches of marked dark mottling appearance in the left ventricle and ventricular septum. Histological appearance of the lesions revealed marked congestion with intramyocardial extravasation of blood. Since the deceased had patent coronary arteries without evidence of atheroma, the lesions were thought to be the results ofcoronary artery spasm. There has also been substantial evidence in the previous reports to believe that the condition is secondary to heroin-induced coronary artery spasm. However its actual underlying mechanism remains unclear. Topics: Adult; Death, Sudden; Drug Overdose; Heart; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Myocardium | 2009 |
Alterations in pituitary-thyroid axis function among opioid-dependent subjects after acute and protracted abstinence.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes in the pituitary-thyroid axis (PTA) and the time course of the hormonal alterations in subjects with opioid dependence after abstinence. Blood samples from in-patients with opioid dependence and age- and sex-matched healthy controls were collected. The severity of opioid abuse and of withdrawal symptoms was assessed. Results were compared between patients with opioid dependence (n = 30) and healthy controls (n = 30). We found that free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine levels were comparable with healthy controls while thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was lower in patients in acute opioid abstinence period. Also, TSH levels in patients remained lower than controls after 30 days of abstinence. These results indicate that PTA function is altered in opioid-dependent subjects. These data highlight the importance of screening the thyroid function for individuals with chronic opioid dependence. Topics: Adult; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Pituitary Gland, Anterior; Reference Values; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Thyroid Gland; Thyrotropin; Thyroxine; Triiodothyronine | 2009 |
Heroin-associated myocardial damages--conventional and immunohistochemical investigations.
Well-known complications related to drug abuse are myocardial insufficiency, myocardial infarction, endocarditis, myocarditis, aortic dissection, neurologic damages, ischemic colitis, thrombotic phenomenons, renal infarction and acute liver failure. Furthermore, microfocal fibrosis of the myocardium is found in stimulant abuse. The origin of myocardial fibrosis associated with opiate abuse (endocarditis, myocarditis, embolism) is still unclear. This question shall be investigated using immunohistochemical staining for early diagnosis of myocarditis. A quantification of myocardial interstitial leucocytic infiltrates was accomplished in 21 chronic drug abusers who died of heroin/morphine intoxication and compared to 15 normal subjects who died suddenly due to non-cardiac causes of death without intoxication (e.g. traffic accidents, head trauma). Toxicological investigations were performed and in addition, blood samples were checked to clarify the status of HIV, hepatitis A, B and C in both groups. To verify signs of inflammation, myocardial specimen from different locations were investigated with conventional histological stainings and immunohistochemical techniques for characterization and quantification of interstitial myocardial leucocytes, T-lymphocytes and macrophages. The number of cells were found up to fivefold increased in heroin addicts compared to the control group without reaching the cut-off values for immunohistochemically based diagnosis of myocarditis. Topics: Adult; Aged; Chronic Disease; Female; Fibrosis; Forensic Toxicology; Heart; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Myocarditis; Myocardium; Reference Values; Substance Abuse Detection; Young Adult | 2009 |
From illegal poison to legal medicine: a qualitative research in a heroin-prescription trial in Spain.
In recent decades, studies have been made of the possible benefits of treatments using heroin, although qualitative methodologies have not usually been employed. In 2004, in Granada (Spain), a clinical experiment was launched: the Experimental Narcotics Prescription Programme in Andalusia (PEPSA). This project attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of intravenous heroin and orally-administered methadone prescription for long-term socially-excluded opiate addicts for whom other treatments have failed. The research described herein is qualitative and has been carried out within the framework of the aforementioned experiment. The objective was to discover the attitudes, opinions and experiences of patients (and relatives) once they had been included in the program and are receiving heroin in a therapeutic environment.. Focused ethnographic procedures were used to establish the study population. During the field work, we carried out in-depth interviews and observations using 21 patients and relatives. Analysis was carried out by a team according to grounded theory.. Our results show how the treatment process and the administering of heroin in a therapeutic context manages to break the habit of consuming heroin obtained illegally, thus changing the significance given to the substance and bringing about improvements in aspects such as the workplace, family relations and physical and mental health.. The move from 'substance addiction' to chronic 'illness' upon beginning the treatment provides a chance for a population with a long history of rejection and exclusion to become part of society once again. Topics: Adult; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Prescriptions; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Qualitative Research; Social Support; Spain; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2009 |
Low-threshold methadone treatment, heroin price, police activity and incidence of heroin use: the Zurich experience.
There still are concerns about unwanted effects of harm-reduction measures that may lead to an increasing number of new heroin users. Furthermore, it is thought that the admission of a substantial proportion of heroin users to methadone treatments reduces the demand on the heroin market and thus results in a lower price for street heroin. And finally, the intensity of police activity in the drug field may also affect prices for street heroin.. As incidence of regular heroin use over more than a decade is rarely known elsewhere, we examined the Zurich experience between 1980 and 2005 by triangulating published and unpublished data, concerning heroin price, heroin purity level, heroin seizures and drug offences. This time period encompasses the time before and after the introduction of low-threshold methadone treatment in 1991.. We found a steep peak of heroin incidence in 1990. The street price of heroin already declined from 700 to 60 Swiss Francs during the 80s. The number of heroin consumptions possession offences reported by the police increased since 1991 and peaked in 1997, 2 years after the closure of the last open drug scene.. The introduction of low-threshold methadone treatment has not resulted in lower heroin prices and the increased police activity during the 90s has not led to higher heroin prices, even though the higher police activity in the late 90s may have contributed to the prevention of a re-establishment of open drug scenes. In conclusion, we did not find a close relationship between street prices of heroin, police activity, and incidence of problematic heroin use. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Commerce; Crime; Drug and Narcotic Control; Drug Contamination; Government Regulation; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Incidence; Law Enforcement; Methadone; Police; Public Policy; Switzerland; Time Factors | 2009 |
A typology of heroin-dependent patients based on their history of self-injurious behaviours.
Self-injurious behaviours (SIB) can provide useful criteria for subtyping heroin-dependent patients, since SIB have been related to an opioid system dysfunction and they hinder patient management. The frequency of nine varieties of moderate/superficial SIB during active heroin use was assessed retrospectively in 164 heroin-dependent patients. A principal component analysis of SIB episodes revealed a four-component solution which accounted for 69.3% of the variance. The components were named as follows (percentage of variance explained by each component is enclosed in parentheses): 'SIB with objects' (27.3%), 'SIB by biting/scratching/hair-pulling' (18.2%), 'SIB by hitting' (12.3%), and 'SIB by picking scabs' (11.5%). A cluster analysis using the results of the principal component analysis enabled us to define three types of heroin-dependent patients, labelled: 'low-occurrence SIB cluster' (59.8%), 'high-occurrence scab-picking cluster' (31.7%) and 'high-occurrence hitting and cutting cluster' (8.5%). SIB by hitting was the most discriminatory component among clusters: its frequency was at a minimum in the low-occurrence SIB cluster, and attained a maximum in the high-occurrence hitting and cutting cluster. However, there were no differences among clusters regarding heroin-use variables. Patients from the low-occurrence SIB cluster, compared with those from the other two clusters, reported fewer episodes of SIB or suicide attempts and were diagnosed less frequently with bulimia. Patients from the high-occurrence scab-picking cluster had a very frequent history of these SIB, while the opposite was true in patients from the high-occurrence hitting and cutting cluster. Patients from this cluster probably presented staff members with the main management problems. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Bulimia Nervosa; Cluster Analysis; Comorbidity; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Principal Component Analysis; Self-Injurious Behavior; Suicide, Attempted; Surveys and Questionnaires | 2009 |
Rhabdomyolysis and brain ischemic stroke in a heroin-dependent male under methadone maintenance therapy.
There are several complications associated with heroin abuse, some of which are life-threatening. Methadone may aggravate this problem.. A clinical case description.. A 33-year-old man presented with rhabdomyolysis and cerebral ischemic stroke after intravenous heroin. He had used heroin since age 20, and had used 150 mg methadone daily for 6 months. He was found unconsciousness at home and was sent to our hospital. In the ER, his opiate level was 4497 ng/ml. In the ICU, we found rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure and acute respiratory failure. After transfer to an internal ward, we noted aphasia and weakness of his left limbs. After MRI, we found cerebral ischemic infarction.. Those using methadone and heroin simultaneously may increase risk of rhabdomyolysis and ischemic stroke. Patients under methadone maintenance therapy should be warned regarding these serious adverse events. Hypotheses of heroin-related rhabdomyolysis and stroke in heroin abusers are discussed. Topics: Adult; Brain; Brain Damage, Chronic; Cerebral Cortex; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Cerebral Infarction; Dominance, Cerebral; Drug Interactions; Electroencephalography; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Rhabdomyolysis; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Tomography, X-Ray Computed | 2009 |
The contribution of MOR-1 exons 1-4 to morphine and heroin analgesia and dependence.
Although morphine and heroin analgesia is mediated by mu-opioid receptors encoded by the MOR-1 gene, distinct isoforms are involved. Both opioids also induce dependence by acting at mu-opioid receptors, but which variants are utilized is not known. Here, we assayed morphine and heroin analgesia and dependence in mice treated with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AO) targeting MOR-1 exons 1-4. Whereas AOs targeting exons 1 and 4 blocked morphine analgesia, those targeting exons 2 and 3 blocked heroin analgesia. Neither morphine nor heroin analgesia was compromised 5 days after the last AO injection. In morphine and heroin dependent mice, only exon 1 AO significantly reduced jumping incidence during naloxone (50mg/kg) precipitated withdrawal. Neither analgesia nor withdrawal jumping was attenuated in controls pretreated with saline or a mismatch oligodeoxynucleotide control sequence. While these data confirm previous reports that morphine and heroin analgesia are not mediated by a single mu-opioid receptor, both opiates nonetheless apparently induce dependence via a mu-opioid receptor isoform containing exon 1. For heroin, the possibility that analgesia and dependence are mediated by distinct mu-opioid receptor isoforms offers the prospect of developing potent opiate analgesics possessing reduced dependence liability. Topics: Analgesia; Analgesics, Opioid; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Exons; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hot Temperature; Male; Mice; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Motor Activity; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Oligonucleotides, Antisense; Pain Measurement; Protein Isoforms; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2009 |
The cocaine and heroin markets in the era of globalisation and drug reduction policies.
Despite the large volume of public effort devoted to restrain drug supply and the growing attention given to drug demand reduction policies, the use of cocaine and heroin remains steady. Furthermore, retail drug prices have fallen significantly in Europe and the US. This puzzling evidence leads us to develop a model aiming at systematically analysing illicit drug markets.. We model the markets of cocaine and heroin from production to the final retail markets. One novelty of the analysis consists in characterising the retail market as a monopolistic competitive one. Then, upper level dealers have some market power in the retail market. This allows them to charge a markup and to earn extra profits. These extra profits attract newcomers so that profits tend to fall over time.. Theoretical model was used to analyse the effect of supply containment policies on the retail market, the producer market and the export-import business. This introduces the discussion of the impact of demand reduction policies on the high level traffickers' profit. Finally, globalisation enters in the model.. Law enforcement measures increase the risk premia received by the lower and higher level traffickers. Consequently, trafficking intermediation margins tend to increase. However, globalisation has the opposite effect. It lowers intermediation margins and, then, pushes retail prices down, thereby stimulating consumption. In doing so, globalisation offsets the effects of supply containment policies. Finally, we discuss how the effectiveness of supply containment policies can be enhanced by combining them with demand reduction policies. Topics: Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Commerce; Crime; Drug and Narcotic Control; Government Regulation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Internationality; Law Enforcement; Models, Economic; Public Policy; Time Factors | 2009 |
Role of dopamine D(1)-family receptors in dorsolateral striatum in context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking in rats.
In humans, exposure to environmental contexts previously associated with heroin intake can provoke relapse to drug use. In rats, exposure to heroin-associated contexts after extinction of drug-reinforced responding in different contexts reinstates heroin seeking. This effect is attenuated by blockade of D(1)-family receptors in lateral or medial accumbens shell, but not accumbens core.. In this study, we further characterized the role of striatal D(1)-family receptors in context-induced reinstatement by assessing the effect of dorsolateral or dorsomedial injections of the D(1)-family receptor antagonist SCH 23390 on this reinstatement.. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin (0.05-0.10 mg/kg per infusion) for 12 days; drug infusions were paired with a discrete tone-light cue. Subsequently, heroin-reinforced lever pressing was extinguished in the presence of the discrete cue in a nondrug context. During reinstatement tests under extinction conditions, the D(1)-family receptor antagonist SCH 23390 (0.3-1.0 microg per side) was injected into the dorsolateral or dorsomedial striatum prior to exposure to heroin self-administration context or the nondrug (extinction) context. We then used a disconnection procedure to examine whether D(1)-family receptors in the dorsolateral striatum and lateral accumbens shell jointly or independently support context-induced reinstatement.. Dorsolateral but not dorsomedial SCH 23390 injections attenuated context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. SCH 23390 injections into the dorsolateral striatum of one hemisphere and lateral accumbens shell of the other hemisphere were ineffective.. Results indicate that dorsolateral striatum D(1)-family dopamine receptors are critical for context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. Results also suggest that D(1)-receptor-mediated dopamine transmission in the dorsolateral striatum and lateral accumbens shell independently support this reinstatement. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Behavior, Animal; Benzazepines; Conditioning, Psychological; Corpus Striatum; Disease Models, Animal; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Receptors, Dopamine D1; Reinforcement Schedule; Reward; Secondary Prevention; Self Administration | 2009 |
Rhabdomyolysis and brain ischemic stroke in a heroin-dependent male. Invited comment.
Topics: Adult; Cerebral Cortex; Cerebral Infarction; Drug Synergism; Globus Pallidus; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Neurologic Examination; Rhabdomyolysis; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2009 |
Time-dependent neuroendocrine alterations and drug craving during the first month of abstinence in heroin addicts.
Heroin use and withdrawal cause abnormality in the endocrine system. However, the time course of neuroendocrine alterations in heroin addicts during pharmacologically unassisted withdrawal is still unclear.. To investigate alterations in cortisol, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), beta-endorphin (beta-EP), leptin, and neuropeptide Y (NPY) during the first month of abstinence in heroin addicts.. Twelve heroin addicts and eight matched healthy control subjects were recruited for this study. The neuroendocrine alterations and self-reported heroin craving, anxiety, and depression in heroin addicts were assessed at different time points (days 3, 10, and 30) of first month of abstinence from heroin use.. Self-reported heroin craving, anxiety, and depression in heroin addicts decreased gradually during the first month of abstinence. The cortisol levels increased from abstinence day 3 to 30, while ACTH and beta-EP levels decreased over this period in heroin addicts. The leptin and NPY levels were significantly decreased on days 3 and 10 but had normalized on day 30 of abstinence. A positive correlation between cortisol level and heroin craving, anxiety, and depression was observed, while a negative correlation was observed between beta-EP level and craving and anxiety and between leptin and depression and NPY and anxiety.. Abnormal alterations in the neuroendocrine system, including levels of cortisol, ACTH and beta-EP persist throughout the first month of abstinence. These results suggest that neuroendocrine system dysfunctions in heroin abusers is independent of the acute and protracted withdrawal syndromes, and may thus contribute to relapse to heroin use. Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Anxiety; beta-Endorphin; Case-Control Studies; Depression; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Leptin; Male; Neuropeptide Y; Neurosecretory Systems; Patient Selection; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Radioimmunoassay; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 2009 |
Overdose deaths following previous non-fatal heroin overdose: record linkage of ambulance attendance and death registry data.
Experiencing previous non-fatal overdoses have been identified as a predictor of subsequent non-fatal overdoses; however, few studies have investigated the association between previous non-fatal overdose experiences and overdose mortality. We examined overdose mortality among injecting drug users who had previously been attended by an ambulance for a non-fatal heroin overdose.. Using a retrospective cohort design, we linked data on non-fatal heroin overdose cases obtained from ambulance attendance records in Melbourne, Australia over a 5-year period (2000-2005) with a national death register.. 4884 people who were attended by ambulance for a non-fatal heroin overdose were identified. One hundred and sixty-four overdose deaths occurred among this cohort, with an average overdose mortality rate of 1.20 per 100 person-years (95% CI, 1.03-1.40). Mortality rate decreased 10-fold after 2000 coinciding with widely reported declines in heroin availability. Being male, of older age (>35 years) and having been attended multiple times for previous non-fatal overdoses were associated with increased mortality risk.. As the first to show a direct association between non-fatal overdose and subsequent overdose mortality, this study has important implications for the prevention of overdose mortality. This study also shows the profound effect of macro-level heroin market dynamics on overdose mortality. Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Ambulances; Cohort Studies; Death Certificates; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Medical Record Linkage; Registries; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Victoria; Young Adult | 2009 |
Drug use patterns among Thai illicit drug injectors amidst increased police presence.
Thailand has traditionally pursued an aggressive enforcement-based anti-illicit drug policy in an effort to make the country "drug-free." In light of this ongoing approach, we sought to assess impacts of enforcement on drug use behaviors among a cohort of injection drug users (IDU) in Thailand. We examined drug use patterns among IDU participating in a cross-sectional study conducted in Bangkok (n = 252). Participants were asked to provide data regarding patterns of drug use in the previous six months, including types of drugs consumed, method of consumption, frequency of use, and weekly income spent on drugs. We also conducted bivariate analyses to identify a possible effect of a reported increase in police presence on measures of drug use and related risk behaviors among study participants. One hundred fifty-five (61.5%) individuals reported injection heroin use and 132 (52.4%) individuals reported injection midazolam use at least daily in the past six months. Additionally, 86 (34.1%) individuals reported at least daily injection Yaba and Ice (i.e., methamphetamine) use. Participants in our study reported high levels of illicit drug use, including the injection of both illicit and licit drugs. In bivariate analyses, no association between increased police presence and drug use behaviors was observed. These findings demonstrate high ongoing rates of drug injecting in Thailand despite reports of increased levels of strict enforcement and enforcement-related violence, and raise questions regarding the merits of this approach. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug and Narcotic Control; Drug Users; Drug Utilization; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Illicit Drugs; Law Enforcement; Male; Methamphetamine; Midazolam; Police; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Surveys and Questionnaires; Thailand | 2009 |
Gene expression changes following extinction testing in a heroin behavioral incubation model.
A number of gene expression studies have investigated changes induced by drug exposure, but few reports describe changes that persist following relapse. In this study, genome-wide analysis of gene expression was conducted following an extinction session (90 min) in rats that expressed behavioral incubation of heroin-seeking and goal-directed behavior. As an important modulator of goal-directed behavior, the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was the target of genomic analysis. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin during 3 h daily sessions for 14 d. Following the self-administration period, rats were reintroduced to the self-administration chambers for a 90-minute extinction session in which they could seek heroin, but received none. Extinction sessions were conducted on groups after either 1 d or 14 d of drug-free enforced abstinence to demonstrate behavioral incubation.. Behavioral data demonstrated incubation (increased expression) of heroin-seeking and goal-directed behavior after the 14 d abstinent period. That is, following 14 d of enforced abstinence, animals displayed heightened drug-seeking behavior when returned to the environment where they had previously received heroin. This increased drug-seeking took place despite the fact that they received no drug during this extinction session. Whole genome gene expression analysis was performed and results were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). Microarrays identified 66 genes whose expression was identified as changed by at least 1.4 fold (p < 0.02) following 14 d of abstinence and the 90-minute extinction session compared to the saline treated controls. Orthogonal confirmation by RT-qPCR demonstrated significant alterations in bdnf, calb1, dusp5, dusp6, egr1, npy, rgs2.. Ontological analysis indicates that several of the genes confirmed to be changed are important for neuroplasticity, and through that role may impact learning and behavior. The importance of drug-seeking behavior and memory of previous drug-taking sessions suggest that such genes may be important for relapse. The global gene expression analysis adds to the knowledge of heroin-induced changes and further highlights similarities between heroin and other drugs of abuse. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Conditioning, Operant; Extinction, Psychological; Gene Expression Profiling; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Prefrontal Cortex; Rats; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Self Administration; Up-Regulation | 2009 |
Heroin prescription and history.
Topics: Drug and Narcotic Control; Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; History, 20th Century; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Methadone; Narcotics; Politics; United Kingdom; United States | 2009 |
Gray matter density negatively correlates with duration of heroin use in young lifetime heroin-dependent individuals.
Numerous studies have documented cognitive impairments and hypoactivity in the prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices in drug users. However, the relationships between opiate dependence and brain structure changes in heroin users are largely unknown. In the present study, we measured the density of gray matter (DGM) with voxel-based morphometry in 30 lifetime heroin-dependent individuals who had abstained from drug use for 5 months, and 34 healthy participants. The DGM of the prefrontal, temporal and cingulate cortices significantly decreased in heroin addicts relative to the healthy group. Critically, partial correlation analysis, which controlled for age, education and gender factors as well as nicotine use and heroin abstinence duration, showed that the duration of heroin use negatively correlated with the DGM in heroin-dependent individuals. These results provide compelling evidence for structural abnormality in heroin-dependent individuals and further suggest that duration of heroin use is a critical factor leading to brain damage. Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Analysis of Variance; Brain Mapping; Cerebral Cortex; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Drug Users; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Organ Size; Sex Factors; Time Factors | 2009 |
Naloxone for administration by peers in cases of heroin overdose.
Topics: Australia; Caregivers; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Peer Group; Self Care | 2009 |
Heroin assisted treatment.
Topics: Directly Observed Therapy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections; Narcotics; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic | 2009 |
Cannabidiol, a nonpsychotropic component of cannabis, inhibits cue-induced heroin seeking and normalizes discrete mesolimbic neuronal disturbances.
There remains debate regarding the impact of cannabis on neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we examined the effects of cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive constituent of cannabis, on heroin self-administration and drug-seeking behavior using an experimental rat model. CBD (5-20 mg/kg) did not alter stable intake of heroin self-administration, extinction behavior, or drug seeking induced by a heroin prime injection. Instead, it specifically attenuated heroin-seeking behavior reinstated by exposure to a conditioned stimulus cue. CBD had a protracted effect with significance evident after 24 h and even 2 weeks after administration. The behavioral effects were paralleled by neurobiological alterations in the glutamatergic and endocannabinoid systems. Discrete disturbances of AMPA GluR1 and cannabinoid type-1 receptor expression observed in the nucleus accumbens associated with stimulus cue-induced heroin seeking were normalized by CBD treatment. The findings highlight the unique contributions of distinct cannabis constituents to addiction vulnerability and suggest that CBD may be a potential treatment for heroin craving and relapse. Topics: Animals; Cannabidiol; Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; Conditioning, Psychological; Cues; Disease Models, Animal; Glutamic Acid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Limbic System; Male; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Neural Pathways; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; Receptors, AMPA; Treatment Outcome; Ventral Tegmental Area | 2009 |
[Effects of heroin and purine nucleotide compensation on neutral alpha-glucosidase in rat epididymides].
To study the changes of neutral alpha-glucoside activity in the epididymis of heroin-dependent and heroin-withdrawal rats, and to investigate the effects of intervention with purine nucleotide (AMP and GMP).. Eighty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 8 groups of equal number, control, nucleotide, heroin, heroin + nucleotide, 3 d withdrawal, 9 d withdrawal, 3 d nucleotide (nucleotide administrated for 3 days after heroin withdrawal) and 9 d nucleotide (nucleotide administrated for 9 days after heroin withdrawal). Neutral alpha-glucosidase activity in the epididymis was detected in each group of rats.. Compared with the control group, neutral alpha-glucoside activity was markedly decreased in the heroin group (P < 0.05), and also in the 3 d and 9 d withdrawal groups, although with no significant differences (P > 0.05).. Heroin reduces neutral alpha-glucoside activity in the epididymis of rats, and this effect may continue for some time after drug withdrawal, while purine nucleotide can keep neutral alpha-glucosidase activity in a relatively stable state. Topics: alpha-Glucosidases; Animals; Epididymis; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Purine Nucleotides; Rats; Rats, Wistar | 2009 |
Diacetylmorphine versus methadone for opioid addiction.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Practice Guidelines as Topic | 2009 |
Political challenges in randomized controlled trials of heroin-assisted treatment for severe heroin addiction: a Spanish experience.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Politics; Prejudice; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Research Design; Spain | 2009 |
U.K.: success of heroin prescription trials.
In September, the U.K. released positive results of evaluations of a heroin prescription trial, resulting in a call from the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse to expand the projects nationwide. Topics: Directly Observed Therapy; Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; United Kingdom | 2009 |
What more can we learn from the heroin drought?
Topics: Australia; Crime; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics | 2008 |
Non-fatal overdose among a cohort of active injection drug users recruited from a supervised injection facility.
Non-fatal overdose among injection drug users (IDU) is a source of significant morbidity. Since it has been suggested that supervised injecting facilities (SIF) may increase risk for overdose, we sought to evaluate patterns of non-fatal overdose among a cohort of SIF users. We examined recent non-fatal overdose experiences among participants enrolled in a prospective study of IDU recruited from within North America's first medically supervised safer injecting facility. Correlates of recent non-fatal overdoses were identified using generalized estimating equations (GEE). There were 1,090 individuals recruited during the study period of which 317 (29.08%) were female. At baseline, 638 (58.53%) reported a history of non-fatal overdose and 97 (8.90%) reported at least one non-fatal overdose in the last six months. This proportion remained approximately constant throughout the study period. In the multivariate GEE analysis, factors associated with recent non-fatal overdose included: sex-trade involvement (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]: 1.45 [95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.07-1.99], p = 0.02) and public drug use (AOR: 1.50 [95% CI 1.09-2.06]; p = 0.01). Using the SIF for >or= 75% of injections was not associated with recent non-fatal overdose in univariate (Odds Ratio: 1.05, p = 0.73) or multivariate analyses (AOR: 1.01, p = 0.96). The proportion of individuals reporting recent non-fatal overdose did not change over the study period. Our findings indicate that a sub-population of IDU might benefit from overdose prevention interventions. Our findings refute the suggestion that the SIF may increase the likelihood of overdose. Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Canada; Cohort Studies; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Incidence; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Patient Selection; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Recurrence; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2008 |
Food deprivation-like effects of neuropeptide Y on heroin self-administration and reinstatement of heroin seeking in rats.
Numerous findings suggest that drug seeking and ingestive behaviors share common neurobiological mechanisms, but the relevant pathways are unknown. Dietary manipulations result in changes in endocrine the and/or neuropeptide signals, such as the hormones leptin and ghrelin, which are dynamically linked to energy balance and the regulation of feeding behavior. We have recently demonstrated that food deprivation-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking can be blocked with leptin, and others have suggested a role for ghrelin in drug-related behaviors. The feeding-relevant effects of leptin and ghrelin involve the inhibition or activation, respectively, of neuropeptide Y/agouti-related peptide (NPY/AGRP) neurons in the hypothalamus. However, the effects of NPY, a highly potent orexigenic peptide, on drug-related behaviors have not been thoroughly studied. Here we examined the effect of acute NPY administration on the rate of heroin self-administration and the reinstatement of extinguished heroin-seeking behavior. Heroin intake (0.05mg/kg/infusion) was tested using a self-administration procedure (FR-1), 10-min post-NPY injections (0.0, 4.0, and 10microg/rat, ICV). In a different group of rats, NPY-induced reinstatement (0.0, 4.0, and 10microg/rat, ICV) of extinguished heroin seeking was assessed. NPY injections increased on-going heroin self-administration, and induced a reinstatement of extinguished heroin-seeking behavior. These findings suggest that NPY can modulate the rewarding and conditioned reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Conditioning, Operant; Disease Models, Animal; Food Deprivation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Neuropeptide Y; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Reinforcement Schedule; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration | 2008 |
[Roles of bcl-2/bax expression and oligodendrocyte apoptosis in the pathogenesis of heroin-induced spongiform leucoencephalopathy].
To investigate the role of oligodendrocyte apoptosis under the regulation of the bcl-2/bax protein expression in brain white matter in the pathogenesis of heroin-induced spongiform leucoencephalopathy (HSLE).. Samples of frontal lobe, cerebellum, and corpus callosum were obtained from the brains during autopsy of 4 HSLE cases and 5 normal controls and underwent light microscopy and electron microscopy. Immunocytochemistry was used to detect the expression of myelin basic protein (MBP), caspase-3, bcl-2 protein, and bax protein.. Widespread demyelination was seen in the white matter of the frontal lobe, cerebellum and corpus callosum of the HSLE cases, most severely in the cerebellum. The levels of caspase-3 and bax expression of the HSLE group were significantly higher than those of the control group (both P <0.05) , however, the bcl-2 level of the HSLE group was no significantly different from that of the control group (P > 0.05).. Widespread demyelination in the white matter is a prevailed pathological change of HSLE. Oligodendrocyte apoptosis under induced by the decrease of bcl-2/bax ratio may contribute to the pathogenesis. Topics: Adult; Aged; Apoptosis; Autopsy; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Canavan Disease; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Middle Aged; Myelin Basic Protein; Oligodendroglia; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 | 2008 |
Causes and manners of death among users of heroin, methadone, amphetamine, and cannabis in relation to postmortem chemical tests for illegal drugs.
A 12-year medicolegal investigation of deceased illegal drug users (ILDU) in Stockholm, Sweden, classified on the basis of postmortem chemical tests, showed noticeable variations in causes and manners of death as well as in the distribution of suicide methods. This study offers objective information about connection between the postmortem findings of illegal drugs and the causes and manners of death of their users. However, further studies, comparing prevalence of drug use in general population and at the postmortem tests, are needed for more detailed elucidation of this connection. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Amphetamine; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Cause of Death; Diagnosis; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Marijuana Abuse; Methadone; Middle Aged; Suicide; Sweden | 2008 |
Inactivation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex mimics re-emergence of heroin seeking caused by heroin reconditioning.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in the expression of extinguished heroin seeking as measured by conditioned place preference (CPP) in males Sprague-Dawley rats (n=25). Heroin place conditioning (0.3mg/kg SC x 4 sessions) was followed by a test of preference 24h later, extinction (saline x 4 sessions), heroin reconditioning (saline or 1.0mg/kg x 1 session), and a second test of place preference 24h later. Fifteen minutes prior to this test, rats received intra-vmPFC infusions (bilateral, 0.5 microl/side) of a mixture of GABA(A) (muscimol; 0.03 nmol) and a GABA(B) (baclofen; 0.3 nmol) agonists, or vehicle. As expected on the basis of previous studies, reconditioning with heroin resulted in the re-emergence of a CPP. Importantly, inactivation of the vmPFC produced the same effect in animals that did not receive heroin on the session of reconditioning. These results indicate that the vmPFC modulates expression of extinguished heroin seeking and suggest that prefrontal inhibitory mechanisms are involved in relapse to drug seeking. Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Baclofen; Behavior, Animal; Conditioning, Operant; Extinction, Psychological; GABA Agonists; GABA Antagonists; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Inhibition, Psychological; Male; Muscimol; Narcotics; Prefrontal Cortex; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley | 2008 |
[Effects of heroin exposure on the expression of caspase 3 in prefrontal lobe cortex, hippocampus and nucleus accumbens].
To investigate the expression of caspase 3 in the brain regions related to addiction, learning and memory in mice prenatally exposed to heroin and to ascertain whether postnatal apoptotic mechanism participates in neurobehavioral teratogenicity induced by maternal heroin abuse.. A mouse model was established by administration of diacetylmorphine (heroin, purity 98.5%, product ID No.171206-200614) 10 mg/(kg x d) subcutaneously to pregnant BALB/c mice on embryonic day (E)E8-E18. The offspring were divided into heroin(Her) and saline(Sal) groups according to the maternal treatment. The expression of caspase 3 in prefrontal lobe cortex(PFC), hippocampus(HP) and nucleus accumbens(Acb) was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot on mouse postnatal day(P)14.. The mRNA and protein expression of caspase 3 were significantly increased in the areas of PFC, HP and Acb in Her group compared with Sal group(P < 0.05).. E8-E18 prenatal exposure to heroin can induce apoptosis through caspase 3 activation in brain regions related to addiction, learning and memory, which indicates that apoptotic mechanism may be involved in neurobehavioral teratogenicity by heroin exposure in uterus. Topics: Animals; Caspase 3; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Gene Expression; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hippocampus; Humans; Learning; Male; Maternal Exposure; Memory; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Nucleus Accumbens; Prefrontal Cortex; Pregnancy | 2008 |
Oral diacetylmorphine (heroin) yields greater morphine bioavailability than oral morphine: bioavailability related to dosage and prior opioid exposure.
In the Swiss heroin substitution trials, patients are treated with self-administered diacetylmorphine (heroin). Intravenous administration is not possible in patients that have venosclerosis. Earlier studies have demonstrated that oral diacetylmorphine may be used, although it is completely converted to morphine presystemically. Morphine bioavailability after high-dose oral diacetylmorphine is considerably higher than would be predicted from low-dose trials. The aim was to investigate whether the unexpectedly high bioavailability is due to a difference in the drug examined, and whether it depends on previous exposure or on dose.. Opioid-naive healthy volunteers and dependent patients from the Swiss heroin trials (n = 8 per group) received low doses of intravenous and oral deuterium-labelled morphine and diacetylmorphine, respectively. Patients also received a high oral diacetylmorphine dose.. The maximum plasma concentration (C(max)) of morphine was twofold higher after oral diacetylmorphine than after morphine administration in both groups. However, morphine bioavailability was considerably higher in chronic users [diacetylmorphine 45.6% (95% confidence interval 40.0, 51.3), morphine 37.2% (30.1, 44.3)] than in naive subjects [diacetylmorphine 22.9% (16.4, 29.4), morphine 23.9% (16.5, 31.2)] after low oral doses (48.5 micromol) of either diacetylmorphine or morphine. Morphine clearance was similar in both groups. Moreover, oral absorption of morphine from diacetylmorphine was found to be dose dependent, with bioavailability reaching 64.2% (55.3, 73.1) for high diacetylmorphine doses (1601 micromol).. Oral absorption of opioids is substance-, dose- and patient collective-dependent, suggesting that there may be a saturation of first-pass processes, the exact mechanism of which is not yet understood. Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Biological Availability; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Morphine; Young Adult | 2008 |
Maternal and neonatal effects of substance abuse during pregnancy: our ten-year experience.
The aim of the study was to assess perinatal outcome of pregnancy burdened with maternal addiction in comparison with an unselected population from a European transition country.. Data on pregnancies complicated by illicit drug abuse (n = 85) managed during a 10-year period (1997-2007) at Split University Hospital were analyzed. Data on the type of drug, course of gestation and labor, and on perinatal outcome were considered. Data on all non-dependence pregnancies recorded during the study period were used as a control group.. During the study period, there were 85 dependence-complicated pregnancies (0.2%). Use of heroin alone during pregnancy was recorded in 51 women (50%), methadone alone in 6 (7%), and a combination of heroin and methadone in 9 (11%). Premature delivery was significantly more common in the group of pregnant addicts (21% vs. 6%); 49% of pregnant addicts were carriers of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 14% of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Neonatal abstinence syndrome developed in 61 infants (7%) born to addicted mothers. There were 4 cases (4.6%) of early neonatal death; 7 neonates had 5-minute Apgar score < or = 7 (8%); 29 neonates had low birth weight for age (33%); and 7 neonates had congenital anomalies (8%). The risk of various congenital anomalies was 3-fold in the group of children born to addicted mothers.. Addiction pregnancies present a small but high-risk group according to perinatal outcome. Appropriate obstetric and neonatal care can reduce the rate of complications in these pregnancies and improve perinatal outcome. Topics: Adult; Apgar Score; Birth Weight; Croatia; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Incidence; Infant Mortality; Infant, Newborn; Maternal Exposure; Methadone; Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Pregnancy Outcome | 2008 |
Conditioned effects of heroin on proinflammatory mediators require the basolateral amygdala.
Heroin administration alters the induction of nitric oxide, a molecule known to play a critical role in immune function. Previous research has shown that these alterations can be conditioned to environmental stimuli that have been associated with drug administration. Little is known about the brain areas that mediate these effects; however, the basolateral amygdala (BLA) has been implicated in the formation of stimulus-reward associations within models of drug abuse. The present study sought to determine whether inactivation of the BLA would alter heroin's conditioned effects on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in the rat. The conditioning procedure involved repeated pairing of heroin with placement into a standard conditioning chamber. To test the conditioned response, animals were returned to the previously drug-paired environment 6 days after the final conditioning session. Prior to testing, animals received intra-BLA microinfusions of a mixture of the GABA agonists muscimol and baclofen. Following removal from the chambers on test day, all animals received subcutaneous lipopolysaccharide to induce systemic expression of iNOS, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta. Analyses using real-time RT-PCR indicated that inactivation of the BLA blocked the suppressive effect of heroin-associated environmental stimuli on iNOS induction and on the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in spleen and liver tissue. This study is important because it is the first to demonstrate that heroin's conditioned effects on proinflammatory mediators require the BLA. These findings may have significant implications for the treatment of heroin users. Topics: Amygdala; Animals; Conditioning, Psychological; Encephalitis; GABA Agonists; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Inflammation Mediators; Interleukin-1beta; Lipopolysaccharides; Liver; Male; Narcotics; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; RNA, Messenger; Spleen; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha | 2008 |
A novel neuromuscular syndrome associated with clenbuterol-tainted heroin.
Clenbuterol is a potent, long-acting beta-adrenergic agonist that has been reported as an adulterant of heroin. We describe an atypical syndrome in five users of clenbuterol-tainted heroin.. All cases were referred to a regional Poison Control Center. Urine and blood were analyzed using gas and liquid chromatography as well as mass spectrometry.. Five heroin users presented with a syndrome characterized by muscular spasm, tremor, hyperreflexia, and elevated serum creatine phosphokinase concentrations. All patients lacked findings of acute clenbuterol toxicity but tested positive for clenbuterol and negative for strychnine and a battery of common potential adulterants.. We report five cases of a novel neuromuscular syndrome in users of clenbuterol-adulterated heroin. It is unclear whether these reactions represent an atypical response to clenbuterol or another unidentified contaminant. Topics: Adult; Clenbuterol; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neuromuscular Diseases | 2008 |
Street drugs possibly tainted with clenbuterol.
Topics: Adrenergic beta-Agonists; Adult; Clenbuterol; Diagnosis, Differential; Drug Contamination; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypokalemia; Illicit Drugs; Male; Tachycardia | 2008 |
Prefrontal cortex AMPA receptor plasticity is crucial for cue-induced relapse to heroin-seeking.
Associative learning processes have an important role in the initiation and persistence of heroin-seeking. Here we show in a rat self-administration model that reexposure to cues previously associated with heroin results in downregulation of AMPA receptor subunit GluR2 and concomitant upregulation of clathrin-coat assembly protein AP2ml in synaptic membranes of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Reduced AMPA receptor expression in synaptic membranes was associated with a decreased AMPA/NMDA current ratio and increased rectification index in mPFC pyramidal neurons. Systemic or ventral (but not dorsal) mPFC injections of a peptide inhibiting GluR2 endocytosis attenuated both the rectification index and cue-induced relapse to heroin-seeking, without affecting sucrose-seeking. We conclude that GluR2 receptor endocytosis and the resulting synaptic depression in ventral mPFC are crucial for cue-induced relapse to heroin-seeking. As reexposure to conditioned stimuli is a major cause for heroin relapse, inhibition of GluR2 endocytosis may provide a new target for the treatment of heroin addiction. Topics: Acoustic Stimulation; alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cues; Endocytosis; Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; Extinction, Psychological; Gene Expression Regulation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Membrane Potentials; N-Methylaspartate; Narcotics; Neuronal Plasticity; Neurons; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Peptides; Prefrontal Cortex; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, AMPA; Reinforcement Schedule; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration; Sucrose; Tandem Mass Spectrometry | 2008 |
Sudden bilateral sensorineural hearing loss following speedballing.
Hearing loss is an infrequently-reported consequence of recreational drug abuse. Although there are sporadic reports of hearing loss from heroin and cocaine ingested separately, there are no reports of hearing loss resulting from the combination of both drugs ingested simultaneously in the form of speedballing.. The purpose of this report is to document a case of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss associated with an episode of speedballing.. Case Report.. The subject of this report was a 40-year-old man with a 20-year history of substance abuse. Data collected included a case history, pure tone audiometry, tympanometry and acoustic reflexes, and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions.. The audiologic evaluation indicated a mild to moderate, relatively flat, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss that was worse in the right ear.. A bilateral sensorineural hearing loss involving both cochlear and neural pathology may be a rare complication of cocaine, heroin, or the combination of the two drugs. Topics: Acoustic Impedance Tests; Adult; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Diagnosis, Differential; Drug Synergism; Hearing Loss, Bilateral; Hearing Loss, Sudden; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; Reflex, Acoustic; Retrocochlear Diseases; Tinnitus; Vestibulocochlear Nerve | 2008 |
Involvement of arginine vasopressin and V1b receptor in heroin withdrawal and heroin seeking precipitated by stress and by heroin.
A previous study has shown that the stress responsive neurohormone arginine vasopressin (AVP) is activated in the amygdala during early withdrawal from cocaine. The present studies were undertaken to determine whether (1) AVP mRNA levels in the amygdala or hypothalamus, as well as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity, would be altered during chronic intermittent escalating heroin administration (10 days; 7.5-60 mg/kg/day) or during early (12 h) and late (10 days) spontaneous withdrawal; (2) foot shock stress would alter AVP mRNA levels in the amygdala or hypothalamus in rats withdrawn from heroin self-administration (7 days, 3 h/day, 0.05 mg/kg/infusion); and (3) the selective V1b receptor antagonist SSR149415 (1 and 30 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) would alter heroin seeking during tests of reinstatement induced by foot shock stress and by heroin primes (0.25 mg/kg), as well as HPA hormonal responses to foot shock. We found that AVP mRNA levels were increased during early spontaneous withdrawal in the amygdala only. This amygdalar AVP mRNA increase was no longer observed at the later stage of heroin withdrawal. Foot shock stress increased AVP mRNA levels in the amygdala of rats withdrawn from heroin self-administration, but not in heroin naïve rats. Behaviorally, SSR149415 dose-dependently attenuated foot shock-induced reinstatement and blocked heroin-induced reinstatement. Finally, SSR149415 blunted the HPA activation by foot shock. Together, these data in rats suggest that stress responsive AVP/V1b receptor systems (including the amygdala) may be critical components of the neural circuitry underlying the aversive emotional consequences of drug withdrawal, as well as the effect of negative emotional states on drug-seeking behavior. Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Animals; Arginine Vasopressin; Corticosterone; Exploratory Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Receptors, Vasopressin; RNA, Messenger; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2008 |
N-acetylcysteine reduces extinction responding and induces enduring reductions in cue- and heroin-induced drug-seeking.
Previous studies show that the acute administration of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) inhibits the desire for cocaine in addicts and cocaine-seeking in animals.. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin, and the reinstatement model of drug seeking was used to determine whether chronic NAC treatment inhibited heroin-seeking.. Daily NAC administration inhibited cue- and heroin-induced seeking. Moreover, repeated NAC administration during extinction training reduced extinction-responding and inhibited cue- and heroin-induced reinstatement for up to 40 days after discontinuing daily NAC injection.. These data show that daily NAC inhibits heroin-induced reinstatement and produces an enduring reduction in cue- and heroin-induced drug seeking for over 1 month after the last injection of NAC. Both the inhibitory effect of NAC on the reinstatement of heroin-seeking and the ability of NAC to reduce extinction-responding support clinical evaluation of repeated NAC administration to decrease in drug-seeking in heroin addicts. Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cues; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Interactions; Extinction, Psychological; Free Radical Scavengers; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Time Factors | 2008 |
Australian heroin seizures and the causes of the 2001 heroin shortage.
This paper uses Australian heroin seizure data, along with estimates of the size of the Australian heroin market to evaluate the impact of drug law enforcement on the 2001 Australian heroin shortage from the percentage of the market seized. It also critically examines international heroin production trends and published reports on the causes of the Australian heroin shortage. Its conclusion is that previous studies may have overstated the success of drug law enforcement and that the most likely explanation for Australia's 2001 heroin shortage was a significant decline in heroin production world-wide, due to a general move away from heroin production in the countries of Southeast Asia and the prohibition on opium growing by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Topics: Australia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Law Enforcement; Narcotics | 2008 |
Acute effect of methadone maintenance dose on brain FMRI response to heroin-related cues.
Environmental drug-related cues have been implicated as a cause of illicit heroin use during methadone maintenance treatment of heroin dependence. The authors sought to identify the functional neuroanatomy of the brain response to visual heroin-related stimuli in methadone maintenance patients.. Event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to compare brain responses to heroin-related stimuli and matched neutral stimuli in 25 patients in methadone maintenance treatment. Patients were studied before and after administration of their regular daily methadone dose.. The heightened responses to heroin-related stimuli in the insula, amygdala, and hippocampal complex, but not the orbitofrontal and ventral anterior cingulate cortices, were acutely reduced after administration of the daily methadone dose.. The medial prefrontal cortex and the extended limbic system in methadone maintenance patients with a history of heroin dependence remains responsive to salient drug cues, which suggests a continued vulnerability to relapse. Vulnerability may be highest at the end of the 24-hour interdose interval. Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Behavior, Addictive; Brain; Cues; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Frontal Lobe; Functional Laterality; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Methadone; Oxygen; Secondary Prevention; Visual Perception | 2008 |
Attenuation of cue-induced heroin-seeking behavior by cannabinoid CB1 antagonist infusions into the nucleus accumbens core and prefrontal cortex, but not basolateral amygdala.
As with other drugs of abuse, heroin use is characterized by a high incidence of relapse following detoxification that can be triggered by exposure to conditioned stimuli previously associated with drug availability. Recent findings suggest that cannabinoid CB(1) receptors modulate the motivational properties of heroin-conditioned stimuli that induce relapse behavior. However, the neural substrates through which CB(1) receptors modulate cue-induced heroin seeking have not been elucidated. In this study, we evaluated alterations in cue-induced reinstatement of heroin-seeking behavior produced by infusions of the CB(1) receptor antagonist SR 141716A (0, 0.3 and 3 microg per side) delivered into the prefrontal cortex (PFC), nucleus accumbens (NAC), and basolateral amygdala (BLA) of rats. Results show that following extinction of operant behavior the presentation of a discriminative stimulus conditioned to heroin availability reinstated nonreinforced lever pressing to levels comparable to preextinction levels. Intra-PFC SR 141716A dose-dependently reduced cue-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking, with a significant reduction following the 3 microg per side dose. In the NAC, both SR 141716A doses induced a significant reduction in cue-induced reinstatement, with the highest dose completely blocking the effect of the cue. In contrast, intra-BLA SR 141716A did not alter cue-induced reinstatement of responding while systemic administration of this antagonist (3 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly blocked cue-induced reinstatement in all three-placement groups (BLA, PFC, and NAC). These findings provide new insights into the neural mechanisms through which CB(1) receptors modulate the motivational properties of heroin-associated cues inducing relapse. Topics: Amygdala; Animals; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Motivation; Narcotics; Nucleus Accumbens; Piperidines; Prefrontal Cortex; Pyrazoles; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; Reinforcement, Psychology; Reward; Rimonabant | 2008 |
Substance misuse: More than a quick fix.
Topics: Crime; Drug Prescriptions; Europe; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Narcotics; Treatment Outcome | 2008 |
Should heroin be prescribed to heroin misusers? Yes.
Topics: Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics | 2008 |
Should heroin be prescribed to heroin misusers? No.
Topics: Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Risk Factors | 2008 |
Cerebral blood flow effects of acute intravenous heroin administration.
We examined acute effects of intravenous diacetylmorphine (heroin) administration - which induces a characteristic biphasic response: A short rush-sensation associated with intense pleasurable feelings followed by a subjectively different period of euphoria on cerebral blood flow. This was assessed in nine male heroin dependent patients participating in a heroin maintenance program in a setting resembling everyday pattern of heroin abuse. 99mTc-HMPAO was administered 45 s (rush) and 15 min (euphoria) after administration of i.v. heroin and 45 s after administration of saline (placebo). Plasma concentration of diacetylmorphine and its metabolites were measured with high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Compared to the euphoria condition, rush was associated with blood flow increase in the left posterior cerebellar lobe, left anterior cingulate gyrus and right precuneus. Our results are in line with recent reports indicating that the cerebellum is an important component in functional brain systems subserving sensory and motor integration, learning, modulation of affect, motivation and social behaviour, which all play important roles in reinforcing properties of opioids. Topics: Adult; Brain; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Euphoria; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Injections, Intravenous; Linear Models; Male; Models, Statistical; Narcotics; Oxygen; Radiopharmaceuticals; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon | 2008 |
Heroin prescription to misusers: Treat addicts, not the addiction.
Topics: Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics | 2008 |
Heroin prescription to misusers: Prejudice based medicine?
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Narcotics | 2008 |
Heroin prescription to misusers: Treat patients, not communities.
Topics: Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics | 2008 |
Acute concomitant esotropia during heroin detoxification.
Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Esotropia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Male | 2008 |
Glutamate release in the nucleus accumbens core is necessary for heroin seeking.
Long-term changes in glutamate transmission in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcore) contribute to the reinstatement of drug seeking after extinction of cocaine self-administration. Whether similar adaptations in glutamate transmission occur during heroin and cue-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking is unknown. After 2 weeks of heroin self-administration and 2 weeks of subsequent extinction training, heroin seeking was induced by a noncontingent injection of heroin or by presentation of light/tone cues previously paired with heroin infusions. Microdialysis was conducted in the NAcore during reinstatement of heroin seeking in animals extinguished from heroin self-administration or in subjects receiving parallel (yoked) noncontingent saline or heroin. Reinstatement by either heroin or cue increased extracellular glutamate in the NAcore in the self-administration group, but no increase was elicited during heroin-induced reinstatement in the yoked control groups. The increase in glutamate during heroin-induced drug seeking was abolished by inhibiting synaptic transmission in the NAcore with tetrodotoxin or by inhibiting glutamatergic afferents to the NAcore from the prelimbic cortex. Supporting critical involvement of glutamate release, heroin seeking induced by cue or heroin was blocked by inhibiting AMPA/kainate glutamate receptors in the NAcore. Interestingly, although a heroin-priming injection increased dopamine equally in animals trained to self-administer heroin and in yoked-saline subjects, inhibition of dopamine receptors in the NAcore also blocked heroin- and cue-induced drug seeking. Together, these findings show that recruitment of the glutamatergic projection from the prelimbic cortex to NAcore is necessary to initiate the reinstatement of heroin seeking. Topics: 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Behavior, Animal; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Dopamine Antagonists; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Glutamic Acid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Self Administration | 2008 |
Eosinophilic pneumonia associated with heroin inhalation: a case report.
Drugs are known to be a cause of pulmonary eosinophilia and several case reports of acute eosinophilic pneumonia associated with the use of cocaine have been reported. The changing pattern of heroin use, with a shift from intravenous use to smoking/inhalation of the substance, may lead to increased prevalence of heroin-induced pulmonary eosinophilia. We report on a case of a patient who had been inhaling heroin for about ten years. He presented with fever, cough, dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain. Chest radiograph showed unilateral pleural effusion with segmental atelectasis. Examination of pleuritic fluid aspirate and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed significant eosinophilia. He was diagnosed with acute eosinophilic pneumonia. Rapid remission was achieved after heroin abstinence and initiation of corticosteroid treatment. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Eosinophils; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukocyte Count; Male; Narcotics; Pulmonary Eosinophilia; Tomography, X-Ray Computed | 2008 |
Law enforcement and Australia's 2001 heroin shortage: evaluating the evidence.
Topics: Australia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Law Enforcement; Narcotics | 2008 |
Decline in needle exchange use in Vancouver, Canada coincides with the Australian heroin shortage.
Topics: Australia; British Columbia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Law Enforcement; Narcotics; Needle-Exchange Programs; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Time Factors | 2008 |
Opposite environmental regulation of heroin and amphetamine self-administration in the rat.
The circumstances of drug taking are thought to play a role in drug abuse but the evidence of it is anecdotal. Previous studies have shown that the intravenous self-administration of cocaine is facilitated in rats non-residing in the test chambers relative to rats that live in the test chambers at all times. We investigated here whether environmental context could exert its modulatory influence on heroin and amphetamine self-administration as well.. Independent groups of rats were given the possibility to self-administer different doses of heroin or amphetamine (12.5, 25.0, or 50.0 microg/kg). Some animals were housed in the self-administration chambers (resident groups) whereas other rats were transported to the self-administration chambers only for the test sessions (non-resident groups).. Amphetamine-reinforcing effects were more pronounced in non-resident rats than in resident rats, as previously reported for cocaine. Quite unexpectedly, the opposite was found for heroin. Because of this surprising dissociation, some of the rats trained to self-administer amphetamine were later given the opportunity to self-administer heroin. Also in this case, resident rats took more heroin than non-resident rats.. These findings suggest an unforeseen dissociation between opioid and psychostimulant reward and demonstrate that even in the laboratory rat some contexts are associated with the propensity to self-administer more opioid than psychostimulant drugs and vice versa, thus indicating that drug taking is influenced not only by economical or cultural factors but also can be modulated at a much more basic level by the setting in which drugs are experienced. Topics: Amphetamine; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Animals; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Conditioning, Operant; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Interactions; Environment; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement Schedule; Self Administration | 2008 |
Heroin self-administration: II. CNS gene expression following withdrawal and cue-induced drug-seeking behavior.
In the accompanying paper, we described incubation of heroin-seeking behavior in rats following 14 days of abstinence. To gain an understanding of genomic changes that accompany this behavioral observation, we measured the expression of genes previously reported to respond to drugs of abuse. Specifically, after 1 or 14 days of abstinence, mRNA expression was measured for 11 genes in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) immediately following a single 90 min extinction session. Additionally, the role of contingency was examined in control rats that received yoked, response-independent heroin administration. Gene expression was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR. Expression of five genes (Arc, EGR1, EGR2, Fos, and Homer1b/c) was changed in the mPFC. EGR1 and EGR2 expression was increased following the 90 min extinction session in a contingency-specific manner and this increase persisted through the 14 days of abstinence. Fos expression was also increased after 1 and 14 days of abstinence, but at 14 days this increase was response-independent (i.e., it occurred in both the rats with a history of heroin self-administration and in the yoked controls). Arc expression increased following the extinction session only in rats with a history of heroin self-administration and only when tested following 1, but not 14, days of abstinence. Homer 1 b/c decreased after 14 days of enforced abstinence in rats that received non-contingent heroin. Expression of only a single gene (EGR2) was increased in the NAc. These data demonstrate that behavioral incubation is coincident with altered levels of specific transcripts and that this response is contingently-specific. Moreover, EGR1 and EGR2 are specifically upregulated in self-administering rats following extinction and this finding persists through 14 days of abstinence, suggesting that these genes are particularly associated with the incubation phenomenon. These latter observations of persistent changes in gene expression following abstinence may reflect molecular correlates of relapse liability. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Body Weight; Central Nervous System; Cues; Drinking; Extinction, Psychological; Gene Expression; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2008 |
Heroin self-administration: I. Incubation of goal-directed behavior in rats.
This study used heroin self-administration to investigate incubation of goal-directed heroin-seeking behavior following abstinence. Male Sprague-Dawley rats self-administered heroin on a fixed ratio 10 (FR10) schedule of reinforcement with licking of an empty spout serving as the operant behavior during 14 daily 3 h sessions. After this acquisition period, all rats received a 90 min extinction session following either 1 day or 14 days of home cage abstinence. When the extinction session occurred after only 1 day of home cage abstinence, rats with a history of heroin self-administration divided their responses equally between the previously "active" and "inactive" spouts. However, when the extinction session occurred following 14 days of home cage abstinence, the rats exhibited marked goal-directed heroin-seeking behavior by licking more on the previously "active" than "inactive" spout. These findings demonstrate that heroin-seeking behavior incubates over time, resulting in goal-directed heroin-seeking behavior in rats following 14 days but not 1 day of abstinence. Moreover, this facilitatory effect occurred in response to a different training schedule, lower total drug intake, and shorter periods of daily access than previously reported with heroin. Topics: Animals; Conditioning, Operant; Extinction, Psychological; Goals; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement Schedule; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Water Deprivation | 2008 |
Unreinforced responding during limited access to heroin self-administration.
These studies were designed to explore a peculiar behavior displayed by rats during the acquisition of heroin self-administration (0.05 mg/kg/infusion) on a fixed-ratio 1 schedule of reinforcement in limited access conditions (i.e. 3 h/day). Rats trained under these conditions develop a tendency to emit extra lever presses during the time of heroin infusions (unreinforced responses). We found that a similar behavior develops in animals responding for sucrose pellets, but not for intravenous infusions of cocaine (0.5 mg/kg/infusion, 3 h/day). In sucrose trained rats, unreinforced responses emitted during the delivery of sucrose pellets was enhanced by food deprivation. In heroin trained rats, development of unreinforced responding was accompanied by an increase in responding for heroin on a progressive ratio schedule, and by a reduction of the depressant action of heroin (3 mg/kg, SC) on locomotor activity. On the basis of these findings, we concluded that unreinforced responding during heroin self-administration reflects a change in the motivation to obtain the drug, as well as a reduced sensitivity the motor impairing action of heroin. This suggests that acquisition of heroin self-administration is regulated by a balance between drug effects that promote and limit heroin intake. Topics: Animals; Cocaine; Conditioning, Operant; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Food Deprivation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Motivation; Motor Activity; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement Schedule; Self Administration; Sucrose | 2008 |
Australian heroin seizures and the causes of the 2001 heroin shortage.
Topics: Australia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Law Enforcement; Narcotics; Time Factors | 2008 |
Hemorheological changes and characteristic parameters derived from whole blood viscometry in chronic heroin addicts.
A group of 15 chronic opioid addicts (DA) with mean age 26.5+/-7.3 years was studied by means of a rotational Contraves Low Shear 30 viscometer and the results have been compared with a control group of 19 healthy subjects. It was found that the mean whole blood viscosity values of the investigated group of heroin abusers (n=15) were elevated compared to that of healthy persons (n=19) over the whole shear rate range and fell by more than ten orders of magnitude (Savov et al., 2006). The present investigation uses the coefficients of the models of Ostwald-de-Walle (power law) and Herschel-Bulkley law, which describe whole blood flow curves (tau-gamma) within the shear rates range from 10(-2) to 10(2) s(-1) and itself incorporate whole blood viscosity data in the entire shear rate range. A significant difference in the mean yield shear stress tau(0) values of the drug abusers' group compared to the controls was found. A strong positive linear correlation was determined between the parameters of RBC aggregation in the group of heroin addicts confirming our previous results (Ivanov and Antonova, 2005; Savov, Zvetkova et al., 2007; Savov, Antonova et al., 2007) for intensive RBC and platelet aggregation and morphological changes in DA group. Topics: Adult; Blood Viscosity; Erythrocyte Aggregation; Erythrocyte Deformability; Erythrocyte Indices; Erythrocytes; Female; Hematocrit; Hemorheology; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Regression Analysis; Rheology | 2008 |
Evaluation of the role of abstinence in heroin overdose deaths using segmental hair analysis.
In the body heroin is rapidly metabolized to 6-acetylmorphine and morphine. Victims of lethal heroin overdose often present with fairly low blood concentrations of morphine. Reduced tolerance due to abstinence has been proposed to account for this finding. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of abstinence in drug-related deaths by comparing recent and past exposure to opioids using segmental hair analysis with the postmortem blood morphine concentrations in deceased heroin users. The study included 60 deceased drug addicts in the Stockholm area, Sweden. In 32 cases, death was not related to heroin intake. In 18 of the 28 heroin fatalities, opioids were absent in the most recent hair segment, suggesting a reduced tolerance to opioids. However, the blood morphine levels were similar to those found in the 10 subjects that showed continuous opioid use. Hair and blood analysis disclosed an extensive use of additional drugs that directly or indirectly may influence the opioid system. The results suggest that abstinence is not a critical factor for heroin overdose death. Obviously tolerant subjects die after intake of similar doses. Other factors, particularly polydrug use, seem to be more causally important for these deaths. Topics: Adult; Aged; Drug Overdose; Drug Tolerance; Female; Forensic Pathology; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Morphine | 2007 |
Differential regional effects of methadone maintenance compared to heroin dependence on mu-opioid receptor desensitization in rat brain.
Methadone maintenance therapy has been the mainstay of treatment for heroin addiction since the 1970s. Recent studies indicate that methadone is of greater relative intrinsic efficacy than the active metabolites of heroin at mu-opioid receptors and that the extent of mu-opioid receptor desensitization is dependent upon agonist efficacy. Regional differences have been found for mu-opioid receptor desensitization with chronic heroin self-administration, and a similar paradigm was employed to compare regional differences between the effects of heroin and methadone. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin i.v., and the dose available was increased incrementally to a terminal value of 6 mg/kg for each infusion. Half of these rats were allowed to continue to self-administer heroin, while dependence was maintained in the others by hourly infusions of 3 mg/kg of methadone. A separate group of animals was kept on a low dose of heroin. Activation of G-proteins by the high efficacy agonist DAMGO was decreased to a greater extent in animals treated chronically with methadone compared with those allowed to self-administer heroin in amygdala, periaqueductal gray, and subicular nucleus. Activation of G-proteins by the partial agonist endomorphin was decreased in striatum, thalamus, and amygdala in rats from all drug treatment groups, but to a greater extent in the striatum in methadone treated rats compared with the heroin groups. Elucidating the mechanisms by which methadone induces differential desensitization of mu-opioid receptors across brain regions compared with heroin could provide insights to improve the pharmacotherapy of heroin addiction. Topics: Animals; Binding, Competitive; Brain; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Tolerance; Eating; Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Radioligand Assay; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration | 2007 |
Effect of mu-opioid receptor gene polymorphisms on heroin-induced subjective responses in a Chinese population.
Genetic factors that influence subjective responses to drug use (such as euphoria) contribute to the risk of addiction. mu-opioid receptor is the molecular target of heroin mediating its effects in both pain relief and euphoria.. To evaluate the association of mu-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) variants with heroin-induced positive responses on first use, we studied 336 Chinese Han heroin addicts recruited in Shanghai and divided heroin addicts into two groups (positive vs. negative) according to the self-reporting feeling on first use. Association analyses with the genotypes and alleles in nine tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) in OPRM1 with subjective responses were performed. Similar analysis with haplotypes of these tSNPs was also performed.. Allele frequencies of three tSNPs were significantly different between the positive and negative groups. They were rs696522 (odds ratio [OR] = 3.06, p = .0013), rs1381376 (OR = 3.16, p = .0008), and rs3778151 (OR = 3.12, p = .0004). Such association remains after adjustment for demographic covariates and for multiple testing. The subjects with heroin-induced positive responses on first use consumed more drugs than the negative group (Mann-Whitney U = 224.0, Wilcoxon W = 16334.0, p Topics: Adult; China; Exons; Female; Genotype; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Linkage Disequilibrium; Logistic Models; Male; Narcotics; Polymorphism, Genetic; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Surveys and Questionnaires | 2007 |
Role of acetylcholine transmission in nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area in heroin-seeking induced by conditioned cues.
The involvement of cholinergic transmission in heroin self-administration and the reinstatement of heroin-seeking was examined in rats trained to nose-poke for i.v. heroin. Systemic treatment with physostigmine, an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, modestly reduced the acquisition and rate of heroin self-administration, and this suppression of heroin intake was reversed by pretreatment with scopolamine but not by mecamylamine. Following 10-14 days of self-administration, rats were left in the home environment for 14 days. Subsequently, rats were evaluated for extinction of nose-pokes during the first hour after being returned to the self-administration apparatus. One hour later a conditioned stimulus (house light, light in the nose-poke hole, sound of the infusion pump) was presented to initiate cue-induced reinstatement. Physostigmine produced a dose-dependent inhibition of cue-induced reinstatement, but only the dose of 0.5 mg/kg significantly decreased nose-poke responding in the extinction test. Chronic treatment with physostigmine (0.1 mg/kg) did not impair performance during acquisition of heroin self-administration. However, during a subsequent reinstatement test conducted in the absence of physostigmine pretreatment, heroin seeking was significantly below that of rats chronically pretreated with saline. To evaluate brain regions mediating the effects of systemic drug treatment on reinstatement, physostigmine was microinjected into the nucleus accumbens (NAc) or ventral tegmental area (VTA). Microinjection of physostigmine into the NAc prior to presenting conditioned cues inhibited the reinstatement of heroin-seeking, without affecting extinction responding. In contrast, microinjection of physostigmine into the VTA augmented the reinstatement induced by conditioned cues and extinction responding. Inactivation of either NAc or VTA by microinjecting tetrodotoxin blocked both extinction responding and cue-induced reinstatement. These data demonstrate that cholinergic transmission influences heroin self-administration and reinstatement. Moreover, cue-induced reinstatement was inhibited by physostigmine in the NAc and potentiated by cholinergic stimulation in the VTA. Topics: Acetylcholine; Animals; Cholinergic Fibers; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Exploratory Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Learning; Male; Microinjections; Muscarinic Antagonists; Narcotics; Neural Pathways; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement, Psychology; Reward; Self Administration; Synaptic Transmission; Ventral Tegmental Area | 2007 |
[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation after heroin intoxication and hypothermia].
We present the case of a 21-year-old female drug addict with severe accidental hypothermia (core body temperature 27.5 degrees C) and cardiorespiratory arrest. After successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation the patient was actively internally rewarmed without the use of extracorporal circulation. Although at the first clinical presentation the patient appeared to be dead, an excellent neurological outcome was achieved. This case report reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, prognostic markers and the therapeutic approaches of severe hypothermia. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Drug Overdose; Female; Heart Arrest; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypothermia; Prognosis; Rewarming | 2007 |
Overdose after detoxification: a prospective study.
The aim of this study was to determine predictors of non-fatal overdose (OD) among a cohort of 470 adults after detoxification from heroin, cocaine or alcohol.. We examined factors associated with time to OD during 2 years after discharge from an urban detoxification unit in Boston, MA, USA using multivariable regression analyses. Separate analyses were performed for both the total sample and a subgroup with problem opioid use.. Lifetime prevalence for any OD was 30.9% (145/470) in the total sample and 42.3% (85/201) in patients with opioid problems. During the 2-year follow-up, OD was estimated to occur in 16.9% of the total sample and 26.7% of the opioid problem subgroup, with new-onset (incidence) OD estimated at 5.7% and 11.0%, respectively. Factors associated with an increased hazard of OD in both samples included white race, more depressive symptoms, and prior OD regardless of intent. Prior suicidal ideation or attempt was not associated with future OD.. Findings underscore both the high prevalence of non-fatal OD among detoxification patients especially opioid users, and the potency of prior OD as a risk factor for future OD. Depressive symptoms, a modifiable risk factor, may represent a potential intervention target to prevent OD, including some "unintentional" ODs. Topics: Adult; Alcoholism; Boston; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Drug Overdose; Ethanol; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Proportional Hazards Models; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Urban Population | 2007 |
Acute parkinsonism with corresponding lesions in the basal ganglia after heroin abuse.
Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Basal Ganglia; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Parkinson Disease, Secondary | 2007 |
Impact of a reduction in heroin availability on patterns of drug use, risk behaviour and incidence of hepatitis C virus infection in injecting drug users in New South Wales, Australia.
In early 2001, Australia experienced a sudden and dramatic reduction in the availability of heroin. Research examining the impact of the reduction on drug-related harms has yielded a conflicting picture. The current study uses data from a prospective cohort study of anti-HCV negative injecting drug users (IDU) (n=368) to examine patterns of injecting drug use, risk behaviours and HCV incidence before and after the reduction. The proportion of participants mainly injecting heroin declined sharply from 74% to 47% after the onset of the reduction and continued throughout 2001. There was marked shift to other drugs, mainly cocaine and amphetamine. Cocaine injectors had the highest risk profile and the highest incidence of HCV (82.6 per 100 person years, 95% CI 52.0-131.0). While HCV seroconversions increased by year, this increase was not statistically significant. We observed a reduction in heroin injection and a concomitant increase in cocaine injection and a significant association between cocaine injection and incident HCV infection during a period of reduced heroin availability. Results suggest that attempts to suppress drug markets by manipulating availability may result in collateral damage in the form of drug-related harms, indicating a need for more sophisticated understandings of the potential trade-offs involved in attempting to suppress the supply of illicit drugs. Topics: Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Hepatitis C; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Incidence; Needle Sharing; New South Wales; Prospective Studies; Risk-Taking; Statistics as Topic; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2007 |
Buprenorphine for acute heroin detoxification: diffusion of research into practice.
Buprenorphine has been approved for heroin detoxification, but little is known about its impact on everyday practice. Concerns about buprenorphine include expense, limited knowledge about its use, patient limits, and social and clinical attitudes regarding opioid treatment for heroin dependence. On the other hand, randomized clinical trials suggest that buprenorphine is superior to clonidine with regard to withdrawal symptom relief. In June 2004, a community-based residential medical detoxification center switched from clonidine to buprenorphine treatment for all new and returning heroin clients. This study is a retrospective chart review of subject outcomes with clonidine (n = 100) versus buprenorphine (n = 100). Bivariate analysis suggested few cohort differences in pretreatment demographics and client characteristics. In contrast, buprenorphine was significantly associated with increased length of stay and treatment completion. The positive associations between buprenorphine and both treatment completion and length of stay persisted and were slightly enhanced after regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders. Additionally, clinical staff reported better subject engagement in treatment and psychosocial group sessions. This single-site study is an example of successful integration of an evidence-based treatment into community-based practice. Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Buprenorphine; Clonidine; Diffusion of Innovation; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Oregon; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Retrospective Studies; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Treatment Outcome | 2007 |
Primary care office-based buprenorphine treatment: comparison of heroin and prescription opioid dependent patients.
Prescription opioid dependence is increasing, but treatment outcomes with office-based buprenorphine/naloxone among these patients have not been described.. We compared demographic, clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes among 200 patients evaluated for entry into a trial of primary care office-based buprenorphine/naloxone treatment stratifying on those who reported exclusive heroin use (n = 124), heroin and prescription opioid use (n = 47), or only prescription opioid use (n = 29).. Compared to heroin-only patients, prescription-opioid-only patients were younger, had fewer years of opioid use, and less drug treatment history. They were also more likely to be white, earned more income, and were less likely to have Hepatitis C antibodies. Prescription-opioid-only patients were more likely to complete treatment (59% vs. 30%), remained in treatment longer (21.0 vs. 14.2 weeks), and had a higher percent of opioid-negative urine samples than heroin only patients (56.3% vs. 39.8%), all p values < .05. Patients who used both heroin and prescription opioids had outcomes that were intermediate between heroin-only and prescription-opioid-only patients.. Individuals dependent on prescription opioids have an improved treatment response to buprenorphine/naloxone maintenance in an office-based setting compared to those who exclusively or episodically use heroin. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Buprenorphine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Office Visits; Opioid-Related Disorders; Primary Health Care | 2007 |
Neurocognitive characterizations of Russian heroin addicts without a significant history of other drug use.
Research on the neurocognitive characteristics of heroin addiction is sparse and studies that do exist include polydrug abusers; thus, they are unable to distinguish neurocognitive effects of heroin from those of other drugs. To identify neurocognitive correlates specific to heroin addiction, the present study was conducted in St. Petersburg, Russia where individuals typically abuse and/or become addicted to only one substance, generally alcohol or heroin. Heroin addicts were recruited from an inpatient treatment facility in St. Petersburg. Three comparison groups included alcoholics, addicts who used both alcohol and heroin, and non-abusers. Psychiatric, background, and drug history evaluations were administered after detoxification to screen for exclusion criteria and characterize the sample. Executive Cognitive Functions (ECF) that largely activate areas of the prefrontal cortex and its circuitry measured include complex visual pattern recognition (Paired Associates Learning), working memory (Delayed Matching to Sample), problem solving (Stockings of Cambridge), executive decision making (Cambridge Decision Making Task), cognitive flexibility (Stroop Color-Word Task) and response shifting (Stop Change Task). In many respects, the heroin addicts were similar to alcohol and alcohol+heroin dependent groups in neurocognitive deficits relative to controls. The primary finding was that heroin addicts exhibited significantly more disadvantageous decision making and longer deliberation times while making risky decisions than the other groups. Because the nature and degree of recovery from drug abuse are likely a function of the type or pattern of neurocognitive impairment, differential drug effects must be considered. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Alcoholic Beverages; Brain; Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Decision Making; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Neuropsychological Tests; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Problem Solving; Russia; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers | 2007 |
Memantine produces modest reductions in heroin-induced subjective responses in human research volunteers.
Previous studies have demonstrated an interaction between opioids and noncompetitive antagonists at N-methyl-D: -aspartate (NMDA) receptors, but few studies have examined the utility of these medications for treating opioid dependence.. In this 8-week inpatient study, participants were maintained on the low-affinity, noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist memantine (0, 30, and 60 mg per day, PO) and under each maintenance dose condition, the effects of intranasal heroin (0, 12.5, and 50 mg, IN) were examined.. During the first week after admission to the hospital, participants were detoxified from heroin. All of the volunteers received all of the memantine and heroin dose combinations. Participants (N = 8) first sampled a dose of heroin and $20. During a subsequent choice session, participants could self-administer heroin and/or money. Responses, which consisted of finger presses on a computer mouse, were made under a modified progressive ratio schedule (PR 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,200, 1,600, 2,000, 2,400, and 2,800) during a ten-trial self-administration task. Subjective, performance, and physiological effects were measured repeatedly during laboratory sessions.. Memantine produced modest reductions in subjective ratings of drug quality, liking, willingness to pay for the drug, and craving for heroin. However, memantine produced few changes in the reinforcing effects of heroin.. These data demonstrate that memantine was well tolerated and modestly effective in reducing the subjective but not the reinforcing effects of heroin. Although it is unlikely that memantine will be useful as a stand-alone maintenance medication for opioid dependence, it may have some utility as an adjunct treatment medication. Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Behavior, Addictive; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Memantine; Motivation; Narcotics; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration | 2007 |
Does naltrexone affect craving in abstinent opioid-dependent patients?
Naltrexone blocks the opioid receptors that modulate the release of dopamine in the brain reward system and therefore blocks the rewarding effects of heroin and alcohol. It is generally assumed that naltrexone leads to reduction of craving, but few studies have been performed to prove this. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of the administration of naltrexone on craving level after rapid opioid detoxification induced by naltrexone. A naturalistic study was carried out in which patients were followed during 10 months after rapid detoxification. Data about abstinence, relapse, and naltrexone use were collected by means of urine specimens. Craving was measured by the visual analogue scale craving, the Obsessive Compulsive Drug Use Scale, and the Desires for Drug Questionnaire. Results showed that patients who relapsed in opioid use experienced obviously more craving than abstinent people. Patients who took naltrexone did not experience significant less craving than those who did not. These results suggest that the use of opioids is associated with increased craving and that abstinence for opioids is associated with less craving, independent of the use of naltrexone. This is in contrast to the general opinion. Because of the naturalistic design of the study, no firm conclusions can be drawn, but the results grounded the needs of an experimental study. Topics: Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Motivation; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Opioid-Related Disorders; Secondary Prevention; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Surveys and Questionnaires | 2007 |
Elevated urinary aluminium in current and past users of illicit heroin.
The use of illicit heroin is associated with aberrant neurology of unknown aetiology and various psychiatric illnesses. Aluminium, which is a proven neurotoxin, is present in significant amounts in illicit heroin and may also be volatilized and inhaled following the vaporization of heroin off aluminium foil ('Chasing the Dragon'). The purpose of this study was to establish if the use of illicit heroin was associated with an increase in the body burden of aluminium. We have used graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry to measure the aluminium and iron contents of the urine of current and past users of illicit heroin and used these data to estimate body burdens of aluminium. Urinary excretion of aluminium is the most effective non-invasive indicator of the body burden of aluminium and was found to be significantly (P < 0.001) higher in users of illicit heroin, range 14-3382 nmol/mmol creatinine (mean +/- SD; 222 +/- 491 nmol/mmol creatinine), than in a normal non-drug abusing control population, range 23-74 nmol/mmol creatinine (mean +/- SD; 43 +/- 19 nmol/mmol creatinine). Exposure to aluminium from the use of illicit heroin may be of particular significance because the urinary excretion of iron, another major contaminant of illicit heroin, in users (mean +/- SD; 53 +/- 63 nmol/mmol creatinine) was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from the control population (mean +/- SD; 38 +/- 18 nmol/mmol creatinine). We have shown for the first time that the use of illicit heroin may be a significant contributor to the body burden of aluminium. Further research will be required to determine if adventitious aluminium has a role in heroin use-related neuropathology and neurology. Topics: Adult; Aluminum; Body Burden; Creatinine; Drug Contamination; England; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Spectrophotometry, Atomic | 2007 |
Validation of meconin as a marker for illicit opiate use.
The detection of markers for illicit opiate misuse is important both in the management of substance misuse and in the postmortem identification of illicit opiate use. In addition to 6-monoacetylmorphine and acetyl codeine, other markers, such as papaverine, noscapine, and their metabolites, have been proposed as markers of illicit opiate use. Urine samples (362) from individuals attending substance misuse services and 26 postmortem cases were analyzed for meconin, a noscapine metabolite by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Three hundred of the substance misuse service samples and 14 of the postmortem samples had morphine present as the major opiate. Meconin was detected in 284 (94.7%) of these substance misuse samples and 11 (78%) of the postmortem samples. There was a specificity of 100% in both groups. In the 62 substance misuse cases where morphine was not the major opiate detected and four separate cases in which medicinal diamorphine was known to have been administered, meconin was not detected. The use of meconin as a useful adjunct in detecting illicit opiate use is recommended. Topics: Biomarkers; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Noscapine; Sensitivity and Specificity; Substance Abuse Detection | 2007 |
Novel heroin injection practices: implications for transmission of HIV and other bloodborne pathogens.
This paper describes injection risk in an out-of-treatment population of young heroin users in Hanoi, Vietnam, including use of a soft-tissue portal known as a "cay ma" (injection sac).. Data from a large cross-sectional survey (N=1270) are used to describe the prevalence of this practice and its association with disease. Additionally, data from an ethnographic substudy on injectors serve to elaborate injectors' rationales for this injection practice.. This practice was common in this sample, appearing soon after initiation of habitual injection. Injectors report that this allows rapid and reliable access to a vein; strategic advantages in a dense urban environment where rapid injection, typically in public settings, is necessary to avoid discovery or arrest. Additionally, this practice is believed to mitigate risk for vein damage from co-morbid promethazine hydrochloride injection.. This practice may draw lymphocytes to injection sites, thereby increasing risk for transmission of bloodborne pathogens. Structural and behavioral interventions are needed for young heroin users in Vietnam. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anthropology, Cultural; Blood-Borne Pathogens; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Surveys; Hepatitis B; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Narcotics; Pneumonia; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Vietnam | 2007 |
Pathways into receiving a prescription for diamorphine (heroin) for the treatment of opiate dependence in the United kingdom.
In the UK, few doctors prescribe diamorphine for the treatment of opiate dependence to a small number of patients. A retrospective case note review of patients receiving diamorphine in 2000 was conducted in the UK to determine how and why these patients came to receive a prescription for diamorphine. Patient eligibility criteria were examined together with doctors' stated reasons for initiating a diamorphine (heroin) prescription. Two hundred and ten sets of patients' case notes were reviewed at 27 of the 42 (64%) drug clinics in England and Wales where diamorphine was prescribed by the doctor. There appeared to be a general consensus among the few doctors who had prescribed diamorphine that it was a treatment of last resort, for those with long histories of heroin use and injecting, and those who had not responded sufficiently well to previous other treatments. However, there was also a small number of patients initiated on diamorphine without ever having previously received opiate treatments and some because they were experiencing problems injecting methadone. This reflects the UK history of the individual doctor's clinical autonomy in deciding when diamorphine is appropriate and the previous lack of nationally agreed patient eligibility criteria. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Crack Cocaine; Drug Administration Routes; Drug Prescriptions; England; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Retreatment; Retrospective Studies; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Treatment Failure; Wales | 2007 |
Microinjection of M(5) muscarinic receptor antisense oligonucleotide into VTA inhibits FosB expression in the NAc and the hippocampus of heroin sensitized rats.
To investigate the effect of M(5) muscarinic receptor subtype on the locomotor sensitization induced by heroin priming, and it's effect on the FosB expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the hippocampus in the heroin sensitized rats.. Locomotor activity was measured every 10 min for 1 h after subcutaneous injection of heroin. FosB expression was assayed by immunohistochemistry, and the antisense oligonucleotides (AS-ONs) targeting M(5) muscarinic receptor was transferred with the lipofectin.. Microinjection of AS-ONs targeting M(5) muscarinic receptor in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) blocked the expression of behavioral sensitization induced by heroin priming in rats. Meanwhile, the expression of FosB-positive neurons in either the NAc or the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus increased in heroin-induced locomotor sensitized rats. The enhancement of FosB-positive neurons in the NAc or DG could be inhibited by microinjection of M(5) muscarinic receptor AS-ONs into the VTA before the heroin-induced locomotor sensitization was performed. In contrast, microinjection of M(5) muscarinic receptor sense oligonucleotide (S-ONs) into the VTA did not block the expression of behavioral sensitization or the expression of FosB in the NAc or DG in the heroin sensitized rats.. Blocking M(5) muscarinic receptor in the VTA inhibits the expression of heroin-induced locomotor sensitization, which is associated with the regulation of FosB expression in the NAc and hippocampus neurons. M(5) muscarinic receptor may be a useful pharmacological target for the treatment of heroin addiction. Topics: Acetylcholine; Animals; Brain; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hippocampus; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Microinjections; Motor Activity; Narcotics; Neural Pathways; Neurons; Nucleus Accumbens; Oligonucleotides, Antisense; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptor, Muscarinic M5; Synaptic Transmission; Ventral Tegmental Area | 2007 |
Inhaled heroin causing a life-threatening asthma exacerbation and marked peripheral eosinophilia.
Topics: Acute Disease; Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Asthma; Eosinophilia; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics | 2007 |
Is there a relationship between street heroin purity and drug-related emergencies and/or drug-related deaths? An analysis from Vienna, Austria.
This study examines the quality of street heroin seized in Vienna in 1999 and whether there was a relationship between the purity of street heroin and the number of heroin-related emergencies as well as the number of heroin-related deaths. Street heroin confiscated by the Viennese police, run-sheets of drug-related emergencies, and postmortem reports of drug-related deaths in Vienna in 1999 were analyzed. A total of 415 retail samples with a total weight of 128.02 g contained a median percentage of 6.5% diacetylmorphine (range: 0.0-47.0%). All the samples contained a diluent, mainly lactose, as well as adulterants, such as caffeine and/or paracetamol. During the study period, 75 heroin-related deaths and 387 heroin-related emergencies were registered in Vienna. Time-series analysis revealed no statistically significant relationship between the rate of heroin-related incidents and the diacetylmorphine concentration of street heroin samples confiscated in Vienna in 1999. The widely held belief that the number of heroin-related deaths could be explained simply through fluctuations in the purity of street heroin could not be substantiated, even though the results of this study do not rule out an association between the purity of heroin and heroin-related deaths/emergencies. Topics: Acetaminophen; Adult; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Austria; Caffeine; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Drug Contamination; Emergencies; Female; Forensic Toxicology; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Lactose; Male; Narcotics; Sweetening Agents | 2007 |
Nonfatal overdose among heroin users in southwestern China.
To evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for nonfatal overdose among heroin users in southwestern China.. In 2005, 731 heroin users in Sichuan Province, China were interviewed for overdose experiences in the past 12 months. Factors hypothesized to be associated with overdose were evaluated with logistic regression models.. Eighty-eight (12%) drug users experienced at least one overdose, with a range from 1 to 20; 45 (51%) experienced 2 or more overdoses. Over half of participants with experience of overdose were recently released from prison (52%), and 56% used benzodiazepines before overdose. Longer methadone treatment in the past year (>or=180 vs. 0 days; OR, .3; 95% CI, .1-.8; P = .02), longer duration of using drugs (>or=7 vs. <7 years; OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.6; P = .002), and more frequency of injecting drugs in the past 3 months (>or=7 vs. <7 times/week; OR, 5.4; 95% CI, 3.2-9.0; P < .001) were independently associated with increased risk of nonfatal heroin overdose.. Nonfatal heroin overdoses are common among Chinese heroin users. Drug users should be encouraged to participate and remain in methadone treatment to prevent overdose and be educated about proper response to overdose to reduce risk of overdose death. Topics: Adult; Cause of Death; China; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Methadone; Multivariate Analysis; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2007 |
Heroin: what's in the mix?
Topics: Clenbuterol; Fentanyl; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Quinine; Scopolamine; Xylazine | 2007 |
Intravenous and intranasal heroin-dependent treatment-seekers: characteristics and treatment outcome.
This study compared the characteristics of intravenous (i.v.) and intranasal (i.n.) heroin users seeking methadone treatment, and their response to treatment.. A total of 319 heroin-dependent adults.. Participants were assigned randomly to receive interim methadone treatment or to a waiting list control on a 3 : 2 basis. Analyses were conducted by dividing participants into two groups based on their route of heroin ingestion: i.v. or i.n.. A methadone clinic in Baltimore City, Maryland.. Interim methadone treatment consisted of providing an adequate and stable dose of methadone, but no psychosocial services, to heroin-dependent adults for up to 120 days while they awaited an opening for comprehensive methadone treatment.. Addiction Severity Index, Texas Christian University AIDS Risk Assessment, a questionnaire on treatment entry and a urine drug test were collected at baseline and at entry into a comprehensive treatment program, or at 120 days after baseline assessment, whichever came first.. At baseline, over 60% of participants were i.n. users and had been for an average of over 12 years; i.v. users, compared to i.n. users, were more likely to have ever used cocaine, to have used cocaine in the past 30 days, to have more medical complications and to report more income generated from criminal behavior. Both i.v. and i.n. users reduced their self-reported days of heroin use, cocaine use and days of criminal activity in response to interim methadone treatment.. Despite differences in baseline characteristics, i.n. and i.v. heroin-dependent individuals did not differ in their response to interim methadone treatment. Topics: Adult; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Maryland; Methadone; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Social Class; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Treatment Outcome | 2007 |
Comparative toxicology of fatal heroin overdose cases and morphine positive homicide victims.
To compare the blood toxicology of heroin overdose cases and morphine positive homicide victims.. Analysis of coronial cases.. Sydney, Australia. Cases A total of 705 cases of death due to opioid toxicity and 28 morphine positive homicide cases (1 January 1998-31 December 2002).. There was no significant difference between the median morphine concentrations of the overdose and homicide groups (0.50 versus 0.45 mg/l). The overdose group was more likely to have blood alcohol (OR 3.21) present, but less likely to have methadone (OR 0.26) and cannabis (OR 0.04). There was a significant negative correlation between blood morphine and alcohol concentrations among the overdose group (rho = -0.32), but not among the homicide group (rho = -0.03). Independent predictors of a higher blood morphine concentration were a lower alcohol concentration and a higher methadone concentration.. Morphine concentrations per se are not diagnostic of overdose. The study confirms the salience of concomitant alcohol consumption in such events. Topics: Adult; Cause of Death; Drug Overdose; Female; Forensic Medicine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Homicide; Humans; Male; Morphine; New South Wales; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2007 |
[Changes of the immune cells, cytokines and growth hormone in teenager drug addicts].
To investigate the effect of heroin on the immune function, growth and development in the teenager heroin addicts by measuring their T-lymphocyte subsets, Th1/Th2 cytokines and serum growth hormone.. Tlymphocyte subsets of peripheral blood from the teenager heroin addicts were measured by direct microvolume whole blood immunofluorescent staining technique by flow cytometer (FCM). Thl / Th2 cytokines were measured by BD cytometric bead array and serum growth hormone was assayed using the chemiluminescence method in the 20 teenager heroin addicts and 23 healthy teenagers.. The levels of CD3(+), CD3(+) + CD4(+), CD3(+) + CD4(+)/CD3(+)+ CD8(+), Th1 cytokines(IL-2, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma) and Th2 cytokines(IL-4 and IL-10) reduced significantly in the teenager heroin addicts compared with the healthy control group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The level of Th1 cytokines(IL-2 + TNF-alpha+IFN-gamma) decreased more than that of Th2 cytokines(IL-4 + IL-5 + IL-10)(P < 0.05). The level of serum growth hormone from the teenager heroin addicts was remarkably higher than that in control group (P<0.01).. Heroin can inhibit the immunofunction especially the celluar immunity of the teenager heroin addicts. Besides, it can increase the level of serum growth hormone of the teenager heroin addicts. Topics: Adolescent; Antigens, CD; Case-Control Studies; Child; Cytokines; Female; Growth Hormone; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; T-Lymphocytes; Th1 Cells; Th2 Cells | 2007 |
Heroin addicts reporting previous heroin overdoses also report suicide attempts.
Nonfatal heroin overdoses and suicide attempts are both common among heroin addicts, but there is limited knowledge about the association between them. The sample in the present study consisted of 149 regular heroin users in Malmö, Sweden. Out of these 98 had taken an unintentional heroin overdose at some time and 51 had made at least one attempt to commit suicide (but not using heroin). Suicide attempts were significantly more common among those who had taken unintentional overdoses as compared with those who had never taken any overdose (p < 0.01). The more overdoses, the greater the risk of suicide attempt. Topics: Adult; Comorbidity; Depressive Disorder; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Needle-Exchange Programs; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Suicide, Attempted; Sweden | 2007 |
Neurological picture. Complications from cervical intra-arterial heroin injection.
Topics: Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection; Cerebral Angiography; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intra-Arterial; Intracranial Aneurysm; Middle Aged; Neck; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vertebral Artery; Vertebral Artery Dissection | 2007 |
Assessing free and total morphine following heroin overdose when complicated by the presence of toxic amitriptyline levels.
A 43-year-old female was reported to inject heroin, which led to her rapid death. Because of the potential for criminal charges, laboratory results that could verify "hotshot" heroin overdose were valuable. Initial toxicological analysis detected morphine (0.78 mg/L), amitriptyline (2.91 mg/L), and nortriptyline (2.80 mg/L) in femoral blood. Because these tricyclic antidepressant levels alone might normally be associated with a fatal outcome, the ratio of free versus total morphine (88.6%) and presence of 6-monoacetylmorphine in vitreous fluid were used support a history of rapid death following intravenous (IV) administration. The distribution of amitriptyline and nortriptyline was consistent with accumulation of drug after chronic dosing. Our other results suggest that the low morphine level in vitreous humor fluid (0.16 mg/L) relative to free morphine in femoral blood (0.78 mg/L) may also be an indicator of limited survival time following exposure to morphine. Based upon comprehensive toxicologic analysis, we determined overdose due to IV abuse of heroin was likely to have precipitated the fatal outcome. This case underscores the need for complete toxicologic workup and to consider individual variation in the dose response during toxicologic interpretation of postmortem results. Topics: Adult; Amitriptyline; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; Drug Interactions; Drug Overdose; Fatal Outcome; Female; Forensic Toxicology; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Nortriptyline | 2007 |
What heroin users tell us about overdose.
This study describes overdose experiences of heroin users, both the overdoses they themselves experienced, as well as those that they witnessed. A structured interview was performed with 101 current heroin users in Albuquerque, New Mexico from January 7, 2002 to February 26, 2002. Heroin-related overdoses were found to be common in this sample of heroin users. Three or more persons were reported to be present during 80 of the 95 most recently witnessed overdoses. An ambulance was called in only 42 of the 95 witnessed overdoses. Seventy-five percent of the respondents who witnessed an overdose stated concern over police involvement was an important reason for delay or absence of a 911 call for help. One hundred of the 101 respondents reported willingness, if trained, to use rescue breathing and to inject naloxone to aid an overdose victim. New methods need to be found to reduce heroin overdose death. Scientific studies are needed on the efficacy of take-home naloxone. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Attitude to Health; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Pilot Projects | 2007 |
Should we prescribe heroin? A current Scottish debate.
There have been recent calls from within both Scotland and England for the wider prescription of heroin to heroin addicts as a way of coping with our burgeoning drug problem and as a route to reducing drug related criminality. But how feasible is heroin prescribing in this context? This paper considers some of the existing research evidence relating to heroin prescribing and looks also at the ethics and practicalities of prescribing heroin to heroin addicts in Scotland. We conclude that whilst the evidence on the benefits of heroin prescribing is far from clear cut there is a case for mounting a Scottish trial of heroin prescribing. Such a trial would need to be tightly controlled and rigorously evaluated. It would need to show that heroin prescribing was associated not only with a comparable level of harm reduction, as methadone prescribing, but that it was also an effective route towards drug users' eventual recovery and drug cessation. Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Scotland | 2007 |
Drug consumption in London and Western Berlin during the 1960s and 1970s: local and transnational perspectives.
Between about 1964 and 1969, drug consumption was embedded into the transnational networks of a countercultural youth underground. In London, the high mobility of the underground members was evoking a deep-rooted fear of a casual way of life. The West Berlin underground was much more politicized than its London counterpart. In West Berlin, until the last third of the 1970s, there was no coordinated anti-drug policy. This changed when the situation of heroin users deteriorated. Politicians as well as the members of the self-help organizations began to realize that a close cooperation and an improved communication were imperative. The situation for heroin users in 1970s London was not that bad when compared to Berlin because a relatively well-functioning civil society already existed, and there were special clinics, the Drug Treatment Centers, and a relatively well-working network of voluntary organizations. Topics: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Berlin; Cultural Characteristics; Drug Users; Government Programs; Health Promotion; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; History, 20th Century; Humans; Illicit Drugs; London; Public Health; Self-Help Groups; Social Behavior; Social Change; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance-Related Disorders | 2006 |
Complaints of heroin-maintained patients: A survey of symptoms ascribed to diacetylmorphine.
Prescribing of injectable diacetylmorphine (DAM) for heroin dependence has raised concerns about its safety. In light of various reports by heroin-maintained patients of DAM-related adverse events, and previously established unwanted effects of opioids in pain management, we undertook a survey in February 2001 of a random sample of 132 (127 participated) of 1061 patients prescribed DAM in Switzerland at that time. The purpose was to document the prevalence rates of a list of unintended symptoms experienced and attributed to DAM by patients. To assess symptom complaints and other data, staff administered a six-page self-report questionnaire. The patients ascribed numerous symptoms to DAM, with the best-known being the most frequently reported (e.g. skin itching, sweating, constipation). Among potentially more problematic complaints ranged irregular menses, cognitive deficits, muscle twitches, labored breathing, pains in the cardiac region, and temporary paralysis of limbs. In the absence of a control group, however, these may also be due to other factors, such as expectation, co-medication, concomitant substance use or co-morbidity. This pilot study emphasizes the necessity of rigorous assessment of the true rates, types, severity and preventability of such complications, especially given the current efforts to establish heroin maintenance as an optional treatment for heroin dependence. Topics: Adult; Cognition Disorders; Drug Prescriptions; Female; Health Status; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Myoclonus; Narcotics; Substance-Related Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors | 2006 |
Heroin affects purine nucleotides catabolism in rats in vivo.
To investigate the effect of heroin on purine nucleotides catabolism, a rat model of heroin administration and withdrawal was established. Concentrations of uric acid, creatinine, and urea nitrogen in plasma and ADA in plasma, brain, liver, and small intestine were tested. When two heroin administration groups were compared with the control group, the concentrations of plasma uric acid and ADA in plasma, brain, liver, and small intestine increased, whereas the plasma urea nitrogen concentrations in two heroin administration groups and the plasma creatinine concentration in the 3-day heroin administration group did not increase. It seemed that heroin exposure for a short time did not affect renal clearance rate notably. When two withdrawal groups were compared with two heroin administration groups, the concentrations of plasma uric acid and ADA in liver and small intestine decreased, but there was no significant reduction in ADA concentrations of the brain, while the plasma ADA concentrations in the two withdrawal groups were significantly higher than those of two heroin administration groups. When the two withdrawal groups were compared with the control group, there was no significant difference in the concentrations of plasma uric acid and ADA in liver and small intestine, while the concentrations of ADA in plasma and brain were still higher than those of the control group. The results imply that heroin administration may enhance the catabolism of purine nucleotides in the brain and other tissues by increased concentration of ADA and the effect may last for a long time in the brain. Topics: Adenosine Deaminase; Animals; Brain; Disease Models, Animal; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Purine Nucleotides; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Urea; Uric Acid | 2006 |
Acute myelopathy in association with heroin addiction.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Spinal Cord Diseases | 2006 |
Risks for HIV infection among users and sellers of crack, powder cocaine and heroin in central Harlem: implications for interventions.
This article investigates behaviours that may be associated HIV infection among users and sellers of crack, powder cocaine and heroin in central Harlem. Chain referral sampling and other strategies were combined to acquire a sample of 637 (Users = 546; Sellers = 91) who provided urine specimens that were tested for the presence of drugs and HIV. Nearly a quarter (23.9%) of all respondents were HIV positive. Drug injectors were more than 2.5 times more likely to have HIV infections than other respondents (OR = 2.66; 95% CI 1.66-4.26). Those involved in frauds/cons were almost as likely to be HIV positive (OR = 2.58; 95% CI 1.64-4.06). Those with a marital status of being separated, divorced or widowed were twice as likely to be HIV infected (OR 2.16; 95% CI 1.43-3.25). Respondents currently having multiple partner sex (OR = 1.66; 95% CI 1.1-2.51) or who were female (OR = 1.66; 95% CI 1.12-2.45) were more than 1.5 times more likely to be HIV positive. Thus, controlling for lifetime drug injection and current multiple partner sex, other factors, such as participating in frauds/cons, as well as relationship status and being female, were also associated with HIV infection. Topics: Adult; Chi-Square Distribution; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Crack Cocaine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; New York City; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Sex Factors; Urban Health | 2006 |
Activation of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell attenuates context-induced relapse to heroin seeking.
Using a rat relapse model, we previously reported that re-exposing rats to a drug-associated context, following extinction of operant responding in a different context, reinstates heroin seeking. In an initial pharmacological characterization, we found that the mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268, which acts centrally to reduce evoked glutamate release, attenuates context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking when injected systemically or into the ventral tegmental area, the cell body region of the mesolimbic dopamine system. Here, we tested whether injections of LY379268 into the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a terminal region of the mesolimbic dopamine system, would also attenuate context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin; drug infusions were paired with a discrete tone-light cue. Subsequently, lever pressing was extinguished in the presence of the discrete cue in a context that differed from the drug self-administration context in terms of visual, auditory, tactile, and circadian cues. After extinction of responding, LY379268 was injected to different groups of rats into the NAc core or shell or into the caudate-putamen, a terminal region of the nigrastriatal dopamine system. Injections of LY379268 into the NAc shell (0.3 or 1.0 microg) dose-dependently attenuated context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. Injections of 1.0 microg of LY379268 into the NAc core had no effect, while a higher dose (3.0 microg) decreased this reinstatement. Injections of LY379268 (3.0 microg) 1.5 mm dorsal from the NAc core into the caudate-putamen were ineffective. Results suggest an important role of glutamate transmission in the NAc shell in context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. Topics: Amino Acids; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Conditioning, Operant; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Activation; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; Secondary Prevention; Self Administration | 2006 |
Increased polysialic acid neural cell adhesion molecule expression in human hippocampus of heroin addicts.
Chronic exposure to heroin is known to cause cognitive deficits. However, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. It has been suggested that opiate-induced neurotoxicity as well as impaired plasticity and regeneration may be relevant. One of the target regions where regeneration still can be observed in the adult brain is the hippocampus. Since polysialic acid neural cell adhesion molecule is regarded as one of the key players involved in plasticity and regeneration of neural tissue, we analyzed polysialic acid neural cell adhesion molecule expression in the fascia dentate hilus of the human hippocampus of 29 lethally intoxicated heroin addicts and matched controls. Immunohistochemistry with an antibody directed against polysialic acid neural cell adhesion molecule revealed its expression in differently sized cells which could be identified as neurons and glial cells. We observed an increase in the percentage of polysialic acid neural cell adhesion molecule positive neurons in hippocampal hilus of heroin addicts compared with controls (P = 0.001).Interestingly, we also observed polysialic acid neural cell adhesion molecule expression in glial cells as evidenced by double immunofluorescence with glial fibrillary acidic protein and polysialic acid neural cell adhesion molecule using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The fraction of polysialic acid neural cell adhesion molecule positive glial cells was also higher in heroin addicts compared with controls (P = 0.009). In addition, within the group of addicts morphine blood concentrations showed a positive correlation with the percentage of polysialic acid neural cell adhesion molecule positive neurons (P = 0.04; r = 0.547). In conclusion, we observed an increase in polysialic acid neural cell adhesion molecule positive neurons and glial cells in hippocampi of heroin addicts. This might reflect an attempt to repair cell damage due to heroin exposure. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Biomarkers; Cognition Disorders; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hippocampus; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Nerve Regeneration; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1; Neuroglia; Neuronal Plasticity; Neurons; Sialic Acids; Up-Regulation | 2006 |
Choice between heroin and food in nondependent and heroin-dependent rhesus monkeys: effects of naloxone, buprenorphine, and methadone.
Several medications are approved for treatment of opiate abuse, but determinants of their clinical effectiveness are not completely understood. States of opiate dependence or withdrawal may constitute one important set of determinants. To test this hypothesis, the effects of naloxone, buprenorphine, and methadone were assessed on choice between heroin and food in nondependent rhesus monkeys and in heroin-dependent monkeys undergoing withdrawal. A choice procedure was used to permit dissociation of medication effects on the relative reinforcing properties of heroin from nonselective effects on response rates. In nondependent monkeys, increasing unit doses of heroin (0-0.1 mg/kg/injection) maintained dose-dependent increases in heroin choice. Chronic 5-day treatment with naloxone (0.01-0.32 mg/kg/h) or buprenorphine (0.01-0.1 mg/kg/day) produced dose-dependent rightward shifts in heroin choice dose-effect curves, whereas chronic methadone (0.1-0.56 mg/kg/h) had little effect on heroin choice up to doses that suppressed responding. In heroin-dependent monkeys, opiate withdrawal produced overt abstinence signs as well as increases in heroin choice, manifested as leftward shifts in heroin choice dose-effect curves. The withdrawal-associated increases in heroin choice suggest that opiate withdrawal increased the relative reinforcing efficacy of heroin in comparison with food, an effect that may be related to relapse in humans. Methadone prevented withdrawal-associated increases in heroin choice, whereas buprenorphine was less effective. These findings suggest that agonist medications such as methadone may derive their clinical utility from their ability to attenuate withdrawal-associated increases in opiate reinforcement. Moreover, this procedure may be useful for exploring mechanisms underlying withdrawal-associated increases in opiate reinforcement and for testing candidate medications. Topics: Animals; Buprenorphine; Disease Models, Animal; Feeding Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Macaca mulatta; Male; Methadone; Naloxone; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2006 |
An unusual case of breast ulceration.
We present an unusual case of breast ulceration secondary to heroin injection in a pregnant woman. Topics: Adult; Breast Diseases; Cellulitis; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Necrosis; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Ulcer | 2006 |
Overdoses among friends: drug users are willing to administer naloxone to others.
The distribution of naloxone to heroin users is a suggested intervention to reduce overdose and death rates. However, the level of willingness of drug users to administer this medication to others is unclear. Drug users recruited from the community between January 2002 and January 2004 completed a structured interview that assessed topics including drug use, overdose history, and attitudes toward using overdose remedies to assist others. Of the 329 drug users, 82% had used heroin and 64.3% reported that they had injected drugs. Nearly two thirds (64.6%) said that they had witnessed a drug overdose and more than one third (34.6%) had experienced an accidental drug overdose. Most participants (88.5%) said that they would be willing to administer a medication to another drug user in the event of an overdose. Participants who had used heroin (p = .024), had injected drugs (p = .022), had witnessed a drug overdose (p = .001), or had a history of one or more accidental drug overdoses (p = .009) were significantly more willing to treat a companion who had overdosed. Drug users were willing to use naloxone in the event of a friend's overdose. Specific drug use and overdose histories were associated with the greatest willingness to administer naloxone. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Drug Overdose; Female; Friends; Helping Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Psychotic Disorders | 2006 |
A novel bivalent morphine/heroin vaccine that prevents relapse to heroin addiction in rodents.
Both pre-clinical and clinical studies make feasible the use of vaccines as novel therapeutic medications to treat drug addiction. No reports to date have shown the development of structural models of opiate candidate vaccines for treating human addiction to such compounds. Here we report on the initial development of a novel structural formulation of a bi-valent vaccine against morphine/heroin. This vaccine was able to trigger and establish a high titer antibody response to haptenized drug with antibodies displaying equivalent specificities for both morphine and heroin. Such antibodies did not cross-recognize structurally dissimilar opiate medications. Furthermore, the evaluation of the potential therapeutic effectiveness of this vaccine was targeted to relapse prevention using a schedule of heroin delivery in the rat self-administration model. Antibodies against heroin blocked its reinforcing effects in rodents. The type of carrier protein used in this vaccine allows further evaluation of its potential therapeutic value for preventing relapse to heroin addiction in humans. Topics: Animals; Antibodies; Antibody Specificity; Cross Reactions; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Haptens; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Models, Animal; Models, Chemical; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Rats; Secondary Prevention; Tetanus Toxoid; Vaccines, Conjugate | 2006 |
Changes in neuropeptide FF and NPY immunohistochemical patterns in rat brain under heroin treatment.
Immunohistochemical distribution patterns of neuropeptide FF (NPFF) and neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY) were studied in the brain of rats submitted to two different protocols of heroin treatment. In drug-naive rats, acutely injected heroin significantly depleted NPFF-immunoreactive material within the neurons of the nucleus of solitary tract (NTS), significantly decreased the density of NPFF-immunoreactive nerve fibers within the median eminence, pituitary stalk, and neurohypophysis, and markedly increased NPY-immunoreactive neurons and nerve fibers in the thalamic paraventricular nucleus and bed nucleus of stria terminalis. In drug-sensitized rats, heroin significantly increased the number and immunostaining intensity of the NPFF-immunoreactive neurons within the NTS and induced minor changes in the NPFF-immunoreactive nerve fiber network of the median eminence, pituitary stalk, and neurohypophysis and a relatively minor increase in NPY neurons in the thalamic paraventricular nucleus and bed nucleus of stria terminalis. These heroin-induced changes suggest that NPFF is involved in regulating the effects of the heroin injection and in the mechanisms underlying behavioral sensitization. They also add further support to the key role of NPY in any conditions tending to change the animal homeostasis. Topics: Animals; Brain; Brain Chemistry; Disease Models, Animal; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Midline Thalamic Nuclei; Narcotics; Neuropeptide Y; Oligopeptides; Pituitary Gland; Presynaptic Terminals; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Septal Nuclei; Solitary Nucleus | 2006 |
Disruption of the development of cholinergic-induced translocation/activation of PKC isoforms after prenatal heroin exposure.
Prenatal exposure of mice to heroin resulted in behavioral deficits present at adulthood, and related to septohippocampal cholinergic innervation accompanied by both pre- and postsynaptic cholinergic hyperactivity; including an increase in membrane PKC activity, and a desensitization of PKC to cholinergic input, which correlated highly with the behavioral performance, and was reversed by cholinergic grafting. The effect was shown in the behaviorally relevant PKCgamma and beta whereas the less behaviorally relevant PKCalpha isoform was not affected. The present study was designed to establish the effect of heroin exposure on the expression of the PKC isoforms level and on the more functionally relevant cholinergic translocation/activation of the isoforms throughout postnatal development. The hippocampi of mice pups, exposed to heroin transplacentally, were assayed after incubation with carbachol for PKC isoforms on postnatal days (PN) 1, 7, 14, 21, 30 and 50. Prenatal heroin exposure increased basal PKCgamma, beta and alpha levels. PKCgamma and alpha levels returned to control levels on PN50. While in PKCbeta, this increase lasted until PN50. Translocation/activation of the PKC isoforms gamma and beta by cholinergic receptor stimulation was present from PN1, concurrent with the presence of the isoforms. Prenatal exposure to heroin completely abolished the translocation/activation throughout the entire postnatal development. This defect was shown from the very beginning, PN1, the day when the PKC isoforms appear. The results suggest that the PKCgamma and beta isoforms are functional concurrent with their developmental appearance. Unlike findings on some other teratogens, the prenatal heroin effect on the isoforms function is similar throughout postnatal development. Topics: Acetylcholine; Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Cholinergic Agonists; Cholinergic Fibers; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme Activation; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hippocampus; Male; Mice; Neural Pathways; Organ Culture Techniques; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Protein Isoforms; Protein Kinase C; Protein Transport; Receptors, Cholinergic; Septal Nuclei | 2006 |
When is a little knowledge dangerous? Circumstances of recent heroin overdose and links to knowledge of overdose risk factors.
To describe the circumstances surrounding recent heroin overdose among a sample of heroin overdose survivors and the links to their knowledge of overdose risk.. A cross-sectional survey of 257 recent non-fatal heroin overdose survivors was undertaken to examine self-reported knowledge of overdose risk reduction strategies, behaviour in the 12 h prior to overdose and attributions of overdose causation.. Most of the overdoses occurred in public spaces as a result of heroin use within 5 min of purchasing the drug. A substantial number of overdoses occurred with no one else present and/or involved the concomitant use of other drugs. While knowledge of at least one overdose prevention strategy was reported by 90% of the sample, less then half of the sample knew any single strategy. Furthermore knowledge of the dangers of mixing benzodiazepines and/or alcohol with heroin was associated with an increased likelihood of such mixing being reported prior to overdose.. While heroin users can articulate knowledge of key overdose risk reduction strategies, this knowledge was not generally associated with a reduction in risk behaviours but was in some cases associated with increased reports of overdose risk behaviours. Further research is required in order to better understand this paradoxical effect, focussing on risk reduction education amenable to the social contexts in which heroin use takes place. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Attitude to Health; Australia; Catchment Area, Health; Cognition; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Overdose; Female; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Resuscitation; Risk-Taking; Surveys and Questionnaires | 2006 |
Patients receiving a prescription for diamorphine (heroin) in the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom is unusual internationally in that it is one of few countries able to prescribe diamorphine for the treatment of opiate dependence. Prescribing diamorphine has been part of the UK response to drug problems since the 1920s. Despite this, little is known about who receives diamorphine and how treatment is delivered. This study aims to describe the characteristics and treatment regimes of opiate-dependent drug users receiving a prescription for diamorphine in the United Kingdom in 2000, and report on their status in 2002. A retrospective case-note review was conducted in England and Wales. Two hundred and ten (72%; 210/292) patients' sets of case-notes were reviewed at 27 of the 42 (64%) drug clinics where diamorphine was prescribed by the doctor. Patients had been receiving a prescription for diamorphine for a median length of six years. The majority were unemployed white males, with a median age of 44 years. Illicit drug use and criminal activity, while low, had not been eliminated totally. The majority were prescribed ampoules and few had significant health problems. In some cases patients had been transferred to injectable diamorphine from injectable methadone to reduce injection related problems. There were wide variations in dose. The majority of patients had no serious drug, health or social problems. Diamorphine prescribing was a long-term commitment. The experience from the United Kingdom has been one of long-term prescribing with the aim of retaining patients in treatment and reducing the harms caused by illicit drug use. Prospective studies are needed to determine the long-term consequences of receiving a diamorphine prescription. Topics: Ambulatory Care Facilities; Crime; England; Health Status; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Mental Disorders; Narcotics; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Retrospective Studies; Wales | 2006 |
Heroin supply in the long-term and the short-term perspectives: comments on Wood et Al. 2006.
Topics: Australia; Canada; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics | 2006 |
A little (more) knowledge: comments on Wood et Al. (2006).
Topics: Australia; Canada; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Law Enforcement; Narcotics | 2006 |
Changes in Canadian heroin supply coinciding with the Australian heroin shortage.
Previous studies have largely attributed the Australian heroin shortage to increases in local law enforcement efforts. Because western Canada receives heroin from similar source nations, but has not measurably increased enforcement practices or funding levels, we sought to examine trends in Canadian heroin-related indices before and after the Australian heroin shortage, which began in approximately January 2001.. During periods before and after January 2001, we examined the number of fatal overdoses and ambulance responses to heroin-related overdoses that required the use of naloxone in British Columbia, Canada. As an overall marker of Canadian supply reduction, we also examined the quantity of heroin seized during this period. Lastly, we examined trends in daily heroin use among injection drug users enrolled in the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS).. There was a 35% reduction in overdose deaths, from an annual average of 297 deaths during the years 1998-2000 in comparison to an average of 192 deaths during 2001-03. Similarly, use of naloxone declined 45% in the period coinciding with the Australian heroin shortage. Interestingly, the weight of Canadian heroin seized declined 64% coinciding with the Australian heroin shortage, from an average of 184 kg during 1998-2000 to 67 kg on average during 2001-03. Among 1587 VIDUS participants, the period coinciding with the Australian heroin shortage was associated independently with reduced daily injection of heroin [adjusted odds ratio: 0.55 (95% CI: 0.50-0.61); P < 0.001].. Massive decreases in three independent markers of heroin use have been observed in western Canada coinciding with the Australian heroin shortage, despite no increases in funding to Canadian enforcement efforts. Markedly reduced Canadian seizure activity also coincided with the Australian heroin shortage. These findings suggest that external global heroin supply forces deserve greater investigation and credence as a potential explanation for the Australian heroin shortage. Topics: Australia; British Columbia; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Law Enforcement; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2006 |
[Wound botulism in heroin addicts in Germany].
5 heroin addicts (aged 31-44 years; 1 female, 4 men) presented with a history of blurred vision and diplopia followed by dysarthria. 3 of the patients also developed respiratory failure requiring long-term ventilatory support. Physical examination revealed cranial nerve deficits and abscesses at injection sites in 3 of them.. In 4 patients wound botulism was diagnosed on the basis of symptoms, course of the illness and response to specific treatment. Clostridium botulinum was grown from wound swab in one patient.. Two of the patients, having been injected with antitoxin immediately after admission, were discharged almost symptom-free after only a few days. Adjuvant antibiotics and, in 3 patients, surgical débridement of the abscesses were needed.. Progressive cranial nerve pareses in addicts who inject drugs intravenously or intramuscularly should raise the suspicion of wound botulism and require hospitalization. While indirect demonstration of toxin supports the diagnosis, false-negative results are common. Topics: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Botulinum Antitoxin; Botulism; Clostridium botulinum; Debridement; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Germany; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intramuscular; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Wound Infection | 2006 |
Addiction and autonomy: can addicted people consent to the prescription of their drug of addiction?
It is often claimed that the autonomy of heroin addicts is compromised when they are choosing between taking their drug of addiction and abstaining. This is the basis of claims that they are incompetent to give consent to be prescribed heroin. We reject these claims on a number of empirical and theoretical grounds. First we argue that addicts are likely to be sober, and thus capable of rational thought, when approaching researchers to participate in research. We reject behavioural evidence purported to establish that addicts lack autonomy. We present an argument that extrinsic forces must be irresistible in order to make a choice non-autonomous. We argue that heroin does not present such an irresistible force. We make a case that drug-oriented desires are strong regular appetitive desires, which do not compromise consent. Finally we argue that an addict's apparent desire to engage in a harmful act cannot be construed as evidence of irrational or compulsive thought. On these arguments, a sober heroin addict must be considered competent, autonomous and capable of giving consent. More generally, any argument against legalisation of drugs or supporting infringement of the liberty of those desiring to take drugs of addiction must be based on considerations of harm and paternalism, and not on false claims that addicts lack freedom of the will. Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Coercion; Compulsive Behavior; Ethical Analysis; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Informed Consent; Mental Competency; Motivation; Paternalism; Research Subjects | 2006 |
Addiction, autonomy and ego-depletion: a response to Bennett Foddy and Julian Savulescu.
Topics: Behavior Control; Clinical Trials as Topic; Compulsive Behavior; Control Groups; Empirical Research; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Informed Consent; Mental Competency; Personal Autonomy | 2006 |
The "lessons" of the Australian "heroin shortage".
Heroin use causes considerable harm to individual users including dependence, fatal and nonfatal overdose, mental health problems, and blood borne virus transmission. It also adversely affects the community through drug dealing, property crime and reduced public amenity. During the mid to late 1990s in Australia the prevalence of heroin use increased as reflected in steeply rising overdose deaths. In January 2001, there were reports of an unpredicted and unprecedented reduction in heroin supply with an abrupt onset in all Australian jurisdictions. The shortage was most marked in New South Wales, the State with the largest heroin market, which saw increases in price, dramatic decreases in purity at the street level, and reductions in the ease with which injecting drug users reported being able to obtain the drug. The abrupt onset of the shortage and a subsequent dramatic reduction in overdose deaths prompted national debate about the causes of the shortage and later international debate about the policy significance of what has come to be called the "Australian heroin shortage". In this paper we summarise insights from four years' research into the causes, consequences and policy implications of the "heroin shortage". Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Australia; Commerce; Drug and Narcotic Control; Drug Overdose; Emergency Medical Services; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Law Enforcement; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Prevalence; Young Adult | 2006 |
Conditioned withdrawal drives heroin consumption and decreases reward sensitivity.
Aspects of drug withdrawal may become conditioned to previously neutral environmental stimuli via classical conditioning processes. Nevertheless, the significance of conditioned withdrawal effects in motivating drug intake remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the effects of conditioned withdrawal in modulating heroin consumption and brain reward sensitivity in rats. Rats intravenously self-administered heroin (20 microg/infusion) during 0 h (control), 1 h (nondependent), or 23 h (dependent) sessions and had daily intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) thresholds assessed. ICSS thresholds remained stable and unaltered in control rats. In nondependent rats, heroin self-administration induced a transient activation of reward systems, reflected in lowering of ICSS thresholds. In dependent rats, heroin intake escalated across sessions and was associated with a gradual decrease in reward sensitivity, reflected in progressively elevated ICSS thresholds. Thus, as dependence develops, heroin may be consumed not only for its acute reward-facilitating effects, but also to counter persistent deficits in reward sensitivity. In nondependent rats, the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (30 microg/kg) increased heroin consumption and reversed heroin-induced lowering of ICSS thresholds, effects resistant to classical conditioning. In contrast, in dependent rats naloxone (30 microg/kg) increased heroin consumption and also elevated ICSS thresholds above their already elevated baseline levels (i.e., precipitated withdrawal). Most importantly, stimuli repeatedly paired with naloxone-precipitated withdrawal provoked heroin consumption and elevated ICSS thresholds in dependent rats. Thus, conditioned stimuli predicting the onset of heroin withdrawal, and hence the reward deficits coupled with this state, may play a critical role in provoking craving and relapse in human opiate addicts. Topics: Animals; Conditioning, Classical; Disease Models, Animal; Electric Stimulation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Rats; Reward; Self Stimulation; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2006 |
[Comparative evaluation of clinical symptoms and status of bone metabolism in patients with heroin and buprenorphine addiction in the period of withdrawal].
The purpose of this study was the evaluation of clinical heroin symptoms and buprenorphine drug addiction in the withdrawal period with the purpose of their comparison, study of parameters of bone metabolism in the both groups. In the study group were included 40 patients with heroin and 27 with buprenorphine addiction in the period of abstinence. Our investigations have shown, that in the both groups, among clinical symptoms ossalgias, arthralgias and mialgias attributes to the expressed dysfunction of vegetative system, were most prominent. Decrease of sexual functions was found in half of inspected patients. Biochemical investigations have shown intensive clearance of calcium with the urine that indicates intensifying resorbtion processes in the bone tissue. Symptoms of hypogonadism were accompanied by the decrease of the level of testosterone in the blood. Parameters of mineral consistency of the bone tissue was decreased both in patients with heroin and buprenorphine addiction. Topics: Behavioral Symptoms; Biomarkers; Bone and Bones; Bone Density; Buprenorphine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine Dependence; Pain; Radiography; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2006 |
Caution with naloxone use in asthmatic patients.
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Asthma; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2006 |
Comparison of the various opiate alkaloid contaminants and their metabolites found in illicit heroin with 6-monoacetyl morphine as indicators of heroin ingestion.
In this study the use of the various opiate alkaloid contaminants as potential markers for illicit heroin ingestion were investigated. Urine samples (n = 227) taken from prisoners for routine drug screen, which were positive for opiates by immunoassay screening, were analyzed for contaminants in illicit heroin. A previously described method was used for the analysis; urines were extracted using mixed-mode solid-phase extraction; the extracts were derivatized using N-methyl-bistrifluoroacetamide and N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyltrifluoroactamide/trimethylchlorosilane. The derivatized extracts were subjected to electron impact gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The extracts were injected in full scan mode followed by selected ion monitoring mode for target opiate alkaloids found as contaminants in illicit heroin. The opiate alkaloids and their metabolites specifically targeted included meconine, desmethylmeconine, hydrocotarnine, acetylcodeine, codeine, morphine, 6-monacetylmorphine (6-mam), papaverine, hydroxypapaverine, and dihydroxypapaverine. Of the 227 samples positive for opiates by immunoassay, using a cut-off of 300 ng/mL, 199 were confirmed positive for morphine and using a cut-off of 10 ng/mL, 28 were confirmed positive for 6-mam. Using the screening method described in the study, the following numbers of positives were found: 199 for morphine, 103 for codeine, 5 for meconine, 46 for desmethylmeconine, 18 for 6-mam, 136 for hydroxypapaverine, and 139 for dihydroxypapaverine. Acetylcodeine, hydrocotarnine, and papaverine were not detected in any of the samples. The results of this study show that analysis for papaverine metabolites is more sensitive than 6-mam as a way of demonstrating illicit heroin use. Topics: Administration, Oral; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine Derivatives; Narcotics; Opium; Prisoners; Substance Abuse Detection | 2006 |
Why we object to NAOMI. Heroin maintenance in Canada.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Canada; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic | 2006 |
Documenting the heroin shortage in New South Wales.
Australian heroin markets have recently undergone dramatic change, sparking debate about the nature of such markets. This study aimed to determine the onset, peak and decline of the heroin shortage in New South Wales (NSW), using the most appropriate available methods to detect market level changes. The parameters of the heroin shortage were determined by reviewing: reports of heroin users about availability and price (derived from the existing literature and the Illicit Drug Reporting System); qualitative interviews with injecting drug users, and health and law enforcement professionals working in the illicit drug field; and examining data on heroin seizures over the past decade. There was a marked reduction in heroin supply in NSW in early 2001. An increase in the price of heroin occurred in 2001, whereas it had decreased steadily since 1996. A reduction in purity also occurred, as reported by drug users and heroin seizures. The peak period of the shortage appears to have been January to April 2001. The market appears to have stabilised since that time, although it has not returned to pre-2001 levels: heroin prices have decreased in NSW for street grams, but not to former levels, and the price of 'caps' (street deals) remain elevated. Heroin purity in NSW has remained low, with perhaps a 10% increase above the lowest recorded levels. These data support the notion that the heroin market in NSW underwent significant changes, which appear to have involved a lasting shift in the nature of the market. Topics: Commerce; Documentation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; New South Wales | 2006 |
Changes in the initiation of heroin use after a reduction in heroin supply.
Increasing heroin use in Australia over the past 30 years has been associated with a decline in the age of initiation to heroin use. The 2001 Australian heroin shortage was used to assess the effects of a reduction in heroin supply on age of initiation into heroin injecting. Data collected from regular injecting drug users (IDU) over the period 1996 - 2004 as part of the Australian Illicit Drug Reporting System were examined for changes in self-reported age of first heroin use after the onset of the heroin shortage. Estimates were also made of the number of young people who may not have commenced injecting heroin during the heroin shortage. The proportion of IDU interviewed in the IDRS who were aged Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Age of Onset; Australia; Commerce; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Prevalence; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2006 |
Identification and quantification of change in Australian illicit drug markets.
In early 2001 Australia experienced a sudden reduction in the availability of heroin which had widespread effects on illicit drug markets across the country. The consequences of this event, commonly referred to as the Australian 'heroin shortage', have been extensively studied and there has been considerable debate as to the causes of the shortage and its implications for drug policy. This paper aims to investigate the presence of these epidemic patterns, to quantify the scale over which they occur and to estimate the relative importance of the 'heroin shortage' and any epidemic patterns in the drug markets.. Key indicator data series from the New South Wales illicit drug market were analysed using the statistical methods Principal Component Analysis and SiZer.. The 'heroin shortage' represents the single most important source of variation in this illicit drug market. Furthermore the size of the effect of the heroin shortage is more than three times that evidenced by long-term 'epidemic' patterns.. The 'heroin shortage' was unlikely to have been a simple correction at the end of a long period of reduced heroin availability, and represents a separate non-random shock which strongly affected the markets. Topics: Amphetamine; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Cluster Analysis; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Law Enforcement; New South Wales; Normal Distribution; Principal Component Analysis; Time Factors | 2006 |
MRI features of spongiform leukoencephalopathy following heroin inhalation.
Topics: Adult; Brain Diseases; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inhalation; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male | 2006 |
Heroin-administered mice involved in oxidative stress and exogenous antioxidant-alleviated withdrawal syndrome.
Heroin has been shown to elevate dopamine (DA) level. It is well known that an increase in DA oxidative metabolism leads to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and thus, ROS have been frequently associated with neuronal cell death due to damage to carbohydrates, amino acids, phospholipids, and nucleic acids. This study investigated whether there are oxidative stress and effects of exogenous antioxidants in heroin-administered mice. The heroin-dependent mice model was made via intraperitoneal injection. Oxidative damage of DNA, protein, and lipid was measured by analysis of single cell electrophoresis, the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method, and thiobarbituric acid method respectively. The activities of antioxidative enzymes and total antioxidant capacity were assayed by spectrophotometry. After administration with heroin, the mice not only showed decrease of total antioxidant capacity in serum and antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione (GSH) peroxidase in brain, but also exhibited the oxidative damages of DNA, protein and lipid. On the other hand, exogenous antioxidants could restrain the oxidative stress, even alleviate withdrawal syndrome in heroin-administered mice. Our results also imply a possibility that ROS may participate in the whole process of dependence and withdrawal of heroin. Therefore, strategies of blocking oxidative stress may be useful in the development of therapy for opiate abuse. Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Brain; Brain Chemistry; Catalase; DNA Damage; Female; Glutathione Peroxidase; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Injections, Subcutaneous; Lymphocytes; Male; Malondialdehyde; Mice; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Oxidative Stress; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Superoxide Dismutase | 2006 |
Risk factors associated with the transition from heroin sniffing to heroin injection: a street addict role perspective.
The purpose of this paper is to identify characteristics of heroin sniffers likely to shift to injection by evaluating the street addict role theory as an informing theoretical framework to explain transition from heroin sniffing to injection. A nested case-control research design was used to identify 142 heroin sniffers who never had injected a drug (controls) and 146 recently transitioned injection drug users (cases) from a larger study of 600 African-American, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white men and women who were street recruited from multiple communities known for high drug use. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to test the proposed hypotheses derived from the street addict role theory. Our findings partially support the utility of the street addict role perspective as an explanatory framework for understanding the role played by sociocultural factors in the transition to injection. This perspective can help contextualize this HIV-related behavior within the high risk social environment of heroin users. The development of effective prevention strategies for this group should be guided by a comprehensive understanding of the social environment where HIV-related risk behaviors occur. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Adult; Black or African American; Case-Control Studies; Cultural Characteristics; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hispanic or Latino; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Risk Factors; Sexual Behavior; Social Environment; Socioeconomic Factors | 2006 |
Heroin addiction: anticipating the reward of heroin or the agony of withdrawal?
Topics: Animals; Conditioning, Classical; Disease Models, Animal; Electric Stimulation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Rats; Reward; Self Stimulation; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2006 |
Scalp necrosis and ulceration secondary to heroin injection.
Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections; Male; Necrosis; Scalp Dermatoses; Skin; Skin Ulcer | 2006 |
Outcome after heroin overdose and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
The survival of heroin overdose patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest is reported to be poor. The aim of our study was to investigate the outcome and characteristics of survivors after cardiac arrest caused by heroin overdose.. This was a retrospective study in a medium-sized city (population, 560,000). Between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2000, there were 94 combined cardiac arrests caused by acute drug poisonings. The main outcome measure was survival to discharge.. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was attempted in 19 heroin overdose patients (group A) and in 53 patients with cardiac arrest caused by other poisonings (group B). Three (16%) vs. six (11%) patients were discharged alive (group A vs. B, respectively). The survivors in group A had an Emergency Medical Service (EMS)-witnessed cardiac arrest or the Emergency Dispatching Centre was called before the arrest occurred. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of survival. Survivors in both groups suffered from acute renal failure (two), hypoglycaemia (four) and hypothermia (three).. Survival after cardiac arrest caused by heroin overdose is possible if the arrest is EMS witnessed or the Emergency Dispatching Centre is called before the cardiac arrest occurs. In comparison with cardiac arrests caused by other poisonings, there was no difference in survival. The incidence and mechanism of hypoglycaemia should be examined in further studies. Topics: Adult; Cardiac Output; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Drug Overdose; Emergency Medical Services; Epinephrine; Female; Finland; Heart Arrest; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypoglycemia; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Rhabdomyolysis; Survival; Vasoconstrictor Agents | 2006 |
Association between availability of heroin and methadone and fatal poisoning in England and Wales 1993-2004.
The UK heroin market is the biggest in Europe and approximately 70% of heroin deaths are due to fatal poisoning. Methadone treatment for heroin addiction in the UK, the 'British system', is unique as it is largely provided by General Practitioners.. The Office for National Statistics provided data on deaths, the Home Office provided law enforcement data on drug seizures and the Department of Health data on prescriptions. For methadone treatment we calculated the death rate per 1000 patient years. We used Spearman's rank correlation to assess the association between illicit drug seizures for heroin and methadone and deaths.. Between 1993 and 2004 there were 7072 deaths involving heroin/morphine (86% males) and 3298 deaths involving methadone (83% male). From 1993-1997, directly age-standardized mortality rates for males were similar for both drugs, increasing from approximately 5 to 15 per million. Mortality rates for heroin continued to increase until 2000, subsequently decreasing from 30 to 20 per million by 2003, and rising again to 24 per million in 2004. In contrast, mortality rates for methadone decreased between 1997 and 2004 to just above 1993 levels. Among females the mortality rate for both drugs was lower than for males throughout the study period, remaining relatively stable. Methadone deaths per 1000 patient years remained similar between 1993 and 1997, after which they fell by three quarters. For both heroin/morphine and methadone, deaths were strongly associated with seizures (Spearmans' coefficient for males: heroin, P = 0.95, P < 0.001 and methadone, P = 0.83, P = 0.0013).. Our study suggests the 'British System' can deliver substantial expansion of treatment without increased mortality risk. The fall in heroin/morphine deaths since 2000 may also be an indication of success of increasing methadone treatment. Data on mortality risk is needed to determine whether increased methadone treatment has reduced drug-related deaths. Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Age Distribution; Drug and Narcotic Control; England; Family Practice; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Opioid-Related Disorders; Sex Distribution; Tablets; Wales | 2006 |
The curious incident of methadone in dog's urine.
Topics: Animals; Dogs; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Treatment Refusal | 2006 |
Comparison between heroin and heroin-cocaine polyabusers: a psychopathological study.
The concomitant use of cocaine by heroin-dependent subjects, or by patients on methadone maintenance treatment, is a relevant phenomenon that determines the negative consequences on health, social adjustment, and outcome of opioid addiction treatment. Little is known about the patterns of co-use of these two substances and the pathophysiological alterations following this condition. Only a few studies have evaluated the neurochemical effects in subjects carrying this specific pattern of abuse. Similarly, the impact of cocaine abuse on psychiatric and social function in subjects already affected by opioid addiction is still poorly understood and further studies are necessary to investigate this specific area that could profoundly affect methadone maintenance treatment. The aim of this article is to investigate the psychopathological symptoms of heroin-cocaine abuse in a group of heroin addicts applying for treatment. Results show a direct relationship between cocaine abuse and a higher rate of psychiatric disorders, but a negative correlation with the severity of self-rated psychopathology. Topics: Adult; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Drug Interactions; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Methadone; Narcotics | 2006 |
Brain blood flow SPET imaging in heroin abusers.
To assess whether chronic heroin abuse may generate vascular central nervous deficits, we studied the profile of vascular alterations in 17 heroin addicts (14 males mean age 31 years, range 23-39 years and 3 females mean age 33 years, range 30-35 years) before and, in one of them, 10 weeks after an ultra-rapid heroin detoxification. Using the functional technique of single-photon emission tomography (SPET) with 740 MBq of (99m)Tc-hexametazine (HMPAO) and computational brain-mapping techniques by means of a Talairach analysis, we determined the pattern of vascular brain alterations associated with chronic heroin abuse. Compared with controls, subjects who had used heroin chronically showed a decrease of global brain perfusion that was more significant in the frontal cortex-mainly in orbito-frontal regions, as well as in the occipital and temporal lobes. All patients showed marked asymmetric perfusion of the basal ganglia and the majority of them showed also an asymmetric perfusion of cerebellum. In addition, there were small activated areas dispersed in the occipital lobe (3 of 17) and apex region (4 of 17). In conclusion, decreased perfusion in heroin addicts was found in regions involved in the control of attention, motor speed, memory and visual-spatial processing. The prefrontal cortex is involved in decision making and inhibitory control, processes disturbed in heroin addicts who have stopped heroin consumption. A reduction in regional perfusion may reflect ongoing subtle neurocognitive deficits, which are consistent with the maintenance of asymmetry of the basal nuclei. Topics: Adult; Brain; Cohort Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon | 2006 |
Disrupting reconsolidation of conditioned withdrawal memories in the basolateral amygdala reduces suppression of heroin seeking in rats.
Recent data from our laboratory have demonstrated that appetitive drug memories undergo protein synthesis-dependent reconsolidation in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), an area important in the formation of emotional memories. We here investigated the importance of the BLA in the reconsolidation of opiate conditioned withdrawal memories. Rats with bilateral cannulas implanted in the BLA were trained to respond for heroin (0.12 mg/kg, i.v.) under a seeking-taking schedule, which required responding on a seeking lever to gain the opportunity to self-administer heroin by a single response on a taking lever. After induction of opiate dependence with subcutaneously implanted, heroin-filled osmotic minipumps (3 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) heroin), rats received five consecutive pairings of a conditioned stimulus (CS) (tone, light, and odor compound) paired with naloxone (0.10 mg/kg, s.c.)-precipitated withdrawal. We replicated our previous findings that heroin seeking is suppressed in the presence of the withdrawal-associated CS. However, infusion of Zif268 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide into the BLA before reactivation of the CS-withdrawal association abolished this conditioned suppression in a reactivation-dependent manner. We also report that reconsolidation of CS-withdrawal memories upregulates Zif268 protein in the basolateral but not central nucleus of the amygdala and that Zif268 knockdown occurs selectively in the BLA. These results demonstrate that drug withdrawal memories undergo protein synthesis-dependent reconsolidation in the BLA and suggest a common mechanism for the reconsolidation of both appetitive and aversive drug memories. Topics: Amygdala; Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Conditioning, Psychological; Early Growth Response Protein 1; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Memory; Rats; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2006 |
[Treatment of chronic hepatitis C within a heroine-assisted treatment program].
A 37-year-old man with a 19-years history of injection drug use (IDU) who had acquired a chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV-) infection 9 years ago, entered the German clinical study on heroine assisted treatment ("Modellprojekt zur heroingestützten Behandlung Opiatabhängiger"). Before study onset he received buprenorphine maintainance treatment, while at the same time engaging in illicit IDU (heroine, cocaine). He lived in a caravan and was on social welfare.. PCR revealed a genotype 2 and an HCV-viral load of 310,000 IU/ml. Liver biopsy showed a moderate chronic active hepatitis and a mild portal fibrosis without signs of liver cirrhosis.. Within the heroine-assisted treatment program the patient injected heroine under medical supervision several times a day and attended the standardized psychosocial program that comprised an intensive education on HCV-infection. Within a period of ten months of physical and social stabilization he managed to stop illicit drug use, found stable housing and started to work. We then initiated treatment of HCV-infection. Subcutaneous pegylated interferon alpha-2a, peroral ribavirin and intravenous heroine were administered as directly observed therapy. Based on the close mashed care of the heroine assisted treatment setting, side effects were well controllable and reversible after the end of antiviral therapy. A sustained response was obtained.. After careful indication, heroine-assisted treatment with particularly intensive medical and psychological care can offer appropriate conditions for a save and successful treatment of hepatitis C as well as for a sustained result. Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Antiviral Agents; Buprenorphine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Combined Modality Therapy; Comorbidity; Drug Therapy, Combination; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Interferon alpha-2; Interferon-alpha; Male; Polyethylene Glycols; Recombinant Proteins; Rehabilitation, Vocational; Ribavirin; Social Adjustment; Social Welfare; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2006 |
Commentary: decline in methadone-related deaths probably relates to increased supervision of methadone in UK.
Topics: Delivery of Health Care; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Opioid-Related Disorders; United Kingdom | 2006 |
Compensatory and mimetic conditioned responses to effects of heroin in addicted persons.
Study 1: The aim of this study was to analyze in persons detoxified of heroin, compensatory conditioned responses (CCRs) that are opposite to the unconditioned physiological, and subjective effects that are induced by this substance. The procedure consisted in presenting slides with images of neutral stimuli (NSs) and conditioned stimuli (CSs) of heroin to both non-addicted and detoxified addicted persons. The evaluated responses were heart rate (HR) and desire for heroin (DH). Study 2: The aim was to facilitate the emission of mimetic conditioned responses (MCRs) to the unconditioned physiological, and subjective effects of heroin in detoxified heroin addicts. Three different stimulus series were manipulated: SA, during which the participant remained alone; SB, administration of a needle prick given by the researcher; SC, performance of the "pump" ritual without drug by the participants. The responses measured were HR and DH. The results of both studies are considered, respectively, to be indicators of compensatory and mimetic conditioned responses. Topics: Adult; Conditioning, Classical; Cues; Female; Habits; Heart Rate; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Needles; Photic Stimulation; Physical Stimulation; Punctures; Stress, Psychological; Substance-Related Disorders; Syringes | 2006 |
Impact of drug market changes on substance-using pregnant women in three key Sydney drug markets.
In 2001 the supply of heroin was substantially reduced across Australia. Given the child protection concerns associated with the use of substances by pregnant women, it was pertinent to examine how the reduction in the supply of heroin affected this community of users. This paper aimed to assess the extent of any drug-related problems among pregnant women associated with the reduction in heroin supply in New South Wales (NSW).. Two sources of data were used: (1) Data on hospital visits in NSW in which drug and alcohol problems were noted as complicating the pregnancy; and (2) Key informant reports from services targeting substance-using pregnant women across the three main Sydney drug markets.. The shortage did not affect the number of hospital separations for substance-using pregnant women, nor the number of women referred to services for substance use in pregnancy. Key informants reported an increase in the use of cocaine among pregnant women and a change in injection sites for some women (including into breast tissue). No substantial change in adverse outcomes was observed to be associated with this change in patterns of drug use.. The reduction in heroin supply appeared to have limited impact on the number of substance-using pregnant women as assessed by hospital episodes and key informant reports. The evidence suggested an increase in the injecting of cocaine by pregnant women using drug treatment services, similar to the changes in drug use patterns observed among other groups of injecting drug users. The lack of change observed in the qualitative and statistical data regarding adverse health consequences associated with cocaine injecting suggests the potentially negative impact of maternal cocaine use on infant health may be difficult to detect and monitor. Topics: Adult; Attitude to Health; Drug Overdose; Female; Health Education; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Maternal Behavior; Narcotics; New South Wales; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Surveys and Questionnaires | 2006 |
Alterations of immune functions in heroin addicts.
The alteration of peripheral blood T-and B-lymphocyte proliferative responses were determined during different periods of withdrawal in heroin (Hw) and heroin / bhang (HBw) addicts. The results clearly demonstrated a significant decrease in the response of T- lymphocytes to PHA-stimulation and secretion of IL-2 in both Hw and HBw addicts. The in vitro presence of naloxone induced further inhibition of the PHA proliferative response and IL-2 production. Our data also indicated a significant suppression of IFN-gamma levels by human blood lymphocytes from Hw and HBw addicts. Additionally, a significant suppression of IFN-gamma production was demonstrated in the presence of naloxone. Moreover, IL-4 production was suppressed in Hw, but not in HBw groups and the in vitro presence of naloxone did not affect the level of IL-4 in both groups. However, IL-10 production was significantly increased in both groups accompanied by a significant suppression of IL-10 secretion in the presence of naloxone. In contrast, IL-5 levels stimulated by PHA showed a significant increase in both groups, while no significant effect of naloxone could be observed. Our results suggested that heroin administration can cause measurable suppression of some components of the human cellular immune system. The results further demonstrated that the immunsuppressive effect observed after heroin use are naloxone-mediated and suggested that activation of the adrenal gland is one potential mechanism for this effect. Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Adult; B-Lymphocytes; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Interferon-gamma; Interleukins; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Phytohemagglutinins; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; T-Lymphocytes | 2006 |
The effect of a reduction in heroin supply on fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses in New South Wales, Australia.
To examine the impact of a sudden and dramatic decrease in heroin availability, concomitant with increases in price and decreases in purity, on fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses in New South Wales, Australia.. Time-series analysis was conducted where possible on data on overdoses collected from NSW hospital emergency departments, the NSW Ambulance Service, and all suspected drug-related deaths referred to the NSW Coroner's court.. The number of suspected drug-related deaths where heroin and other drugs were mentioned; ambulance calls to suspected opioid overdoses; and emergency department admissions for overdoses on heroin and other drugs.. Both fatal and non-fatal heroin overdoses decreased significantly after heroin supply reduced; the reductions were greater among younger age groups than older age groups. There were no clear increases in non-fatal overdoses with cocaine, methamphetamines or benzodiazepines recorded at hospital emergency departments after the reduction in heroin supply. Data on drug-related deaths suggested that heroin use was the predominant driver of drug-related deaths in NSW, and that when heroin supply was reduced overdose deaths were more likely to involve a wider combination of drugs.. A reduction in heroin supply reduced heroin-related deaths, and did not result in a concomitant increase, to the same degree, in deaths relating to other drugs. Younger people were more affected by the reduction in supply. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Alcohol Drinking; Antidepressive Agents; Cocaine; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Methamphetamine; Mortality; New South Wales; Sex Distribution | 2005 |
Reducing non-fatal overdoses among heroin users as an all-of-society challenge.
Topics: Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 2005 |
Recent life problems and non-fatal overdose among heroin users entering treatment.
To investigate the role of recent life problems in non-fatal overdose among heroin users entering various drug treatment settings.. Cross-sectional data from a longitudinal study investigating drug treatment effectiveness.. Five prison drug treatment services, three residential rehabilitation units, three residential detoxification units and 21 community drug treatment services located in rural, urban and inner-city areas of Scotland.. Of a total of 793 primary heroin users commencing drug treatment during 2001-02, 337 (42.5%) were prison drug service clients; 91 (11.5%) were residential rehabilitation clients; 97 (12.2%) were residential detoxification clients; and 268 (33.8%) were community drug treatment clients.. Univariate and stepwise multivariate logistic regression analyses examined associations between overdosing in the 90 days prior to treatment entry and basic demographic characteristics, recent drug use and recent life problems.. Ninety-one study participants (11.5%) reported at least one overdose and 19 (2.4%) reported more than one overdose in the 90 days prior to treatment entry. A chi2 test revealed no significant difference in rates of recent overdosing between the four treatment settings (P = 0.650). Recent drug use and recent life problems-but not demographic characteristics-were associated independently with recent overdosing. However, recent life problems were not associated independently with recent overdosing among clients entering prison, clients entering residential rehabilitation or with multiple recent overdosing.. Associations between recent life problems and recent overdose were evident, but varied by treatment setting. Treatment providers should identify and address heroin users' life problems as part of a broad strategy of overdose prevention. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Drug Overdose; Epidemiologic Methods; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Life Change Events; Male; Middle Aged; Scotland; Suicide, Attempted | 2005 |
The impact of illicit drug market changes on health agency operations in Sydney, Australia.
At the end of 2000, in Sydney, Australia, there was a dramatic reduction in heroin availability. This study examines how health agencies treating clients for drug and alcohol related issues were able to respond to the changes that took place in their clients and their treatment needs. Key informant interviews were conducted with 48 staff from a wide range of health services in Sydney to provide the data for a thematic analysis. Changes experienced by health agencies included changed patterns of drug use in their clients, increased aggressive incidents, changed numbers of clients accessing treatment services, and a need for more assistance from outside agencies. A strong evidence base for a range of drug treatment options, support of staff development in aggression management skills, and development of good interagency links between mental health, drug and alcohol, and law enforcement services would make health services better prepared for future changes in the drug use of their clients. Topics: Health Planning; Health Services Needs and Demand; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; New South Wales; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Substance-Related Disorders | 2005 |
Lorazepam reinstates punishment-suppressed remifentanil self-administration in rats.
We recently described a reinstatement procedure that models relapse to drug abuse in cases where abstinence results from aversive consequences of drug use. The potential value of this punishment-based model of relapse depends on its sensitivity to relapse-inducing events that are ineffective in the widely used extinction-based model.. It is known that certain drugs can have anti-punishment effects, but these drugs have not been tested in the punishment-based reinstatement procedure. Therefore, the effects of the benzodiazepine, lorazepam, were examined using punishment-based and extinction-based reinstatement procedures.. Rats self-administered the opioid, remifentanil (4 microg/kg per infusion). Two punishment groups were trained with response-contingent footshock that suppressed baseline rates of responding to zero. In an extinction group, remifentanil delivery was discontinued, and baseline responding stabilized at a low rate (mean=0.06 responses/min). Lorazepam (0.08-10 mg/kg, IP) was given during test sessions with the shock contingency discontinued for both punishment groups. Remifentanil delivery was maintained during testing in one punishment group but not the other.. Lorazepam reinstated self-administration responding in both punishment groups but not in the extinction group. Priming injections of heroin reinstated responding in both the punishment and extinction groups, but combining heroin and lorazepam did not enhance reinstatement.. This is the first demonstration that a trigger for relapse may have different effects depending on whether aversive conditioning contributed to the achievement of abstinence. It may be important to consider potential anti-punishment effects of both abused drugs and therapeutic agents in the treatment of individuals with a history of drug abuse. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Conditioning, Operant; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electroshock; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Lorazepam; Male; Piperidines; Punishment; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Remifentanil; Self Administration; Substance-Related Disorders | 2005 |
The dissociation of heroin-seeking patterns induced by contextual, discriminative, or discrete conditioned cues in a model of relapse to heroin in rats.
The role of heroin-related stimuli in motivating the resumption of heroin use is not fully understood.. The objective was to characterize the relative importance of drug-related contextual stimuli, discriminative stimuli (DS), or discrete conditioned stimuli (CSs) on drug seeking when rats were reintroduced into the operant context after withdrawal.. Nose-poke responding by male rats was reinforced with intravenous heroin (0.05 mg/kg per infusion, 4-h session daily) under a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement for 14 days. Each session began with the illumination of a green light in the active hole that served as DS. Each earned heroin injection was paired with a 5-s compound cue light and the sound of the infusion pump that served as the discrete CSs.. Response rates of heroin seeking induced by the contextual stimuli were comparable to the average rates of responding during self-administration training, but rates induced by either DS or CSs were greater than those induced by the contextual stimuli alone (P<0.05). The responding induced by contingent presentations of CSs was higher than that of DS after extinction of instrumental behavior. The drug seeking induced by CSs can be maintained after 3 days extinction with DS in the original context, although the responding elicited by DS cannot be recovered after 3 days of extinction with CSs.. The relapse to drug seeking can be elicited separately by environmental cues, heroin-predictive DS, or discrete CSs in the same rat after withdrawal. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Cues; Disease Models, Animal; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Infusions, Intravenous; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Recurrence; Reinforcement Schedule; Self Administration; Signal Detection, Psychological; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 2005 |
How does spiritual care begin?
Topics: Adult; Empathy; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; Nurse-Patient Relations; Nurse's Role; Spirituality; Women's Health | 2005 |
Attempted suicide among heroin users: 12-month outcomes from the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS).
A cohort of 495 heroin users, recruited for the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS), were re-interviewed at 12 months regarding suicide attempts over the follow-up period. The proportion who had attempted suicide in the 12 months since baseline was not significantly different from that reported in the 12 months preceding ATOS enrolment (12.2% versus 9.1%), and attempted suicide did not decline significantly in any of the index treatment groups. Among males, there was no significant reduction in attempted suicide (8.7% versus 8.1%). Among females, however, the proportion reporting an attempt declined significantly from 19.7 to 9.8%. Of those who reported suicidal ideation at baseline, 22.8% made an attempt over the follow-up period, as did 19.0% of those who had major depression. Large, and significant, declines in suicidal ideation (23.1% versus 6.9%) and major depression (25.5% versus 10.9%) occurred over the study period. Independent predictors of a suicide attempt over the follow-up period were: social isolation, having made an attempt in the preceding 12 months, suicidal ideation at baseline, a greater number of treatment episodes and higher levels of baseline polydrug use. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Australia; Depressive Disorder; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Social Isolation; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Suicide, Attempted | 2005 |
Transient changes in behaviour lead to heroin overdose: results from a case-crossover study of non-fatal overdose.
Heroin overdose is a serious consequence of heroin use and one of the leading causes of premature death and illness in Australia. Despite considerable research effort little is known about the effects of transient changes in heroin user behaviour and the links to overdose. This research is the first to use a suitable methodology to allow such ephemeral changes and their effects on non-fatal heroin overdose to be examined.. A case-crossover design was used in which non-fatal heroin overdose survivors' recall of risk behaviours in the 12 hours prior to overdose (hazard period) was compared to their recall of risk behaviours in the 12 hours prior to a selected non-overdose heroin injection (control period).. A total of 155 participants were able to provide valid details of hazard and control periods. A dose-response relationship was observed between the self-reported amount of heroin used and likelihood of overdose (e.g. > AUD50, OR 12.97, 95% CI 2.54-66.31). The use of benzodiazepines (OR 28, 95% CI 3.81-205.79) or alcohol (OR 2.88, 95% CI 1.29-6.43), during the hazard period was related to overdose risk, but the effect of alcohol was attenuated by the effect of benzodiazepines. Shifting from private to public locations between control and hazard periods was also related to increased risk of overdose (OR 3.63, 95% CI 1.66-7.93).. We demonstrate the value of a new methodology to explore heroin overdose, as well as discussing its limitations and ways to overcome them in future. In terms of our findings, overdose prevention messages need to highlight the impact of these transient changes in behaviour and to emphasize the risks of using higher doses of heroin as well as continuing to emphasize the risks of combining heroin with other central nervous system (CNS) depressants. Safer environments for heroin use, such as injecting rooms, may also reduce the chances of overdose. Topics: Adult; Australia; Case-Control Studies; Cross-Over Studies; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Overdose; Female; Health Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2005 |
Cannabinoid CB(1) antagonist SR 141716A attenuates reinstatement of heroin self-administration in heroin-abstinent rats.
Rats with a previous history of heroin self-administration were studied to assess interactions occurring between cannabinoids and opioids in an animal model of reinstatement of heroin-seeking behaviour. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin and after a long-term extinction were primed with one of the following non-contingent non-reinforced drug administrations: saline (or vehicle), heroin, synthetic cannabinoid CB(1) receptor agonists (WIN 55,212-2 or CP 55,940), opioid antagonist (naloxone) or CB(1) antagonist (SR 141716A), alone or in combination. After primings, lever-pressing activity was recorded and compared to those observed during previous phases of training and extinction. Results of this study showed that (i) priming injections of heroin (0.1 mg/kg) as well as CB(1) agonists WIN 55,212-2 (0.15 or 0.30 mg/kg) and CP 55,940 (0.05 or 0.1 mg/kg) completely restore heroin-seeking behaviour; (ii) primings of naloxone (1 mg/kg) and SR 141716A (0.3 mg/kg) had no effect when administered alone; (iii) heroin-induced reinstatement was fully prevented by pre-treatment with either naloxone or SR 141716A; (iv) pre-treatment with SR 141716A significantly reduced WIN 55,212-2 and CP 55,940 priming effects. These results suggest that cannabinoid CB(1) receptors play an important role in the mechanisms underlying relapse to heroin-seeking and depict CB(1) antagonists as possible therapeutic agents for use in the prevention of relapse to heroin abuse. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Benzoxazines; Conditioning, Operant; Cyclohexanols; Drug Interactions; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Morpholines; Naloxone; Naphthalenes; Piperidines; Pyrazoles; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; Rimonabant; Self Administration | 2005 |
Leukoencephalopathy from "chasing the dragon".
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Ataxia; Brain; Brain Damage, Chronic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Memory Disorders; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Reflex, Abnormal | 2005 |
The new heroin users among Manhattan arrestees: variations by race/ethnicity and mode of consumption.
The incidence of heroin use among Manhattan arrestees interviewed by the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) program remained around 20% from 1987 through 2001. However, the authors had expected a decline because the heroin injection epidemic peaked back in the 1960s and early 1970s. A detailed analysis found differences across race/ethnicity. Black arrestees born since 1955 (who came of age since the heroin injection epidemic) were much less likely to use heroin than those born between 1945 and 1954 (who came of age during the epidemic). Hispanic arrestees born since 1970 (but not those born between 1955 and 1969) were also less likely to use heroin, suggesting that the decline in heroin use started among Blacks before Hispanics. During the 1990s, sniffing replaced injecting as the predominant mode of heroin consumption for Black and Hispanic arrestees, even among older arrestees. In strong contrast, the prevalence of heroin use among White arrestees did not decline in the 1990s and injection was still their most popular method of consumption. The discussion highlights implications for further research and drug treatment. Topics: Adult; Crime; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; New York City; Racial Groups | 2005 |
Unravelling the mechanisms of heroin overdose: a comment on Dietze et Al. 2005.
Topics: Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Risk Factors | 2005 |
The relationship between naloxone dose and key patient variables in the treatment of non-fatal heroin overdose in the prehospital setting.
To examine the relationship between key patient variables and variation in naloxone dose (from the standard dose of 1.6 mg IMI) administered by ambulance paramedics in the prehospital management of heroin overdose.. A retrospective analysis of 7985 ambulance patient care records of non-fatal heroin overdose cases collected in greater metropolitan Melbourne. The main outcome measure was the dose of intramuscular naloxone required to increase the level of consciousness and the respiratory rate in patients presenting with suspected heroin overdose. Key patient variables influencing the dose that were recorded included: age, sex, initial patient presentation and reported concurrent alcohol use.. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that patients with higher levels of consciousness and respiratory rates on arrival of the paramedic crew were more likely to receive a less than standard dose of naloxone. Conversely, patients with lower levels of consciousness and low respiratory rates received greater than standard doses of naloxone for resuscitation. Patients who received greater than the standard dose of naloxone were 2.25 (95% CI, 1.83-2.77) times more likely to have been under the influence of alcohol when consuming the heroin that resulted in overdose.. The concurrent use of alcohol with heroin resulted in the use of greater than standard doses of naloxone by paramedics in resuscitating overdose patients. It is possible that the higher dose of naloxone is required to reverse the combined effects of alcohol and heroin. There was also a link between initial patient presentation and the dose of naloxone required for resuscitation. In light of these findings, it would appear that initial patient presentation and evidence of alcohol use might be useful guides as to providing the most effective dose of naloxone in the prehospital setting. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Overdose; Emergency Medical Services; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Retrospective Studies | 2005 |
Age differentials in the impacts of reduced heroin: effects of a "heroin shortage" in NSW, Australia.
This paper uses a unique event, the Australian heroin shortage, to see whether an abrupt, substantial and sustained change in heroin supply had different effects on harms related to heroin use among younger and older heroin users.. Indicator data were examined by age group on the number of persons entering treatment for heroin and amphetamine dependence, arrests for heroin use/possession and number of drug related deaths in NSW, Australia. Data were analysed using times series analysis.. There was a 41% reduction in the number of new registrations for opioid pharmacotherapy per month among 25-34 year olds, and a 26% reduction among 15-24 year olds, but no apparent changes among older age groups. Similarly, reductions in the number of non-pharmacological heroin treatment episodes were most pronounced among younger age groups. There was a 49% reduction in the number of heroin possession/use offences among those aged 15-24 years, compared to declines of 31-40% among older age groups. Declines in heroin related deaths were greatest among 15-24 year olds (65% reduction). There was no change in other drug related deaths in any age group.. A reduction in heroin supply was followed by greater reductions in heroin related harms among younger than older people, across a number of outcome domains. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Age Factors; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Cause of Death; Criminal Law; Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Law Enforcement; New South Wales; Patient Acceptance of Health Care | 2005 |
The novel mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 attenuates cue-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking.
In humans, drug-associated stimuli can provoke heroin relapse during abstinence. In rats, cues paired with heroin self-administration reinstate heroin seeking in a relapse model. The neurobiological mechanisms involved in this reinstatement, however, are largely unknown. Here, we determined the effect of LY379268, an mGluR2/3 agonist that decreases evoked glutamate release, on cue-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. Systemic injections of LY379268 attenuated reinstatement of heroin seeking induced by exposure to a discrete tone-light cue that was previously paired with heroin infusions during self-administration training. In contrast, LY379268 had no effect on heroin self-administration. Results indicate that glutamate plays an important role in cue-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking and suggest that mGluR2/3 agonists should be considered for the treatment of opiate relapse. Topics: Amino Acids; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Self Administration | 2005 |
Effects of a sustained heroin shortage in three Australian States.
In early 2001 in Australia there was a sudden and dramatic decrease in heroin availability that occurred throughout the country that was evidenced by marked increases in heroin price and decreases in its purity.. This study examines the impact of this change in heroin supply on the following indicators of heroin use: fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses; treatment seeking for heroin dependence; injecting drug use; drug-specific offences; and general property offences. The study was conducted using data from three Australian States [New South Wales (NSW), Victoria (VIC) and South Australia (SA)].. Data were obtained on fatal and non-fatal overdoses from hospital emergency departments (EDs), ambulance services and coronial systems; treatment entries for heroin dependence compiled by State health departments; numbers of needles and syringes distributed to drug users; and data on arrests for heroin-related incidents and property-related crime incidents compiled by State Police Services. Time-series analyses were conducted where possible to examine changes before and after the onset of the heroin shortage. These were supplemented with information drawn from studies involving interviews with injecting drug users.. After the reduction in heroin supply, fatal and non-fatal heroin overdoses decreased by between 40% and 85%. Despite some evidence of increased cocaine, methamphetamine and benzodiazepine use and reports of increases in harms related to their use, there were no increases recorded in the number of either non-fatal overdoses or deaths related to these drugs. There was a sustained decline in injecting drug use in NSW and VIC, as indicated by a substantial drop in the number of needles and syringes distributed (to 1999 levels in Victoria). There was a short-lived increase in property crime in NSW followed by a sustained reduction in such offences. SA and VIC did not show any marked change in the categories of property crime examined in the study.. Substantial reductions in heroin availability have not occurred often, but in this Australian case a reduction had an aggregate positive impact in that it was associated with: reduced fatal and non-fatal heroin overdoses; reduced the apparent extent of injecting drug use in VIC and NSW; and may have contributed to reduced crime in NSW. All these changes provide substantial benefits to the community and some to heroin users. Documented shifts to other forms of drug use did not appear sufficient to produce increases in deaths, non-fatal overdoses or treatment seeking related to those drugs. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Crime; Drug Overdose; Health Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; New South Wales; South Australia; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Victoria | 2005 |
Learning from uncommon events: comment on Degenhardt et al. 2005.
Topics: Australia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; United Kingdom; United States | 2005 |
More panic in needle park.
Topics: Australia; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Risk-Taking; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2005 |
Heroin, supply side interventions and crime.
Topics: Australia; Crime; Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 2005 |
Supply control does work: the case from Australia.
Topics: Australia; Drug and Narcotic Control; Drug Overdose; Health Policy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 2005 |
[Spiral CT findings of pulmonary infection induced by intravenous injection of heroin].
To investigate spiral CT findings of pulmonary infection induced by intravenous injection of heroin.. The clinical data and spiral CT findings of 21 patients with pulmonary infection due to intravenous injection of heroin were analyzed retrospectively.. Pulmonary lesions were detected in all these cases in the initial examination by spiral CT plain scan, including pneumatocele in 13 (61.9%), pulmonary cavity in 13 (61.9%), pulmonary consolidation in 15 (71.4%), and plural lesions in 8 cases (38.1%) of which 7 (33.3%) had plural effusion and 1 (0.48%) had encapsulated hydropneumothorax. Three cases had only one of the lesions and 18 had at least 2 of them. The CT images in each case were compared with X-ray film, and the latter displayed abnormalities in 20 cases (95.2%). X-ray failed to detect the lesions in 1 case (4.8%), in which pneumatocele was found in CT images.. The pulmonary lesions of pulmonary pneumatocele, cavity, consolidation, and plural lesions are specific CT manifestations of hematogenous pulmonary suppurative infection induced by intravenous injection of heroin. Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Pneumonia; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, Spiral Computed | 2005 |
Heroin overdose among young injection drug users in San Francisco.
We sought to identify prevalence and predictors of heroin-related overdose among young injection drug users (IDU).. A total of 795 IDU under age of 30 years were interviewed in four neighbourhoods in San Francisco, California, USA. Participants were recruited as part of a broader study of HIV, hepatitis B and C among injecting drug users in San Francisco using street outreach and snowball techniques. Independent predictors of recent heroin overdose requiring intervention were determined using regression analysis.. Of 795 injecting drug users under age of 30 years, 22% (174/795) of participants reported a heroin overdose in the last year. In stepwise multiple logistic regression, independent predictors of recent heroin overdose were lifetime incarceration exceeding 20 months (odds ratio (OR) = 2.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.52-5.88); heroin injection in the last 3 months (OR = 4.89, 95% CI = 2.03-11.74); cocaine injection in the last 3 months (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.14-2.45); injection of heroin mixed with methamphetamine in the last 3 months (OR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.15-2.65); ever tested for hepatitis B or C (OR = 1.66 per year, CI = 1.09-2.54) and ever having witnessed another person overdose (OR = 2.89, 95% CI = 1.76-4.73).. Individuals with high levels of incarceration are at great risk of overdose, and prison or jail should be considered a primary intervention site. Further research on the role of cocaine and amphetamine in heroin-related overdose is indicated. Topics: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Adult; California; Catchment Area, Health; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methamphetamine; Prevalence; Prisoners; Resuscitation; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Surveys and Questionnaires | 2005 |
Fatal toxic leukoencephalopathy: clinical, radiological, and necropsy findings in two patients.
Toxic leukoencephalopathy has been described with inhalation and intravenous consumption of heroin and cocaine. The clinical picture varies widely but the imaging and histological features are characteristic. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) typically reveals diffuse bihemispheric white matter lesions. Histologically there is extensive spongiform degeneration of the cerebral white matter.. To report two cases of fatal toxin associated leukoencephalopathy, along with detailed imaging and neuropathological studies.. MRI revealed diffuse white matter changes. Histologically there was widespread confluent vacuolar degeneration of the deep white matter. In both cases, there was sparing of the brain stem and cerebellar white matter. There was evidence of severe and extensive axonal injury.. This pattern of radiological involvement and histological findings has not previously been reported and may reflect the presence of a yet unidentified impurity. Topics: Adult; Brain; Brain Stem; Cerebellum; Cerebral Cortex; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Disease Progression; Dominance, Cerebral; Fatal Outcome; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nerve Degeneration; Nerve Fibers; Neurologic Examination; Neurotoxicity Syndromes | 2005 |
Gender effect on the right-left discrimination task in a sample of heroin-dependent patients.
Discriminating right from left is an everyday cognitive ability. Repeated exposure to certain drugs, such as heroin, can produce poor performance on many cognitive tasks. However, it is yet unclear whether drug abuse impairs the ability of right-left discrimination.. The aim of the present study is to examine whether the spatial ability measured by the right-left discrimination task can be affected by heroin abuse and whether such drug effect, if it exists, is gender related.. A paper-and-pen test was used. The test consists of line drawings of a person with no arm, one arm, or both arms crossing the vertical body axis of the figure. The line drawings are viewed from the back, from the front, or randomly alternating between the back and front drawings. The subjects' task is to mark which is the right or left hand in the figure as fast as possible.. A main finding in this study was that the ability to discriminate between left and right in visual space was impaired in heroin-dependent patients. Especially, heroin-dependent females performed poorer than control females in all conditions but heroin-dependent males only performed poorly in part of conditions.. Recent heroin abuse impairs the ability of right-left discrimination and such impairment is gender related: heroin-dependent females demonstrated greater performance deficits than males. Topics: Adult; Discrimination Learning; Female; Functional Laterality; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Orientation; Psychomotor Performance; Sex Factors | 2005 |
Effect of repeated administrations of heroin, naltrexone, methadone, and alcohol on morphine glucuronidation in the rat.
Heroin is rapidly metabolized to morphine that in turn is transformed in morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), an inactive metabolite, and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G), a potent mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist. We have found that heroin addicts exhibit higher M6G/M3G ratios relative to morphine-treated control subjects. We have also shown that heroin-treated rats exhibit measurable levels of M6G (which is usually undetectable in this species) and reduced levels of M3G.. We investigated the role of MOR in these effects of heroin, by examining the effects of methadone, a MOR agonist, and of naltrexone, a MOR antagonist, on morphine glucuronidation. We also investigated the effects of alcohol, which is known to alter drug metabolism and is frequently coabused by heroin addicts.. Morphine glucuronidation was studied in liver microsomes obtained from rats exposed daily for 10 days to saline, heroin (10 mg/kg, i.p.), naltrexone (20-40 mg/kg, i.p.), heroin + naltrexone (10 mg/kg+20-40 mg/kg, i.p.), methadone (5-20 mg/kg, i.p.), or 10% ethanol.. Heroin induced the synthesis of M6G and decreased the synthesis of M3G. Naltrexone exhibited intrinsic modulatory activity on morphine glucuronidation, increasing the synthesis of M3G via a low-affinity/high-capacity reaction characterized by positive cooperativity. The rate of M3G synthesis in the heroin + naltrexone groups was not different from that of the naltrexone groups. Methadone and ethanol induced a modest increase in M3G synthesis and had no effect on M6G synthesis.. The effects of heroin on morphine glucuronidation are not shared by methadone or alcohol (two drugs that figure prominently in the natural history of heroin addiction) and do not appear to depend on the activation of MOR. Topics: Animals; Ethanol; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Methadone; Microsomes, Liver; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Naltrexone; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Opioid, mu | 2005 |
[Accidental intraartrial injection of diacethylmorphine (heroin) in drug addicts -- three case reports].
Accidental intrarterial injections are not uncommon in medical treatments. This is also true for uncontrolled injections by drug-addicts. Since 2002 a number of 600 heavy opiate addicts in Germany are substituted in a country-wide study with pure diacetylmorphine (Heroine). We report the course and outcome of three cases of accidental intraarterial injections of pure diacetylmorphine under controlled conditions. After initial symptoms of vasospasms, all cases were without symptoms within one hour and no obvious loss of tissue was observed. After discussing the literature about medical literature and treatment options in intraarterial injections it is concluded, that the cause of major complications after intraarterial injections may not be the pure diacetylmorphine but additional substances in impure "street-heroin" samples. Topics: Adult; Hepatitis C; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Injections, Intra-Arterial; Male | 2005 |
The impact of a reduction in drug supply on demand for and compliance with treatment for drug dependence.
In early 2001, Australia experienced a sudden, dramatic and sustained decrease in heroin availability that was accompanied by sharp increases in price and decreases in street level purity--the so-called "heroin shortage". These unprecedented changes occurred in a context of widespread treatment availability, which made it possible for the first time to examine the impact of a sharp reduction in heroin supply in New South Wales (NSW) on entry to and adherence with treatment for heroin dependence. Given the evidence of drug substitution by some users, the current paper also examines the effects of the shortage on entry to treatment for other forms of drug dependence.. Interrupted time-series analysis of the number of persons entering opioid pharmacotherapy and other treatment modalities in NSW for heroin dependence and for the treatment for other types of drug dependence.. The heroin shortage was associated with a reduction in the number of younger persons entering opioid pharmacotherapy. There was a dramatic decrease in the number of persons entering heroin withdrawal or "assessment only" treatment episodes. There appear to have been small improvements in adherence to and retention in heroin treatment after the reduction in heroin supply. Relatively small increases were observed in numbers being treated for cocaine dependence.. In the context of good treatment provision, a reduction in heroin supply appeared to produce modest improvements in intermediate outcomes. Supply and demand reduction measures, when both are implemented successfully, may be complementary. Topics: Cocaine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methamphetamine; New South Wales; Patient Compliance; Patient Dropouts; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Time Factors | 2005 |
Mortality in heroin-assisted treatment in Switzerland 1994-2000.
A major goal of heroin-assisted treatment in Switzerland has been to reduce the drug-related mortality of heroin users. Therefore, a continuous monitoring of deaths under treatment is essential.. To assess mortality of participants in heroin-assisted treatment in Switzerland over a 7-year period from 1994 to 2000, and to compare this mortality to the general population and to other populations of opioid users, as reported in the literature.. Estimation of person years under heroin-assisted treatment from the complete case registry of heroin-assisted treatment in Switzerland. Estimation of standardized mortality ratios comparing the population in treatment to the Swiss population (standardized to the year 2000).. Over the 7-year period, the crude death rate of patients in heroin-assisted treatment, and including one month after discharge from treatment, was 1% per year. The standardized mortality ratio for the entire observation period was 9.7 (95% C.I. 7.3-12.8), with females having higher standardized mortality ratios (SMR 17.2) than males (SMR 8.4). There was no clear time trend.. Mortality in heroin-assisted treatment was low compared to the mortality rate of Swiss opioid users 1990s (estimated to be between 2.5 and 3%). It was also low compared to mortality rates of opioid users in other maintenance treatments in other countries as reported in the literature. The SMR was also lower than that reported in the only meta-analysis in the literature: 13.2 (95% C.I. 12.3-14.1). The low mortality rate is all the more noteworthy as heroin-assisted treatment in Switzerland included only refractory opioid addicts with existing severe somatic and/or mental problems.. No conflicts of interest declared. Topics: Cause of Death; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Sex Factors; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Switzerland | 2005 |
Circumstances of witnessed drug overdose in New York City: implications for intervention.
Drug users frequently witness the nonfatal and fatal drug overdoses of their peers, but often fail to intervene effectively to reduce morbidity and mortality. We assessed the circumstances of witnessed heroin-related overdoses in New York City (NYC) among a predominantly minority population of drug users. Among 1184 heroin, crack, and cocaine users interviewed between November 2001 and February 2004, 672 (56.8%) had witnessed at least one nonfatal or fatal heroin-related overdose. Of those, 444 (67.7%) reported that they or someone else present called for medical help for the overdose victim at the last witnessed overdose. In multivariable models, the respondent never having had an overdose her/himself and the witnessed overdose occurring in a public place were associated with the likelihood of calling for medical help. Fear of police response was the most commonly cited reason for not calling or delaying before calling for help (52.2%). Attempts to revive the overdose victim through physical stimulation (e.g., applying ice, causing pain) were reported by 59.7% of respondents, while first aid measures were attempted in only 11.9% of events. Efforts to equip drug users to manage overdoses effectively, including training in first aid and the provision of naloxone, and the reduction of police involvement at overdose events may have a substantial impact on overdose-related morbidity and mortality. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Crisis Intervention; Drug Overdose; Emergency Medical Services; Emergency Treatment; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; New York City; Peer Group; Prevalence | 2005 |
Increased c-Fos expression in the medial part of the lateral habenula during cue-evoked heroin-seeking in rats.
Conditioned environmental stimuli are known to be important determinants of drug seeking behavior. c-Fos, the protein product of the protooncogene c-Fos, is expressed in neurons when there are drug-associated cue-induced drug-seeking behaviour. Therefore, its expression could serve as a marker of regional neuronal activation. Using an extinction/reinstatement paradigm of relapse animal model, we trained Sprague-Dawley rats to nose-poke for i.v. heroin (0.05 mg/kg/infusion) either daily for 4h or 25 infusions for 14 consecutive days. We then tested these animals for cue-evoked heroin-seeking behavior after abstinence from self-administration of heroin for 14 days. Expression of c-Fos was examined in the lateral habenula (LHb), a region important for conveying information between the limbic forebrain and midbrain. Findings showed that heroin-associated conditioned stimuli could induce robust heroin-seeking behavior that was associated with increased c-Fos immunoreactivity in the medial part of the LHb. This observation suggests the involvement of the LHb in mediating drug cue-induced heroin-seeking behavior after abstinence from self-administration of heroin. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Conditioning, Psychological; Extinction, Psychological; Habenula; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley | 2005 |
The role of cocaine in heroin-related deaths. Hypothesis on the interaction between heroin and cocaine.
In recent years, there has been an increase in cocaine-related deaths at the Department of Legal Medicine and Public Health of Pavia, probably reflecting the rising trend in cocaine use in Western Europe. Deaths from cocaine alone have increased from 6 cases in 1979-1991 (1.5% of drug-of-abuse deaths) to 13 in 1992-2002 (3.2%) and comparing the same periods, heroin-related deaths (HRDs) involving cocaine more than doubled from 8 (1.9%) to 22 (5.4%). In an attempt to investigate the role of cocaine in HRDs, acute narcotic death cases testing positive for cocaine use (blood cocaine or metabolite concentration >0.01 mg/l, COC+) were examined. Only cases from 1997 to 2001 were considered as in this period all data were obtained using the same analytical procedures (free morphine and total morphine by DPC Coat-A-Count radioimmunoassay before and after enzymatic hydrolysis, cocaine and metabolites in blood by SPE, TMS derivatization and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)). The median, minimum and maximum concentrations of free morphine in blood (FM) and total morphine in blood (TM), urine (UM) and bile (BM) in the COC+ group (n = 9) were compared with those calculated in the group of "pure" HRDs (no other drugs detected in blood, COC-, n = 30). Differences among the medians in the two groups were statistically evaluated using the two-tailed Mann-Whitney U-Test. Statistical analysis was also carried out including in both groups cases with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) > 20 mg/L (COC+, n = 19; COC-, n = 76). For the COC+ group, median TM was lower (0.32 mg/l versus 0.90 mg/l, P = 0.0214), median FM was lower, but not statistically significant (0.08 mg/l versus 0.28 mg/l, P = 0.1064), FM/TM ratio was similar (0.33 and 0.35), UM was also similar (21.0 mg/l and 18.0 mg/l), and BM was higher (90.0 mg/l versus 49.0 mg/l, P = 0.0268). Similar comparison results were obtained by repeating statistical analyses after including in the two groups cases with positive BAC. The picture observed for HRD cases involving cocaine is very different from what was previously observed for HRD cases involving ethanol [A. Polettini, A. Groppi, M. Montagna, The role of alcohol abuse in the etiology of heroin related deaths: evidence for pharmacokinetic interactions between heroin and alcohol, J. Anal. Toxicol. 23 (1999) 570-576], and updated with more recent data; in the high-ethanol (HE, BAC > 1000 mg/l) group, TM was lower than in the low-ethanol (LE, BAC Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Bile; Central Nervous System Depressants; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Drug Interactions; Ethanol; Female; Forensic Medicine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine; Narcotics; Substance Abuse Detection | 2005 |
Twelve-month outcomes for heroin dependence treatments: does route of administration matter?
A sample of 442 heroin users (394 injecting heroin users: IHU, 48 non-injecting heroin users: NIHU) recruited for the Australian Treatment Outcome Study were reinterviewed at 12 months after entrance to treatment for heroin dependence. Route of administration was stable over the follow-up period with 4% of NIHU having made a transition to heroin injecting, and 0.3% of IHU having made a transition to non-injecting. Given the clinical profile of NIHU presented in the literature, it might be expected that they would exhibit better treatment retention and 12-month outcomes than IHU. At 12 months, however, there were no differences between NIHU and IHU in heroin use, heroin dependence symptoms, polydrug use, criminality, current self-reported physical health or psychopathology. The only group differences at 12 months were that NIHU were more likely to be employed and had fewer injection-related problems. It is concluded that, among those presenting for treatment, route of administration is not an indicator of likely outcome. Topics: Comorbidity; Depressive Disorder, Major; Employment; Follow-Up Studies; Health Status; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Ill-Housed Persons; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Smoking; Smoking Prevention; Social Adjustment; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Treatment Outcome | 2005 |
The impact of the Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) on crime.
The current study aimed to model the effect of Australia's first Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) on acquisitive crime and loitering by drug users and dealers. The effect of the MSIC on drug-related property and violent crime was examined by conducting time series analysis of police-recorded trends in theft and robbery incidents, respectively. The effect of the MSIC on drug use and dealing was examined by (a) time series analysis of a special proxy measure of drug-related loitering; (b) interviewing key informants; and (c) examining trends in the proportion of Sydney drug offences that were recorded in Kings Cross. There was no evidence that the MSIC trial led to either an increase or decrease in theft or robbery incidents. There was also no evidence that the MSIC led to an increase in 'drug-related' loitering at the front of the MSIC after it opened, although there was a small increase in 'total' loitering (by 1.2 persons per occasion of observation). Trends in both 'drug-related' and 'total' loitering at the front of the MSIC steadily declined to baseline levels, or below, after it opened. There was a very small but sustained increase in 'drug-related' (0.09 persons per count) and 'total' loitering (0.37 persons per count) at the back of the MSIC after it opened. Key informant interviews noted an increase in loitering across the road from the MSIC but this was not attributed to an influx of new users and dealers to the area. There was no increase in the proportion of drug use or drug supply offences committed in Kings Cross that could be attributed to the opening of the MSIC. These results suggest that setting up an MSIC does not necessarily lead to an increase in drug-related problems of crime and public loitering. Topics: Australia; Crime; Criminal Law; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Needle-Exchange Programs; Social Problems; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Urban Population | 2005 |
Heroin sensitization induces circumventricular organ activation in the rat brain.
Using c-Fos protein immunohistochemistry we previously demonstrated various sites of activation in the rat forebrain according to the animal's drug history. This study originates from a more detailed evaluation ex-post of the same specimens. A discrete number of c-Fos protein immunoreactive nuclei could be observed in some circumventricular organs, including the vascular organ of terminal lamina (OVLT) and subfornical organ (SFO) and in the nucleus of solitary tract near the area postrema, but only in specimens from sensitized rats. We therefore suggest that repeated drug injections activate the normally low drug metabolizing enzyme activity in the circumventricular organs thus implicating these organs in the complex mechanisms underlying behavioral sensitization. Topics: Animals; Area Postrema; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme Activation; Enzymes; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hypothalamus; Immunohistochemistry; Narcotics; Neural Pathways; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Solitary Nucleus; Subfornical Organ; Up-Regulation | 2005 |
The quantitative analysis of heroin, methadone and their metabolites and the simultaneous detection of cocaine, acetylcodeine and their metabolites in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.
For a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic study in opioid tolerant patients, who were treated with heroin in combination with methadone, a liquid chromatographic assay with tandem mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS/MS) was developed for the simultaneous determination of heroin, methadone, heroin metabolites 6-monoacetylmorphine, morphine, and morphine-6 and 3-glucuronide and methadone metabolite EMDP. To detect any abuse of substances besides the prescribed opioids the assay was extended with the detection of cocaine, its metabolites benzoylecgonine and norcocaine and illicit heroin adulterants acetylcodeine and codeine. Heroin-d6, morphine-d3, morphine-3-glucuronide-d3 and methadone-d9 were used as internal standards. The sample pre-treatment consisted of solid phase extraction using mixed mode sorbent columns (MCX Oasis). Chromatographic separation was performed at 25 degrees C on a reversed phase Zorbax column with a gradient mobile phase consisting of ammonium formate (pH 4.0) and acetonitrile. The run time was 15 min. MS with relatively mild electrospray ionisation under atmospheric pressure was applied. The triple quadrupole MS was operating in the positive ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was used for drug quantification. The method was validated over a concentration range of 5-500 ng/mL for all analytes. The total recovery of heroin varied between 86 and 96% and of the heroin metabolites between 76 and 101%. Intra-assay and inter-assay accuracy and precision of all analytes were always within the designated limits (< or =20% at lower limit of quantification (LLQ) and < or =15% for other samples). This specific and sensitive assay was successfully applied in pharmacokinetic studies with medically prescribed heroin and toxicological cases. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cocaine; Codeine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Reproducibility of Results; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Time Factors | 2005 |
Deuterodiacetylmorphine as a marker for use of illicit heroin by addicts in a heroin-assisted treatment program.
In preparation for a treatment program concerning the medical coprescription of heroin and methadone to treatment-resistant addicts in the Netherlands, we studied a novel strategy for monitoring co-use of illicit (nonprescribed) heroin. A deuterated analogue of heroin was added (1:20) to pharmaceutical, smokable heroin (a powder mixture of 75% w/w diacetylmorphine base and 25% w/w caffeine anhydrate), to be used by inhalation after volatilization ("chasing the dragon"). Plasma and urine samples were collected from nine male patients who had used pharmaceutical, smokable heroin during a four-day stay in a closed clinical research unit, and these samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Ratios of deuterated and undeuterated diacetylmorphine and 6-acetylmorphine (MAM/MAM-d3) in plasma and urine were calculated from peak areas of these substances in the respective chromatograms. The MAM/MAM-d3 ratios in plasma and urine were normally distributed (with small standard deviations) and independent from concentrations of 6-acetylmorphine and from time after use of pharmaceutical heroin. A MAM/MAM-d3 ratio in urine above 32.8 was considered indicative of co-use of illicit heroin, and this value was associated with a false-positive rate of only 1% (95% confidence interval: -1 to 3%). The MAM/MAM-d3 ratio was detectable in urine for 4-9.5 h after use of pharmaceutical, smokable heroin. Addition of stable, isotopically labelled heroin to pharmaceutical, smokable heroin is considered to be a feasible strategy for the detection of co-use of illicit heroin by patients in heroin-assisted treatment. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Biomarkers; Chromatography, Liquid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mass Spectrometry; Reference Standards; Sensitivity and Specificity; Substance Abuse Detection | 2005 |
Changes to methadone clearance during pregnancy.
Measurement of plasma methadone concentration to investigate the rate of clearance of methadone prescribed for heroin dependence in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy. A secondary objective was to evaluate the outcome of pregnancy.. Longitudinal within subject study of nine pregnant opioid dependent subjects prescribed methadone at the Leeds Addiction Unit, an outpatient community based treatment centre. Plasma concentration versus time data for methadone was collected during each trimester and post-partum for our subjects. Data was available for the first and second trimesters for 4/9 cases. All but one of the subjects provided data during the third trimester and data post-partum was collected from three respondents. Measurements of methadone levels in plasma were carried out using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).. Trough mean plasma methadone concentrations reduced as the pregnancies progressed from 0.12 mg/L (first trimester) to 0.07 mg/L (third trimester). The weight-adjusted clearance rates gradually increased from a mean of 0.17 to 0.21 L/hr/kg during pregnancy, although patterns differed substantially between the nine women. An assessment of relative clearance of methadone using two patients for whom we have had all three CL values (trimester 1-3) demonstrated notable change of CL (P = 0.056) over time. Eight of our subjects delivered (3 males), within two weeks of their due date the ninth (male) was premature (21 days). The mean length of gestation was 39.7 weeks (SD = 10 days) and none of the neonates met criterion for 'low birth weight' mean = 3094, SD = 368 g). Five neonates spent time (0.5-28 days) in a special care baby unit (SCUBU) and 4 of these displayed signs of methadone withdrawal.. General Practitioners and hospital doctors should recognise the significant benefits of prescribing methadone for heroin-dependent women during pregnancy. We recommend that if a pregnant opioid user complains of methadone withdrawal symptoms (i.e. that the methadone dose does not "hold" them) the prescribing clinician takes this observation seriously and considers a more detailed assessment. Further work on key factors undergoing changes during pregnancy accounting for differences in methadone metabolism in the mother, fetus and neonate are required. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Area Under Curve; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Metabolic Clearance Rate; Methadone; Narcotics; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Outcome | 2005 |
Differential involvement of the prelimbic cortex and striatum in conditioned heroin and sucrose seeking following long-term extinction.
Relapse to drug taking is triggered by stimuli previously associated with consumption of drugs of misuse (cues) and involves brain systems controlling motivated behaviour towards natural reinforcers. In this study, we aimed to identify and compare neuronal pathways in corticostriatal systems that control conditioned heroin or natural reward (sucrose) seeking. To that end, rats were trained to self-administer heroin or sucrose in association with an identical compound cue. After more than 3 weeks of abstinence during extinction training, cue exposure robustly reinstated heroin and sucrose seeking, but induced distinct and even opposing changes in the expression of the neuronal activation marker zif268 in the prelimbic cortex and striatal complex, respectively. Because in the prelimbic area zif268 expression was enhanced during cue-induced heroin seeking but unaffected during sucrose seeking, a pharmacological intervention was aimed at this prefrontal region. Injection of a GABA agonist mixture within the prelimbic area enhanced conditioned heroin seeking, but had no effect on conditioned sucrose seeking. Our findings suggest a differential role of the prelimbic area and the striatum in the persistence of heroin vs. sucrose seeking following long-term extinction. Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cell Count; Cerebral Cortex; Conditioning, Operant; Corpus Striatum; Diagnostic Imaging; Early Growth Response Protein 1; Extinction, Psychological; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Gene Expression Regulation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Self Administration; Sucrose; Sweetening Agents | 2005 |
Lessons from the ongoing UK injectable diamorphine shortage.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; England; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone | 2005 |
Non-fatal heroin overdose, treatment exposure and client characteristics: findings from the Australian treatment outcome study (ATOS).
The relationship between treatment exposure, drug use, psychosocial variables and non-fatal heroin overdose was examined among a cohort of 495 heroin users, re-interviewed at 12 months. The 12-month overdose rate declined from 24% to 12%, and the proportion administered naloxone declined from 15% to 7%. There were significant reductions in overdose among those who entered maintenance therapies (22% to 4%) and residential rehabilitation (33% vs. 19%) at baseline, but not among those who entered detoxification or were not entering treatment. The total number of treatment days received over the follow-up period was associated independently with a reduced risk of overdose. Each extra treatment day was associated with a 1% reduction in risk of overdose over the follow-up period. By contrast, more treatment episodes were associated with an increased risk of overdose (OR 1.62). Other independent predictors of overdose over follow-up were more extensive polydrug use (OR 1.40), and having overdosed in the year preceding the study (OR 7.87). Topics: Adult; Australia; Cohort Studies; Demography; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Drug Overdose; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Male; Residential Treatment; Treatment Outcome | 2005 |
[Clinical application of acupuncture for treatment of heroin withdrawal syndrome].
To make technical standard of acupuncture manipulation for acupuncture treatment of heroin withdrawal syndrome.. Two hundred and twenty cases of heroin withdrawal syndrome were randomly divided into an acupuncture group of 111 cases and a control group of 109 cases. They were respectively treated with acupuncture and oral administration of lofexidine hydrochloride, and their therapeutic effects were observed.. The heroin dependence (acute stage) were effectively withdrawn in the two groups. The treatment group in change of total scores for withdrawal symptoms before and after treatment, the total scores for withdrawal symptoms at the 4th and 5th days, treatment of insomnia and the score for self-Hamilton Anxiety Scale and the score after at the 4th day was superior to the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001).. Acupuncture has a satisfactory, rapid, safe and reliable clinical therapeutic effect. Topics: Acupuncture Therapy; Anxiety; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2005 |
Buprenorphine detection in biological samples.
Buprenorphine is a narcotic analgesic used in the treatment of moderate-to-severe pain. In Italy, buprenorphine is now being used as an alternative in the therapeutic treatment of heroin abusers. Even if confirmation methods are needed for identification and quantitation, a rapid and sensitive test, such as an immunoassay, is essential for screening. We evaluated the Buprenorphine One-step ELISA test (designed for serum specimens) for the qualitative determination of buprenorphine in other matrices, such as urine, saliva and hair. Topics: Buprenorphine; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Italy; Narcotic Antagonists; Reference Standards; Saliva; Sensitivity and Specificity; Serum; Substance Abuse Detection; Urine | 2005 |
The serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine attenuates acquisition, but not maintenance, of intravenous self-administration of heroin in rats.
Opioids and antidepressants are frequently used for the treatment of various pain conditions. A combination of both drug classes may be more effective than either treatment alone, and combined treatment with an antidepressant may result in an opiate-sparing effect. Although it has been shown that antidepressants can attenuate self-administration of psychomotor stimulant and depressant drugs, it is not known whether they also attenuate self-administration of opiates. To determine whether venlafaxine, a serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor with antidepressive and analgesic properties, affects acquisition and maintenance of intravenous heroin self-administration in rats, male Long-Evans rats were trained to press a lever in order to receive heroin (0.05 mg/kg/infusion) under a fixed ratio or a progressive ratio schedule. A control group was trained in a fixed ratio food-reinforced operant procedure. The effect of venlafaxine on operant responding for heroin and food was assessed both during acquisition and, in separate groups of rats, during maintenance (i.e., after acquisition) of self-administration behaviour. Daily treatment with venlafaxine (10 mg/kg i.p.) before the operant session attenuated the acquisition of responding for heroin, but not for food. However, when tested during the maintenance phase in rats showing stable responding, acute treatment with venlafaxine only marginally affected operant responding for heroin under a fixed ratio:10 schedule of reinforcement, and neither acute nor subchronic (once daily during 4 weeks) venlafaxine treatment affected responding under a progressive ratio schedule. Thus, daily treatment with an antidepressant attenuates the acquisition of heroin self-administration in a behaviourally specific manner, while having only marginal effects on maintenance of heroin self-administration. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Behavior, Animal; Conditioning, Operant; Cyclohexanols; Feeding Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Reinforcement Schedule; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Self Administration; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride | 2005 |
[Low field magnetic resonance imaging manifestations of toxic encephalopathy induced by heroin inhalation: report of 3 cases].
Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Male; Neurotoxicity Syndromes | 2005 |
The impact of street drugs on trauma care.
The use of illicit drugs, specifically heroin and cocaine, complicates trauma patient management and consumes extensive hospital resources. This paper focuses on heroin- and cocaine-related injuries observed by physicians at Detroit Receiving Hospital, a large urban Level I trauma center. The pharmaceutical effects, mode of administration, and the manner in which these drugs affect diagnosis and treatment of injuries are documented and discussed. Specific drug-related complications associated with overdose, soft-tissue infections, bacterial endocarditis (therapy resistant), vascular thromboses, vascular aneurysms, vasoconstriction, stroke, cardiac arrhythmias, muscle ischemia, and solid-organ abscesses are also analyzed. Illicit drug use significantly complicates initial diagnosis and trauma management and is associated with severe adverse pathophysiologic effects. Currently, prevention efforts, such as interventions in trauma centers, should be considered as the most efficient and feasible way to prevent injury recidivism in this patient population. We also conclude that legislative change may be the answer in reducing or preventing the horrendous problems caused by illicit drugs. Topics: Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Disease; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Patient Care; Wounds and Injuries | 2005 |
Differences in impulsivity and risk-taking propensity between primary users of crack cocaine and primary users of heroin in a residential substance-use program.
Crack cocaine use is more associated with impulsivity and a propensity to take risks than heroin use, yet no studies have examined this relationship in the absence of acute drug effects. The current study examined impulsivity (using the Delay Discounting Task) and risk-taking propensity (using the Balloon Analogue Risk Task) across independent groups of primary crack cocaine users with minimal heroin use (n = 16) and primary heroin users with minimal crack cocaine use (n = 11) in residential treatment, with all participants drug abstinent during participation. Crack cocaine users evidenced greater levels of impulsivity and risk-taking propensity, with only the difference in impulsivity persisting after controlling for age and gender. These data hold potential theoretical importance in understanding differences between crack cocaine and heroin users, as the findings cannot be attributed solely to acute pharmacological drug effects. Topics: Age Factors; Analysis of Variance; Behavioral Research; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Crack Cocaine; District of Columbia; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Impulsive Behavior; Male; Residential Treatment; Reward; Risk-Taking; Sex Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urban Population | 2005 |
Validation of techniques to detect illicit heroin use in patients prescribed pharmaceutical heroin for the management of opioid dependence.
The clinical implementation and evaluation of heroin substitution programmes have been confounded by the lack of objective and validated biomarkers for illicit heroin use in patients prescribed pharmaceutical heroin. This study examined the capacity to detect illicit heroin use by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of urine samples for the presence of opium impurities common to illicit, but not pharmaceutical heroin.. To characterize the diagnostic properties of the metabolites of noscapine and papaverine in comparison to morphine as a gold-standard marker of illicit heroin use; and to examine the relationships between the self-reported time since most recent heroin use and the detection of these opioids in urine.. A cross-sectional study of 52 opioid-dependent patients in treatment (not prescribed heroin), who self-reported illicit heroin use within the preceding 2 weeks. Self-report data regarding recent drug use and a urine sample were collected. GC-MS analyses of urines were conducted and reported by laboratory staff blinded to self-report data.. The metabolites of papaverine (hydroxypapaverine and dihydroxypapeverine) were found to have high sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive values as markers for illicit heroin use compared to the 'gold-standard' morphine. Other opioids, including 6-mono-acetylmorphine (6-MAM), codeine and noscapine metabolites (e.g. meconine) were less adequate in detecting heroin use.. GC-MS detection of papaverine metabolites in urine appears to be suitable method of identifying illicit heroin use for clinical and research purposes. Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Substance Abuse Detection; Treatment Outcome | 2005 |
Opioid partial agonist effects of 3-O-methylnaltrexone in rhesus monkeys.
3-O-Methylnaltrexone (3-MNTX), a putative antagonist of morphine-6-beta-d-glucuronide (M6G) receptors, has been reported to block the behavioral effects of heroin at doses that do not block those of morphine, suggesting that M6G receptors may play a unique role in the addictive properties of heroin. This study investigated the effects of 3-MNTX in monkeys trained to discriminate i.v. heroin from vehicle or to self-administer i.v. heroin under a progressive-ratio schedule. Additional in vitro studies determined the effects of 3-MNTX and reference drugs on adenylyl cyclase activity in caudate-putamen membranes of monkeys and rats. In drug discrimination experiments, heroin, morphine, and M6G substituted for heroin in all subjects, whereas 3-MNTX substituted for heroin in one-half the monkeys tested. In these latter monkeys, the effects of 3-MNTX were antagonized by naltrexone, and pretreatment with 3-MNTX enhanced the effects of heroin, M6G, and morphine, indicative of micro-agonist activity. In monkeys showing no substitution of 3-MNTX for heroin, 3-MNTX antagonized the effects of heroin, M6G, and morphine. In self-administration experiments, heroin and 3-MNTX maintained injections per session significantly above those maintained by vehicle when the initial response requirement (IRR) was low; only heroin maintained significant self-administration when the IRR was high. In vitro, 3-MNTX inhibited adenylyl cyclase activity in both monkey and rat brain membranes. The degree of inhibition produced by 3-MNTX was less than that produced by the full agonist [d-Ala(2),N-Me-Phe(4),Gly(5)-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO). The results suggest that 3-MNTX functions primarily as a partial agonist at micro-receptors in monkeys and do not support a singular role for M6G receptors in the abuse-related effects of heroin. Topics: Adenylyl Cyclases; Animals; Cocaine; Discrimination Learning; Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Macaca mulatta; Male; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Naltrexone; Narcotics; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Self Administration | 2004 |
Dosage regimes in the prescription of heroin and other narcotics to chronic opioid addicts in Switzerland--Swiss national cohort study.
Within the guidelines of the research programme on medical prescription of narcotics for opioid addicts (PROVE), heroin, morphine, and methadone were prescribed to heavily opioid addicted individuals in Switzerland since 1994. This contribution analyses the course of dose levels during the treatment period.. Naturalistic description of consumed dosages per day and month.. The study describes the dosages prescribed to all individuals who began outpatient treatment in the PROVE programme in Switzerland between 1994 and 1996.. Consumed amount of narcotics per day and the course of dosage of injectable heroin in different treatment regimes.. Heroin was the most frequently prescribed narcotic. Of all consumption days, heroin had been applied in 77% as injection and in 9% in a smokeable form. The mean daily dosage was 474 mg for intravenous application and 993 mg for the smokeable form. Second most frequent was the prescription of oral methadone, in most cases in combination with heroin. The mean amount of daily consumption of oral methadone was 53 mg. There were dosage differences between treatment regimes. During the course of treatment the mean dosage for injectable heroin per day decreased significantly and, depending on the treatment regime, almost linearly.. The significance of heroin dosages in heroin-assisted therapy for treatment outcome should be further explored, especially in the light of the markedly higher dosages in Switzerland compared to the UK. During the treatment period, dosages did not increase but generally decreased, indicating no further increase in tolerance. Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Ambulatory Care; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cohort Studies; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Prescriptions; Drug Utilization; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Methadone; Morphine; Narcotics; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Switzerland | 2004 |
Attempted suicide among entrants to three treatment modalities for heroin dependence in the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS): prevalence and risk factors.
To determine the lifetime and recent histories of attempted suicide among entrants to treatment for heroin dependence in three treatment modalities and a non-treatment comparison group; and to ascertain factors associated with a recent history of attempted suicide.. Cross-sectional structured interview.. Sydney, Australia.. Six hundred and fifteen current heroin users: 201 entering methadone/buprenorphine maintenance (MT), 201 entering detoxification (DTX), 133 entering drug free residential rehabilitation (RR) and 80 not in treatment (NT).. A lifetime history of attempted suicide was reported by 34% of subjects, 13% had attempted suicide in the preceding year and 5% had done so in the preceding month. Females were more likely to have lifetime (44% versus 28%) and 12 month (21% versus 9%) suicide attempt histories. The 12 month prevalence of attempted suicide among treatment groups ranged between 11% (MT, NT) and 17% (RR). Factors associated with recent suicide attempts were: being an RR entrant, female gender, younger age, less education, more extensive polydrug use, benzodiazepine use, recent heroin overdose, Major Depression, current suicidal ideation, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.. Recent suicidal behaviour is a major clinical problem for heroin users, and for females and RR entrants in particular. An essential adjunct to treatment for heroin dependence is routine screening for depression and suicidal ideation, with the provision of appropriate treatment where needed. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Ambulatory Care; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Borderline Personality Disorder; Buprenorphine; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depressive Disorder, Major; Drug Overdose; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mass Screening; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Needle-Exchange Programs; New South Wales; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Patient Admission; Rehabilitation Centers; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Suicide, Attempted | 2004 |
Social network correlates of self-reported non-fatal overdose.
The leading cause of death among heroin users is drug overdose. The present study examined the relationship between history of self-reported drug overdoses and social network characteristics among cocaine and opiate users. Data were from cross-sectional surveys administered from March 2001 through February 2003 as part of follow-up of an experimental network oriented HIV prevention intervention. A total of 838 participants with histories of cocaine and opiate use completed the survey. Several social network variables were found to be significantly associated with drug overdose in the prior 2 years, including larger number of network members who were injection drug users and a larger number of conflictual ties among the network members. Even after controlling for age, gender, frequency of injection drug and alcohol use, and health status, network variables continued to have a strong association with history of recent overdose. These data suggest that large drug networks should be targeted for drug overdose prevention interventions. Topics: Adult; Alcohol Drinking; Baltimore; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Comorbidity; Conflict, Psychological; Crack Cocaine; Drug Overdose; Female; Health Education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Status Indicators; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Risk Factors; Social Facilitation; Social Support; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Urban Population | 2004 |
Prescription of heroin to treatment resistant heroin addicts: Dutch heroin trials show retention is better with methadone alone.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Resistance; Drug Therapy, Combination; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic | 2004 |
Prescription of heroin to treatment resistant heroin addicts: double blinding is not possible.
Topics: Double-Blind Method; Drug Resistance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic | 2004 |
Prescription of heroin to treatment resistant heroin addicts: treatment needs to be multifaceted.
Topics: Community Mental Health Services; Drug Resistance; Drug Therapy, Combination; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Treatment Failure | 2004 |
Prescription of heroin to treatment resistant heroin addicts: replacement therapies need to be tested on a level playing field.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Resistance; Drug Therapy, Combination; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic | 2004 |
Prescription of heroin to treatment resistant heroin addicts: heroin handouts are flawed policy.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Resistance; Drug Therapy, Combination; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Treatment Failure | 2004 |
Immune, neuroendocrine, and somatic alterations in animal models of human heroin abuse.
We investigated immune, endocrine, and somatic alterations using two animal models of human heroin administration. In a heroin self-administration paradigm, we observed changes in immune function which suggest that the cycle of intermittent drug use is actually a stressor, which in turn not only exacerbates craving and drug-seeking behavior but also collaterally causes suppression of immune function and therefore susceptibility to disease. In another model of rats made physically dependent to heroin, we show that immune function is more broadly compromised, leading to evidence of infection, followed by chronic activation of innate immune function, cachexia, and weight loss. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Body Weight; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Administration Routes; Drug Administration Schedule; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Immune System; Neurosecretory Systems; Rats; Self Administration | 2004 |
Heroin supply and health: new perspectives.
Topics: Attitude to Health; Australia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Social Conditions | 2004 |
The impact of illicit drug supply reduction on health and social outcomes: the heroin shortage in the Australian Capital Territory.
We seek to establish whether a substantial decline in the supply of heroin, as measured by indicators such as drug purity, is related to changes in drug-related health indicators such as ambulance callouts to heroin overdoses and numbers participating in methadone treatment programmes, and to changes in levels of property crime. The guiding hypothesis is that reduced supply will result in positive health and social outcomes.. Standard time-series methods are employed to analyse official data from local law-enforcement and heroin supply indicators and several health and social outcome indicators within the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), spanning the late 1990s to early 2002. Autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models are estimated to remove autocorrelation from these series. Cross-correlation and autoregression models are then employed to identify the best predictive models.. When autocorrelation has been removed, a reduction in heroin purity predicts a large decline in heroin-related ambulance callouts and an increase in methadone treatment programme enrolments. There is little evidence of an increase in negative outcomes due to heroin users switching to other drugs. A reduction in purity also predicts declines in robbery and burglary but not in theft.. The overall evidence indicates modest links between the declines in heroin supply and increases in positive health outcomes and decreases in crime, as predicted by a simple economic model. Due to the shortness of some of the series and consequent limitations in statistical power, these conclusions should be regarded as tentative. Topics: Australian Capital Territory; Crime; Drug and Narcotic Control; Health Status; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance-Related Disorders | 2004 |
Seeking drugs or seeking help? Escalating "doctor shopping" by young heroin users before fatal overdose.
To identify prescription drug-seeking behaviour patterns among young people who subsequently died of heroin-related overdose.. Linkage of Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and Coroner's Court records from Victoria.. Two hundred and two 15-24-year-olds who died of heroin-related overdose between 6 January 1994 and 6 October 1999.. Patterns of use of medical services and prescription drugs listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in the years before death, and use of all drugs just before death.. Polydrug use was reported in 90% of toxicology reports, and prescription drugs were present in 80% of subjects. Subjects accessed medical services six times more frequently than the general population aged 14-24 years, and more than half of all prescribed drugs were those prone to misuse, such as benzodiazepines and opioid analgesics. A pattern of increasing drug-seeking behaviour in the years before death was identified, with doctor-visitation rates, number of different doctors seen and rates of prescriptions peaking in the year before death.. An apparent increase in "doctor shopping" in the years before heroin-related death may reflect the increasing misuse of prescription drugs, but also an increasing need for help. Identification of a pattern of escalating doctor shopping could be an opportunity for intervention, and potentially, reduction in mortality. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Clinical Pharmacy Information Systems; Drug Overdose; Drug Prescriptions; Family Practice; Female; Health Services Misuse; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hotlines; Humans; Male; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Retrospective Studies; Victoria | 2004 |
Seven doctors accused of over-prescribing heroin.
Topics: Drug Prescriptions; England; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Malpractice; Narcotics | 2004 |
Exposure to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) increases subsequent heroin taking but not heroin's reinforcing efficacy: a self-administration study in rats.
One concern about the widespread use of cannabis is that exposure to its active ingredient, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), might increase future reinforcing effects of other abused drugs such as heroin. In this study, we investigated the effects of pre-exposure to THC on subsequent intravenous self-administration of heroin by Sprague-Dawley rats. In one group of rats, we studied (1) acquisition of heroin self-administration behavior using a continuous-reinforcement (fixed-ratio (FR) 1) schedule, (2) heroin dose-response relationships using an FR1/variable-dose schedule, and (3) reinforcing efficacy of heroin using a progressive-ratio schedule. The number of rats pre-exposed to THC that subsequently learned to self-administer 50 microg/kg injections of heroin within 10 daily sessions did not differ from vehicle-pretreated controls. In contrast, rats pre-exposed to THC subsequently self-administered significantly more heroin injections per session and showed significantly shorter post-injection pauses over a range of heroin doses (12.5-100 microg/kg/injection) using the variable-dose schedule. Interestingly, the maximum effort rats would exert to receive an injection of the different doses of heroin under the progressive-ratio schedule was not altered by THC pre-exposure. In a second group of rats, we varied the 'price' of heroin (responses required/dose), by manipulating FR response requirements at different doses of heroin across sessions, to calculate demand and response output curves. Again, consumption was significantly higher in the THC-treated rats at the lowest prices of heroin (FR1/100 microg/kg and FR1/50 microg/kg) but there were no differences in the reinforcing efficacy of heroin between THC- and vehicle-pretreated rats. Altogether, these results demonstrate that pre-exposure to THC alters some pharmacological effects of heroin that determine frequency of heroin taking, but offer no support for the hypothesis that pre-exposure to THC alters heroin's efficacy as a reinforcer. Topics: Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Conditioning, Operant; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Dronabinol; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Interactions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement Schedule; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration | 2004 |
Heroin diffusion in the mid-Hudson region of New York State.
Prompted by the history of heroin diffusion in the United States, press reports and building on previous research into retail heroin distribution, ethnographic research was undertaken identifying and describing retail distribution and diffusion of heroin in and into medium- and small-sized towns in the mid-Hudson region of New York State.. In conjunction with fieldwork, in-depth tape-recorded interviews were conducted with recent admissions (30 days) at 28 different drug treatment facilities located in the region. Interviews were also conducted with drug counselors, narcotic officers, drug treatment administrators and the county commissioners of mental hygiene.. Heroin-dependent individuals who have access to cheaper heroin in urban areas, such as New York City, Newark, and Patterson, New Jersey, drive retail heroin distribution in the mid-Hudson region. They travel to these cities, purchase heroin in quantity (costing $8-10 per bag), return to the region and sell premium-priced heroin ($20-$25 per bag) mostly to irregular users who do not have access to retail drug sellers in urban areas.. Price disparity contributes to a recurrent process whereby irregular users who are able to gain access to cheaper heroin in urban areas, return to the mid-Hudson and sell premium-priced heroin to other users who do not have access to cheaper heroin. This process contributes to the diffusion of heroin abuse. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Middle Aged; New York; New York City; Prevalence; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2004 |
[Dynamics of time intervals evaluation in heroin addicts].
An evaluation of time perception in drug addicts was carried out in 12 s intervals, using 10 attempts with up to 0.1 s precision. Eighty-two heroin addicts in abstinent and post abstinent periods have been observed, the results being compared to 52 healthy controls. During the first two days after admission to the hospital (abstinent syndrome development), time intervals values were lower in patients than in controls, reaching a precision of recalling 12s, with a following exceeding of this index. On day 15-16, time perception returned to precise level (post abstinent period). Depending on drug addiction duration and individual features of brain hemisphere asymmetry, changes in subjective time perception were revealed in the study. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Brain; Functional Laterality; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Severity of Illness Index; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 2004 |
Heroin use among female adolescents: the role of partner influence in path of initiation and route of administration.
This study examined heroin initiation and route of administration among 16 female adolescents in the greater Baltimore Metropolitan area. Participants were more than twice as likely to be introduced to heroin by a male friend or boyfriend (IHM) than introduced to heroin by other means (IHO). The majority of IHM females were introduced by a male friend rather than a romantic partner. No relationship was found between path of initiation (IHM, IHO) and initial route of administration (inhalation, smoking, injecting) or history of injection (ever injected, never injected). The effect of opposite-gender peer influence in the initiation of female adolescent heroin use is discussed along with how the current findings may influence treatment and prevention efforts. A statistically significant relationship was found for initial route of administration and for history of injection. Ninety-four percent of participants reported initiation of heroin use by inhalation, while an alarming 75% of participants reported injecting heroin at some time during their history of use. Participants were no more likely to be introduced to injection by a boyfriend or male friend than by other means. The finding that the majority of females first try heroin through inhalation is consistent with an increased use of heroin by this method among young people in recent years. However, the majority of users in this study used heroin through injection at least once in their addict career, a route of administration associated with increased health and safety risks. Potential explanations for the progression from snorting to injection are presented as well as implications for the delivery of prevention and treatment services. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Adult; Age Factors; Baltimore; Female; Friends; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Peer Group; Persuasive Communication; Sex Factors; Social Support; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Surveys and Questionnaires | 2004 |
Low dose of heroin inhibits drug-seeking elicited by cues after prolonged withdrawal from heroin self-administration in rats.
Environmental stimuli and conditioned cues associated with heroin can induce drug-seeking behavior, but how heroin lapse interacts with cues is unclear. Rats were trained to nose-poke for i.v. heroin for 14 days and then tested for heroin seeking after withdrawal from heroin self-administration. Heroin seeking induced by cues persisted over several weeks after withdrawal, and the responding was not easily extinguished after 4 weeks withdrawal. A single injection of heroin (250 micro g/kg) enhanced the responding at early stage of withdrawal, but a low dose of heroin (50, 250 micro g/kg) suppressed the responding induced by contextual or conditioned cues at 4 weeks of withdrawal. The results suggest that prolonged withdrawal may increase the risk of relapse to heroin seeking. Topics: Animals; Conditioning, Operant; Cues; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Recurrence; Reward; Risk Factors; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 2004 |
Altered localization of choline transporter sites in the mouse hippocampus after prenatal heroin exposure.
Prenatal heroin exposure disrupts hippocampal cholinergic synaptic function and related behaviors. Biochemical studies indicate an increase in the number of presynaptic high-affinity choline transporter (HACT) sites, as assessed by [3H]hemicholinium-3 (HC-3) binding. The present study was designed to assess whether this effect involves global upregulation of the transporter, or whether disruption occurs with a specific tempero-spatial distribution. Pregnant mice were given 10mg/kg per day of heroin subcutaneously on gestational days (GD) 9-18. Autoradiographic distribution of HC-3 binding sites was evaluated in the hippocampus of the offspring at postnatal days 15, 25, and 53. These results, suggestive of hippocampal "miswiring," are likely to explain the net impairment of cholinergic synaptic function after prenatal heroin exposure, despite the simultaneous upregulation of both presynaptic cholinergic activity and postsynaptic receptors. Understanding the subregional selectivity of hippocampal defects can lead to the development of strategies that may potentially enable therapeutic interventions to offset or reverse the neurobehavioral defects. Topics: Acetylcholine; Animals; Binding, Competitive; Female; Hemicholinium 3; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hippocampus; Male; Membrane Transport Proteins; Mice; Neural Pathways; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Presynaptic Terminals; Radioligand Assay; Synaptic Membranes; Synaptic Transmission | 2004 |
Serum concentrations of macro and trace elements in heroin addicts of the Canary Islands.
Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Cu, Zn and Se concentrations were determined in the serum of 106 heroin addicts and were compared with the concentrations obtained in a control group formed of 186 apparently healthy individuals. Heroin addicts displayed K and Se mean concentrations lower (p < 0.05), and Na, Mg, P mean concentrations and a Cu/Zn ratio higher (p < 0.05) than those mean values observed in the control group. The Mg and P concentrations in the serum of heroin addicts tended to normalize when age increased. The heroin addicts included in the methadone maintenance treatment program had higher serum mean concentrations of K and Mg than the heroin addicts in the detoxification process. The Na, K and Mg concentrations displayed highly significant correlations, with a different behavior for the heroin addicts group and the control group. When applying factor analysis and representing the scores of the first and second factors, the heroin addicts tended to differentiation from the control group. However, methadone substitution treatment was not able to normalize these concentrations. Topics: Adult; Atlantic Islands; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Statistics as Topic; Trace Elements | 2004 |
Sexual risk behaviors and polysubstance use in young intranasal heroin users.
Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adolescent; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Life Style; Male; Pilot Projects; Risk-Taking; Sexual Behavior; Substance-Related Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires | 2004 |
Attenuation of brain response to heroin correlates with the reinstatement of heroin-seeking in rats by fMRI.
Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups and trained to self-administer either saline (n = 14) or heroin (0.1 mg/kg per injection, n = 16) for 10-12 days until a stable self-administration (SA) behavior was achieved. After 8-9 days of withdrawal, each group was divided into two subgroups for reinstatement tests and functional magnetic resonance image (fMRI) scanning, respectively, to determine the neural correlates of the reinstatement of heroin-seeking behavior. For reinstatement testing, heroin-SA rats (n = 10) displayed robust reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior triggered by an acute heroin priming injection, whereas saline control rats (n = 8) did not show such a behavioral response. Regional positive or negative blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signals, induced by heroin priming injection, were observed in both groups of rats during fMRI scanning. However, such heroin-induced positive BOLD signal primarily in the prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex was significantly attenuated in heroin-SA rats (n = 6) when compared to saline control rats (n = 6). Similarly, the heroin-induced negative BOLD signal in the subcortical regions, such as in the nucleus accumbens and hippocampus, was also significantly attenuated in both signal intensity and number of brain voxels activated in heroin-SA rats. These data demonstrate that heroin-induced reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior coincides with a significant, enduring reduction in opiate-induced brain activity in heroin-SA rats, suggesting a possible role of opiate tolerance in mediating reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Brain; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Drug Tolerance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hippocampus; Injections, Intravenous; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Nucleus Accumbens; Oxygen; Parietal Lobe; Prefrontal Cortex; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Recurrence; Self Administration | 2004 |
Opiate tolerance by heroin self-administration: an fMRI study in rat.
Functional MRI (fMRI) was employed to determine whether repeated heroin self-administration (SA) produces tolerance or sensitization in the brain of heroin-SA rats. Twelve rats were evenly divided into saline and heroin (0.06 mg/kg, 4 hr/day) SA groups. There was a progressive increase in drug-SA behavior and daily heroin intake during the 8-9 days of heroin-SA training. Within 24 hr after the last session of daily SA, acute heroin (0.1 mg/kg) administration induced regional blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signals in both groups of rats. The positive BOLD signals appeared mainly in the cortical regions, including the prefrontal cortex, cingulate, and olfactory cortex, while the negative BOLD signals were predominantly located in subcortical regions such as caudate and putamen, nucleus accumbens, thalamus, and hypothalamus. However, the number of activated voxels or BOLD-signal intensity was significantly less in heroin-SA rat in regions of prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and thalamus, etc., compared to the changes in the saline control rats. Application of gamma-vinyl GABA (100 mg/kg), an irreversible GABA-transaminase inhibitor, failed to block opiate actions in the heroin-SA rats. Together, these data suggest that repeated heroin-SA produces tolerance or desensitization of opiate actions in the rat brain, which may in turn potentiate drug SA behavior and drug intake. Topics: Animals; Brain; Drug Tolerance; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Self Administration | 2004 |
Changes in route of drug administration among continuing heroin users: outcomes 1 year after intake to treatment.
This study investigates the type and extent of changes in route of drug administration among heroin users after treatment: whether injectors move to other routes of use; whether changes in route for one drug influence routes used for other drugs; and associations between changes in route of administration and other substance use outcomes. The sample comprised 641 heroin users recruited to 54 UK treatment programmes. At intake, the main routes of heroin use were injecting (61%) and "chasing the dragon" (37%). After 1 year, 81% of those using heroin took it by the same route as at intake, while 19% reported a change, with 14% switching from injecting to chasing. Changes from injecting to chasing were associated with improvements in other substance use behaviours. Changes in route represent an important aspect of drug-taking behaviours. Interventions to prevent the change to injecting should be developed and offered to noninjectors. "Reverse transitions" (from injecting to chasing) may represent a useful intermediate treatment goal for drug injectors who cannot achieve abstinence. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Amphetamines; Cocaine; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Narcotics; Risk-Taking; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Treatment Outcome | 2004 |
Historiography taking issue: analyzing an experiment with heroin abusers.
This article discusses the predicament of historians becoming part of the history they are investigating and illustrates the issue in a particular case. The case is that of the randomized controlled trial (RCT)-more specifically, its use for testing the effects of providing heroin to severe heroin abusers. I counter the established view of the RCT as a matter of timeless logic and argue that this research design was developed in the context of administrative knowledge making under twentieth-century economic liberalism of which it epitomizes some central values. I also argue that the applicability of the RCT depends on the degree to which its advocates can define the issue to be studied according to its inherent values. Next, I demonstrate how advocates of an RCT with heroin provision in the Netherlands steered the political discussion on heroin provision and how the values of economic liberalism also shaped the results of the Dutch maintenance experiment. In addition, I relate how my analysis of this experiment became part of political debates in the Netherlands. Contrary to my intentions, adversaries of heroin maintenance used my critique on the heroin RCT as an argument against heroin maintenance. Such risks are inherent to historiography and sociology of science aiming at practical relevance while challenging treasured scientific beliefs. I conclude that it still seems better to expose arguments on unjustified certainties than to suppress them for strategic reasons. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Historiography; Humans; Netherlands; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Severity of Illness Index | 2004 |
Patterns of heroin overdose-induced pulmonary edema.
Topics: Drug Overdose; Emergency Service, Hospital; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Pulmonary Edema | 2004 |
Footnotes to Hall (2004).
Topics: Australia; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 2004 |
Effects of reduction in heroin supply on injecting drug use: analysis of data from needle and syringe programmes.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Needle-Exchange Programs; New South Wales; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Substance-Related Disorders | 2004 |
Orthoptic status before and immediately after heroin detoxification.
To determine whether changes in orthoptic status take place during withdrawal from heroin and/or methadone.. A prospective study of patients, using a repeated measures design, attending a 5 day naltrexone compressed opiate detoxification programme.. 83 patients were seen before detoxification (mean age 27.1 (SD 4.6) years) and 69 after detoxification. The horizontal angle of deviation became less exo/more eso at distance (p<0.001) but no significant change was found at near (p = 0.069). Stereoacuity, visual acuity, and convergence were found to be reduced in the immediate post-detoxification period. Prism fusion range, refractive error, subjective accommodation, and objective accommodation at 33 cm did not reduce but a small decrease was found in objective accommodation at 20 cm.. The eso trend found in these patients may be responsible for the development of acute concomitant esotropia in some patients undergoing heroin detoxification. However, the mechanism for this trend does not appear to be caused by divergence insufficiency or sixth nerve palsy. Topics: Accommodation, Ocular; Adolescent; Adult; Convergence, Ocular; Diplopia; Eye Movements; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Naltrexone; Narcotics; Refractive Errors; Vision, Binocular; Visual Acuity | 2004 |
Non-injecting routes of administration among entrants to three treatment modalities for heroin dependence.
A sample of 535 entrants to opioid dependence treatments across three treatment modalities were administered a structured interview to ascertain the prevalence of non-injecting heroin use. Ten per cent of participants had used heroin primarily by smoking/inhaling in the month preceding interview, and 9% had used heroin and other drugs exclusively by non-injecting routes. Non-injectors were younger (25.3 vs. 29.5 years), had higher levels of education (10.6 vs. 10.0 years), were more likely to be employed (33 vs. 18%) and had lower levels of recent crime (31 vs. 56%). They also had shorter heroin using careers (5.1 vs. 9.9 years), fewer symptoms of dependence (5.1 vs. 5.6), had been enrolled in fewer previous treatment episodes (3.3 vs. 11.5) and had less extensive lifetime (8.0 vs. 9.1 drug classes) and recent (3.6 vs. 4.9) polydrug use. Non-injectors were substantially less likely to report lifetime (13% vs. 58%) or recent (2% vs. 29%) heroin overdoses. There were no differences between the general physical and psychological health of the two groups. While non-injectors had a lower level of post-traumatic stress disorder (29% vs. 34%), there were no differences in levels of major depression, attempted suicide, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder. A substantial minority of Australian treatment entrants are now using heroin exclusively by non-injecting routes. While this group is younger, and has substantially reduced risk of overdose and blood borne virus transmission, the physical and psychological health of non-injectors mirrors that of injectors. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Adult; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Borderline Personality Disorder; Buprenorphine; Depressive Disorder, Major; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Drug Overdose; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotic Antagonists; Residential Treatment; Suicide, Attempted | 2004 |
Reversible parkinsonism following heroin pyrolysate inhalation is associated with tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency.
A patient who inhaled heroin vapour (chasing the dragon), resulting in temporary parkinsonism, is described. A reversible deficiency of tetrahydrobiopterin, causing altered dopamine metabolism, is demonstrated as the metabolic basis of this aspect of the encephalopathy. Topics: Adult; Biopterins; Brain; Brain Diseases, Metabolic; Electroencephalography; Epilepsy; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Homovanillic Acid; Humans; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Parkinsonian Disorders | 2004 |
Validated assay for the determination of markers of illicit heroin in urine samples for the control of patients in a heroin prescription program.
A fully validated procedure for the simultaneous determination of morphine (MOR), morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G), 6-acetylmorphine (6AM), codeine (COD), codeine-6-glucuronide (C6G), acetylcodeine (AC), noscapine (NOS) and papaverine (PAP) based on liquid chromatography followed by electrospray mass spectrometry applying multiple reaction monitoring (LC-ESI-MS/MS) in urine samples is described. The extraction was carried out on a Zymark Rapid Trace Workstation using C18 solid-phase extraction cartridges. The separation was performed in 19 min on an Agilent 1100 HPLC system, using a Phenomenex C18 AQUA column (4 microm, 150 mm x 2 mm), which is coupled with an Applied Biosystems API 2000 mass spectrometer. Deuterated analogues were used as internal standards. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.1 ng/ml (PAP) to 7.4 ng/ml (M6G), the coefficients of correlation were higher than 0.996, the precisions ranged from 3% to 12% and the absolute recoveries were between 45% (M3G) and 98% (MOR). Analyses of samples from patients of a heroin prescription program demonstrated the usefulness of the procedure for the analytical differentiation between prescribed synthetic heroin (diamorphine) use and non-prescription heroin abuse on the basis of urine analysis. After the ingestion of pharmaceutical heroin only general markers for heroin use were detected, which are MOR, M3G, M6G and 6AM, respectively. When illicit heroin was abused, additionally to further general markers (COD, C6G) specific markers for non-prescription heroin abuse (AC, NOS, PAP) were found. However, it must be kept in mind that only AC may be regarded as absolute specific marker of non-prescription heroin, because all other compounds may appear in urine after ingestion of opiate alkaloids containing medicines or foods (e.g. poppy seeds). Therefore, patients of a heroin prescription program should be advised not to ingest such products. Topics: Calibration; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Mass Spectrometry; Reference Standards; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity | 2004 |
Overdose in young people using heroin: associations with mental health, prescription drug use and personal circumstances.
To identify patterns of mental health, prescription drug use and personal circumstances associated with heroin overdose in young people.. Linkage of data on use of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription drugs with data from a self-report questionnaire.. Inner metropolitan Melbourne, Australia.. 163 young people, 15-30 years, using heroin.. Personal circumstances, mental health (as measured by various scales), and PBS-listed prescription drug use.. Young people using heroin reported high rates of feelings of hopelessness, depression, antisocial behaviour, self-harm and diagnosed mental illness. A prior history of overdose was associated with previous mental illness, which in turn was associated with being female, having poor social support, being dissatisfied with relationships, and living alone or in temporary accommodation. While feelings of hopelessness and antisocial behaviour were strongly associated with overdose history, the number of PBS prescription drugs used had a very strong relationship with overdose, particularly benzodiazepines, other opioids, tricyclic antidepressants and tranquillisers.. Further research to explore causal relationships between prescription drugs and heroin overdose is warranted. Improved data linkage to PBS records for general practitioners may facilitate safer prescribing practices. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Drug Overdose; Drug Prescriptions; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Life Style; Logistic Models; Male; Mental Disorders; Probability; Registries; Risk Assessment; Sex Distribution; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survival Rate; Urban Population; Victoria | 2004 |
Cannabinoid receptor antagonist reduces heroin self-administration only in dependent rats.
Functionality of the endogenous cannabinoid system undergoes relevant changes in reward-related brain areas in animal models of opiate addiction. By using a limited access heroin self-administration paradigm we show that cannabinoid CB(1) receptor antagonist N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide hydrochloride (SR141716A, 0.03-3.0 mg/kg) suppresses heroin self-administration only in opiate-dependent rats but not in non-dependent animals. These results further support the study of cannabinoid CB(1) receptor antagonists for the treatment of opiate addiction. Topics: Animals; Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Piperidines; Pyrazoles; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Cannabinoid; Rimonabant; Self Administration | 2004 |
Conditioned reinforcing properties of stimuli paired with self-administered cocaine, heroin or sucrose: implications for the persistence of addictive behaviour.
Conditioned environmental stimuli are known to be important determinants of drug seeking. Traditional models of drug seeking under the control of conditioned stimuli have focused on the ability of conditioned reinforcers either to reinstate extinguished responding or to maintain prolonged chains of drug seeking under second-order schedules. These models have consistently suggested that it is the conditioned reinforcing, rather than other, effects of Pavlovian drug stimuli that most profoundly influence drug seeking. However, the impact of drug-associated conditioned reinforcers has not been studied directly and in isolation, not least because the instrumental seeking response is invariably the same as that which was previously reinforced with the drug itself. The purpose of the present study was, therefore, to investigate the conditioned reinforcing properties of drug-paired CSs using an acquisition of a new response procedure in which an animal learns to make a new instrumental response reinforced solely by the CS. It was found that CSs paired with either cocaine, heroin or sucrose supported the rapid acquisition of lever pressing for the CS that persisted over months of repeated, intermittent testing. Furthermore, rats did not acquire the lever press response when the CS was not paired with drug, suggesting that for this stimulus to acquire conditioned reinforcing properties, it must be predictively associated with the drug's effect. Moreover, lever pressing for the CS could not be explained as coincidental to an over-riding Pavlovian approach response to the location of the lever, since animals also acquired discriminated lever pressing when the CS was above the opposite, inactive lever. Extinction decreased responding with conditioned reinforcement, but only when the CS-US association was devalued prior to, and not after, acquisition of the lever press response, providing evidence for the establishment of habitual CS-maintained responding that may explain the persistence of drug-seeking responses in animal models of addiction and relapse. Topics: Animals; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Conditioning, Operant; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Mental Recall; Narcotics; Rats; Self Administration; Substance-Related Disorders; Sucrose | 2004 |
Development and manufacture of diacetylmorphine/caffeine sachets for inhalation via 'chasing the dragon' by heroin addicts.
In 1998, two clinical trials were started in The Netherlands to evaluate the effect of coprescription of heroin and methadone on the mental and physical health and social functioning of chronic, treatment-resistant, heroin-dependent patients. Since 75-85% of the heroin addicts in The Netherlands use their heroin by "chasing the dragon," one of the two study arms concerned the coprescription of inhalable heroin. A pharmaceutical dosage form for inhalable heroin was developed for this trial, consisting of a 3:1 powder mixture of diacetylmorphine base and caffeine anhydrate. We describe the manufacturing process that was developed for filling sachets with this mixture in four dosages using a micro dose auger filler. In order to control product quality, in-process controls were developed to monitor the filling process and quality control tests were performed on the finished product. In-process control results have shown the filling process to be accurate and precise. The diacetylmorphine/caffeine sachets were shown to comply with the specifications for content and uniformity of mass. The finished product was found to be stable for 2 years when stored at 25 degrees C, 60% relative humidity and for 6 months when stored at 40 degrees C, 75% relative humidity. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Caffeine; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Clinical Trials as Topic; Dosage Forms; Drug Stability; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Netherlands; Powders; Quality Control; Technology, Pharmaceutical | 2004 |
The effects of chronic consumption of heroin on basal and vagal electrical-stimulated gastric acid and pepsin secretion in rat.
Addiction to opium and heroin is not only an important social and individual problem in the world but it also affects the human physiology and multiple systems. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of chronic heroin consumption on basal and vagus electrical-stimulated total gastric acid and pepsin secretion in rats.. The study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran from August 2002 to June 2003. Both male and female rats weighing 200-250 g were used. Rats received daily doses of heroin intraperitoneally starting from 0.2 mg/kg to 0.1 mg/kg/day up to the maintenance level of 0.7 mg/kg and continued until day 12. After anesthesia, tracheotomy and laparotomy, gastric effluents were collected by washout technique with a 15 minutes interval. The total titrable acid was measured by manual titrator, and the total pepsin content was measured by Anson's method. Vagal electrical stimulation was used to stimulate the secretion of acid and pepsin.. Heroin results in a significant decrease in total basal acid and pepsin secretions (4.10 +/- 0.18 mmol/15 minutes versus 2.40 +/- 0.16 mmol/15 minutes for acid, p<0.01, and 3.63 +/- 0.18 mg/15 minutes versus 3.11+/- 0.18 mg/15 minutes for pepsin, p<0.05). But, it does not produce any significant changes in acid and pepsin secretions in vagotomized condition. Heroin also causes a significant decrease in vagal-electrically stimulated acid and pepsin secretions (14.70 +/- 0.54 mmol/15 minutes versus 4.30 +/- 0.21 mmol/15 minutes for acid, p<0.01, and 3.92 +/-0.16 mg/15 minutes versus 3.37+/- 0.16 mg/15 minutes for pepsin, p<0.05).. Heroin consumption decreases the total gastric basal and vagus stimulation of acid and pepsin secretion, but not in vagotomized condition. Heroin may decrease acid secretion by inhibiting vagal release of acetylcholine within the gastric wall. Other probable mechanisms include: presynaptic inhibition of acetylcholine release or depressing the vagal center, inhibition of pentagastrin induced acid secretion, inhibitory effects via central mechanisms, probably mediated by the opiate receptors. Further studies are needed to recognize the actual mechanism. Topics: Animals; Basal Ganglia; Chronic Disease; Disease Models, Animal; Electric Stimulation; Female; Gastric Acid; Gastric Acidity Determination; Gastric Mucosa; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Pepsin A; Probability; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Reference Values; Sensitivity and Specificity; Vagotomy; Vagus Nerve | 2004 |
Comparison of the Microgenics CEDIA heroin metabolite (6-AM) and the Roche Abuscreen ONLINE opiate immunoassays for the detection of heroin use in forensic urine samples.
Current Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) procedures for the detection of heroin abuse by testing urine utilize an initial opiate (codeine/morphine) immunoassay (IA) screen followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) confirmation of 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM), if the morphine concentration is above established cutoff. An alternative to the current opiates screen for heroin abuse is the direct IA for the metabolite of heroin, 6-acetylmorphine. In this regard, the performance of the Microgenics CEDIA heroin metabolite (6-AM) screening reagent was assessed. This evaluation was conducted on the P module of a Hitachi Modular automated IA analyzer calibrated using 6-AM at 10 ng/mL. Reproducibility, linearity, accuracy, sensitivity, and interferences associated with use of the 6-AM IA reagent were evaluated. The IA reagent precision (percent coefficient of variation (%CV)) around each of seven standards was less than 0.63%, with a linearity (r(2)) value of 0.9951. A total of 37,713 active duty service members' urine samples were analyzed simultaneously using the CEDIA heroin metabolite (6-AM) reagent and the Roche Abuscreen ONLINE opiate reagent to evaluate both the prevalence rate of 6-AM in the demographic group and the sensitivity and specificity of the reagents for the detection of heroin use. Of the 37,713 samples tested using the CEDIA heroin metabolite (6-AM) reagent, three samples screened positive at the DoD and HHS cutoff of 10 ng/mL. One of the three samples confirmed positive for 6-AM by GC-MS above the cutoff of 10 ng/mL, the two remaining samples confirmed negative for 6-AM at a GC-MS limit of detection (LOD) of 2.1 ng/mL. In contrast, the Roche Abuscreen ONLINE opiate IA produced 74 opiate-positive results for codeine/morphine, with 6 of the 74 specimens confirming positive for morphine above the DoD cutoff concentration of 4000 ng/mL (8% DoD morphine confirmation rate), only one of the 74 opiate-positive screen specimens confirmed positive for 6-AM above the 10 ng/mL GC-MS cutoff concentration. As a further check of the sensitivity and specificity of the Microgenics 6-AM IA reagent, human urine samples (n = 87) known to contain 6-AM by GC-MS, were re-analyzed using both IA reagents. All 87 of the samples screened positive using the CEDIA heroin metabolite (6-AM) assay. However, using the Roche ONLINE opiate reagent, 12 of the known 6-AM positives screened negative at the DoD and HHS screening Topics: Calibration; False Negative Reactions; False Positive Reactions; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Immunoassay; Indicators and Reagents; Morphine Derivatives; Narcotics; Online Systems; Reference Standards; Reproducibility of Results; Substance Abuse Detection | 2004 |
[Determination of heroin in urine by GC].
Topics: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Substance Abuse Detection | 2004 |
Supply control and harm reduction: lessons from the Australian heroin 'drought'.
To examine the effects of supply-side drug law enforcement on the dynamics of the Australian heroin market and the harms associated with heroin.. Around Christmas 2000, heroin users in Sydney and other large capital cities in Australia began reporting sudden and significant reductions in the availability of heroin. The changes, which appear to have been caused at least in part by drug law enforcement, provided a rare opportunity to examine the potential impact of such enforcement on the harm associated with heroin.. Data were drawn from a survey of 165 heroin users in South-Western Sydney, Australia; from the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) project; from NSW Health records of heroin overdoses; and from the Computerized Operational Policing System (COPS) database.. Heroin price increased, while purity, consumption and expenditure on the drug decreased as a result of the shortage. The fall in overall heroin use was accompanied by a significant reduction in the rate of overdose in NSW. However, the health benefits associated with the fall in overdose may have been offset by an increase in the use of other drugs (mainly cocaine) since the onset of the heroin shortage. There does not appear to have been any enduring impact on crime rates as a result of the heroin 'drought'.. Supply control has an important part to play in harm reduction; however, proponents of supply-side drug law enforcement need to be mindful of the unintended adverse consequences that might flow from successfully disrupting the market for a particular illegal drug. Topics: Adult; Australia; Costs and Cost Analysis; Crime; Drug and Narcotic Control; Drug Overdose; Female; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics | 2003 |
Decreased heroin availability in Sydney in early 2001.
To examine the veracity of reports of a substantial decrease in the availability of heroin in Sydney in January 2001.. Cross-sectional survey.. Sydney, Australia.. Forty-one injecting drug users (IDUs) and 10 key informants (KIs).. Almost all IDUs (93%) reported that heroin was harder to obtain at the time of interview (mid-February 2001) than it was before Christmas 2000 and KIs concurred. IDUs (83%) and KIs (70%) also reported that the price of heroin had increased since Christmas, and that the purity of heroin had decreased (IDUs 73%; KIs 80%). Almost all IDUs reported a reduction in their heroin use and a subsequent increase in other drug use, particularly cocaine, benzodiazepines and cannabis. Similar reports about IDUs came from nine of the 10 KIs. Over half the KIs reported an increase in both property and violent crime as a result of the heroin shortage. This crime was reportedly occurring mainly between heroin suppliers and/or IDUs. Reports from other Australian jurisdictions suggest that the shortage was not specific to Sydney.. The reduction in the availability of heroin provides a unique opportunity to investigate the impact of supply reduction. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Crime; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; New South Wales | 2003 |
Heroin and malignant coprolalia in Tourette's syndrome.
Topics: Adult; Disease Progression; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Language Disorders; Neurologic Examination; Tourette Syndrome | 2003 |
Patterns of presentation in heroin overdose resulting in pulmonary edema.
The study objective was to describe the morbidity of patients presenting with heroin overdose (HOD)-induced noncardiogenic pulmonary edema (NCPE) at an urban ED. A retrospective chart review of patients presenting between 1996 and 1999 with the diagnosis of HOD was conducted. Using a standardized data abstraction form, information on prehospital care, ED care, demographics, and cointoxications was collected. One hundred twenty-five charts (78%) were available for review. Of these, 13 (10%) were diagnosed with NCPE and all were male. In the field, NCPE patients had an average relative risk of 6, a Glasgow Coma Scale of 4, and all needed naloxone. The average admitted duration of use was 2.9 years for those who developed NCPE compared with 13.2 years for those who did not. Five (42%) NCPE patients tested positive for cocaine use and 7 (58%) tested positive for alcohol. In this cohort, the NCPE patients were male and less experienced users with initial low relative risk and Glasgow Coma Scale which demanded prehospital naloxone use. (Am J Emerg Med 2003;21:32-34. Topics: Adult; Cohort Studies; Drug Overdose; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitals, Urban; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Pulmonary Edema; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Time Factors | 2003 |
Heroin insufflation as a trigger for patients with life-threatening asthma.
To determine the prevalence of self-reported, heroin-associated asthma symptoms among inner-city patients treated for life-threatening asthma, and to compare the rates of drug use between ICU patients with asthma and ICU control patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).. Study 1 was a sequential case series of patients requiring ICU admission for asthma (January to June 1999). Study 2 was a retrospective, case-control study of drug use among asthma patients and control subjects with DKA requiring ICU care (1997 to 1998).. Inner-city, public hospital ICU.. Twenty-three patients (26 ICU admissions) with asthma (age range, 16 to 50 years) admitted to the ICU from January to June 1999, and 84 patients (104 ICU admissions) with asthma and 42 patients with DKA (age range, 15 to 50 years) admitted to the ICU during 1997 to 1998. Outcomes studied: Self-reported, heroin-associated exacerbations, history of heroin or cocaine use, and urine drug screen (UDS) results.. In the sequential ICU admissions, 13 of 23 patients (56%) described asthma exacerbations associated with heroin insufflation. In the case-control study, asthmatics were significantly more likely to report heroin use (41.3% vs 12.5%; p = 0.006) and had a significantly higher prevalence of UDS results positive for opiates (60% vs 7%; p = 0.001) compared to subjects with DKA. The rates of cocaine use by history and UDS results did not differ significantly between the two groups.. At least since 1997, heroin insufflation is a common asthma trigger in this inner-city ICU and should be considered in the care of patients with life-threatening asthma. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Asthma; Case-Control Studies; Chicago; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetic Ketoacidosis; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Admission; Retrospective Studies; Substance Abuse Detection; Urban Population | 2003 |
Dutch government backs down on heroin prescription, despite successful trial.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Netherlands; Politics; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic | 2003 |
[Heroin-assisted treatment of opioid addicts in Switzerland from 1994-2001--utilisation and characteristics of admissions and discharges].
Since the beginning of the 1990 s the number of treated opioid addicts has markedly increased in Switzerland. This study examines the cause of health service utilisation of one specific type of treatment--heroin-assisted maintenance--the length of stay in this kind of treatment, and characteristics of admissions and discharges.. Data on all admissions into and discharges from heroin-assisted treatment were collected from the start of this treatment modality on January 1, 1994 to December 31, 2001. These data were used to calculate length of stay, and number of patients at the end of each calendar year. Data were analysed according to sex and age and the Kaplan-Meier survival statistics were calculated. Finally, the discharges from 1994 to 1998 were compared to the discharges of 1999 up to December 2001.. Since the introduction of heroin-assisted treatment, the number of patients in this form of treatment has markedly increased. Simultaneously, the average age of the patients entering treatment increased, whereas the proportion of women decreased continually. Compared to the earlier phase (1994-1998), in the last three years fewer patients terminated treatment at an early stage (within the first 4 months).. Substitution programmes are the most common form of treatment for opioid dependence in Switzerland. The increase in the average age of patients in this treatment modality as well as in the abstinence-oriented treatment at admission may be interpreted favourably as an indicator that fewer less young people are opioid dependent than at the beginning of the 1990 s. The decrease in the proportion of females may be an indicator that females were overrepresented in heroin-assisted treatment at the beginning of this treatment modality and that the proportion gradually became more similar to the proportion in the opioid-dependent population as a whole. The decrease of early treatment terminations can be seen as positive, since with longer length of stay the probability of changing into abstinence-oriented treatment is becoming more probable. Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Incidence; Length of Stay; Male; Patient Admission; Patient Discharge; Patient Dropouts; Retrospective Studies; Sex Factors; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Switzerland; Utilization Review | 2003 |
Acute administration of the selective D3 receptor antagonist SB-277011A blocks the acquisition and expression of the conditioned place preference response to heroin in male rats.
Topics: Animals; Conditioning, Psychological; Dopamine Antagonists; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Nitriles; Quinolines; Rats; Tetrahydroisoquinolines | 2003 |
Prevalence and correlates of intravenous methadone syrup administration in Adelaide, Australia.
The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of methadone syrup injecting in Adelaide, South Australia and to characterize methadone injectors, including their heroin use and risk behaviours associated with heroin overdose.. Cross-sectional design.. Community setting, principally metropolitan Adelaide.. Current heroin users (used heroin in the last 6 months), recruited through snowballing.. Structured questionnaire.. Of 365 participants, 18.4% reported having ever injected methadone syrup and 11.0% had injected methadone in the last 6 months. Those that had injected methadone were more likely to be male, and were more likely to be receiving methadone maintenance. They were also maintained on higher doses of methadone than subjects not injecting methadone. A history of methadone injection was associated with more heroin overdose experiences and greater dependence on heroin. Methadone injectors were also more likely to engage in risky behaviours associated with heroin overdose, including using heroin when no other people were present, not trial-tasting new batches of heroin and polydrug use.. Methadone syrup injectors appear to be at greater risk of a series of harms than subjects not injecting methadone. The prevalence of methadone syrup injecting in Adelaide, South Australia was 11%, which was lower than prevalence in Sydney, New South Wales, but higher than in Melbourne, Victoria. Jurisdictional differences concerning the prevalence of methadone syrup injecting may reflect differing policies by each state to methadone dispensing. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Prevalence; Risk-Taking; South Australia; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2003 |
Treating adolescent heroin use.
Topics: Adolescent; Comorbidity; Drug Tolerance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Mental Disorders; Narcotics; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Treatment Outcome; United States | 2003 |
Contemplating drug monitoring systems in the light of Australia's "heroin shortage".
Topics: Australia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs | 2003 |
Cannabinoid mechanism in reinstatement of heroin-seeking after a long period of abstinence in rats.
Because opioid and cannabinoid systems have been reported to interact in the modulation of addictive behaviour, this study was aimed at investigating the ability of cannabinoid agents to reinstate or prevent heroin-seeking behaviour after a prolonged period of extinction. In rats previously trained to self-administer heroin intravenously, non-contingent non-reinforced priming administrations of heroin and cannabinoids were presented after long-term extinction, and lever pressing following injections was observed. Results showed that: (i) intravenous priming infusions of heroin (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg) lead to reinstatement of drug-seeking behaviour; (ii) intraperitoneal priming injections of the central cannabinoid receptor agonists R-(+)-(2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(4-morpholinyl)methyl]pyrol[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazinyl) (1-naphthalenyl)methanonemesylate (WIN 55,212-2, 0.15 and 0.3 mg/kg) and (-)-cis-3-[2-hydroxy-4(1,1-dimethyl-heptyl)phenyl]-trans-4-(3-hydroxypropyl) cyclohexanol (CP 55,940, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg), but not delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC, 0.1-1.0 mg/kg), effectively restored heroin-seeking behaviour; (iii) intraperitoneal priming injection of the central cannabinoid receptor antagonist N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (SR 141716A, 0.3 mg/kg) did not reinstate responding, but (iv) completely prevented heroin-induced reinstatement of drug-seeking behaviour. Moreover, heroin-seeking behaviour was still present for a few days following cannabinoid primings, indicating a long-lasting effect of cannabinoids on responding for heroin. These findings indicate that relapse to heroin after an extended drug-free period is triggered by cannabinoid agonists and that SR 141716A prevents drug-seeking behaviour, suggesting that the use of the cannabinoid antagonist could have some therapeutic benefits in heroin-induced relapse. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cannabinoids; Conditioning, Operant; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Rats; Receptors, Cannabinoid; Receptors, Drug; Self Administration | 2003 |
Changes in patterns of drug injection concurrent with a sustained reduction in the availability of heroin in Australia.
Between 1996 and 2000, heroin was the drug most frequently injected in Australia, and viable heroin markets existed in six of Australia's eight jurisdictions. In 2001, there was a dramatic and sustained reduction in the availability of heroin that was accompanied by a substantial increase in its price, and a 14% decline in the average purity of seizures analysed by forensic laboratories. The shortage of heroin constitutes a unique natural experiment within which to examine the impact of supply reduction. This paper reviews one important correlate of the shortage, namely changes in patterns of illicit drug injection. A number of studies have consistently suggested that between 2000 and 2001, there was a sizeable decrease in both prevalence and frequency of heroin injection among injecting drug users. These changes were accompanied by increased prevalence and frequency of stimulant injection. Cocaine was favoured in NSW, the sole jurisdiction in which a cocaine market was established prior to the heroin shortage; whereas methamphetamine predominated in other jurisdictions. Some data suggest that, at least in the short-term, some drug injectors left the market altogether subsequent to the reduced heroin availability. However, the findings that (1) some former heroin users switched their drug preference to a stimulant; and (2) subsequently attributed this change to the reduced availability of heroin, suggests that reducing the supply of one drug may serve to increase the use of others. Given the differential harms associated with the use of stimulants and opiates, this possibility has grave implications for Australia, where the intervention and treatment system is designed primarily to accommodate opiate use and dependence. Topics: Australia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Incidence; Narcotics; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Time Factors | 2003 |
High levels of morphine-6-glucuronide in street heroin addicts.
In the body, heroin is rapidly transformed to 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM) and then to morphine, that in turn is mainly metabolized to morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) and, at lesser extent, to morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G). Unlike M3G, M6G is a potent opioid agonist. Intravenous heroin abusers (IHU) are exposed to a wide array of drugs and contaminants that might affect glucuronidation.. We assessed plasma and urine concentrations of M3G and M6G in four groups of subjects: the first two included long-term IHU either exposed to street heroin ( n=8) or receiving a single IV injection of morphine ( n=4), while the other two groups included non-IHU patients receiving acute IV ( n=8) or chronic oral ( n=6) administrations of morphine.. After solid phase extraction plasma and urine concentrations of morphine metabolites were determined by HPLC analyses.. M3G accounted for the greater part of morphine glucuronides detected in body fluids of non-IHU patients treated with morphine. This pattern of metabolism remained stable across 15 days of oral administration of incremental doses of morphine. In contrast, the two groups of IHU (street heroin taking or morphine-treated subjects) showed a reduction of blood and urine M3G concentrations in favor of M6G. Consequently, M6G/M3G ratio was significantly higher in the two IHU groups in comparison with the non-IHU groups.. Chronic exposure to street heroin causes a relative increase in concentrations of the active metabolite, M6G. Since the pattern of M6G action seems closer to heroin than to morphine, the increased synthesis of M6G observed in IHU may prolong the narrow window of heroin effects. Topics: Adult; Aged; Analgesics, Opioid; Analysis of Variance; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Narcotics; Time Factors | 2003 |
The detection of morphine and codeine in human teeth: an aid in the identification and study of human skeletal remains.
When studying unidentified putrefied or skeletonised human remains it may be difficult to obtain information on drug habits which may prove important for the construction of a biological profile or lead to hypotheses on the manner of death. The detection of morphine and codeine in teeth from human remains may prove crucial in obtaining such information and thus give forensic odontology and anthropology a further tool for identification. Because teeth can be an important deposit of exogenous substances accumulated both in the pulp and in the calcified tissues, they are an invaluable source of data from a toxicological point of view. The authors therefore tested 3 groups of teeth for morphine and codeine: the first group consisted of artificially aged teeth from individuals known to have died of heroin overdose; the second, of teeth from individuals with no history of drug abuse; the third, of teeth from cases of burnt, putrefied and skeletonised remains found in conditions strongly suggestive of a drug-related death. Results showed that in groups 1 and 3 morphine and codeine could still be identified in the teeth, proving that these tissues may be a reliable source for toxicological information concerning the history of the individual. Further studies are needed to verify whether the substances detected reflect drugs in circulation in an acute phase (and therefore present in blood vessels in the pulp) or whether they represent drugs which have percolated and been stored in dentine and enamel and thus denote a history of drug abuse. Nonetheless this study shows that teeth may be an important source of toxicological information in the forensic scenario. Topics: Adult; Cadaver; Codeine; Dental Pulp; Drug Overdose; Forensic Anthropology; Forensic Dentistry; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine; Narcotics; Pilot Projects; Tooth | 2003 |
[8 years experience with heroin-assited treatment in Switzerland--current results and future improvements].
In 1994, Switzerland introduced experimental heroin assisted treatment for refractory opioid addicts as last line of treatment. An evaluation research was established examining effectiveness and cost-benefit of heroin-assisted treatment for the first project phase between 1994 and 1996. The present publication intends to provide an overview for the newer results of the evaluation. In summary, the positive outcomes found at first follow-ups continued to persist regarding somatic and mental improvements, social integration including reduction of criminal behaviour, and reduction of use of illicit drugs. In future, treatment of co-morbid mental disorders, integration into the labour market and persistent consumption of cocaine in some patients still need focussed attention. Different efforts to assure quality control and development hopefully will serve towards further optimisation of heroin-assisted treatment. Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Prescriptions; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Program Evaluation; Switzerland | 2003 |
Naltrexone implants can completely prevent early (1-month) relapse after opiate detoxification: a pilot study of two cohorts totalling 101 patients with a note on naltrexone blood levels.
Early relapse is common after opiate withdrawal and deprives addicts of important opportunities to develop new, opiate-free cognitive-behavioural habits. The oral opiate antagonist naltrexone (NTX) significantly reduces relapse only when rigorously supervised and/or probation-linked. Simple but effective NTX implants, containing 1G NTX and giving an average blockade of 6 - 7 weeks, have been available since 1997. We present outcome data for two cohorts. Group 1 were the first 55 consecutive implanted British patients (76% male, 51% unemployed, 64% in social classes III - V). Group 2 were a second consecutive group of 46. Implants were inserted subcutaneously mainly during rapid opiate detoxification under general anaesthesia or sedation. The follow-up rate for group 1 was 100%. At 12 weeks after first implantation, 21% of group 1 patients and 26% of group 2 patients had apparently resumed opiate use. Thirty per cent of patients tested-out the blockade in the first week. None reported any opiate effects at less than 5 weeks after insertion. In other patients, typical blood NTX levels 4 - 5 weeks post-insertion were in the range 3 - 5 ng/ml, which is evidently enough to block 500 mg of pure diamorphine. NTX implants provide considerable protection against early relapse and may increase the likelihood of therapeutically useful periods of abstinence after opiate withdrawal. Troublesome tissue reactions were infrequent. Improvements in implant technology and duration are already occurring. We stress that implants strengthen rather than replace the therapeutic alliance. Topics: Adult; Cohort Studies; Drug Administration Routes; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Male; Middle Aged; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Pilot Projects; Prevalence; Prostheses and Implants; Recurrence | 2003 |
Chronic opioid exposure produces increased heroin self-administration in rats.
The purpose of this study was to determine the significance of chronic opioid exposure on the level of heroin self-administration in the rat. Rats were divided into morphine (M, subcutaneous morphine pellets) and placebo (P, subcutaneous placebo pellets) groups and self-administered several different doses of heroin during daily limited access 1-h sessions and prolonged access 8-h sessions. No effects on heroin self-administration occurred when the rats were implanted with morphine pellets and allowed to self-administer heroin in a limited access paradigm (1-h group). However, rats with morphine pellet implantation showed a rapid escalation (Days 0-3 post-pellet) in heroin self-administration in the more prolonged access group (8 h group) compared to placebo-pelleted animals also with 8-h access. Ultimately, placebo-pelleted 8-h exposed animals showed an escalation in heroin self-administration but this effect was delayed until Days 16-18 post-pellet. These results suggest that passive administration of morphine sufficient to produce and maintain dependence facilitates escalation in heroin intake. Topics: Animals; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Implants; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Morphine; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2003 |
Assessment for deaths in out-of-hospital heroin overdose patients treated with naloxone who refuse transport.
Naloxone frequently is used to treat suspected heroin and opioid overdoses in the out-of-hospital setting. The authors' emergency medical services system has operated a policy of allowing these patients, when successfully treated, to sign out against medical advice (AMA) in the field.. To evaluate the safety of this AMA policy.. This is a retrospective review of out-of-hospital and medical examiner (ME) databases over a five-year period. The authors reviewed all ME cases in which opioid overdoses were listed as contributing to the cause of death. These cases were cross-compared with all patients who received naloxone by field paramedics and then refused transport. The charts were reviewed by dates, times, age, sex, location, and ethnicity when available.. There were 998 out-of-hospital patients who received naloxone and refused further treatment and 601 ME cases of opioid overdose deaths. When compared by age, time, date, sex, location, and ethnicity, there were no cases in which a patient was treated by paramedics with naloxone within 12 hours of being found dead of an opioid overdose.. Giving naloxone to patients with heroin overdoses in the field and then allowing them to sign out AMA resulted in no identifiable deaths within this study population. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Drug Overdose; Emergency Medical Services; Female; Health Policy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Patient Discharge; Treatment Outcome; Treatment Refusal | 2003 |
Neurophysiological evidence for abnormal cognitive processing of drug cues in heroin dependence.
Recent studies provide evidence for specific aspects of cue processing in addictive disorders.. The present study employs event related potentials (ERPs) to investigate heroin related visual information processing.. Neutral and heroin related pictures were presented to 19 male abstinent heroin dependent patients and 14 male healthy controls.. Patients exhibited larger slow positive wave (SPW) components of the ERP on heroin related pictures than on neutral pictures. Within healthy control subjects there was no difference on the SPW between neutral and heroin pictures. Within heroin dependent patients, mean SPW response to heroin pictures was correlated with post-experiment craving.. This study provides neurophysiological evidence that information processing of drug-related information is abnormal in heroin dependent patients. The results provide further evidence for the cognitive and neurobiological accounts of substance dependence such as the incentive-sensitization theory. Topics: Behavior, Addictive; Cognition Disorders; Cues; Electroencephalography; Electrooculography; Evoked Potentials, Visual; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mental Processes; Photic Stimulation; Reaction Time | 2003 |
[The research of the heroin and its metabolites analysis in clinical samples].
Heroin can be metabolized easily in body and the mail metabolites are 6-MAM, morphine and so on. At present, there are urine, blood, hair and so on as specimens for detection, while the analytical technology conclude TLC, GC, HPLC, GC/MS, LC/MS, IA, CE etc. In this paper, these technologies used for heroin's metabolites were viewed in order to provide some reference to the study in relative field. Topics: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Forensic Medicine; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Substance Abuse Detection | 2003 |
Effects of cocaine in rats exposed to heroin.
We investigated whether chronic exposure to heroin alters responses to cocaine in ways that might explain the use of cocaine by opioid addicts. To this end, the effects of cocaine (5 and 20 mg/kg) were assessed on locomotor activity of rats chronically exposed to heroin (0.0, 3.5, 7.0, and 14.0 mg/kg/day, over 14 days, via osmotic mini-pumps), or withdrawn from heroin (1 day, acute withdrawal, and 14 days, protracted withdrawal). Chronic heroin exposure, in itself, dose dependently increased locomotion and acute cocaine administration further elevated locomotor activity in a dose-dependent and additive manner. During acute withdrawal, there was a dose-dependent decrease in locomotion that was reversed by cocaine in a dose-dependent manner. During protracted withdrawal, spontaneous locomotion normalized, but rats previously exposed to heroin displayed cross-sensitization to cocaine as indicated by small, but significant, enhanced locomotor response to 5 mg/kg of cocaine, and enhanced intravenous self-administration of low doses of cocaine (0.13 mg/kg/infusion). In a separate study, we measured extracellular dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (Acb) using in vivo microdialysis before and after acute withdrawal from heroin. During chronic exposure to heroin, basal extracellular DA was elevated dose dependently, whereas in acute withdrawal, levels were not different from those in vehicle-treated rats. In response to cocaine, however, DA activity in the Acb was significantly lower in rats withdrawn from the highest dose of heroin. Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Body Weight; Cocaine; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Routes; Drug Interactions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Infusion Pumps; Male; Microdialysis; Motor Activity; Narcotics; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Self Administration; Time Factors | 2003 |
Hair testing for drugs of abuse.
Hair testing for drugs of abuse is a developing technology, which offers the possibility of longer detection times than is commonly obtained with urine analysis. It is the main method for evaluation of an individual's drugs of abuse history. In many countries hair analysis is routinely used to detect drug abuse in forensic cases, occupational and traffic medicine and clinical toxicology. Hair analysis in pregnant women, neonates and infants is a useful tool for the detection of drug exposure in utero. In Croatia hair testing for drugs of abuse is performed at the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health. Three-year experience in drugs of abuse analysis in hair is described. In 331 hair samples (270 from adolescents and 61 from adults) opiates and metabolites, cocaine, methadone, and amphetamines were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Most prevalent drugs of abuse in adolescents were amphetamines, and in adults heroin. From the examples cited and samples analyzed it is evident that hair testing is emerging as a reliable biological marker for cumulative account of individual exposure to drugs of abuse. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Amphetamines; Croatia; Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Substance Abuse Detection | 2003 |
Blood morphine levels in naltrexone-exposed compared to non-naltrexone-exposed fatal heroin overdoses.
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between prior exposure to naltrexone and increased risk of fatal heroin overdose using a review of toxicology reports for heroin-related fatalities between July 1997 to August 1999 for two groups: those treated with oral naltrexone and those who were not treated. Additional information for the oral naltrexone group was obtained from clinic files. Naltrexone-treated deaths were identified from the patient database at the Australian Medical Procedures Research Foundation (AMPRF), Perth, Western Australia (WA) through the Western Australian Department of Health, Data Linkage Project. Non-treated cases were identified from the database at the Forensic Science Laboratory, State Chemistry Centre (WA). We identified and investigated blood morphine concentrations following 21 fatal heroin overdoses with prior exposure to naltrexone and in 71 non-naltrexone-exposed cases over the same time period. The proportion of deaths where heroin use was a major contributing factor was little different in the non-naltrexone compared to the naltrexone-exposed group. Furthermore, in 'acute opiate toxicity' deaths, blood morphine levels were lower in non-naltrexone-exposed compared with naltrexone-exposed cases. Although there was a higher number of deaths designated as rapid (i.e. occurring within 20 minutes) in the naltrexone-exposed (89%) compared with the non-exposed group (72%) this was not statistically significant. Other drug use in relation to heroin-related fatalities is discussed. Findings do not support the hypothesis that prior exposure to naltrexone increases sensitivity to heroin toxicity. Topics: Adult; Australia; Cohort Studies; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Registries; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors | 2003 |
Wound botulism among black tar heroin users--Washington, 2003.
During August 22-26, 2003, four injection-drug users (IDUs) in Yakima County, Washington, sought medical care at the same hospital with complaints of several days of weakness, drooping eyelids, blurred vision, and difficulty speaking and swallowing. All four were regular, nonintravenous injectors of black tar heroin (BTH), and one also snorted BTH. This report summarizes the investigation of these cases, which implicated wound botulism (WB) as the cause of illness. Topics: Adult; Botulism; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Washington; Wound Infection | 2003 |
Value of prescribing heroin is uncertain.
Topics: Evidence-Based Medicine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics | 2003 |
Swiss debate whether to legalise cannabis. Alcohol and tobacco pose far greater danger, say advocates of cannabis legalisation.
Topics: Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Legislation, Drug; Marijuana Abuse; Switzerland | 2003 |
Selective induction of c-Fos immunoreactivity in the prelimbic cortex during reinstatement of heroin seeking induced by acute food deprivation in rats.
We previously reported that acute 1-day food deprivation reinstates heroin seeking in rats. The goal of the present study was to begin identifying brain sites potentially involved in this effect. For this purpose, we measured, by immunohistochemistry, the expression of c-Fos following a test for food deprivation-induced reinstatement. Groups of rats (n=9-10 per group) were trained to lever-press for heroin (0.05-0.1mg/kg/infusion) or saline for 10 days (9 h/day); each infusion was paired with a cue light. Rats were then given 10 days of extinction during which the heroin and saline syringes were removed. Next, a test for reinstatement was conducted after exposure to 0 (baseline) or 1-day food deprivation. During training, lever pressing for heroin increased over days, while responding for saline infusions paired with the cue light decreased over time. During extinction, responding on the heroin-paired lever decreased over time, while responding on the saline-paired lever remained low. In heroin-trained rats, food deprivation induced a large increase in responding on the lever associated with drug infusions. Surprisingly, food deprivation also modestly increased responding in the saline-trained rats. Food deprivation selectively increased c-Fos immunoreactivity (IR) in the prelimbic cortex of heroin-trained, but not saline-trained, rats (n=4 per condition). Food deprivation also increased c-Fos IR in both heroin- and saline-trained rats in the basolateral amygdala and the ventrolateral bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST), but had no effect on c-Fos expression in the dorsolateral BNST, cingulate cortex, nucleus accumbens, and central amygdala. These results raise the possibility that the prelimbic cortex is involved in food deprivation-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Behavior, Animal; Cell Count; Cerebral Cortex; Extinction, Psychological; Food Deprivation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Narcotics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement Schedule; Self Administration; Time Factors | 2003 |
[Preliminary research on opioid mutagenicity].
The aim of the study was a preliminary recognition of genotoxic effect of methadone, using a culture of lymphocytes obtained from the blood of 23 opiate dependent patients from methadone maintenance treatment programme conducted at the Department of Clinical Toxicology of Jagiellonian University Medical College. The micronuclei (MN) occurrence and the number of sister chromatids exchange in methaphasal plate were the examined markers of mutagenesis. Two control groups differently exposed to environmental mutagenic factors were used to verification of results. The increased fraction of cells with the high number of sister chromatids exchange (HFC) indicate on possible genotoxic effect of methadone, however in the populations exposed also to other mutagenic factors the effect is not so evident. Topics: Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Lymphocytes; Male; Methadone; Mutation; Narcotics | 2003 |
[Perinatal problems in drug addiction].
Topics: Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Outcome; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects | 2003 |
Adherence to heroin dependence therapies and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome infection rates among drug abusers.
Adherence is a primary determinant of treatment effectiveness; thus, poor adherence attenuates optimum clinical benefit. A bibliographic review was conducted to evaluate the impact of adherence to heroin dependence treatment on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and to identify interventions proven to be effective in improving adherence. The best adherence rates were achieved by methadone and diacetylmorphine, both of which are comparable in promoting significant reduction in heroin use. Methadone adjusted-dose studies with daily doses ranging from 100 to 200 mg and multiple support interventions achieved the highest adherence rates. Studies of methadone maintenance that examined changes in HIV prevalence of infection have found that higher treatment adherence is correlated with a reduction in HIV transmission. These data suggest that patients who adhere continuously to methadone treatment are less likely to continue injecting illicit drugs and sharing contaminated injection equipment than are those who interrupt treatment, thus preventing the spread of HIV via drug injection. Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV; HIV Seroprevalence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Prevalence | 2003 |
Heroin prescription in Europe: heroin treatment is a pragmatic way of reducing the risks associated with addiction.
Topics: Drug Prescriptions; Europe; Health Care Rationing; Health Policy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Opioid-Related Disorders; Program Evaluation; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Rehabilitation; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2003 |
[Heroin, part III: the pharmacology of heroin].
The major pharmacological effects of heroin can be traced back to some structural properties of the morphine molecule. The analgesic effects of heroin derive from the two active metabolites, 6-O-acetylmorphine and morphine, which bind specifically to the mu-opioid receptors of the central nervous system. mu-receptors also mediate other pharmacological actions of heroin i.e. respiratory depression, euphoria and physical dependence. Heroin is more potent and faster acting than morphine as an analgesic drug. Presently, there is a considerable dispute whether heroin should be legalized for the treatment of pain in terminal cancer. Chronic administration of heroin results in the development of tolerance. It is characterized by a shortened duration and decreased intensity of the analgesic, euphoric, sedative and other CNS-depressant effects. Tolerance to opioids is due to increased adaptation of the cells which changes their receptor sites after chronic exposure to the drug. Toxicity of heroin depends markedly on the route of administration in animal studies. Variable composition of street heroin or sudden loss of tolerance can cause fatal heroin overdose of addicts. Respiratory arrest is the most common reason for death among heroin addicts. Topics: Animals; Drug Tolerance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Receptors, Opioid | 2003 |
What can the Swiss and Dutch trials tell us about the potential risks associated with heroin prescribing?
Following on from last edition's Harm Reduction Digest on drug consumption facilities this Digest investigates what can be learnt from the Swiss and Dutch trials of heroin prescribing about the unintended consequences of this controversial intervention to reduce heroin-related harm. The authors of the paper bring considerable experience in the implementation and evaluation of such schemes in Europe and their consideration in Australia. The paper systematically addresses concerns about heroin prescribing and suggests further research to respond to some unanswered questions. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Attitude; Drug Prescriptions; Harm Reduction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Netherlands; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Switzerland | 2003 |
Serum naltrexone and 6-beta-naltrexol levels from naltrexone implants can block very large amounts of heroin: a report of two cases.
The maximum dose of heroin that is blocked by customary doses of oral naltrexone (NTX) and its active metabolite 6-beta-naltrexol (6BNT) is unknown, particularly at trough serum levels which show much interindividual variation and can be low. NTX has only once been tested formally against opiate equivalents of more than 25 mg of diamorphine. Increasing interest in long-acting implantable NTX preparations makes it important to have objective information about blocking activity at various blood levels of NTX and 6BNT. Two cases are described in which NTX and 6BNT levels as low as 2.8 and 9.0 ng/ml, respectively, were sufficient to block doses of pure diamorphine as high as 500 mg. Topics: Adult; Delayed-Action Preparations; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Implants; Half-Life; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Patient Dropouts | 2002 |
Looking beyond death: paying attention to other important consequences of heroin overdose.
Topics: Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 2002 |
Hair morphine concentrations of fatal heroin overdose cases and living heroin users.
To compare heroin and other opiate use of heroin overdose fatalities, current street heroin users and drug-free therapeutic community clients.. Hair morphine concentrations that assess heroin use and other opiate use in the 2 months preceding interview or death were compared between heroin overdose fatalities diagnosed by forensic pathologists (FOD) (n = 42), current street heroin users (CU) (n = 100) and presumably abstinent heroin users in a drug-free therapeutic community (TC) (n = 50).. Sydney, Australia.. The mean age and gender breakdown of the three samples were 32.3 years, 83% male (FOD), 28.7 years, 58% male (CU) and 28.6 years, 60% male (TC). The median blood morphine concentration among the FOD cases was 0.35 mg/l, and 82% also had other drugs detected. There were large differences between the three groups in hair morphine concentrations, with the CU group (2.10 ng/mg) having concentration approximately four times that of the FOD group (0.53 ng/mg), which in turn had a concentration approximately six times that of the TC group (0.09 ng/mg). There were no significant differences between males and females in hair concentrations within any of the groups. Hair morphine concentrations were correlated significantly with blood morphine concentrations among FOD cases (r = 0.54), and self-reported heroin use among living participants (r = 0.57).. The results indicate that fatal cases had a lower degree of chronic opiate intake than the active street users, but they were not abstinent during this period. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Autopsy; Drug Overdose; Female; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine; Narcotics; New South Wales | 2002 |
Morbidity associated with non-fatal heroin overdose.
To estimate the range and severity of heroin overdose related morbidity.. Cross-sectional survey.. Sydney, Australia.. 198 heroin users.. Sixty-nine per cent had experienced a heroin overdose, 28% in the preceding 12 months. Of those who had overdosed, 79% had experienced at least one overdose-related morbidity symptom. An ambulance had attended overdoses for 59% of subjects, 33% had required hospital treatment for overdose, and 14% had experienced overdose-related complications of sufficient severity to be admitted to a hospital ward. Indirect overdose-related morbidity included: physical injury sustained when falling at overdose (40%), burns (24%) and assault while unconscious (14%). Direct overdose-related morbidity included: peripheral neuropathy (49%), vomiting (33%), temporary paralysis of limbs (26%), chest infections (13%) and seizure (2%).. There appears to be extensive morbidity associated with non-fatal overdose. This is clearly an area that requires more research to document the prevalence and nature of these harms, and factors associated with them. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age of Onset; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; New South Wales; Paralysis; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Pneumonia; Sex Factors; Time Factors; Vomiting | 2002 |
An increase in overdose mortality during the first 2 weeks after entering or re-entering methadone treatment in Amsterdam.
It has been suggested that starting and temporarily discontinuing methadone treatment is related to an increased risk in overdose mortality. This study describes the incidence of overdose mortality in relation to time after (re)entering or leaving treatment.. A dynamic cohort of 5200 Amsterdam methadone clients was observed during treatment and (a maximum of 1 year) after treatment.. Between 1986 and 1998, 29,729 person-years (py) and 68 overdose deaths were recorded, leading to an overdose mortality rate of 2.3/1000 py (2.2 during and 2.4 after treatment). A modest increase was observed during the first 2 weeks after (re)entering treatment; 6.0/1000 py (rate ratio: 2.9; 95% confidence interval 1.4; 5.8). Directly after leaving treatment no increase was observed.. Inhaling heroin, common among Amsterdam heroin users, is thought to account for low OD mortality rates both during and after treatment. Accumulation of methadone, inadequate assessment of tolerance of known clients re-entering treatment and concurrent periods of stress or extreme heroin use when entering treatment are mentioned as possible explanations of the increased risk within the first 2 weeks. An Australian study reported a much higher increase. The modest increase in Amsterdam is explained by low background risk of overdose mortality, low starting dosage and the low threshold to treatment. Topics: Adult; Cohort Studies; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Netherlands; Recurrence; Time Factors | 2002 |
[Extensive bilateral lower leg muscle necrosis after nasal application of heroin. Macroscopic and histologic findings in a 23-year-old man].
Rhabdomyolysis is one of the less known complications of heroin abuse. A case of lower leg muscle necrosis after nasal application of heroin is reported with repeated resection of the necrotic muscles. Superinfection with a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain was present. After 4 weeks, bilateral amputation could not be avoided. We regard a direct toxic effect of the heroin as the most probable mechanism of the muscular damage, with possible influence of the reduced oxygen delivery due to central respiratory and circulatory depression. Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Amputation, Surgical; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leg; Male; Muscle, Skeletal; Necrosis; Oxygen; Respiration | 2002 |
Who holds the leash?
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Prescriptions; Ethics, Research; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Informed Consent; Mental Competency | 2002 |
Unsafe presumptions in clinical research.
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Ethics, Research; Europe; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Informed Consent; Internationality; Mental Competency; North America; Personal Autonomy; Risk Assessment; Vulnerable Populations | 2002 |
Resisting the temptations of addiction rhetoric.
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Informed Consent; Mental Competency | 2002 |
Ethics and heroin prescription: no more fuzzy goals!
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Prescriptions; Ethics, Research; Goals; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Informed Consent; Mental Competency; Nontherapeutic Human Experimentation; Social Problems | 2002 |
Cynthia's Dilemma.
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Informed Consent; Mental Competency; Risk Assessment | 2002 |
A "fix" of reality.
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Ethics, Research; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Informed Consent; Mental Competency; Risk Assessment | 2002 |
Addiction and consent.
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Informed Consent; Mental Competency | 2002 |
Authenticity and the hijacked brain.
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Informed Consent; Mental Competency | 2002 |
Ethical evaluation of heroin-prescription research: an insider's view.
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Informed Consent; Mental Competency; Risk Assessment; Switzerland; Third-Party Consent | 2002 |
Chasing the dragon, related to the impaired lung function among heroin users.
To describe the pulmonary function and prevalence of dyspnoea among methadone patients and to study the relation with exposure to heroin by inhaling.. A sample of 100 patients from methadone maintenance treatment (84% male, average age 42 years).. Questionnaires were used to measure life-time exposure to heroin, cocaine, cannabis, tobacco, and symptoms of dyspnoea. Spirometry was performed and residual difference of measured FEV(1) from the age, sex, height and ethnicity predicted value (delta FEV(1)) was used as a main outcome parameter.. The median delta FEV(1) was -0.26 l (inter quartile range -0.70; +0.12). Twenty per cent experienced dyspnoea while 'walking at a normal pace with someone of their own age'. History of cigarette smoking was reported by 98%; heroin smoking by 88%. Multiple linear regression analysis showed a statistically significant association between heroin-smoking and delta FEV(1), logistic regression analysis showed an association between heroin-smoking and prevalence of dyspnoea.. Chronic heroin smoking seems to be related to an impaired lung function and higher prevalence of dyspnoea. However, part of the observed lung function impairment will be caused by tobacco smoking. Further research is needed to quantify the effect of heroin smoking and disentangle the effect of smoking heroin and tobacco. Topics: Adult; Dyspnea; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Lung; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Sampling Studies; Smoking; Spirometry; Surveys and Questionnaires | 2002 |
Surprising data on young heroin users in treatment.
Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; United States | 2002 |
Impulse control differences between abstinent heroin users and matched controls.
Heroin use has been associated with increased impulsive behaviour. This study examined the lasting effect of heroin use on impulse control in a group of ex-heroin addicts.. Twenty-eight men, 14 ex-heroin addicts and 14 matched controls, participated in this study. The impulse control ability between the two groups was compared. Each participant was individually interviewed for demographic data and testing of their impulse control ability using the Porteus Maze Test.. The findings indicated that the ex-heroin addicts performed significantly more poorly on the measure of impulse control than the matched controls.. This observation suggests that the adverse effect of heroin on impulse control may be long lasting. Alternative explanations for the findings were also discussed. Topics: Adult; Cognition; Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders; Frontal Lobe; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Psychometrics; Social Behavior; Task Performance and Analysis; Time Factors | 2002 |
Cynthia'a dilemma.
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Ethics, Research; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone | 2002 |
UK government approves heroin use on prescription.
Topics: Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Narcotics; United Kingdom | 2002 |
Witnessing heroin-related overdoses: the experiences of young injectors in San Francisco.
Assessment of young injectors' exposure and response to others' heroin-related overdose.. Cross-sectional survey.. San Francisco, CA, United States.. Nine hundred and seventy-three street-recruited current injectors under 30 years old.. Self-reported experiences of witnessing heroin-related overdoses from structured interviews.. Seven hundred and nine of 973 (73%) had ever witnessed at least one heroin-related overdose, and 491 of 973 (50%) had witnessed an overdose in the last 12 months. Fourteen per cent of those who had witnessed an overdose in the past year reported that the outcome of the overdose was death. Emergency services were called to 52% of most recent witnessed overdoses. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or expired air resuscitation (EAR or 'rescue breathing') was performed in 61% of cases. Inappropriate strategies such as injection with stimulants or application of ice were rare. In 67% of cases in which emergency services were not called the witness said this was because the victim regained consciousness. In the remaining 33%, 56% stated emergency services were not called due to fear of the police.. Respondents were willing to act at overdoses at which they were present, but frequently did not do so in the most efficacious manner. Fear of police was identified as the most significant barrier to the ideal first response of calling emergency services. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Attitude to Health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Ill-Housed Persons; Injections; Male; San Francisco | 2002 |
Effects of acute and prolonged opiate abstinence on extinction behaviour in rats.
We examined the role of withdrawal in relapse to drug-seeking and drug-taking by testing the effects of opiate abstinence on extinction behaviour in rats trained to self-administer heroin. Male Long-Evans rats responded for IV heroin under a heterogeneous chain (VI 120 s; FR 1) schedule in which "seeking" responses preceded a "taking" response which produced a drug infusion. Responding was then measured in extinction during acute (6, 12, and 24 hr) and prolonged (3, 6, 12, and 25 day) abstinence. Sucrose consumption and somatic withdrawal were assessed at each testing period. During acute abstinence, responses on the "drug-seeking" manipulandum increased at 24 hr, whereas responses on the "drug-taking" manipulandum increased at 6 hr. Both responses were elevated during the 12-day abstinence test. Sucrose consumption was reduced and somatic withdrawal scores were increased in opiate-experienced rats at each test period. Results suggest that heroin abstinence has different effects on drug-seeking and drug-taking and that these effects do not temporally coincide with somatic measures of opioid withdrawal. Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Conditioning, Operant; Disease Models, Animal; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2002 |
The consequences of different "lapses" on relapse to heroin seeking in rats.
Although human studies have shown that a lapse, the first violation of abstinence, often induces resumption of drug taking, or relapse, it is not known what aspect of a lapse is critical to relapse or whether this phenomenon can be studied in other species. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin accompanied by a discrete light stimulus. After extinction, different groups experienced different "lapses." Twenty-four hours later, all groups received a test for relapse. It was found that a lapse during which heroin was self-administered, or was presented in close temporal contiguity with lever pressing, induced subsequent heroin seeking. Simple exposure to heroin, or to heroin-related stimuli, during the lapse had little effect on responding in the test for relapse. Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Behavior, Animal; Conditioning, Operant; Discrimination Learning; Electric Stimulation; Electroshock; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Models, Animal; Photic Stimulation; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Recurrence; Reward; Self Administration; Time Factors | 2002 |
How will we know a lapse when we see one? Comment on Leri and Stewart (2002).
The article by F. Leri and J. Stewart (2002) addresses the validity of animal models of relapse in a more sophisticated manner than does much prior research. These researchers have shown that drug self-administration can be influenced by the presence of drug contingent cues as well as by active self-administration versus passive infusion of "lapse" doses. This research also leads to additional questions about the external validity of animal relapse models. Current relapse models may lack validity because of the parameters of drug exposure, because abstinence is imposed on the organism, and because there is no motivational influence that counters resumption of drug self-administration. F. Leri and J. Stewart's (2002) article encourages a more thorough assessment of the motivational context of relapse models. Topics: Animals; Conditioning, Operant; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Models, Animal; Motivation; Rats; Reinforcement, Psychology; Reproducibility of Results | 2002 |
Lapses and reinstatement of heroin seeking in rats: comment on Leri and Stewart (2002).
In an elegant series of experiments, F. Leri and J. Stewart (2002) report that exposure to heroin increases subsequent reinstatement responding if the animal has access to the drug lever during the lapse and if responding on the lever results in the presentation of conditioned cues. It is interesting that exposure to only these conditioned cues in the absence of heroin did not affect reinstatement responding on the following day. Although these are important experiments, the results should be interpreted with some degree of caution for several reasons. Nevertheless, the experiments described in this article represent the first attempt to address the effects of self-administered versus investigator-delivered heroin on subsequent reinstatement behavior. Future research should attempt to replicate these experiments taking these considerations into account. Topics: Animals; Cues; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Photic Stimulation; Rats; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration; Statistics as Topic | 2002 |
Potential impacts on the incidence of fatal heroin-related overdose in Western Australia: a time-series analysis.
In response to the rising concerns about the rate of heroin-related fatalities, overdose prevention campaigns, run by both users' organizations and government agencies, have been implemented in a number of states across Australia. In Western Australia (WA) in mid-1997, various overdose prevention initiatives were implemented. These included the implementation of a protocol limiting police presence at overdose events; the commencement of naloxone administration by ambulance staff; and the establishment of the Opiate Overdose Prevention Strategy (OOPS) which provided follow-up for individuals treated for overdose in emergency departments. This paper reports the results of a multiple linear regression analysis of 60 months of time-series data, both prior to and following the implementation of these interventions, to determine their impact on the number of fatal heroin overdoses inWA. The model employed in the analysis controlled for changes over time in proxy indicators of use and community concerns about heroin, as well as market indicators. The results suggest that, although the interventions implemented have managed to reduce the expected number of fatalities, they have become less successful in doing so as time passes. This has implications for both existing and potential interventions to reduce fatal heroin-related overdose. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Time Factors; Western Australia | 2002 |
A tale of two policies: the French connection, methadone, and heroin epidemics.
The law enforcement and treatment policies of the Nixon administration are often credited with ending the epidemic of heroin addiction that rose in America's cities in the 1960s. In this article it is argued that although the interventions did in fact cause a major change in heroin distribution and use, the epidemic did not end in any simple way. The decline in heroin and increase in methadone that resulted from the Nixon policies lead to a shift for many addicts in both clinical and street settings from one narcotic to another. The temporary shortage of heroin that resulted from law enforcement was quickly compensated for with methadone, as well as with new distribution systems from Southeast Asia and Mexico. In the end, the interventions caused a change in an enduring "heroin system," a change that left that system in a stronger form in terms of supply and in a situation of continuing growth in terms of the number of addicts. Topics: Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; History, 20th Century; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Opioid-Related Disorders; United States | 2002 |
Decrease in basal dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens shell during daily drug-seeking behaviour in rats.
Accumbal dopamine (DA) is generally accepted to participate in the neural mechanisms underlying drug dependence. Recently the involvement of accumbal DA in drug-seeking behaviour has gained more experimental attention. To study an involvement of accumbal DA in drug-seeking behaviour within and between daily self-administration behaviour, changes in extracellular DA concentration in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell were measured during the daily dynamics of intravenous heroin and cocaine self-administration. Groups of drug naive rats were allowed to intravenously self-administer heroin (30 microg/infusion) and cocaine (30 microg/infusion) during five consecutive daily 3 h sessions. Extracellular DA concentrations in the NAc were measured before and after a single 3 h session (acute) and before and after 5 consecutive 3 h sessions (repeated). Following acute and repeated heroin and cocaine self-administration the extracellular DA concentration in the NAc shell was increased by two-fold to three-fold over baseline. These changes in DA concentrations are thought to reflect a direct effect of heroin and cocaine on DA neurotransmission in the NAC shell. Measurement of basal DA concentrations before the self-administration sessions revealed that just before the scheduled 5th self-administration session the (absolute) basal DA levels in the NAc in heroin or cocaine self-administering animals were decreased by approximately halve, as compared to drug-naive animals. It is assumed that just before a scheduled next session the (daily) desire for the drug is high. This decrease in basal DA neurotransmission in the NAc shell may, therefore, reflect an involvement of accumbal DA in drug-seeking behaviour during daily self-administration behaviour. The results demonstrate that initiation of i.v. heroin and cocaine self-administration is linked with changes in extracellular levels of DA in the NAc shell. Moreover, the present data suggest that accumbal DA might be involved in processes underlying the motivational aspects involved in daily drug-seeking behaviour, and that neuroadaptive changes in the mesolimbic DA system due to repeated drug intake lead to an tonic decrease in overall DA activity in the NAc. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Dopamine; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Microdialysis; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Self Administration | 2002 |
[Wound botulism after drug injection].
A 32-year old male drug user presented with diplopia, ataxia and general weakness. The patient had abscesses on arms and legs at injection sites, bilateral ptosis, a bifacial weakness, nasal speech, severely reduced ability to raise his arms and a positive Trendelelenburg sign with normal motor neuron reflexes and normal sensation.. The haematological values indicated a hypochromic, microcytic anaemia (12,1 mg/dl), a slight leuko (10,8 G/L) - and thrombocytosis (582G/l) with elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (74 mm/h), and a reduced prothrombin time (67%). The HIV test was negative. The MRI scan of the brain and the bacterial, serological and cytological results of a lumbar puncture were normal. In the bloodculture no bacterial growth and no botulinum toxin was found. In a culture of the wound material grew coagulase-negative staphylococcus and Clostridium perfringens, diagnosed with PCR. The serum anti-acethylcholine antibodies were negative. The motor-nerve conduction test with repetitive stimulation of the ulnari nerve with a 3 Hz trigger showed no change in the amplitude, while a 20 Hz trigger showed an increment up to 160 %.. Another possible diagnosis was excluded through MRI, CSF and serum examination. The typical presentation of a rapidly progressive descending paralysis without loss of sensation and the typical motor-nerve conduction disorder of a presynaptic block established the diagnosis of wound botulism. This was treated immediately by surgical removal of wound debris, antitoxin- and penicillin therapy. After 28 days the patient left the hospital with slight residual problems. He had been admitted to the intensive care unit for a short period only and intubation was not necessary at any time.. After exclusion of any other possible diagnosis, it is possible to establish an early diagnosis of injection related wound botulism by its typical symptoms and signs. These are presented as wound abcesses at intramuscular drug injection sites together with rapidly progressive descending paralysis with preserved sensation. Treatment consists of surgical excision of wound debris combined with antitoxin and penicillin administration in order to prevent a possible build-up of residues. Early diagnosis and associated therapy overcome the necessity of intubation and prolonged intensive care. Topics: Adult; Botulinum Antitoxin; Botulism; Diagnosis, Differential; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intramuscular; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Penicillins; Time Factors; Wound Infection | 2002 |
Brain and body hyperthermia associated with heroin self-administration in rats.
Intravenous heroin self-administration in trained rats was accompanied by robust brain hyperthermia (+2.0-2.5 degrees C); parallel changes were found in the dorsal and ventral striatum, mediodorsal thalamus, and deep temporal muscle. Temperature began to increase at variable latency after a signal of drug availability, increased reliably (approximately 0.4 degrees C) before the first lever press for heroin, increased further (approximately 1.2 degrees C) after the first heroin injection, and rose more slowly after the second and third injections to stabilize at an elevated plateau (39-40 degrees C) for the remainder of the session. Brain and body temperature declined slowly when drug self-administration was terminated; naloxone precipitated a much more rapid decrease to baseline levels. Changes in temperature were similar across repeated daily sessions, except for the increase associated with the first self-administration of each session, which had progressively shorter latency and greater acceleration. Despite consistent biphasic fluctuations in movement activity associated with heroin self-administrations (gradual increase preceding the lever press, followed by an abrupt hypodynamia after drug infusion), mean brain temperature was very stable at an elevated plateau. Only mean muscle temperature showed evidence of biphasic fluctuations (+/-0.2 degrees C) that were time locked to and correlated with lever pressing and associated movements. Drug- and behavior-related changes in brain temperature thus appear to reflect some form of neuronal activation, and, because temperature is a factor capable of affecting numerous neural functions, it may be an important variable in the control of behavior by drugs of abuse. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Brain; Corpus Striatum; Fever; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Naloxone; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Reaction Time; Self Administration; Temporal Muscle; Thalamus | 2002 |
Netherlands considers prescribing heroin to addicts.
Topics: Adult; Drug Therapy, Combination; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Netherlands; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic | 2002 |
Heroin use in New South Wales, Australia, 1996-2000: 5 year monitoring of trends in price, purity, availability and use from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS).
To document trends in the price, purity, availability and use of heroin in New South Wales detected by the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) between 1996 and 2000, and to demonstrate the utility of the IDRS in identifying such trends.. The IDRS compares information derived from interviews with injecting drug users, key informants who work in the illicit drugs field, and key indicator data on illicit drug trends.. New South Wales, Australia.. The price of heroin approximately halved over this period, from a median of A$400 per gram in 1996 to A$220 per gram in 2000. While the price of heroin fell dramatically over the study period, the purity of police seizures of the drug was high across all years, ranging between 62% and 71%. In all years heroin was considered easy to obtain by both heroin users who purchased the drug, and by key informants from the law enforcement and health fields. Concurrent with the large fall in heroin prices, there appeared to have been an increase in the number of heroin users. Between 1997 and 1998 there was a sharp increase in the injecting use of cocaine by heroin users in NSW, a pattern that has persisted.. Regular and formal monitoring of illicit drug trends provides timely data in a systematic way to inform health and law enforcement policies towards current and emerging illicit drug problems. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Cost of Illness; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Contamination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; New South Wales | 2002 |
Dutch investigators recommend prescription of heroin to addicts.
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Netherlands | 2002 |
Heroin prescription for opioid addicts.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Switzerland | 2002 |
Heroin sensitization as mapped by c-Fos immunoreactivity in the rat striatum.
Immunohistochemistry was used to map the induction of c-Fos protein in the forebrain of rats treated with heroin. Acute injection of heroin to drug-naive rats caused significant induction of c-Fos protein in the nucleus accumbens shell, whereas the same dose of heroin given to drug-sensitized rats significantly increased c-Fos immunoreactivity in the dorsomedial caudate-putamen. These results show that the heroin-induced pattern of c-Fos protein in the rat striatum differs according to the rat's drug history. These findings may represent a neural correlate of the motor components of heroin sensitization. Topics: Animals; Basal Ganglia; Behavior, Animal; Brain Mapping; Cell Count; Dopamine; Drug Tolerance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Motor Activity; Narcotics; Neostriatum; Neural Pathways; Neurons; Nucleus Accumbens; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reward; Up-Regulation | 2002 |
Bronchial hyperreactivity in patients who inhale heroin mixed with cocaine vaporized on aluminum foil.
In our area, inhaling heroin mixed with cocaine vaporized on aluminum foil, known as rebujo, is becoming more and more common.. To define the prevalence and the characteristics of bronchial disease (wheezing, bronchial hyperreactivity [BHR], and asthma) present in subjects inhaling heroin mixed with cocaine vaporized on aluminum foil.. Ninety-one subjects who inhaled the drug mixture were included in the study: 62 subjects were from a drug rehabilitation center (INH-I group), and 29 subjects were among patients admitted to our hospital for a variety of reasons (INH-II group). A questionnaire was completed in both groups, as well as IgE determination and lung function tests (spirometry and methacholine challenge). The control group consisted of 122 individuals who did not inhale the drug mixture, and were chosen randomly from the general population (NO-INH group). All subjects were tobacco smokers.. In the INH-I group, there was a 41.9% prevalence of wheezing over the past 12 months, a 44.4% prevalence of BHR, and a 22.02% prevalence of asthma, defined as wheezing plus BHR. In the NO-INH group, these values were 32.78% (p = 0.22), 15.57% (p < 0.0001), and 8.19% (p < 0.01), respectively. Of the subjects who inhaled the drug mixture and denied having symptoms prior to the use of the drug mixture, 31.4% had wheezing develop after commencing use of the drug, following a mean latency of 4.09 months. Wheezing remitted in only 7.6% after discontinuation of the drug.. (1) There is a real increase in BHR in subjects who inhale heroin mixed with cocaine vaporized on aluminum foil; and (2) this BHR is associated with wheezing that develops after a variable period of latency, once drug inhalation begins, and persists despite discontinuation of the drug. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Bronchial Hyperreactivity; Bronchial Provocation Tests; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Drug Interactions; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methacholine Chloride; Respiratory Sounds; Spain | 2002 |
Factors associated with non-fatal heroin overdose: assessing the effect of frequency and route of heroin administration.
To examine risk factors associated with non-fatal heroin overdose, particularly frequency and route of heroin administration.. Data from cross-sectional surveys were analysed as a case-control and as a case cross-over design.. 2556 subjects treated for heroin dependence in 164 outpatient facilities in Spain.. Prevalence of overdose involving emergency care in the 12 months before treatment admission. CASE CONTROL DESIGN: Odds ratio (OR) adjusted by logistic regression. CASE-CROSSOVER DESIGN: Estimated relative risk (RR) of transient risk of injecting heroin.. The prevalence of overdose was 10%. In the case control analysis the cumulative risk of overdose increased as the frequency of heroin use decreased. However, among daily heroin users this risk increased as the frequency of heroin injection rose, with an OR of 6.0 (95% CI: 3.9-9.6) for daily injectors versus non-injectors. Sniffers had a higher risk than smokers among non-daily users, but not among daily users. Other factors associated with increased risk of overdose were: tranquilizers, alcohol or cocaine use, living in certain regions and being long-term HIV+ 0. In the case-crossover analysis, the RR for injecting heroin versus using other routes immediately before overdose was 15.9 (95% CI: 9.5-26.6), and was much higher for non-daily heroin users than for daily users.. These findings suggest that the rapid entry of a large quantity of heroin into the blood (as occurs when injecting) involves a high risk of overdose, especially when the heroin tolerance level is low (as occurs in sporadic users). Topics: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Cross-Over Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Odds Ratio; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Spain; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2002 |
Decreasing intravenous cocaine use in opiate users treated with prescribed heroin.
Providing maintenance treatment for heroin users who also use cocaine presents special problems. Poly-drug use is prevalent among clients in the Swiss Program for the Medical Prescription of Heroin (1994-1996).. A formative evaluation examines whether cocaine use was associated with a higher drop-out rate from treatment, and how cocaine use changed among those who remained in treatment. Frequency of cocaine use before and during treatment was measured by self-report every six months and by urinalysis every two months.. There was no significant difference between the drop-out rates for cocaine users vs. non-users (n = 995). A significant reduction in cocaine use over an 18-month period from 84 to 48% was found for a sample of clients (n = 266). Overall retention in programme was high and also the prevalence of factors associated with cocaine use such as criminality, prostitution, and contact with drug scene decreased.. The results suggest that prescribed heroin maintenance provides a treatment context that may help reduce consumption of other illicit drugs such as cocaine. Topics: Cocaine-Related Disorders; Cohort Studies; Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Long-Term Care; Patient Dropouts; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Switzerland | 2002 |
Development of a monitoring system for heroin-assisted substitution treatment in Switzerland.
Switzerland introduced heroin-assisted treatment as a routine treatment for drug addicts. As a result the evaluation instruments were changed from a detailed scientific project to a routine monitoring system. The process for developing this monitoring system is described.. The questionnaires and assessment instruments were restyled with staff of the treatment agencies. Indicators measuring quality of treatment and measures from the future national statistic on the addiction support system were integrated into admission, course and discharge questionnaires. Currently a system for feedback to treatment agencies is being developed.. All 21 treatment agencies are participating in the monitoring. Assessment quality is high.. The described monitoring should provide continuous delivery of basic relevant data on patients. Topics: Adult; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Opioid-Related Disorders; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Substance Abuse Detection; Switzerland | 2002 |
Separating politics and scientific research on heroin prescription.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Australia; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydromorphone | 2002 |
Cognitive impairment in methadone maintenance patients.
Few well-controlled studies have examined psychomotor and cognitive performance in methadone maintenance patients (MMP). In the present study, performance of 18 opioid-dependent MMP was evaluated relative to that of 21 control participants without substance abuse histories. The MMP and control groups were balanced with respect to gender, race, age, years of education, current employment status, current reading level, and estimated IQ score. Recent drug abstinence was verified by urine testing. Participants with a urine screen positive for benzodiazepines or a breathalyzer test positive for alcohol prior to performance testing were excluded. To avoid testing under conditions of acute heroin or cocaine intoxication, but without testing under conditions of acute withdrawal, participants with current use of heroin or cocaine were only required to abstain for 24 h prior to performance testing. MMP exhibited impairment relative to controls in psychomotor speed (digit symbol substitution and trail-making tests), working memory (two-back task), decision making (gambling task), and metamemory (confidence ratings on a recognition memory test); results also suggested possible impairment in inhibitory mechanisms (Stroop color-word paradigm). MMP did not exhibit impairment in time estimation, conceptual flexibility or long-term memory. The wide range of impaired functions is striking, and may have important implications for daily functioning in MMP. Further research is necessary to determine the clinical significance of the impairments in laboratory-based tests for daily performance in the natural environment, as well as to differentiate impairments due to acute methadone dosing, chronic methadone maintenance, chronic poly-drug abuse, and other factors. Topics: Adult; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Cognition Disorders; Concept Formation; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mental Recall; Methadone; Neuropsychological Tests; Problem Solving; Psychometrics; Psychomotor Performance; Reaction Time; Retention, Psychology; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse Detection; Time Perception | 2002 |
Using ambulance attendances to recruit people who have experienced non-fatal heroin overdose.
To trial two novel methods of recruiting people who experience non-fatal heroin overdose through the ambulance service.. Melbourne and Sydney, Australia.. In Melbourne potential participants were given numbered contact cards by ambulance paramedics after revival, while in Sydney potential participants were approached after revival by a researcher who travelled with ambulance paramedics to the overdose scene.. In Melbourne 281 cards were distributed during the period 1 June 1998-31 December 1998 and a subsequent contact rate of 24% was achieved with 14% attending a subsequent interview. In Sydney there were 170 initial contacts of which 139 (82%) answered a series of questions asked at the scene (the remainder either ineligible or incapable of answering questions) with 48 (35%) also attending for follow-up interviews.. Recruitment through contact with ambulance services is a novel method of recruiting heroin users for research into non-fatal heroin overdose with advantages over other methods of sampling for research on non-fatal heroin overdose. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Allied Health Personnel; Ambulances; Australia; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Middle Aged; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Patient Selection; Resuscitation; Sampling Studies | 2002 |
[Complete brachial plexus paralysis caused by compartment syndrome in heroin intoxication].
We report the case of a young man with heroin intoxication. While deeply unconscious, he sustained a compartment syndrome of the arm and shoulder region leading to a lesion of the upper plexus. Immediate surgical decompression by fasciotomy incisions, intensive care treatment including hemofiltration to treat myoglobinemia, intense physical exercise, and mesh-grafting closure of the wounds soon led to unexpected recovery. The function of the arm was restored in such a way that the patient was able to intoxicate himself again. He needed intubation and ventilation but recovered uneventfully. Topics: Adult; Brachial Plexus; Compartment Syndromes; Drug Overdose; Fasciotomy; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Muscle, Skeletal; Neurologic Examination; Paralysis; Rhabdomyolysis; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2002 |
[Co-morbidity: psychiatric disorder of opiate addicts at entry into heroin-assisted treatment].
The present paper describes the type and prevalence of co-morbid psychiatric disorders in a group of opioid dependent addicts.. In 17 Swiss centres for heroin-assisted treatment 85 opiate addicts were assessed at entry using the SKID interview.. Lifetime prevalence of co-morbid Axis I or Axis II disorders was 86 %. Most frequently patients were diagnosed with a personality disorder (58 %). Second frequently were mood disorders with a prevalence of 55 %, followed by anxiety disorders with a prevalence of 26 %.. The high prevalence of co-morbid psychiatric disorders indicate the urgent necessity to further develop and adapt health services for opioid addicts. Topics: Adult; Alcoholism; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Opioid-Related Disorders; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Rehabilitation Centers; Substance-Related Disorders; Switzerland | 2002 |
[An epidemiological study of spongiform leucoencephalopathy among heorin abusers].
To understand the distribution and related risk factors of heroin spongiform leucoencephalopathy among drug users in coastland of Guangdong Province.. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four thousand four hundred and twenty eight drug users from eighteen detoxification organizations in six cities on coastland of Guangdong, using clustered random sampling methods. The six cities are Chaoyang (714), Heyuan (462), Shantou (572), Huidong (1286), Guangzhou (871) and Zhanjiang (523) and heroin abuse was considered serious in these cities. Questionnaire was used to collect the data on sex (man 3632, 82 percent; woman 795, 18 percent), age (minimum 15y, maximum 54y), duration of using heroin (minimum 1 month, maximum 150 months), daily dosage (minimum 0.02 g, maximum 6.0 g) and manner of using heroin. In addition, the neurological examination was taken in all of them and cerebral MRI was carried out in those with signs of cerebellar ataxia.. Results showed that the total incidence of heroin spongiform leucoencephalopathy in six cities is 3.16 per thousand. Poisson regression analysis showed that the incidence was related to residential areas. In comparison with other cities, there are higher incidences in Chaoyang and Heyuan. Our investigation also showed that all the patients with this disease used heroin by inhaling the pyrolysate. The incidence of heroin spongiform leucoencephalopathy was unrelated to the daily inhaling amount of heroin and the duration of inhaling heroin. No differences could be observed between the groups of different age and sex.. Spongiform leucoencephalopathy after inhalation of heroin is a rare complication and has never been reported in mainland of China before. The lesions are symmetrical and spongiform, but not necrotic and the cerebellum is invariably involved--a feature consistent with the clinical presentation that begins with ataxia. Cerebral CT showed symmetrical non-enhancing hypodense areas in both cerebellar hemispheres. Cerebral MRI showed the corresponding areas with decreased signal intensity on T1 weighted images and increased signal intensity on T2 weighted images. There was no contrast enhancement. When it occurs, several cases are affected as a small epidemic. It is suggested that the aetiology is related to the heroin batch and could perhaps be a toxic effect of a substance which came from heroin pyrolysis. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Adult; Canavan Disease; China; Cross-Over Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged | 2001 |
Leptin attenuates acute food deprivation-induced relapse to heroin seeking.
Studies in rats have shown that intermittent footshock stress reinstates drug seeking after prolonged drug-free periods. Recently, we found that another environmental stressor, acute 1 d food deprivation, potently reinstates heroin seeking in rats. Here we report that this effect of food deprivation can be blocked by leptin, a hormone involved in the regulation of energy balance and food intake. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin (0.05-0.1 mg/kg, i.v., per infusion, three 3 hr sessions per day) for 8-10 d. The heroin-reinforced behavior was then extinguished for 10-13 d, during which lever presses had no reinforced consequences. Subsequently, rats were tested for reinstatement after 1 d of food deprivation (experiment 1) or exposure to intermittent footshock (15 min, 0.6 mA) and heroin priming injections (0.25 mg/kg, s.c.) (experiment 2). Acute food deprivation reinstated heroin seeking, an effect that was attenuated by leptin (2 or 4 microgram/rat, i.c.v.; two infusions, given 21 hr and 20-30 min before the start of the test sessions). In contrast, leptin had no effect on reinstatement of heroin seeking induced by intermittent footshock or priming injections of heroin. These data indicate that food deprivation can provoke relapse to heroin seeking via a leptin-dependent mechanism, which is not involved in relapse induced by footshock stress or reexposure to heroin. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Disease Models, Animal; Electroshock; Food Deprivation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Injections, Intraventricular; Injections, Subcutaneous; Leptin; Male; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Secondary Prevention; Self Administration; Stress, Physiological; Treatment Outcome | 2001 |
Heroin and schizophrenia: subjective responses to abused drugs in dually diagnosed patients.
Topics: Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Retrospective Studies; Schizophrenia | 2001 |
Compulsive heroin use: comorbidity, syndrome or self-medication of lupus erythematosus?
Topics: Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Narcotics; Self Medication | 2001 |
Wound botulism in the UK.
Topics: Adult; Botulism; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intramuscular; Injections, Subcutaneous; United Kingdom; Wound Infection | 2001 |
Reversible delayed leukoencephalopathy following intravenous heroin overdose.
We present serial neuropsychological, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and EEG changes in a case of widespread CNS myelinopathy due to intravenous heroin overdose complicated by a period of prolonged unconsciousness. Following recovery from the acute overdose, the subject had the delayed onset of akinetic mutism with urinary incontinence. Sequential formal neuro-psychological assessments over 9 months showed evolution from severe global cerebral dysfunction to moderate disturbance of frontal lobe function. Almost complete resolution of diffuse white matter signal changes, accompanied by the development of a degree of volume loss, was evident on serial MR imaging over the same period, and generalized arrhythmic delta-range slowing on the EEG evolved int o a near normal pattern. Topics: Akinetic Mutism; Brain Diseases; Electroencephalography; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Neuropsychological Tests; Recovery of Function; Unconsciousness | 2001 |
Changes in the cAMP-related signal transduction mechanism in postmortem human brains of heroin addicts.
Immunoreactivities of adenylyl cyclase (AC) type I (AC-I), and basal, forskolin- and Mn2+-stimulated AC activities with or without calcium and calmodulin (Ca2+/CaM) were estimated in temporal cortex (TC)-and nucleus accumbens (NAc) membranes from brains of heroin addicts and controls. Immunoreactivity of AC-I was significantly decreased in TC from brains of heroin addicts, but that did not change in NAc. Ca2+/CaM-sensitive AC activity was significantly lower in TC from brains of heroin addicts, but that activity in NAc did not show significant difference compared with the control. Some previous reports demonstrated that Ca2+/CaM-sensitive AC activity in membranes from postmortem human brain reflected the function of AC-I. Therefore, the downregulation of AC-I in TC plays an important role in the molecular mechanism of chronic opiate addiction in human brain. Topics: Adenylyl Cyclases; Adult; Age Factors; Brain; Brain Chemistry; Calcium; Calmodulin; Cell Membrane; Colforsin; Cyclic AMP; Female; Freezing; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Manganese; Narcotics; Neurons; Nucleus Accumbens; Signal Transduction; Subcellular Fractions; Temporal Lobe | 2001 |
Spain authorises clinical trial on heroin maintenance therapy.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Clinical Trials as Topic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Spain | 2001 |
Not "Is it treatment?" but "Does it work?".
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Narcotics; Self Administration | 2001 |
[How to distinguish between illness, injury or intoxication in the emergency unit?].
Clinical judgement of intoxicated patients is difficult. In the emergency department of the inner city of Oslo this is done every day.. During a one-year period from 1998-99, a group of 429 first-time admitted intoxicated patients were included in a study. The patients and the method of observation are described.. 75% of the patients were men; 45% reported to have consumed alcohol only, while 10% had taken a heroin overdose. The rest had used various combinations of legal and illegal drugs. Female patients were younger than male patients (29 versus 36 years, p < 0.00), and patients intoxicated only on alcohol were on the average older than patients who had taken drugs (38 versus 31 years, p < 0.00). 57 patients were hospitalized, seven of them had serious intracerebral conditions.. Our study indicates that systematic observation over some hours, repeated clinical examinations, and the systematic use of a modified Glasgow Coma Scale makes it possible to sort out the seriously ill from "only" intoxicated patients. Topics: Adult; Alcoholic Intoxication; Critical Illness; Diagnosis, Differential; Drug Overdose; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Glasgow Coma Scale; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Monitoring, Physiologic; Norway; Poisoning; Substance-Related Disorders; Wounds and Injuries | 2001 |
Progressive enhancement of delayed hyperalgesia induced by repeated heroin administration: a sensitization process.
It is difficult to conceive that tolerance and sensitization processes, two apparently opposite phenomena, can concomitantly modify one given biological process, i.e., the processing of pain. We have shown recently that opiates produce not only analgesia but also long-lasting hyperalgesia in rats. This suggests that tolerance to the analgesic effect of an opiate, especially heroin, could be in part the result of an actual sensitization of pronociceptive systems. Here, we show that both magnitude and duration of heroin-induced delayed hyperalgesia increase with intermittent heroin administrations, leading to an apparent decrease in the analgesic effectiveness of a given heroin dose. Our observation that a small dose of heroin which is ineffective for triggering a delayed hyperalgesia in non-heroin-treated rats induced an enhancement in pain sensitivity for several days after a series of heroin administrations is in agreement with the sensitization hypothesis. The effectiveness of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone to precipitate hyperalgesia in rats that had recovered their pre-drug nociceptive value after single or repeated heroin administrations indicates that heroin-deprived rats were in a new biological state associated with a high level balance between opioid-dependent analgesic systems and pronociceptive systems. Because the NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine maleate (MK-801) prevented both heroin-induced long-lasting enhancement in pain sensitivity and naloxone-precipitated hyperalgesia, these findings further suggest that tolerance, sensitization, and one withdrawal symptom, hyperalgesia, are issued from a neuroadaptive process in which NMDA systems play a critical role. Topics: Animals; Dizocilpine Maleate; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Tolerance; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hyperalgesia; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Naloxone; Pain Measurement; Pain Threshold; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2001 |
Differences in severity of heroin dependence by route of administration: the importance of length of heroin use.
To explore differences in the severity of heroin dependence by route of administration, we interviewed 909 heroin users in three Spanish cities. Dependence was measured with the severity dependence scale (SDS). No major differences in the severity of heroin dependence were detected among users with 5 or more years of heroin use (long-term users), but differences were found among newer users (SDS mean scores, 7.3 in heroin injectors; 7.9 in smokers and 4.6 in sniffers; P = 0.006), especially those with fewer than 3 years of use. Similar differences by route of administration were found when frequency of heroin use (days/month) was considered rather than severity of dependence. However, in the latter case major differences were also found among long-term users. These findings suggest that the route of administration probably influences the rate of progression to dependence but has little influence on the long-run level of dependence. They also help explain some aspects of the transition between routes of heroin administration, which is occurring in different areas. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Routes; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Middle Aged; Spain | 2001 |
Effects of indatraline and buprenorphine on self-administration of speedball combinations of cocaine and heroin by rhesus monkeys.
The simultaneous intravenous (i.v.) administration of heroin and cocaine, called a "speedball," is often reported clinically, and identification of effective pharmacotherapies is a continuing challenge. We hypothesized that treatment with combinations of a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, indatraline, and a mu partial agonist, buprenorphine, might reduce speedball self-administration by rhesus monkeys more effectively than either drug alone. Speedballs (0.01 mg/kg/inj cocaine + 0.0032 mg/kg/inj heroin) and food (1 g banana pellets) were available in four daily sessions on a second-order schedule of reinforcement [fixed ratio (FR)4; variable ratio (VR)16:S]. Monkeys were treated for 10 days with saline or ascending dose combinations of indatraline (0.001-0.032 mg/kg/day) and buprenorphine (0.00032-0.01 mg/kg/day). Two combinations of indatraline (0.32 and 0.56 mg/kg/day) + buprenorphine (0.10 and 0.18 mg/kg/day) significantly reduced speedball self-administration in comparison to the saline treatment baseline (p <.01-.001), whereas the same doses of each compound alone had no significant effect on speedball-maintained responding. Daily treatment with 0.56 mg/kg/day indatraline + 0.18 mg/kg/day buprenorphine produced a significant downward shift in the speedball dose-effect curve (p <.01) and transient changes in food-maintained responding. These findings suggest that medication mixtures designed to target both the stimulant and opioid component of the speedball combination may be an effective approach to polydrug abuse treatment. Topics: Animals; Buprenorphine; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Combinations; Drug Interactions; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Indans; Macaca mulatta; Male; Methylamines; Narcotics; Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors; Self Administration | 2001 |
Gamma-vinyl GABA (GVG) blocks expression of the conditioned place preference response to heroin in rats.
We examined the effect of gamma-vinyl GABA (GVG) on the expression of the conditioned place preference response to intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered heroin in rats. Heroin, but not vehicle, produced a significant conditioned place preference response. Pretreatment of animals with 300 mg/kg of GVG significantly attenuated the expression of the heroin-induced conditioned place preference response. These results are the first to suggest that systemic GVG may provide an effective alternative to methadone maintenance in the treatment of heroin addiction, since it is without abuse potential and can be used for treatment outside an institutional setting. Topics: Animals; Conditioning, Psychological; Enzyme Inhibitors; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Rats; Vigabatrin | 2001 |
Oral mucosal lesions and HIV viral load in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS).
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Methadone; Mouth Diseases; Mouth Mucosa; Narcotics; Risk Factors; Viral Load | 2001 |
Abnormal P600 in heroin addicts with prolonged abstinence elicited during a working memory test.
The P600 component of event-related potentials, believed to be generated by anterior cingulate gyrus and basal ganglia, is considered as an index of aspects of second-pass parsing processes of information processing, having much in common with working memory (WM) systems. Moreover, dysfunction of these brain structures as well as WM deficits have been implicated in the pathophysiology of opioid addicts. The present study is focused on P600 elicited during a WM test in twenty heroin addicts with prolonged abstinence compared with an equal number of healthy controls. The results showed significantly prolonged latencies at right hemisphere, specifically at Fp2 abduction. Moreover, memory performance of patients did not differ from that of normal controls. These findings may indicate that abstinent heroin addicts manifest abnormal aspects of second-pass parsing processes as are reflected by the P600 latencies, elicited during a WM test. Additionally, the P600 might serve as a valuable investigative tool for a more comprehensive understanding of the neurobiological substrate of drug abuse. Topics: Adult; Brain; Evoked Potentials; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Memory; Reference Values; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 2001 |
Heroin self-administration by means of 'chasing the dragon': pharmacodynamics and bioavailability of inhaled heroin.
In this controlled clinical study, the bioavailability and pharmacodynamics of inhaled heroin are evaluated and compared between 'chasing the dragon' and inhalation from a heating device, and at three dose levels, 25, 50 and 100 mg heroin, in two separate study phases. In study phase 1, no differences between the inhalation methods were detected on any of the physiological or behavioral measures, nor in bioavailability. Subjectively, the participants had a strong preference for the method of chasing, which was therefore used in study phase 2. In phase 2, heroin produced a dose-related increase in subjective drug-liking, body temperature and heart rate, and a clear, dose-related decline in reaction time. Linearly dose-related differences were found in the amount of total morphine in urine, amounting to an average of 45% of the parent heroin base received. Based on these findings, it is concluded that chasing is quite an effective route of heroin administration, producing rapid, dose-related subjective and objective effects and a sufficiently high and reproducible bioavailability. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Affect; Analysis of Variance; Biological Availability; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Reaction Time; Self Administration; Skin Temperature; Statistics, Nonparametric | 2001 |
Different forms of heroin and their relationship to cook-up techniques: data on, and explanation of, use of lemon juice and other acids.
Recent reports of the use of lemon juice in the preparation of heroin for injection have failed to recognize the importance of the different forms of heroin (in the form of the salt or the base) and the impact of this on the chemical manipulation required before injection. One hundred and four opiate addicts in London were interviewed about the forms of heroin (white, brown, etc) and their relationship to cook-up techniques (use of heat and acid). White heroin was typically prepared with water and heat; brown heroin was prepared with acid (citric acid or Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) or lemon juice) and heat; pharmaceutical heroin was prepared with water only (i.e. neither acid nor heat). On the last occasion of heroin use, brown heroin had been the form most commonly used, with over 90% of the sample using citric acid or vitamin C. Lemon juice was rarely used, and heat was almost universally applied in conjunction with lemon juice. Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Citrus; Drug Compounding; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; London; Male | 2001 |
[Reduction in the number of lethal heroin overdoses in France since 1994. Focus on substitution treatments].
Since 1994-1995, rapid development of widely available substitution treatments has appeared to be a major healthcare step in heroin addiction. Currently approximately 60000 patients are taking daily maintenance doses of oral methadone and about 7200 are taking sublingual buprenorphine. In parallel with the expansion of these treatments, the number of lethal overdoses has fallen off regularly: 564 in 1994, 393 in 1996 and 143 in 1998 (-74.6% in 4 years).. We searched for a correlation between the rise in the number of patients taking maintenance treatments and the decreased in recorded deaths due to heroin overdose. Other factors which may influence this decrease were also considered.. A linear correlation was found between the increasing number of patients on maintenance treatment (high-dose buprenorphine or methadone) and the decrease in fatal heroin overdoses in France between 1994 and 1998. The importance of this correlation must be modulated by the presence of other events such as political, social, healthcare and behavioral events concerning drug users. Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Attitude to Health; Buprenorphine; Drug Overdose; Drug Prescriptions; Drug Utilization; Female; France; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Linear Models; Male; Methadone; Mortality; Narcotics; Population Surveillance; Risk Factors | 2001 |
Functional interaction between opioid and cannabinoid receptors in drug self-administration.
The present study was designed to explore the relationship between the cannabinoid and opioid receptors in animal models of opioid-induced reinforcement. The acute administration of SR141716A, a selective central cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist, blocked heroin self-administration in rats, as well as morphine-induced place preference and morphine self-administration in mice. Morphine-dependent animals injected with SR141716A exhibited a partial opiate-like withdrawal syndrome that had limited consequences on operant responses for food and induced place aversion. These effects were associated with morphine-induced changes in the expression of CB1 receptor mRNA in specific nuclei of the reward circuit, including dorsal caudate putamen, nucleus accumbens, and septum. Additionally, the opioid antagonist naloxone precipitated a mild cannabinoid-like withdrawal syndrome in cannabinoid-dependent rats and blocked cannabinoid self-administration in mice. Neither SR141716A nor naloxone produced any intrinsic effect on these behavioral models. The present results show the existence of a cross-interaction between opioid and cannabinoid systems in behavioral responses related to addiction and open new strategies for the treatment of opiate dependence. Topics: Animals; Avoidance Learning; Cannabinoids; Caudate Nucleus; Conditioning, Operant; Disease Models, Animal; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Mice; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Nucleus Accumbens; Piperidines; Putamen; Pyrazoles; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Cannabinoid; Receptors, Drug; Receptors, Opioid; Rimonabant; RNA, Messenger; Self Administration; Septum of Brain | 2001 |
Sexual transmission risk among noninjecting heroin users infected with human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis C virus.
To assess whether human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected noninjecting heroin users (NIUs) are a potential sexual transmission bridge to "lower risk" partners, 180 HIV- or HCV-infected NIUs recruited in New York City were interviewed about their sexual behaviors and partnerships. Sixty-two percent were former injecting drug users (IDUs). Partners reported not to be HIV infected, IDUs, or men who have sex with men were defined as lower risk. Among 54 HIV-infected NIUs, lower risk partners were reported by 54% of never IDUs and 23% of former IDUs (P=.02). Among 155 HCV-infected NIUs, lower risk partners were reported by 54% of never IDUs and 45% of former IDUs (not significant). Engaging in unprotected vaginal or anal sex and having lower risk partners was reported by 29% of HIV-infected never IDUs, 12% of HIV-infected former IDUs, 29% of HCV-infected never IDUs, and 34% of HCV-infected former IDUs. HIV-infected NIUs, particularly never IDUs, and, possibly, HCV-infected NIUs, are a potential sexual transmission bridge. Topics: Adult; Anal Canal; Ethnicity; Female; Hepatitis C; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Heterosexuality; HIV Infections; HIV Seropositivity; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Male; New York City; Probability; Risk Factors; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Socioeconomic Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Vagina | 2001 |
Oral health status of heroin users in a rehabilitation centre in Hubei province, China.
To report on the oral health of heroin users and to determine risk factors for oral health status.. All heroin users at one rehabilitation camp received an interview using a pre-tested questionnaire from one of three trained interviewers and a dental examination using World Health Organization recommended procedures from one of three calibrated dentists.. Interviews and examinations were carried out at Hubei Province camp.. All 520 resident heroin users at the camp participated in the study.. Oral hygiene expressed using the Debris Index; caries status by DMFT; periodontal status by percentage with bleeding, pocketing and calculus; mucosal status using standard World Health Organization criteria.. One hundred (19%) of the heroin users were caries free; their mean DMFT was 4.2. The majority (92%) of the DMFT was decay and only a small proportion (8%) was treatment related. The proportion of heroin users with bleeding, calculus, shallow pocketing and deep pocketing was 42%, 95%, 42% and 8% respectively. The mean Debris Index score was 3.2. Mucosal lesions were present in 31 subjects (6%). Using multivariate analysis, duration of heroin use and education were risk factors for DMFT, route of drug administration was a risk factor for calculus and gender was a risk factor for deep pocketing.. There are indications of poorer periodontal health as well as higher caries experience in this group when compared to provincial dental epidemiological data. Mucosal lesions were not widely prevalent. Both social factors and characteristics of drug use were related to oral health in this group. Topics: Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; China; Dental Calculus; Dental Caries; DMF Index; Educational Status; Employment; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Mucosa; Oral Health; Oral Hygiene Index; Periodontal Diseases; Periodontal Index; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2001 |
The role of withdrawal in heroin addiction: enhances reward or promotes avoidance?
The compulsive nature of heroin abuse has been attributed to the fact that drug self-administration enables an addict to escape from and avoid the severe withdrawal symptoms resulting from opiate dependence. However, studies of incentive learning under natural motivational states suggest an alternative hypothesis, that withdrawal from heroin functions as a motivational state that enhances the incentive value of the drug, thereby enabling it to function as a much more effective reward for self-administration. In support of this hypothesis, we show here that previous experience with heroin in withdrawal is necessary for subsequent heroin-seeking behavior to be enhanced when dependent rats once again experience withdrawal. Topics: Animals; Avoidance Learning; Behavior, Animal; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Reward; Self Administration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2001 |
Drug-induced reinstatement to heroin and cocaine seeking: a rodent model of relapse in polydrug use.
The authors investigated several features of polydrug use in rats. Heroin and cocaine were self-administered following responses on different levers, with only 1 drug and 1 lever available on alternate days of training. Four doses of each drug (heroin: 25, 50, 100, and 200 microg/kg/infusion; cocaine: 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg/infusion) were tested, and each rat was exposed to a single dose combination. Rats readily developed drug-specific and dose-related responding. During extinction, rats displayed a significant bias for responding on the cocaine- associated lever. Priming injections of either cocaine (20 mg/kg) or heroin (0.25 mg/kg) reinstated responding that was selective for the lever previously associated with each drug. These results suggest that in this type of polydrug use, drugs have the capacity to activate drug-seeking behavior selectively oriented toward stimuli previously associated with their administration. Topics: Animals; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Conditioning, Operant; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Infusions, Intravenous; Male; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Recurrence; Self Administration | 2001 |
Detection of non-prescription heroin markers in urine with liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry.
The planned introduction of a prescription heroin program in Germany created a need for differentiation between non-prescription and prescribed diamorphine use. The following substances were chosen as markers of non-prescription heroin: acetylcodeine (AC); its metabolites codeine (C) and codeine 6-glucuronide (C6G); papaverine (P); and noscapine (N). Typical heroin markers diamorphine (DAM) and its metabolites monoacetylmorphine (MAM) and morphine (M) were also determined. The drugs were extracted from urine samples with solid-phase extraction (C18) using standard 200-mg columns and 96-well microplates (100 mg). The extracts were examined with liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (positive ionization) in two isocratic systems. Selected ion monitoring procedures were applied for protonated molecular masses and characteristic fragments of drugs involved. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.5-1 ng/mL urine. The occurrence of selected heroin markers was investigated in 25 urine samples collected from heroin abusers (road traffic offenders and overdosed patients). C6G was found in all samples, C in 24 samples, N in 22 samples, MAM in 16 samples, P in 14 samples, DAM in 12 samples, and AC in 4 samples. The appearance of these compounds in urine reflects their pharmacokinetic properties and the composition of non-prescription heroin. Topics: Adult; Biomarkers; Chromatography, Liquid; Codeine; Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Mass Spectrometry; Narcotics; Papaverine; Sensitivity and Specificity; Vasodilator Agents | 2001 |
Concentration ratios of codeine-to-morphine in plasma after a single oral dose (100 mg) of codeine phosphate.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Codeine; Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Kinetics; Male; Morphine; Narcotics | 2001 |
Acute opioid withdrawal in the emergency department: inadvertent naltrexone abuse?
From July 1999 it became evident that a rising number of heroin users were presenting to the Dandenong Hospital Emergency Department with a rapid onset, florid opioid withdrawal syndrome following the intravenous injection of what they had believed to be heroin. We suspect that the injected substance was in fact naltrexone. This paper describes two such cases and reviews the literature on naltrexone. Recommendations regarding the management of the acute opioid withdrawal syndrome are made. Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Colic; Emergency Medical Services; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Naltrexone; Narcotics; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Vomiting | 2001 |
[Bronchospasm from heroin inhalation].
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Bronchial Spasm; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male | 2001 |
Heroin smoking by "chasing the dragon" in young opiate users in Ireland: stability and associations with use to "come down" off "Ecstasy".
We explored the frequency of commencing opiate use by "chasing the dragon" to "come down" off Ecstasy and the stability of heroin smoking in young opiate takers by assessing 102 subjects in Dublin using a semistructured interview. Ninety-two subjects had used Ecstasy. Of these, 68 reported "chasing" to "come down" off Ecstasy at some point in their history and were found to have used Ecstasy more frequently and in larger amounts. Thirty-six reported that their first experience of using opiates was to "come down" off Ecstasy, 28 citing this as their main reason for commencement.Eighty-six of the 102 commenced opiates by "chasing" heroin, 61 of whom progressed to injecting after a mean of 2.9 years. This was associated with starting illicit drug use earlier, starting heroin earlier, and a history of using Ecstasy. Implications for service planners in developing responses to illicit drug use among adolescents are discussed. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Ireland; N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 2001 |
Heroin-induced reversible profound deafness and vestibular dysfunction.
Topics: Acute Disease; Deafness; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Vestibular Diseases | 2001 |
Heroin-related noncardiogenic pulmonary edema : a case series.
To examine the current clinical spectrum of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema (NCPE) related to heroin overdose.. Retrospective chart review of all identified patients from August 1994 through December 1998.. Urban academic hospital.. Heroin-related NCPE was defined as the syndrome in which a patient develops significant hypoxia (room air saturation < 90% with a respiratory rate > 12/min) within 24 h of a clinically apparent heroin overdose. This should be accompanied by radiographic evidence of diffuse pulmonary infiltrates not attributable to other causes, such as cardiac dysfunction, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, or bronchospasm, and which resolve clinically and radiographically within 48 h.. None.. Twenty-seven patients were identified during this 53-month period, with a majority being male patients (85%; average age, 34 years). Twenty patients (74%) were hypoxic on emergency department arrival, and 6 patients (22%) had symptoms develop within the first hour. One patient had significant hypoxia develop within 4 h. Nine patients (33%) required mechanical ventilation, and all intubated patients but one were extubated within 24 h. Eighteen patients (66%) were treated with supplemental oxygen alone. Hypoxia resolved spontaneously within 24 h in 74% of patients, with the rest (22%) resolving within 48 h. Twenty patients (74%) had classical radiograph findings of bilateral fluffy infiltrates, but unilateral pulmonary edema occurred in four patients (15%) and more localized disease occurred in two patients (7%).. NCPE is an infrequent complication of a heroin overdose. The clinical symptoms of NCPE are clinically apparent either immediately or within 4 h of the overdose. Mechanical ventilation is necessary in only 39% of patients. The incidence of NCPE related to heroin overdose has decreased substantially in the last few decades. Topics: Adult; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Pulmonary Edema; Retrospective Studies | 2001 |
Primary studies on heroin abuse and injury induced by oxidation and lipoperoxidation.
To further reveal serious risks of heroin abuse to human body and clarify grave injuries of oxidation, peroxidation and lipoperoxidation induced by nitric oxide and other free radicals to heroin abusers.. Determined and compared plasma levels of nitric oxide (P-NO), vitamin C (P-VC), vitamin E (P-VE), beta-carotene (P-beta-CAR), lipoperoxides (P-LPO) and erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase (E-SOD), catalase (E-CAT), glutathione peroxidase (E-GSH-Px) and erythrocyte level of lipoperoxides (E-LPO) in 137 cases of heroin abusers (HAs) and 100 cases of healthy volunteers (HVs), used linear regression and correlation, stepwise regression and correlation to analyze correlation among heroin-abusing-duration (HAD), daily-heroin-abusing-quantity (DHAQ) with above determination values in the HAs.. Compared with the above average values in the HVs group, the average values of P-NO, P-LPO, E-LPO in the HAs group were significantly increased (P < 0.0001), the average values of P-VC, P-VE, P-beta-CAR, E-SOD, E-CAT and E-GSH-Px were significantly decreased (P < 0.0001); the analysis of linear regression and correlation showed that with ascending of the HAD and DHAQ in the HAs, the values of P-NO, P-LPO, E-LPO were gradually increased (P < 0.0001), the values of P-VC, P-VE, P-beta-CAR, E-SOD, E-CAT, E-GSH-Px were gradually decreased (P < 0.0001); the analysis of stepwise regression and correlation suggested that the correlation among the HAD, DHAQ with the values of P-NO, P-VC, P-VE was the closest.. The balance between oxidation and antioxidation in the HAs was seriously destroyed, and the injuries induced by nitric oxide and other free radicals, oxidation, peroxidation and lipoperoxidation reactions to the body of HAs gravely exacerbated. In the abstaining from heroin dependence, therefore, it should consider that sufficient quantum antioxidants such as VC, VE and beta-CAR are dosed to the HAs so as to abate the injuries to their bodies. Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Catalase; Erythrocytes; Female; Glutathione Peroxidase; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Linear Models; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipid Peroxides; Male; Nitric Oxide; Oxidation-Reduction; Superoxide Dismutase; Time Factors; Vitamin E | 2001 |
Medical prescription of heroin--a review.
There are many problems associated with injection drug use, problems that affect both the users themselves as well as those close to them and the society in which they live. Whether through complications associated with drug use (multiple infections, mental health problems, etc) or through the consequences on those close to them and on society (family dysfunction, crime, etc), the costs of illegal drug use are considerably greater than the costs of treating drug users. Topics: Canada; Clinical Trials as Topic; Ethics, Medical; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Public Health; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Switzerland | 2001 |
[The history of heroin].
The discovery of heroin and the development of heroin abuse are introduced. Heroin, the hydrochloride of diacetylmorphine, was discovered by acetylation of morphine. Heroin, in pharmacological studies, proved to be more effective than morphine or codeine. The Bayer Company started the production of heroin in 1898 on a commercial scale. The first clinical results were so promising that heroin was considered a wonder drug. Indeed, heroin was more effective than codeine in respiratory diseases. It has turned out, however, that repeated administration of heroin results in the development of tolerance and the patients become heroin-addicts soon. In the early 1910s morphine addicts "discovered" the euphorising properties of heroin and this effect was enhanced by intravenous administration. Heroin became a narcotic drug and its abuse began to spread quickly. Restrictions on its production, use and distribution were regulated by international treties. The total ban on heroin production was also proposed. As a result of the strict regulations the production and cosumption of heroin showed a significant decrease after 1931. At the same time the underworld recognized the shortage of heroin and started the illicit production and trafficking. The quantity of heroin seized by law enforcement agencies in the past decades rose gradually. As an indicator of the worldwide heroin market, the quantity of confiscated heroin underwent a tenfold increase since 1970. The paper surveys the most important heroin-producing and trafficking countries. Heroin, prepared in clandestine ("kitchen" or "jungle") laboratories, is diluted ("cut") by every member of the illegal heroin distributing chain, i.e. smugglers, traffickers, dealers and vendors. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; History, 20th Century; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Narcotics | 2001 |
Clonidine blocks stress-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking in rats: an effect independent of locus coeruleus noradrenergic neurons.
Using a reinstatement procedure, it has been shown that intermittent footshock stress reliably reinstates extinguished drug-taking behaviour in rats. Here we studied the role of noradrenaline (NE), one of the main brain neurotransmitters involved in responses to stress, in reinstatement of heroin seeking. We first determined the effect of clonidine, an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist that decreases NE cell firing and release, on stress-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin (0.1 mg/kg per infusion, IV, three 3-h sessions per day) for 9-10 days. Extinction sessions were given for up to 11 days during which saline was substituted for the drug. Tests for reinstatement were then conducted after exposure to intermittent footshock (5, 15 and 30 min, 0.5 mA). During testing, clonidine was injected systemically (10-40 microgram/kg, i.p.) or directly into the lateral or fourth ventricles (1-3 microram). Clonidine (1-2 microgram per site) or its charged analogue, 2-[2, 6-diethylphenylamino]-2-imidazole (ST-91, 0.5-1 microgram per site), was also injected bilaterally into the locus coeruleus (LC), the main noradrenergic cell group in the brain. Clonidine blocked stress-induced reinstatement of drug seeking when injected systemically or into the cerebral ventricles. In contrast, neither clonidine nor ST-91 consistently altered stress-induced reinstatement when injected into the locus coeruleus. We therefore studied the effect of lesions of the lateral tegmental NE neurons on stress-induced reinstatement. 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions performed after training for heroin self-administration had no effect on extinction of heroin-taking behaviour, but significantly attenuated reinstatement induced by intermittent footshock. These data suggest that: (i) clonidine prevents stress-induced relapse to heroin seeking by its action on neurons other than those of the locus coeruleus; and (ii) activation of the lateral tegmental NE neurons contributes to stress-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. Topics: Animals; Cerebral Ventricles; Clonidine; Electroshock; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Injections, Intraventricular; Locus Coeruleus; Male; Medial Forebrain Bundle; Neurons; Norepinephrine; Oxidopamine; Parasympathomimetics; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Self Administration; Stress, Psychological | 2000 |
Chasing the dragon--neurological toxicity associated with inhalation of heroin vapour: case report.
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Electroencephalography; Fatal Outcome; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Narcotics; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Volatilization | 2000 |
Effects of compounding drug-related stimuli: escalation of heroin self-administration.
Previous experiments have demonstrated that presenting independently established discriminative stimuli in compound can substantially increase operant responding maintained by food reinforcement or shock avoidance. Recently, this phenomenon was also shown to occur with cocaine self-administration. The present study further assessed the generality of these stimulus-compounding effects by systematically replicating them with heroin self-administration. Rats' nose-poke responses produced intravenous heroin (0.025 mg/kg per infusion) on a variable-ratio schedule when either a tone or a light was present. In the absence of these stimuli, responding was not reinforced. Once discriminative control by the tone and light had been established, the stimuli were presented in compound under extinction (with heroin discontinued) or maintenance conditions (with heroin available during test-stimulus presentations). In extinction, the tone-light compound increased responding approximately threefold compared to tone or light alone. Under maintenance conditions, compounding increased heroin intake approximately twofold. These effects closely matched those obtained earlier with cocaine. This consistency across pharmacological classes and across drug and nondrug reinforcers further confirms that (a) self-administered drugs support conditioning and learning in a manner similar to that supported by other reinforcers; and (b) multiple drug-related cues interact in lawful and predictable ways to affect drug seeking and consumption. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Disease Models, Animal; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Motivation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration | 2000 |
Microinjections of an opiate receptor antagonist into the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis suppress heroin self-administration in dependent rats.
Recent anatomical evidence suggests that the shell of the nucleus accumbens, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and the central nucleus of the amygdala, together referred to as the extended amygdala, may play a role in opiate dependence. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the shell of the nucleus accumbens have a moderately high density of opiate receptors, which allows for manipulation of opiate neurotransmission with receptor antagonists. The goal of this study was to determine the role these regions play in opiate reinforcement, and whether dependence alters the reinforcing effects of opiates by examining the effect of local administration of the opiate receptor antagonist methylnaloxonium on heroin self-administration in dependent and nondependent rats. Previous studies revealed that blockade of the reinforcing effects of opiates with systemic administration of opiate receptor antagonists results in an increase in heroin self-administration in nondependent rats, and a greater increase in dependent rats. In the present study, methylnaloxonium dose-dependently suppressed heroin intake when injected into the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and shell of the nucleus accumbens of dependent rats, and had no effect in nondependent rats. These results demonstrate that opiate receptors in parts of the extended amygdala may be responsible for the reinforcing effects of opiates in dependent animals and suggest that activity in this system may be recruited during the development of dependence. Topics: Animals; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Microinjections; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Nucleus Accumbens; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Self Administration; Septal Nuclei | 2000 |
Heroin-induced neuronal activation in rat brain assessed by functional MRI.
The present study demonstrates the application of fMRI technology to neuropharmacology and the interaction of drug/receptor in the rat brain. Specifically, we have observed two different types of fMRI signal changes induced by acute i.v. heroin administration in rat brains under conditions of spontaneous and artificial respiration. Under spontaneous respiration, a global decrease in fMRI signal was observed; under artificial respiration, a region-specific increase in fMRI signal was identified and the activation sites are consistent with the distribution of opiate mu-receptors in rat brain as previously reported by autoradiography. Both heroin-induced fMRI signal changes were suppressed by pretreatment of naloxone, an opiate mu-receptor antagonist, and reversed by injection of naloxone following heroin infusion. These results suggest that fMRI has specific advantages in spatial and temporal resolution for studies of neuropharmacology and drugs of abuse. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Blood Pressure; Brain; Brain Mapping; Energy Metabolism; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Linear Models; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Neurons; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Opioid, mu | 2000 |
Involvement of the medial septum in stress-induced relapse to heroin seeking in rats.
Intermittent footshock stress has been shown to reinstate extinguished drug-taking behaviour in rats, but the brain areas involved in this effect are to a large degree unknown. Here we studied the role of the septum in stress-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin for 9-10 days (three 3-h sessions per day, 0.1 mg/kg per infusion). Following training, extinction sessions were given for 8-13 days by substituting saline for heroin, and then tests for reinstatement of heroin seeking were carried out. Reversible inactivation of the medial septum with tetrodotoxin (TTX; 1-5 ng, infused 25-40 min before the test sessions) reliably reinstated heroin seeking, mimicking the effect of 15 min of intermittent footshock. This effect of TTX was not observed after infusions made 1.5 mm dorsally into the lateral septum. In other experiments, it was found that infusions of a low, subthreshold dose of TTX (0.5 ng) into the medial septum, when combined with 2 min of footshock that in itself was ineffective, reinstated heroin seeking. Furthermore, electrical stimulation (400 microA pulses, 100 micros duration, 100 Hz frequency) of the medial septum during exposure to 10 min of intermittent footshock attenuated footshock-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking. These data suggest a role for the medial septum in stress-induced relapse to drug seeking. The septum is thought to be involved in neuronal processes underlying behavioural inhibition, thus we speculate that stressors provoke relapse by interfering with these processes. Topics: Animals; Electroshock; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Neurons; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Recurrence; Self Administration; Septal Nuclei; Stress, Psychological; Tetrodotoxin | 2000 |
Quality of heroin and heroin-related deaths from 1987 to 1995 in Vienna, Austria.
To investigate the quality of heroin seized in Vienna between 1987 and 1995 and to examine whether there was a relationship between the quality of heroin and the rate of drug-related deaths.. Reports of heroin seizure analysis and post-mortem reports of heroin-related deaths in Vienna from 1987 to 1995 were analysed.. There were 386 seizures of heroin comprising a total weight of 25 640.12 g heroin. All the seizures were in the base form. All seizures also contained a diluent, mainly lactose. Additionally, in 95 seizures caffeine, in four seizures paracetamol and in three seizures metaqualon were detected. Of a total of 764 drug-related deaths 506 cases were classified as heroin-related deaths. In 336 cases other central nervous system-depressant drugs and/or alcohol could be detected in the blood in addition to morphine (polydrug heroin-related deaths). There was evidence of a trend towards greater polydrug involvement during the study period. The age of victims of polydrug heroin-related deaths remained unchanged over time while the age of victims of pure heroin-related deaths decreased significantly. The morphine concentration in the medulla oblongata in heroin-related deaths decreased significantly. Finally, there was no statistically significant relationship between the rate of heroin-related deaths per year and the diacetylmorphine concentration of heroin seizures in that year.. The results did not substantiate the widely held belief that increases in heroin-related deaths could be explained by an increase in the quality of heroin. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Austria; Drug Contamination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Sex Distribution | 2000 |
Drug deposition in adipose tissue and skin: evidence for an alternative source of positive sweat patch tests.
In a series of licit and illicit drug-related deaths, qualitative and quantitative analyses on extracts of adipose tissue and skin were performed by GC/MS. In all cases, the adipose tissue was found to contain drugs at concentrations lower than, approximately equal to, or even greater than the concentrations of the same analytes found in the blood, which may reflect a consequence of long-term chronic exposure, or acute intoxication, or some combination of both. Approximately one cubic inch of skin with adipose tissue was removed from the mid to lower abdominal region adjacent to the midline incision during autopsy. The drugs were recovered from the specimens following incubation and alkaline, acidic, and alkaline chloroform back extraction of one to three grams of tissue. Deuterated analogs of the analytes were added to the matrix at the beginning of the incubation period. Cocaine and free morphine (from heroin) were readily identified in several cases. The presence of these illicit drugs in adipose tissue raises significant forensic questions, especially the use of 'sweat patches' to monitor recent cocaine or heroin use in chronic drug users. Topics: Adipose Tissue; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Deuterium; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Morphine; Narcotics; Opioid-Related Disorders; Radiopharmaceuticals; Skin; Substance Abuse Detection; Sweat | 2000 |
Pulmonary edema in fatal heroin overdose: immunohistological investigations with IgE, collagen IV and laminin - no increase of defects of alveolar-capillary membranes.
Pulmonary edema complicating heroin overdosage is a well recognized entity and regarded as the major mechanism contributing to death in heroin addicts. It's pathogenesis is unknown, several mechanisms are discussed: hypoxia-induced increase of pulmonary capillary permeability, depressed myocardial contractility, centrally induced respiratory depression, primary toxic effects on the alveolar capillaries and acute anaphylactic shock. The present study included opiate-related deaths (n=23) and a control group of sudden cardiovascular deaths (n=12) to verify the hypothesis, that defects of the alveolar capillary membranes and/or an acute anaphylactic reaction leads to pulmonary congestion, edema and hemorrhages. Lung specimens were obtained from these 35 autopsies of persons autopsied in the Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bonn, in 1997 and 1998. All specimens were examined with hematoxylin-eosin, prussian blue and investigated with immunohistological methods using primary antibodies against collagen IV, laminin and IgE. Defects of the basal laminae of the alveoli were found, demonstrated by laminin and collagen IV, and the number of IgE-positive cells was counted in both groups. There was an increased but not significant number of IgE-positive cells in the heroin-group and defects of the epithelial and endothelial basal laminae were found in both groups without significant differences. Topics: Anaphylaxis; Antibodies; Basement Membrane; Capillaries; Capillary Permeability; Cause of Death; Collagen; Coloring Agents; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Drug Overdose; Endothelium, Vascular; Epithelial Cells; Female; Hemorrhage; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypoxia; Immunoglobulin E; Immunohistochemistry; Laminin; Male; Myocardial Contraction; Narcotics; Pulmonary Alveoli; Pulmonary Edema; Respiration | 2000 |
[Tizanidine in the treatment of acute withdrawal symptoms in heroin dependent patients].
One of the treatment alternative of withdrawal symptoms of patients suffering from opiate dependence is to apply the clonidine in combination or itself. This remedy is not in commercial trade in our country. It is expectable according to the recent data analysing the effects of the alfa2 adreneregic agonist tizanidine that tizanidine has the similar protective effect as clonidine with the resembling target point. Based on this theory a research was done, in the course of which the i.v. heroin users who presented themselves at the Drug Outpatient Department of Buda between 1.10.1998-8.01.1999. were divided into two groups. The groups had got the usual detoxification treatment, but in the experimental group tizanidine were given in 3 x 8 mg/day dose too. Sixteen patients were in the tizanidine group, 10 patients were in the control group. The patients estimated the intensity of 7 symptoms of withdrawal (sweating, nervousness, insomnia, tremor, diarrhoea, muscle pain, drug craving) on a subjective scale day by day. The analysis showed that the tizanidine treatment decreased the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms in every symptom type examined. The ten days long acute withdrawal period were accomplished by all of the patients, but in the short course of the following (mean 9 and 11 weeks in the treated and the control groups respectively) there were three relapses in each group (3/16 in the treated and 3/10 in the control). Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Analgesics; Anticonvulsants; Case-Control Studies; Clonidine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Muscle Relaxants, Central; Narcotics; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Treatment Outcome | 2000 |
[Sex cases of sudden death after snorting heroin analyzed. Reduced tolerance in periodic abuse a danger both in snorting and injecting].
Heroin injection entails a risk of infection and can result in sudden collapse and death. During the past few years alternative routes of heroin use have been introduced. During 1997-1998 we observed six deaths which occurred suddenly following heroin snorting. These victims were all temporary drug users in good health and physical condition. They all died with low morphine concentrations; however, three had relatively high blood alcohol concentrations and two were under the influence of medicinal drugs. Temporary use of heroin is characterized by low drug tolerance; snorting of heroin appears to entail the same risk of sudden death as injection. Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Death, Sudden; Drug Tolerance; Female; Forensic Medicine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors | 2000 |
Leukoencephalopathy and raised brain lactate from heroin vapor inhalation.
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Brain; Demyelinating Diseases; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypoxia, Brain; Lactic Acid | 2000 |
Fatal heroin overdoses resulting from non-injecting routes of administration, NSW, Australia, 1992-1996.
To document cases of fatal heroin overdose in New South Wales by non-injecting routes of administration, and to compare the characteristics and toxicology of these cases with injecting fatalities.. Examination of coronial files.. New South Wales, Australia.. All fatal heroin overdose cases in NSW between 1992 and 1996.. There were 10 cases of death resulting from non-injecting routes of heroin administration between 1992 and 1996, representing 1% of cases. In three cases the route of administration was by inhalation, in five cases by nasal administration and in two cases by swallowing. The mean age of cases was 29.6 years, and nine of the cases were male. The median blood morphine concentration of non-injectors was 0.31 mg/l (range 0.06-0.99 mg/l). Drugs other than morphine were also detected in seven cases.. Heroin overdose deaths are not restricted to the injection of heroin. While injection may constitute a greater overdose risk-factor, there is no safe, overdose-free way to use heroin. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; New South Wales | 2000 |
Chronic heroin self-administration desensitizes mu opioid receptor-activated G-proteins in specific regions of rat brain.
In previous studies from our laboratory, chronic noncontingent morphine administration decreased mu opioid receptor-activated G-proteins in specific brainstem nuclei. In the present study, mu opioid receptor binding and receptor-activated G-proteins were examined after chronic heroin self-administration. Rats were trained to self-administer intravenous heroin for up to 39 d, achieving heroin intake up to 366 mg. kg(-1). d(-1). mu opioid-stimulated [(35)S]GTPgammaS and [(3)H]naloxone autoradiography were performed in adjacent brain sections. Agonist-stimulated [(35)S]GTPgammaS autoradiography also examined other G-protein-coupled receptors, including delta opioid, ORL-1, GABA(B), adenosine A(1), cannabinoid, and 5-HT(1A). In brains from heroin self-administering rats, decreased mu opioid-stimulated [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding was observed in periaqueductal gray, locus coeruleus, lateral parabrachial nucleus, and commissural nucleus tractus solitarius, as previously observed in chronic morphine-treated animals. In addition, decreased mu opioid-stimulated [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding was found in thalamus and amygdala after heroin self-administration. Despite this decrease in mu-activated G-proteins, [(3)H]naloxone binding demonstrated increased mu opioid receptor binding in several brain regions after heroin self-administration, and there was a significant decrease in mu receptor G-protein efficiency as expressed as a ratio between agonist-activated G-proteins and mu receptor binding. No effects on agonist-stimulated [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding were found for any other receptor examined. The effect of chronic heroin self-administration to decrease mu-stimulated [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding varied between regions and was highest in brainstem and lowest in the cortex and striatum. These results not only provide potential neuronal mechanisms that may contribute to opioid tolerance and dependence, but also may explain why various chronic effects of opioids develop to different degrees. Topics: Animals; Autoradiography; Brain; GTP-Binding Proteins; Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Kinetics; Male; Naloxone; Organ Specificity; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Self Administration; Sulfur Radioisotopes; Tritium | 2000 |
[Improved methods to help drug dependent patients. Drugs against dependence?. Interview by Petra Eiden].
Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Animals; Arousal; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Motivation; Rats | 2000 |
Acute dependence on, but not tolerance to, heroin and morphine as measured by respiratory effects in rhesus monkeys.
Acute dependence on and tolerance to heroin and morphine were assessed in rhesus monkeys using measures of respiration. Respiratory frequency (f) and minute volume (V(e)) were measured in monkeys breathing air or 5% CO(2) in air using a pressure-displacement plethysmograph. Cumulative doses of naltrexone (0.0001-1.0 mg/kg, i.m) did not alter these parameters in untreated monkeys. Twenty-four hours after a cumulative dose of heroin (1 mg/kg, i.m.), naltrexone produced an increase in both f and V(e) when monkeys were breathing air or 5% CO(2). Following 1 to 3 days of treatment with heroin (0.5 mg/kg/day, i.m.) or morphine (16 mg/kg/day, i.m.), naltrexone produced an increase in f and V(e) that was related to the dose of naltrexone and the number of days of agonist administration. Two days following termination of heroin administration, naltrexone-induced respiratory stimulation declined and had disappeared completely by the fifth day. In tolerance studies, heroin (0.032-0.5 mg/kg, i.m.) and morphine (1-16 mg/kg, i. m.) were injected cumulatively each day for three consecutive days. These drugs suppressed f and V(e) to nearly the same extent on day 3 as they had on day 1 of administration. These results suggest that dependence to morphine and heroin can be measured under conditions of acute 1 to 3 day administration conditions in primates using f and V(e) as reliable and quantitative indicators of opioid withdrawal. Under these conditions, tolerance does not occur. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Carbon Dioxide; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Tolerance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Macaca mulatta; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Respiration; Time Factors | 2000 |
Deaths among heroin users present a puzzle.
Topics: Anthrax; Bacillus anthracis; Cause of Death; Clostridium; Clostridium Infections; Drug Contamination; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Ireland; Spores, Bacterial; United Kingdom | 2000 |
Acute myelopathy following intranasal insufflation of heroin: a case report.
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Paraplegia; Spinal Cord; Spinal Cord Diseases | 2000 |
Detoxification with buprenorphine of a pregnant heroin addict.
This is a case report and literature review concerning the use of buprenorphine for detoxification in a pregnant addict. It presents the clinical management of the complexities of opiate addiction and pregnancy. I suggest a more vigorous study of buprenorphine for opiate withdrawal in motivated pregnant addicts. Topics: Adult; Buprenorphine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications | 2000 |
Stress and relapse to drug seeking in rats: studies on the generality of the effect.
Intermittent footshock reinstates drug-taking behavior in rats, but not behaviors previously maintained by food reinforcers. Here we tested further the generality of this phenomenon by determining whether restraint and food deprivation stressors would reinstate heroin seeking, whether the environment in which footshock is given modulates footshock-induced reinstatement, and whether footshock would reinstate operant responding previously maintained by brain stimulation reward (BSR).. Groups of rats were trained to self-administer for 10 days either heroin (0.05-0.1 mg/kg/infusion, IV, three 3-h sessions/day) or brain stimulation into the septal area (trains of monopolar cathodal pulses of 100 micros for 500 ms, one 60-min session/day). After extinction of the heroin-reinforced behavior (10-13 days), the rats were tested for reinstatement after exposure to food deprivation (1 and 21 h), restraint given outside the self-administration environment (5, 15 and 30 min), or intermittent footshock (0.8 mA, 15 min) given in the self-administration environment or in a novel (non-drug) environment. For BSR-trained rats, the effect of footshock on reinstatement after extinction (6-10 days) was compared with that induced by noncontingent brain stimulation (three or six discrete stimulations at the start of the test sessions).. Food deprivation reinstated heroin seeking. Footshock reliably reinstated heroin seeking when given in the drug environment, but not when given in a non-drug environment. Similarly, restraint given outside the self-administration environment failed to reinstate heroin seeking. In addition, footshock was as effective as priming brain stimulation in reinstating operant responding previously maintained by BSR.. The effect of footshock on reinstatement of heroin seeking generalizes to food deprivation, and appears to be dependent on the environment in which the stressor is given. The data with BSR indicate that the phenomenon of footshock-induced reinstatement is not selective for drug reinforcers. Topics: Animals; Electric Stimulation; Electroshock; Food Deprivation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Reward; Septum of Brain; Stress, Psychological; Substance-Related Disorders | 2000 |
'Sending the wrong signal': analysis of print media reportage of the ACT heroin prescription trial proposal, August 1997.
To analyse and compare newspaper coverage about heroin during a period spanning two government policy decisions to approve, then prevent, a trial of heroin prescription to dependent users.. All articles published about heroin spanning the two policy decisions (1-19 August 1997) were collected from seven major Australian newspapers. Analyses included content and orientation analyses of all articles and discourse analysis of articles (excluding letters) containing value-laden statements about heroin prescription. Comparisons were made of content, orientation and subtextual themes employed by opponents and proponents of heroin prescription.. 231 articles with references to heroin were identified from seven newspapers, 28% were published by The Daily Telegraph. This newspaper campaigned against the heroin prescription trial with 66% of news articles and 100% of opinion items negative in orientation, compared to averages of 11% and 16% of news and opinion articles published by comparison newspapers. Seven subtexts were identified in coverage opposing heroin prescription including "surrender in the war on drugs", "government as drug pedlar" and "deserving/undeserving citizens". Six subtexts supportive of heroin prescription were identified including "failure of prohibition" and "time for new approaches".. The mid-1997 policy reversal on heroin prescription was due, in part, to the higher activity of opponents following approval of the trial and because proponents did not reframe discourses used to denigrate the proposal.. To be successful, advocates of new policy need to recognise and reframe negative discourses to create new dominant themes which address the concerns of the public. Topics: Australia; Bibliometrics; Criminal Law; Drug and Narcotic Control; Drug Prescriptions; Health Policy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Newspapers as Topic; Public Opinion | 2000 |
Diffuse, intense lung uptake on a bone scan: a case report.
Clinical and scintigraphic findings are described in a patient with unexpected diffuse lung uptake on bone scan after a heroin overdose.. The patient's Tc-99m MDP bone scan is reviewed along with the pertinent clinical history and laboratory findings.. Marked diffuse and symmetric lung uptake is present on bone scintigraphy in a patient with a history of acute renal failure and a markedly elevated calcium-phosphate product but normal renal function and laboratory values at the time of the examination.. The incidental observation of metastatic calcification by bone scintigraphy is important, because it may aid in the diagnosis of a previously unsuggested elevated calcium-phosphate product, renal failure, or both. Furthermore, the intensity of tracer localization on bone tracer-specific imaging may help evaluate the activity of the metastatic calcification process. Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adult; Bone and Bones; Calcinosis; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Lung Diseases; Male; Narcotics; Radionuclide Imaging; Radiopharmaceuticals; Rhabdomyolysis; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate | 2000 |
Experience of heroin overdose among drug users attending general practice.
Heroin overdose is responsible for significant mortality. It has not previously been highlighted as an important prevention or care issue for general practitioners (GPs) involved in the management of drug misuse.. To examine the prevalence and experience of heroin overdose in a population of drug users attending a general practice.. A questionnaire-based interview of drug users attending a general practice in Dublin, Ireland.. Twenty-four (73% of estimated total) drug users were interviewed. Although 17 (71%) were on recognised methadone treatment programmes, 10 (42%) were still injecting heroin. A total of 23 (96%) had witnessed an overdose, with 10 (42%) having been victims of overdose themselves. Twenty-two (92%) knew a victim of fatal overdose, with four (17%) having been present at a fatal overdose. The interviews revealed high levels of activity associated with overdose and poor use of preventive measures.. The issue of prevention and management of overdose should become a priority for GPs caring for opiate-dependent patients. Topics: Adult; Drug Overdose; Family Practice; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Northern Ireland; Physician's Role; Surveys and Questionnaires | 2000 |
Association analysis of polymorphisms in the DRD4 gene and heroin abuse in Chinese subjects.
Heroin abuse is a major social and public health problem in many parts of the world, yet relatively little is known about its etiology. Although genes play a role in determining susceptibility, they are expected to be of small effect with considerable heterogeneity. Because the dopamine system is involved in reward, its neurotransmitter receptors are candidates for etiological involvement in addiction. In the present study, we examine two polymorphisms in the dopamine D4 receptor, a VNTR in exon III and a point mutation in the promoter (-512C/T) that affects transcriptional efficiency. We examined a sample of 405 heroin-abusing subjects and 304 controls from Sichuan Province, Southwest China. One hundred twenty-one of these cases and 154 controls were previously used in a study of the DRD4 VNTR [Li et al., 1997], and the remainder are newly ascertained. The two polymorphisms were in weak but detectable linkage disequilibrium (1, 418 chromosomes, P < 0.00001, D' = 0.17). When we compared the heroin-abuse group with controls, we found no significant difference between the patients and controls for either polymorphism in the DRD4 gene or their haplotypes. We were also unable to replicate our earlier association between "long" DRD4 alleles and heroin abuse. However, division of the sample by route of administration (nasal inhalers or injectors) produced a significant difference between inhalers and controls for the DRD4 VNTR (six-fold corrected P = 0. 018 by allele) but not for injectors of heroin. The association we observed between inhalers and the DRD4 polymorphism is difficult to interpret, although it is possible that the association is explained by different levels of novelty seeking between the two subgroups. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Adult; Alleles; China; DNA; Exons; Female; Gene Frequency; Genotype; Haplotypes; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections; Male; Middle Aged; Polymorphism, Genetic; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Receptors, Dopamine D2; Receptors, Dopamine D4; Tandem Repeat Sequences | 2000 |
Heroin abuse and nitric oxide, oxidation, peroxidation, lipoperoxidation.
To further reveal the risks of heroin abuse to human body, and to determine the injuries of oxidation, peroxidation and lipoperoxidation induced by nitric oxide and other free radicals to heroin abusers, we determined and compared plasma values of lipoperoxides (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), vitamin C (VC), vitamin E (VE), beta-carotene (beta-CAR) and erythrocyte values of LPO, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in 114 heroin abusers and 100 healthy volunteers. Using linear regression and correlation as well as stepwise regression and correlation, we also analyzed the effect of the abusing duration, and daily abusing quantity on the above-mentioned biochemical parameters in the heroin abusers. The results showed that, compared with the healthy volunteer groups, the average plasma values of LPO, and NO, and the average erythrocyte value of LPO in the heroin abuser group were significantly increased (P < 0.0001), and the average plasma values of VC, VE, and beta-CAR and the average erythrocyte values of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px were significantly decreased (P < 0.0001). Analysis of linear regression and correlation showed that with prolonged heroin abusing and with increased daily quantity in the heroin abusers, the plasma values of LPO, and NO, and the erythrocyte value of LPO were gradually increased (P < 0.001), whereas the plasma values of VC, VE, and beta-CAR and the erythrocyte values of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px were gradually decreased (P < 0.001). Analysis of stepwise regression and correlation indicated that the plasma values of NO, VC and VE were closely correlated with the abusing duration and daily abusing quantity. These results indicate that the balance between oxidation and antioxidation in the heroin abusers was seriously disturbed, and the injuries induced by nitric oxide and other free radicals, through oxidation, peroxidation and lipoperoxidation to the bodies of heroin abusers exacerbated. It is therefore necessary that in abstaining from heroin dependence, the heroin abusers should acquire sufficient quantities of antioxidants such as VC, VE and beta-CAR. Topics: Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Free Radicals; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Lipid Peroxidation; Nitric Oxide; Oxidation-Reduction; Vitamin E | 2000 |
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of intravenously, orally and rectally administered diacetylmorphine in opioid dependents, a two-patient pilot study within a heroin-assisted treatment program.
The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of high-dose intravenous (i.v.), oral and rectal diacetylmorphine (diamorphine, heroin, DAM) preparations were compared.. Two heroin-dependent patients participating in a heroin-assisted treatment program received single or repeated doses of 200 - 690 mg DAM i.v., orally (capsules, controlled-release tablets) and rectally. Plasma and urine profiles of DAM and metabolites were monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry, flash and high effects by visual analog scaling (VAS).. DAM was only detectable in plasma after i.v. administration. With a t 1/2 beta of 1.3 - 2.2 min it was rapidly desacetylated to 6-acetylmorphine which was further metabolized to morphine and its 3- and 6-O-glucuronide. Morphine-3-glucuronide was the dominating metabolite in plasma and urine independent of the administration route. Oral and rectal doses and dosage intervals were adequate to produce flash and high effects without any cardiovascular and respiratory side-effects nor withdrawal symptoms.. Oral and rectal DAM should further be tested and validated on a wider patient group for the non-invasive, long-term application of high-dose DAM within heroin-assisted treatment programs as alternative to the harmful i.v. application. Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Opioid-Related Disorders; Pilot Projects; Suppositories | 2000 |
[Development of skin diseases in intravenous drug dependent patients treated with heroin substitution].
Drug addiction is linked with increased prevalence of various illnesses. Of major importance are skin diseases which often have a powerful influence on the health. Analysis of the situation in Switzerland at the outset of the 1990s showed that not all drug addicts could be reached with the existing range of treatments. For this reason, heroin-supported treatment was examined as a new therapy option from 1994 on. The influence on the skin's health are examined in this study. The minimum age of those admitted was set at age 20. Heroin addiction had to date back at least two years, and several treatment efforts had to have failed. Data of 1,035 patients was based on tests at admission and after six, 12, and 18 months of treatment. Some 18% of drug consumers indicated abcesses at admission, and almost 30% showed phlegmones. The prevalence of all skin diseases examined show significant declines over the 18 months of treatment. The relative risk resulting from puncture points fell to 0.35 (SD: 0.26-0.47), from phlegmones to 0.24 (SD: 0.14-0.41), from absesses to 0.31 (SD: 0.15-0.60). This study shows that skin diseases are a frequent and important complication among intravenous drug addicts. Heroin-supported treatment led to favourable progress of the dermatological situation among patients. Topics: Abscess; Adult; Cellulitis; Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Incidence; Male; Skin Diseases, Infectious; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Switzerland | 2000 |
Should we conduct a trial of distributing naloxone to heroin users for peer administration to prevent fatal overdose?
Heroin overdose is a major cause of death among heroin users, and often occurs in the company of other users. However, sudden death after injection is rare, giving ample opportunity for intervention. Naloxone hydrochloride, an injectable opioid antagonist which reverses the respiratory depression, sedation and hypotension associated with opioids, has long been used to treat opioid overdose. Experts have suggested that, as part of a comprehensive overdose prevention strategy, naloxone should be provided to heroin users for peer administration after an overdose. A trial could be conducted to determine whether this intervention improves the management of overdose or results in a net increase in harm (by undermining existing prevention strategies, precipitating naloxone-related complications, or resulting in riskier heroin use). Topics: Australia; Drug Overdose; First Aid; Health Planning; Health Policy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Peer Group; Pilot Projects; Preventive Health Services | 2000 |
Heroin overdose and myoglobinuric acute renal failure.
Heroin abuse is an increasing problem in Australia. In our hospitals we have noted an apparent increase in drug-related admissions. In this study we aimed to examine the incidence of renal failure due to heroin-related rhabdomyolysis and to determine any predisposing factors to the requirement for dialysis in these patients.. We identified a group of 27 patients who developed renal failure after recent intravenous heroin use. There was a significant rise in the incidence during 1997-1998 compared with the previous seven years (p < 0.05).. Rhabdomyolysis was the likely cause of renal failure in all cases. Eight patients required dialysis for an average of 14 days (range 3-26). Patients who required dialysis had a higher admission creatine kinase (115 x 10(3) U/l (1-316), median (range), versus 9 x 10(3) (0-91 ), p < 0.05 ), a higher admission creatinine (3.8 mg/dl (2.1- 6.7) versus 2.4 (1.4-8.1), p < 0.05 ), a higher peak creatinine kinase (129 x 10(3) U/l (2-316) versus 22 x 10(3) (3-197), p < 0.05), a lower urine output in the initial 24 hours (0.91/24 hrs (0.1-1.5) versus 3.9(1.0-11.1), p < 0.005) and a longer length of hospitalization (37 days (17-112) versus 12 (5-87), p < 0.05). No patient died and all patients had independent renal function at last review. The majority of patients had significant comorbidities. The incidence of serological evidence of exposure to blood-borne viruses was HIV 5% (n = 1), hepatitis B 10% (n = 2) and hepatitis C 74% (n = 17) of patients tested. Pneumonia occurred in 52% (n = 14) and 26% (n = 7) developed respiratory failure requiring intubation. 22% (n = 6) developed a compartment syndrome requiring fasciotomy and 37% (n = 10) had significant residual limb weakness at discharge.. There is an increase in patients admitted with rhabdomyolysis-induced renal failure associated with heroin use in our hospitals. We found a varied approach to an increasing clinical problem and suggest that a consistent investigative and therapeutic approach be introduced. Although renal recovery can be expected, long-term disability may occur due to potential serious complications. Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adult; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myoglobinuria; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Rhabdomyolysis; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 2000 |
A descriptive study of an epidemic of poisoning caused by heroin adulterated with scopolamine.
Adulterants, contaminants, and diluents are all examples of additives to street drugs. Some of these additives may be pharmacologically active; however, it is unusual for them to cause toxic side effects. In the spring of 1995, a new form of heroin appeared in New York City, spreading to other East Coast cities, that was adulterated with scopolamine. It caused severe anticholinergic toxicity in heroin users with patients often presenting to emergency departments in great numbers. This is a report of the demographics and clinical characteristics of the epidemic.. A combination of prospective and retrospective data collection from the New York City, New Jersey, Delaware Valley, and Maryland Poison Centers. The primary measurements were age, sex, route of drug use, vital signs, signs and symptoms, disposition, and treatment.. Of the 370 cases reported to the participating poison centers, 129 were excluded from the final analysis because of insufficient data. Of the patients who used this product, 55% presented with signs and symptoms of heroin toxicity but then became severely agitated with anticholinergic symptoms when naloxone was used to reverse respiratory depression. Nasal insufflation was the route of administration in 34% of the cases. Seizures were rare (3%). Ninety percent required admission, and half were admitted to a critical care unit.. Adulteration of street drugs can lead to toxic epidemics. Poison centers are essential for identification of these trends and are the primary source of information on diagnosis and treatment. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Disease Outbreaks; Drug Contamination; Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mid-Atlantic Region; Middle Aged; Muscarinic Antagonists; Poisoning; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Scopolamine | 2000 |
Regarding "The Swiss Heroin Trials: scientifically sound?".
Topics: Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Switzerland | 2000 |
Regarding "The Swiss Heroin Trials: scientifically sound?".
Topics: Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Switzerland | 2000 |
Regarding "The Swiss Heroin Trials: scientifically sound?".
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Switzerland | 2000 |
Regarding "The Swiss Heroin Trials: scientifically sound?".
Topics: Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Switzerland | 2000 |
Regarding "The Swiss Heroin Trials: scientifically sound?".
Topics: Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Switzerland | 2000 |
Heroin self-administration under a second-order schedule of reinforcement: acquisition and maintenance of heroin-seeking behaviour in rats.
Second-order schedules of heroin self-administration provide a method of measuring heroin-seeking behaviour independently of the effects of the drug on motor behaviour and of investigating the role of heroin-associated stimuli in such heroin-seeking behaviour.. These experiments aimed to establish a second-order schedule of heroin self-administration in rats, similar to that already established in this laboratory for cocaine self-administration and to investigate the role of discrete heroin-associated stimuli in the maintenance of heroin-seeking behaviour under a second-order schedule of reinforcement.. Heroin i.v. self-administration (0.04 mg/infusion) was initially contingent upon a lever press, and each infusion was paired with presentation of a 20-s light-conditioned stimulus (CS). Following acquisition of heroin self-administration, the response requirement was progressively increased so that, ultimately, responding was maintained under a fixed interval (FI) 15 min [fixed ratio (FR)5:S] second-order schedule. The effects of varying the dose of heroin (0.01 mg and 0.08 mg/infusion) and pre-treatment with the mu-opiate receptor antagonist, naloxone, on responding under a FI15(FR5:S) schedule were investigated. In addition, the role of the heroin-associated CS on responding was assessed by measuring the effects of omitting the CS during heroin-seeking behaviour and during extinction of responding, as well as the effect of CS presentation on the reinstatement of heroin-seeking behaviour following extinction.. A second-order schedule of heroin self-administration was established. There were no clear effects on heroin-seeking behaviour of increasing or decreasing the dose of heroin. Although no effect of naloxone pre-treatment was seen on heroin-seeking behaviour during the first, drug-free interval of responding, an extinction-like pattern of responding was seen in that interval during subsequent sessions. Omission of the light CS resulted in a reduction in levels of responding for i.v. heroin, indicating its role in maintaining heroin-seeking behaviour. However, under extinction conditions, response-contingent CS presentations did not affect the rate of extinction, nor did non-contingent presentations of the CS following extinction reinstate heroin-seeking behaviour.. These experiments have established a method of measuring heroin-seeking behaviour in rats by adopting a second-order schedule of i.v. heroin self-administration. The results indicate a relatively weak impact of discrete, heroin-associated cues on heroin-seeking behaviour relative to cocaine-seeking behaviour studied under similar conditions. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cocaine; Conditioning, Operant; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Rats; Reinforcement Schedule; Self Administration | 2000 |
[Determination of heroin metabolites in biological fluids, tissues and hair of heroin addicts using GC/MS-SIM].
Using GC/MS-SIM, we examined morphine distribution in human bodies of 2 delayed death cases and analyzed content of morphine and 6-acetylmorphine (MAM) in hair specimens of 7 cases. After hydrolysis and extraction, MOR and 6-MAM were derived with acetic anhydride or BSTFA and then the derivatives were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by GC/MS-SIM. The results indicated that urine, bile and liver were the best samples to reveal the heroin-related deaths. Hair analysis has its unique advantage for its long time of abusing monitor, compared to biological fluids. Topics: Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives | 1999 |
Activation of reward circuitry in human opiate addicts.
The neurobiological mechanisms of opiate addictive behaviour in humans are unknown. A proposed model of addiction implicates ascending brainstem neuromodulatory systems, particularly dopamine. Using functional neuroimaging, we assessed the neural response to heroin and heroin-related cues in established opiate addicts. We show that the effect of both heroin and heroin-related visual cues are maximally expressed in the sites of origin of ascending midbrain neuromodulatory systems. These context-specific midbrain activations predict responses to salient visual cues in cortical and subcortical regions implicated in reward-related behaviour. These findings implicate common neurobiological processes underlying drug and drug-cue-related effects. Topics: Adult; Brain Chemistry; Brain Stem; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interneurons; Male; Mesencephalon; Narcotics; Neural Pathways; Pain Measurement; Parietal Lobe; Photic Stimulation; Reward; Tomography, Emission-Computed | 1999 |
Fluctuations in heroin purity and the incidence of fatal heroin overdose.
In order to determine the role played by heroin purity in fatal heroin overdoses, time series analyses were conducted on the purity of street heroin seizures in south western Sydney and overdose fatalities in that region. A total of 322 heroin samples were analysed in fortnightly periods between February 1993 to January 1995. A total of 61 overdose deaths occurred in the region in the study period. Cross correlation plots revealed a significant correlation of 0.57 at time lag zero between mean purity of heroin samples per fortnight and number of overdose fatalities. Similarly, there was a significant correlation of 0.50 at time lag zero between the highest heroin purity per fortnight and number of overdose fatalities. The correlation between range of heroin purity and number of deaths per fortnight was 0.40. A simultaneous multiple regression on scores adjusted for first order correlation indicated both the mean level of heroin purity and the range of heroin purity were independent predictors of the number of deaths per fortnight. The results indicate that the occurrence of overdose fatalities was moderately associated with both the average heroin purity and the range of heroin purity over the study period. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cause of Death; Central Nervous System Depressants; Drug Interactions; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Incidence; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; New South Wales; Regression Analysis; Time Factors | 1999 |
Methadone dosing, heroin affordability, and the severity of addiction.
This study sought to track changes in US heroin prices from 1988 to 1995 and to determine whether changes in the affordability of heroin were associated with changes in the use of heroin by users seeking methadone treatment, as indexed by methadone dose levels.. Data on the price of heroin were from the Drug Enforcement Administration; data on methadone doses were from surveys conducted in 1988, 1990, and 1995 of 100 methadone maintenance centers. Multivariable models that controlled for time and city effects were used to ascertain whether clinics in cities where heroin was less expensive had patients receiving higher doses of methadone, which would suggest that these patients had relatively higher physiological levels of opiate addiction owing to increased heroin use.. The amount of pure heroin contained in a $100 (US) purchase has increased on average 3-fold between 1988 and 1995. The average dose of methadone in clinics was positively associated with the affordability of local heroin (P < .01).. When heroin prices fall, heroin addicts require more methadone (a heroin substitute) to stabilize their addiction--evidence that they are consuming more heroin. Topics: Health Surveys; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Methadone; Models, Econometric; Multivariate Analysis; Narcotics; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Population Surveillance; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors; United States; Urban Health | 1999 |
Validity of drug use reporting in a high-risk community sample: a comparison of cocaine and heroin survey reports with hair tests.
Hair specimens were collected from 322 subjects and analyzed as part of an experimental study administering household surveys during 1997 to a high-risk community sample of adults from Chicago, Illinois. Toxicologic results were compared with survey responses about recent and lifetime drug use. About 35% of the sample tested positive for cocaine, and 4% tested positive for heroin. Sample prevalence estimates of cocaine use based on toxicologic results were nearly five times the survey-based estimates of past month use and nearly four times the survey-based estimates of past year use. With the hair test results as the standard, cocaine and heroin use were considerably underreported in the survey. Underreporting was more of a problem for cocaine than for heroin. Among those who tested positive, survey disclosure of cocaine use was associated with higher levels of cocaine detected in hair. In general, when recent drug use was reported, it was usually detected in hair. When a drug was detected in hair, use was usually not reported in the survey. When heroin was detected in hair, cocaine was almost always detected as well. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Chicago; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Community Health Services; Female; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Prevalence; Reproducibility of Results; Surveys and Questionnaires | 1999 |
Lemon juice as a solvent for heroin in Spain.
Preliminary observations and responses to interviews in Valencia, Spain reveal that injecting drug users (IDUs) dissolve heroin before injection with two or three drops of lemon juice. Solution in lemon juice makes heating of heroin in water unnecessary. This pattern apparently developed spontaneously in Spain, but is almost unknown elsewhere in the world. Its implications for IDUs' health remain speculative, but use of lemon juice to dissolve heroin for injection deserves further scientific study. Topics: Acetic Acid; Beverages; Citrus; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Solvents; Spain; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 1999 |
Comparison of intravenous and intranasal heroin self-administration by morphine-maintained humans.
Eight heroin-dependent individuals, maintained on divided daily doses of oral morphine, participated in a 2.5-week inpatient study comparing the effects of intranasal (IN) (placebo, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 mg) and intravenous (IV) (placebo, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 mg) heroin. Each morning, participants received $20 and a sample dose of heroin, and each afternoon they had the opportunity to self-administer all or part of the morning heroin dose or money amount. Participants responded under a modified progressive-ratio schedule (PR 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1200, 1600, 2000, 2400, 2800) during a ten-trial self-administration task. During each trial, participants could respond for 1/10th of the heroin dose or 1/10th of the money amount. The total amount of heroin and/or money chosen during the self-administration task was given at the end of the task. Thus, participants received drug and/or money twice each day: once during the morning sample session and once during the afternoon self-administration session. Participants received IV solution and IN powder simultaneously during each dosing; only one route contained active drug. Heroin produced dose-related increases in break point values by both routes of administration. Although IV heroin was approximately four-fold more potent than IN heroin, the maximal break point values for both routes were not significantly different. A similar difference in potency between the IV and IN routes was found for several ratings of subjective effects (e.g., "I feel a good drug effect," "I feel high"), but maximal subjective ratings were lower for IN compared to IV heroin. These results suggest that the reinforcing efficacy of heroin is similar by the two routes of administration, but that IN heroin is less potent than IV heroin. The results also underscore the importance of evaluating drug self-administration in the evaluation of the abuse liability of drugs. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Administration, Oral; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Choice Behavior; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Hemodynamics; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; Morphine; Narcotics; Reward; Self Administration; Task Performance and Analysis | 1999 |
The heroin prescribing debate: integrating science and politics.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Costs and Cost Analysis; Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections; Methadone; Narcotics; Politics; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk | 1999 |
The Zelen design may be the best choice for a heroin-provision experiment.
Recently, the Dutch Parliament agreed upon the conduct of a randomized clinical trial on the effects on heroin provision on general health and psychosocial and criminal behavior in long-term addicts. Previous studies failed to establish the effects beyond reasonable doubt. The main reasons why previous trials failed are massive dropout or noncompliance in the control group. Designing a new heroin-provision trial, we concluded that the Zelen design provides the best guarantee for obtaining valid study results. Compared with the traditional design, the Zelen design probably reduces noncompliance and dropout considerably, thus increasing validity. Depending on the study population, the Zelen design may reduce study precision. However, in a trial aimed at badly integrated addicts, the Zelen design can be conducted without loss of precision because baseline measurements will only weakly correlate with effect measurements. The arguments favoring the Zelen design may be generalized to trials in which the experimental treatment is highly attractive to the study participants. However, the use of the Zelen design precludes blinding of participants who receive the experimental treatment. We argue that the conduct of studies that predictably tend to produce invalid results is ethically dubious. The ethical problem of studying participants without their consent can be solved by a slight modification of the Zelen design in which the sampling of a control group is postponed. Both the traditional and the Zelen design can imply ethical problems. Both designs can be ethically justifiable and should not be rejected on a priori grounds. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Informed Consent; Netherlands; Patient Dropouts; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Reproducibility of Results; Research Design; Treatment Refusal | 1999 |
[Accelerated detoxication in the preoperative period in surgical clinic patients suffering from heroin addiction].
Topics: Adult; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Male; Moscow; Narcotics; Preoperative Care; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Surgical Procedures, Operative | 1999 |
[The use of neuroleptics in treating opiate dependence].
The aim of the study was to determine indications and contraindications for prescription of neuroleptics in opium addiction and to study their influence on the state of the patients at different stages of the treatment. 197 patients were treated: 185 men aged 15-62 years and 12 women aged 16-35 years. The duration of the addiction was from 6 months to 18 years. It was found that therapy with neuroleptics is a necessary component of a combined treatment in the acute phase of the withdrawal syndrome and at the first stages of the following therapy. At the late stages the necessity of their administration decreased. An administration of sulpiride, alimemazine, periciazine, and thioridazine was more preferable; withdrawal psychoses were relieved with droperidol and haloperidol most effectively. In a period of antirelapse maintenance therapy administration of sulpiride, periciazine and thioridazine is indicated. Application of the preparations of prolonged action in contraindicated because of the possibility of neurolepsy development. It is emphasized that neuroleptics fail to stop a drive to narcotics and are not suitable to correct sleep. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antipsychotic Agents; Chronic Disease; Contraindications; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Opioid-Related Disorders; Recurrence; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1999 |
Prescribing heroin.
Topics: Cohort Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Switzerland; Treatment Outcome | 1999 |
Prescribing heroin.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Switzerland; Treatment Outcome; World Health Organization | 1999 |
National treatment systems in global perspective.
Drug policy development is mostly viewed as emerging within the nation state. Processes of diffusion of innovative policies have been neglected to a large extent. The comparative study of public policy has demonstrated, however, that diffusion is an important predictor of early policy adaptation. Thus, the analysis asks the general question of the relative importance of endogenous and exogenous effects on the development of drug policies in various countries. Specifically it describes the Swiss debate leading to the popular initiative on 'Youth Without Drugs' as well as the international reactions regarding its liberal outcome. Results of an expert survey show two broad types of reactions. There is one set of countries where chances for the introduction of limited heroin-prescription trials during the next 5 years are considered probable and a second set of countries which seems to be strictly status quo oriented. In the concluding section a model is suggested which systematically considers endogenous as well as exogenous predictors of 'soft' or 'hard' drug policy adoption. Results of a first tentative test of the model are encouraging for future empirical research on diffusion processes of drug policies. Topics: Attitude to Health; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Global Health; Health Care Surveys; Health Policy; Health Promotion; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Narcotics; Switzerland; Technology Transfer | 1999 |
Effects of flupenthixol and quadazocine on self-administration of speedball combinations of cocaine and heroin by rhesus monkeys.
The simultaneous i.v. administration of heroin and cocaine, called "speedball," is often reported clinically, and identification of effective pharmacotherapies for polydrug abuse is a continuing challenge. This study compared the effects of treatment using combinations of dopamine and opioid antagonists with each antagonist alone on speedball self-administration by rhesus monkeys. Speedballs (0.01 mg/kg/inj cocaine and 0.0032 mg/kg/inj heroin) and food (1 g banana pellets) were available in four daily sessions on a second-order schedule of reinforcement [FR4 (VR16:S)]. Monkeys were treated for 10 days with saline or ascending 1:10 dose combinations of the dopamine antagonist flupenthixol and the opioid antagonist quadazocine. The combination of flupenthixol (0.018 mg/kg/day) + quadazocine (0.18 mg/kg/day) significantly reduced speedball self-administration in comparison to the saline treatment baseline (p < .05), whereas, the same doses of each antagonist alone had no significant effect on speedball-maintained responding. Treatment with 0.018 mg/kg/day flupenthixol + 0.18 mg/kg/day quadazocine produced a 3-fold rightward shift in the speedball (3:1 cocaine-heroin combination) dose-effect curve. Food-maintained responding was similar during treatment with saline and with flupenthixol + quadazocine combinations. These findings suggest that medication mixtures designed to target both the stimulant and opioid component of the speedball combination, may be an effective approach to polydrug abuse treatment. Topics: Animals; Azocines; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Dopamine Antagonists; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Eating; Female; Flupenthixol; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Macaca mulatta; Male; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Self Administration | 1999 |
Characteristics of hospitalized heroin smokers and heroin injectors in Taiwan.
Heroin usage in Taiwan has been under-investigated. Use of the same drug by different routes provides an opportunity for examination of drug behavior and complications related to the drug itself and to the different routes of administration.. A sample of 245 hospitalized heroin users received semi-structured interviews, drug screen urine tests, serological screens for hepatitis B infection, and liver function tests. The sample was divided into a smokers group and an injectors group for comparison.. The heroin injectors had lower educational status, spent less money on day-to-day heroin usage, but had longer drug-using careers than the heroin smokers. There was a trend for injectors to have a higher rate of abnormal liver function than the smokers although there was no significant difference in the prevalence of hepatitis B infection.. Major differences exist between heroin smokers and heroin injectors. Therefore harm reduction intervention for heroin users should take account of the different routes of administration. A comprehensive survey of risk factors relating to hepatic dysfunction in heroin addicts in Taiwan is indicated. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Female; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Humans; Injections; Liver; Male; Middle Aged | 1999 |
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by intranasal heroin use.
Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Biopsy; Drug Hypersensitivity; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Lung; Lung Volume Measurements; Narcotics; Pneumonia | 1999 |
[The heroin trial and the WHO].
Topics: Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Social Support; Switzerland; World Health Organization | 1999 |
The influence of heroin dose and route of administration on the severity of the opiate withdrawal syndrome.
To determine the relationship between severity of opiate withdrawal and prior heroin dose and route of administration (smoking versus intravenous injection).. Retrospective analysis of withdrawal data and assessment of associations with baseline variables including heroin dose, route of administration, duration of use, concomitant use of cocaine, severity of opiate dependence, previous treatment, sex or age.. Psychiatric inpatient unit specialized in withdrawal treatments.. Twenty-two opiate addicts injecting or smoking heroin who were abruptly withdrawn after admission.. Daily assessment of withdrawal severity with the Opiate Withdrawal Scale (OWS) during the first week after drug cessation.. Severity and duration of withdrawal symptoms were greater in injectors compared to smokers (with comparable doses) and also in patients with higher heroin dose. Heroin dose and route of administration were related significantly to total and maximum withdrawal scores and together accounted for about 50% of variance. Similar levels of total withdrawal distress were associated with approximately five times higher heroin consumption in chasers than in injectors.. The impact of heroin dose and route of administration on withdrawal severity is marked. The influence of the route of administration on withdrawal severity might be due to differences in bioavailability. Topics: Adult; Biological Availability; Drug Administration Routes; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Retrospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Smoking; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1999 |
Transitions between routes of heroin administration: a study of Caucasian and Indochinese heroin users in south-western Sydney, Australia.
To examine patterns and correlates of routes of heroin use among Caucasian and Indochinese heroin users.. A cross-sectional survey.. Two hundred heroin users resident in South West Sydney. The sample was divided between Caucasian and Indochinese users (each n = 100), with half of each group on methadone maintenance.. A semi-structured interview was administered, based on previous studies of transitions between routes of administration. Measures included patterns of drug use, transitions, social, health and legal issues and cultural correlates of use.. Almost two-thirds (61%) had smoked heroin. Smoking was more common among the Indochinese (40% were predominantly or exclusively smokers), although injecting was the dominant route for both groups. More than one-quarter (29%) had made a transition from smoking to injecting, primarily due to drug effect and perceived cost-effectiveness. Reverse transitions were rare. Smoking appeared to be more culturally acceptable than injecting among Indochinese users. Among both groups, there was a small but significant risk for the transmission of HIV and other blood-borne viruses. Polydrug use and age were positively associated with having experienced a non-fatal overdose.. This research documents the existence of smoking as a popular route of administration among both Indochinese and Caucasian heroin users in the study sample. There is an urgent need to provide smokers and injectors with information explaining the potential risks and ways to minimize harms associated with both routes of use. Topics: Adult; Age Distribution; Age of Onset; Australia; China; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Administration Routes; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; New South Wales; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Sex Distribution; Smoking; White People | 1999 |
Narcotics prescription in Switzerland.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Program Evaluation; Switzerland | 1998 |
Deaths from heroin overdose are preventable.
Topics: Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 1998 |
The Swiss heroin trials: testing alternative approaches.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Patient Compliance; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Switzerland | 1998 |
GABAergic function in detoxified heroin addicts: relationship to anxiety disorders.
The function of the GABAergic system was examined in 20 subjects with heroin dependence and abuse, 2 months after detoxification, and in 10 healthy volunteers, by measuring the growth hormone (GH) response to a challenge with the GABA B receptor agonist baclofen. Ten heroin addicts had comorbid anxiety disorder (Group A), while the other ten had heroin addiction uncomplicated by Axis I and II psychopathologies (Group B). GH responses to baclofen stimulation of Group A patients were significantly blunted, while those of Group B subjects did not differ from responses of healthy volunteers. Our data show that the function of the GABAergic system is impaired only in heroin addicts with comorbid anxiety disorders (anxious cluster), suggesting that the GABA system is not persistently influenced by prolonged exposure to opioid receptor stimulation. Topics: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Anxiety Disorders; Baclofen; GABA Agonists; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Male; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Receptors, GABA | 1998 |
German doctors vote to prescribe heroin to misusers.
Topics: Germany; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Narcotics | 1998 |
Smooth pursuit eye movement dysfunction in substance-dependent patients: mediating effects of antisocial personality disorder.
Smooth pursuit eye movements were evaluated in 21 healthy volunteers and 126 patients meeting criteria for one of the following DSM-III-R dependence diagnoses: alcohol (n = 10), cocaine (n = 44), heroin (n = 34), or dual alcohol and cocaine (n = 38). A significant reduction in tracking accuracy was found in the heroin and the dually dependent groups relative to controls. Interestingly, the eye movement dysfunction in the drug-dependent groups was no longer detectable when the effects of antisocial personality disorder were statistically removed. The magnitude of the dysfunction also correlated with several antisocial personality-related features, including an increased number of criminal charges and months of incarceration, increased problems associated with drug abuse, and lower intellectual functioning. The relationship demonstrated presently between antisocial personality disorder and eye movement dysfunction may have implications beyond studies of substance dependence. Topics: Adult; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Comorbidity; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); Ethanol; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Ocular Motility Disorders; Pursuit, Smooth; Reaction Time; Risk Factors | 1998 |
Toxic spongiform leucoencephalopathy after inhaling heroin vapour.
This is a report of clinical, CT and MRI findings in a patient with toxic spongiform leucoencephalopathy after heroin ingestion. The disease is observed in drug addicts who inhale pre-heated heroin. The clinical onset, which usually occurs some days or even longer after the last heroin consumption, is characterized by a cerebellar syndrome. The cerebellar hemispheres, the cerebellar and cerebral peduncles and the pyramidal tract may be affected. Spongiform demyelination is the morphological substrate of the lesions, which are not contrast enhancing, hypodense on CT and hyperintense on T2-weighted MRI. The frequently perfect symmetry of the affection of functional systems points to a toxic and/or metabolic pathophysiological mechanism. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Canavan Disease; Cerebellum; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Narcotics; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Volatilization | 1998 |
Cocaine use among heroin users in Spain: the diffusion of crack and cocaine smoking. Spanish Group for the Study on the Route of Administration of Drugs.
To describe the prevalence and patterns of use of crack and cocaine hydrochloride among heroin users in Spain. To explore if the expansion of heroin smoking is accompanied by a similar phenomenon for cocaine.. Cross sectional study in 1995. Face to face interviews using a structured questionnaire.. Three cities with different prevalences of heroin use by smoking: high (Seville), intermediate (Madrid), and low (Barcelona).. 909 heroin users, 452 in treatment and 457 out of treatment.. Last month prevalence of crack use was 62.3% in Seville, 19.4% in Madrid, and 7.7% in Barcelona. Most users in Madrid (86.5%) and Barcelona (100%) generally prepared their own crack, usually with ammonia as alkali; in Seville most users (69.7%) bought preprocessed crack. The proportion of users who began taking cocaine (crack or cocaine hydrochloride) by smoking has increased progressively since the seventies, rising to 74.1% in Seville, 61.5% in Madrid, and 28% in Barcelona in 1992-1995, with the earliest increase in Seville. The factors associated with crack use were: residence in Seville (odds ratio (OR) = 16.3), cocaine hydrochloride use mainly by smoking (OR = 5.0), by sniffing (OR = 2.7) or by injecting (OR = 2.5), heroin use mainly by smoking (OR = 2.8) and weekly use of cannabis (OR = 1.9).. In Spain smoking cocaine may be progressively diffusing from the south west to the north east, similar to what has happened with smoking heroin, but beginning later in time. The factors associated with smoking cocaine are basically ecological or cultural in nature (characteristics of the available drugs and the main route of heroin administration in each city). Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Aged; Cocaine; Crack Cocaine; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Smoking; Spain; Substance-Related Disorders | 1998 |
Differential alteration of adenylyl cyclase subtypes I, II, and V/VI in postmortem human brains of heroin addicts.
In animal and culture cell experiments, the upregulation of cAMP-related signal transduction after chronic opioid administration has been hypothesized to be an adaptive change of the molecular mechanism to maintain homeostasis in intracellular signals downstream from opioid receptors. Herein, we have examined the quantitative changes of three adenylyl cyclase (AC) subtypes (I, II, and V/VI) in temporal cortex membranes from brains of heroin addicts and age-matched controls by immunoblotting. The immunoreactivity of AC-I decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in heroin addicts, compared with controls; whereas those of AC-II and AC-V/VI were not changed. The present findings indicate that differential regulation of AC subtypes occurs and that AC-I may play an important role in the signal transduction for opiate-induced tolerance and dependence mechanisms in human brain cortex. Topics: Adenylyl Cyclases; Adult; Brain; Drug Tolerance; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunoblotting; Isoenzymes; Male; Reference Values; Second Messenger Systems; Synaptic Membranes; Temporal Lobe | 1998 |
[Cardiovascular changes during alpha-2 agonist treatment of opiate withdrawal syndrome].
Topics: Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Animals; Blood Pressure; Clonidine; Guanfacine; Heart Rate; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Rats; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 1998 |
Effects of chronic opioid dependence and HIV-1 infection on pattern shift visual evoked potentials.
The goal of the present study was to examine the effects of opioid dependence, alone and in combination with asymptomatic HIV-1 infection, on the pattern shift visual evoked potential (PSVEP). For this purpose, three groups of patients were evaluated, including patients characterized by: (1) a past history (2-4 months abstinent) of DSM-IIIR opioid dependence (i.e. in partial remission); (2) a recent history (7 days abstinent) of opioid dependence with ongoing methadone maintenance; and (3) a recent history of opioid dependence, ongoing methadone maintenance, and asymptomatic HIV-1 infection. A group of healthy, non-drug dependent volunteers was also evaluated. Analyses revealed no PSVEP differences between patients with a past history of opioid dependence and healthy volunteers. There were also no PSVEP differences between methadone-maintained patients with or without HIV-1 infection. Collectively, however, the two methadone maintenance groups exhibited significant delays in the N75 and P100 components of the PSVEP relative to the other two groups. The delay in N75 latency was strongly correlated with self-reported years of heroin abuse, but not with years of cocaine, alcohol, or other drug abuse. These results are interpreted as reflecting an adverse effect of chronic opioid dependence on neural transmission within primary visual areas of the brain. Topics: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Case-Control Studies; Chronic Disease; Evoked Potentials, Visual; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Neural Conduction; Neural Pathways; Occipital Lobe; Pattern Recognition, Visual; Regression Analysis; Time Factors | 1998 |
Death from heroin overdose: findings from hair analysis.
Morphine analysis of hair is used in forensic toxicology to study the addiction history of heroin addicts. To clarify the features underlying fatal heroin intake, we measured hair morphine content in a group of deceased heroin addicts, to verify a possible correlation between fatal heroin overdoses and the addiction behaviour of these individuals before death.. 91 deaths were attributed to heroin overdose in Verona, Italy, in 1993-96. We analysed the hair of 37 of these individuals, and of 37 active heroin addicts, 37 former heroin users abstinent from the drug for several months, and 20 individuals with no evidence of exposure to opioids. From each individual, a hair sample of about 150 mg was analysed by RIA and high-performance liquid chromatography, to measure the morphine content.. The mean morphine content in the hair of the addicts who had died was 1.15 ng/mg (SD 2.35 ng/mg; range 0-12.25 ng/mg) compared with 6.07 ng/mg (4.29; 1.15-17.0) in the active heroin addicts, 0.74 ng/mg (0.93; 0.10-3.32) in the abstinent former addicts, and values below the detection limit in the non-exposed group. Hair morphine content among those who had died was significantly lower than that in active heroin consumers (p<.00001), but not significantly different from that in the former addicts (p=0.978).. Although our findings may be subject to selection bias, since suitable hair samples were available for only 37 of the 91 addicts who had died, these findings support the theory of high susceptibility to opioid overdose after periods of intentional or unintentional abstinence, due to loss of tolerance. Medical staff running detoxification programmes should be aware of the risk inherent in relapse to heroin after a period of abstinence. Moreover, occasional heroin use without a build-up of tolerance could also give a high risk of overdose. Topics: Adult; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drug Overdose; Drug Tolerance; Female; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Italy; Male; Morphine; Radioimmunoassay; Substance Abuse Detection | 1998 |
Prescribing heroin: nothing to fear but fear itself?
Topics: Australia; Drug and Narcotic Control; Drug Prescriptions; Fear; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Treatment Outcome | 1998 |
Feasibility of prescribing injectable heroin and methadone to opiate-dependent drug users: associated health gains and harm reductions.
To assess the feasibility of offering the choice of prescribing injectable heroin (diamorphine) or injectable methadone to opiate-dependent injecting drug users and to assess whether there are health and social gains associated with prescribing injectable opiates.. A protocol-driven prospective observational study. Type of injectable opiate received was based on self-selection.. A large west London drug clinic.. Fifty-eight patients admitted to the clinic between 1 June 1995 and 31 December 1996, who were long term opiate-dependent injecting drug users, who had previously tried and failed oral methadone and who were apparently unable or unwilling to give up injecting.. Retention in treatment, illicit drug use, HIV risk behaviour, criminal activity, social functioning, health and psychological status as measured by self-report, urinalysis and doctor's ratings.. Thirty-seven patients (64%) chose heroin and 21 (36%) chose injectable methadone. Fifty (86%) were retained in treatment after three months, 40 (69%) after six months and 33 (57%) after 12 months. Among those in treatment at three months, there were significant reductions in illicit drug use, illicit drug-injecting risk behaviour, and criminal activity, and significant improvements in social functioning, health status and psychological adjustment. Generally, these gains were sustained between three, six and 12 months. Doctors' ratings of health and urinalysis results further supported these findings.. Injectable heroin is not always the drug of choice. This intervention retained most patients in treatment with substantial benefits to both patients and the community. Prescribing injectable opiates to long term injecting drug users is a feasible treatment option. Topics: Adult; Drug Prescriptions; Feasibility Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; London; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Prospective Studies; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Treatment Outcome | 1998 |
Experience of non-fatal overdose among heroin users in Adelaide, Australia: circumstances and risk perceptions.
To ascertain the prevalence and risk factors for non-fatal overdose among heroin users to assist in the development of an effective intervention.. Cross-sectional design.. Community setting, principally metropolitan Adelaide.. Current heroin users (used heroin in the previous six months).. A structured questionnaire including the Severity of Dependence Scale.. Of 218 current South Australian heroin users interviewed in 1996, 48% had experienced at least one non-fatal overdose their life-time (median: two overdoses), and 11% had overdosed in the previous 6 months. At some time, 70% had been present at someone else's overdose (median: three overdoses). At the time of their own most recent overdose, 52% had been using central nervous system depressants in addition to heroin, principally benzodiazepines (33%) and/or alcohol (22%). The majority of overdoses occurred in a private home (81%) and in the presence of other people (88%). Unrealistic optimism regarding the risk of overdose was evident across the sample. Despite almost half the sample reporting having had an overdose, and the belief expressed by respondents that on average about 50% of regular heroin users would overdose during their life-time 73% had, during the previous 6 months, "rarely" or "never" worried about possibly overdosing. Optimism regarding the possibility of future overdose was reduced in those with recent experience of overdose in comparison to the rest of the sample. A targeted intervention aimed at the reduction of overdose among heroin users is outlined. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Attitude to Health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors | 1998 |
Rapid intravenous detoxification in heroin addiction.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Narcotics | 1998 |
[Prehospital treatment of heroin intoxication in Oslo in 1996].
The number of heroin overdoses among drug addicts in Oslo is increasing. In 1996 overdoses counted for 1,248 (12%) of all emergency call-outs by the ambulance service. Heroin can cause fatal respiratory insufficiency, and in 1996 a total of 104 deaths related to heroin overdoses were reported in Oslo. Heroin overdoses are treated on site by ambulance personnel. Advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started on 18 of the 79 addicts who were found unconscious, and 11 persons were treated successfully. A total of 846 drug addicts had to be given the antidote naloxone, and among these 678 (80%) persons were found in a coma. Only 29 persons had to be transported to hospital. Early treatment probably prevented both morbidity and mortality, no time being wasted transporting the patients to hospital. Ambulance personnel treat all drug addicts with the same respect as they do other patients. They have no police escort; they are familiar with the addicts and their environment and they have gained their confidence. Prehospital treatment saves on health services resources, and should, in our experience, be carried out in collaboration with a hospital or other health institutions for mutual and optimal benefit. Topics: Adult; Ambulances; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Drug Overdose; Emergency Medical Services; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Norway | 1998 |
The Swiss heroin trials. Trial is needed comparing decriminalisation of heroin with existing policy of prohibition.
Topics: Health Policy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Narcotics; Switzerland | 1998 |
Evaluation of acetylcodeine as a specific marker of illicit heroin in human hair.
In addition to acetylmorphine (6-AM), acetylcodeine (AC) has been suggested as a marker for the use of illicit heroin. Because no procedure was available for AC testing in hair, a new method was developed for the simultaneous identification and quantitation of morphine (MOR), codeine (COD), 6-AM, and AC. After decontamination, each hair specimen was cut into 1-mm pieces. A 50-mg aliquot was incubated overnight at 50 degrees C in 1 mL Soerensen buffer (pH 7.6) in presence of 200 ng of MOR-d3, COD-d3, 6-AM-d3, and AC-d3. After pH adjustment to 8.4, the analytes were extracted in 5 mL of chloroform/isopropanol/n-heptane (25:10:65, v/v/v). The organic phase was removed and evaporated to dryness, and the residue was derivatized by silylation (BSTFA + 1% TMCS). Drugs were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in electron impact mode. Limits of quantitation were set to 0.1 ng/mg. Fifty hair specimens obtained from subjects who died from fatal opiate overdose were analyzed. AC was detected in 22 samples in concentrations ranging from 0.17 to 5.60 ng/mg with a mean value of 1.04 ng/mg. 6-AM was also present in these samples at concentrations ranging from 1.35 to 41.10 ng/mg with a mean value of 7.79 ng/mg. Of the 28 specimens negative for AC, 21 were positive for 6-AM at concentrations ranging from 0.18 to 7.13 ng/mg. When detected, the AC concentrations were an average of 15.5% (2.8 to 32.6%) of the 6-AM concentrations. There was a positive relationship between AC concentrations and 6-AM concentrations (r = 0.915, p = 0.001). Neither AC nor COD was identified in hair specimens collected from 20 subjects taking part in a heroin-maintenance program in Switzerland and receiving pure pharmaceutical heroin hydrochloride daily. Although it is indicative of illicit heroin use, AC would not make a suitable biomarker in place of 6-AM because of its low concentration in hair compared with that of 6-AM and its absence in about 50% of the specimens that tested positive for 6-AM. Topics: Biomarkers; Codeine; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Narcotics; Substance Abuse Detection | 1998 |
Effects of beta-funaltrexamine on dose-effect curves for heroin self-administration in rats: comparison with alteration of [3H]DAMGO binding to rat brain sections.
These studies were undertaken to determine the effects of mu-opioid receptor depletion through irreversible alkylation on the dose-effect curve for heroin self-administration. Heroin maintained responding in rats with an inverted U-shaped dose-effect curve and administration of 10 nmol of beta-funaltrexamine i.c.v. (beta-FNA) significantly increased the ED50 on the ascending limb from 1.9 to 5.3 micrograms/infusion, and from 24.3 to 211.8 micrograms/infusion on the descending limb. Administration of saline i.c.v. produced no effect on heroin self-administration. Administration of 40 nmol of beta-FNA increased the ED50S from 5.1 to 33.9 and from 14.4 to 502.8 micrograms/infusion on the ascending and descending portions of heroin's dose-effect curve, respectively. beta-FNA (40 nmol, i.c.v.) had no effect on cocaine self-administration. [3H]DAMGO binding density was decreased in the caudate and nucleus accumbens by 29 or 54% 24 h after administration of 10 or 40 nmol of beta-FNA i.c.v., respectively. The effects of beta-FNA on heroin self-administration were completely overcome by increasing the dose of heroin however, as the shape and slope of the self-administration dose-effect curve was not different when higher doses of heroin were made available for self-administration compared to control data or saline administration. Therefore, there appear to be spare mu-opioid receptors for heroin for the production of its reinforcing effects in rats. Furthermore, the self-administration dose-effect curves returned to control values prior to the return of [3H]DAMGO binding, further suggesting that the full complement of mu-opioid receptors is not necessary for heroin to produce its reinforcing effects. These findings support the existence of spare mu-opioid receptors for heroin in maintaining self-administration in rats. Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Brain; Caudate Nucleus; Cocaine; Culture Techniques; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; Enkephalins; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Motivation; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Nucleus Accumbens; Radioligand Assay; Rats; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Self Administration | 1998 |
Acamprosate suppresses the expression of morphine-induced sensitization in rats but does not affect heroin self-administration or relapse induced by heroin or stress.
Acamprosate (calcium-acetyl homotaurinate) is a new compound used in the treatment of alcohol abuse. Because of the putative link between alcoholism and the endogenous opioid systems in both humans and laboratory animals, we tested in rats the effects of acamprosate on behavioral and neurochemical effects of opioid drugs related to their abuse potential. These included sensitization to the behavioral effects of morphine, morphine-induced dopamine (DA) release in the nucleus accumbens (NAS), intravenous (i.v.) heroin self-administration and relapse to heroin seeking in drug-free rats. In experiment 1, rats were injected daily with either morphine (10 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline for 14 days. Three days later in a test for the expression of sensitization, an injection of morphine (10 mg/kg) resulted in increased locomotor activity and enhanced DA release in the NAS in rats previously exposed to morphine. Acamprosate (two injections of 200 mg/kg, 12 h apart; i.p.) suppressed the expression of the sensitized responses, but did not alter the effects of morphine in drug-naive control rats. In experiment 2, it was found that acamprosate (two injections of 50-200 mg/ kg; i.p.) had no consistent effects on i.v. heroin self-administration (50 100 microg/kg per infusion) and, in experiment 3, that acamprosate (100-200 mg/ kg, i.p.) did not alter reinstatement of drug seeking induced by priming injections of heroin (0.25 mg/kg, s.c.) or a footshock stressor (15 min; 0.5 mA) after a 5- to 8-day period of extinction. Thus, although acamprosate attenuated the expression of sensitized locomotor activity and DA release in the NAS, it did not have any consistent effect on either the intake of heroin during the maintenance phase or the relapse to heroin seeking in a drug-free state. Thus, to the extent that the self-administration and the reinstatement procedures provide valid preclinical models for drug use and relapse in humans, our data suggest that acamprosate may not be effective in altering drug-taking behavior in heroin users. Topics: Acamprosate; Animals; Drug Interactions; Drug Tolerance; Food Deprivation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Morphine; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Recurrence; Self Administration; Stress, Physiological; Taurine | 1998 |
Pemphigus vegetans-Neumann variant associated with intranasal heroin abuse.
Pemphigus vegetans is variant of pemphigus vulgaris accounting for 5% of all patients with pemphigus disorders. We describe a case of pemphigus vegetans-Neumann type associated with intranasal heroin abuse, restricted to the modified mucous membranes. The results of routine histology and direct and indirect immunofluorescence studies confirmed the diagnosis. The patient responded to oral prednisone of 40 mg daily for 1 month, followed by reduction to a maintenance dose of 15 mg daily. A complete remission was sustained for 6 months. The relationship between intranasal heroin use and the development of pemphigus vegetans remains uncertain but appears to be an intriguing possibility in this patient. Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Keratosis; Lip Diseases; Mouth Diseases; Narcotics; Nose Diseases; Pemphigus; Tongue Diseases | 1998 |
Drug-induced reinstatement of heroin- and cocaine-seeking behaviour following long-term extinction is associated with expression of behavioural sensitization.
The present study was designed to evaluate the relationship between reinstatement of drug-seeking behaviour following long-term extinction of intravenous (i.v.) drug self-administration (an animal model for craving) and long-term behavioural sensitization. Rats were allowed to self-administer heroin (50 microg/kg per inj., 14 daily sessions), cocaine (500 microg/kg per inj., 10 daily sessions) or saline. Following a 3-week extinction period, reinstatement tests were performed to evaluate priming effects of amphetamine, cocaine and heroin on nonreinforced drug-seeking behaviour. In addition, the occurrence of long-term behavioural sensitization in rats with a history of heroin or cocaine self-administration was determined. Heroin-seeking behaviour was reinstated by heroin (0.25 mg/kg), amphetamine (1.0 mg/kg) and cocaine (10 mg/kg). In addition, animals with a history of heroin self-administration displayed locomotor sensitization to both heroin and amphetamine. Cocaine-seeking behaviour was reinstated by cocaine and amphetamine, but not by heroin. Interestingly, locomotor sensitization to amphetamine, but not heroin, was observed in animals with a history of cocaine self-administration. In other words, the induction of drug-seeking behaviour following a prolonged drug-free period was found to be associated with the expression of long-term behavioural sensitization. These data provide experimental evidence for a role of behavioural sensitization in the incentive motivation underlying drug-seeking behaviour. If drug hyperresponsiveness would indeed be a crucial factor in drug-induced craving in human addicts, pharmacological readjustment of the neuroadaptations underlying drug sensitization may prevent relapse to drug use long after detoxification. Topics: Animals; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Motor Activity; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Self Administration | 1998 |
Fast analysis of drugs in a single hair.
A new method for the fast screening of cocaine and 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) in a single hair, using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), is described. The analyses are conducted in less than 10 min with minimal sample preparation. The novel method combines the ChromatoProbe direct sample introduction device for intrainjector thermal extraction, fast GC separation, a supersonic molecular beam GC/MS interface and hyperthermal surface ionization (HSI). The technique has been successfully employed for the detection of cocaine in as little as a 1-mm section of hair using selected ion monitoring (SIM). Unambiguous full scan mass spectra of cocaine and 6-MAM were obtained on a single hair for cocaine and heroin users, respectively. HSI was found to be almost 3 orders of magnitude more selective than electron impact ionization for cocaine compared with the major hair constituents, with a minimum detected concentration of approximately 10 ppb in the SIM mode. Results obtained for 12 drugs users showed full qualitative agreement with similar results using rigorous solvent extraction followed by electrospray-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. However, quantitative studies showed only partial agreement. No false positives were observed for 10 drugs free subjects. This method enables fast drug monitoring along the hair length which permits time correlation studies. Topics: Adult; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine Derivatives; Substance Abuse Detection | 1998 |
One-year mortality rates following methadone treatment discharge.
Mortality among 507 patients in a methadone program over a 1-year period was assessed.. Mortality was determined for patients in treatment (n = 397), and 12 months later for those discharged (n = 110).. Of discharged patients, 8.2% (9/110) had died, of which six were caused by heroin overdose. None of the discharged clients were in treatment at the time of death. All deaths were among clients who either dropped out of treatment or were discharged unfavorably from the program. Comparatively, only 1% (4/397) of patients died while enrolled in treatment.. Death rates, especially overdose, are high among patients who are unfavorably discharged or drop out of methadone treatment. Efforts should be made to retain these at-risk patients in methadone treatment even though treatment response may be suboptimal. Topics: Adult; Cause of Death; Drug Overdose; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Patient Discharge; Patient Dropouts; Survival Rate | 1998 |
The Swiss heroin trials. Further studies of heroin treatment are needed.
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Switzerland | 1998 |
Naloxone blocks reinforcement but not motivation in an operant runway model of heroin-seeking behavior.
The present study examined the effects of opiate receptor antagonism on both the motivation to seek heroin and the reinforcing consequences of heroin administration. Subjects were trained to discriminate between olfactory cues predicting either the delivery of intravenous heroin reinforcement (S+) or saline (S-). Subjects were then tested in the presence of the opiate receptor antagonist, naloxone (0.5, 1.0, or 3.0 mg/kg intraperitoneally). Naloxone had no effect on either S+ or S- trials. However, 24 hr later on the first posttreatment trial, subjects that had received heroin in the presence of naloxone (on the previous trial) now traversed the alley more slowly when presented with the S+. These data suggest that although the motivation to seek heroin was not disrupted by naloxone, the reinforcing consequences of heroin administration were. Topics: Animals; Conditioning, Operant; Discrimination Learning; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Motivation; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reinforcement, Psychology | 1998 |
Fatal injections of heroin. Interpretation of toxicological findings in multiple specimens.
We report two fatalities due to injection of heroin. The first case was witnessed but during the early phase of the police investigation the question was raised whether the injection was self-administered. Multiple samples were collected from different sites and analysed in order to establish drug distribution and to determine the site of injection. Fresh injection marks were found in both antecubital fossae but histological examination failed to settle which one was the last. However, toxicological analysis of the tissues at the injection sites indicated that the injection in the right arm was the last one. This was consistent with the suspicion that the victim was given the injection by another person although probably in agreement with the deceased. In the second case, a similar toxicological procedure was used. This fatality was not witnessed, however ample evidence indicated that it was an isolated event in a former intravenous heroin addict and there was only one fresh injection mark. Even in this case, the concentration of morphine was much higher in the tissue sample from the injection mark than in any of the blood samples. Topics: Adult; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Tissue Distribution | 1998 |
Divergent illicit drug policies in Europe.
Topics: Drug and Narcotic Control; European Union; Health Policy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Social Control, Formal; State Medicine; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Switzerland | 1998 |
Heroin snorters versus injectors: comparison on drug use and treatment outcome in age-matched samples.
Drug use histories and treatment outcomes were compared for age, race and gender-matched samples of intravenous (IV; n = 28) versus intranasal (IN; n = 28) opiate abusers entering a 3-day inpatient detoxification unit. Data were derived from the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) interview. Both groups reported daily heroin use prior to detoxification, but IV users reported more days of alcohol and multiple drug use during the past 30 days. Despite age matching, IV users also started using alcohol at an earlier age and accumulated more lifetime months of regular alcohol, cocaine and multidrug use. IV users were more likely to enter treatment following the detox, but no significant outcome differences were noted at 1 and 3 months post-detoxification. The results show that intravenous, as compared to intranasal, opiate users have both a more severe pattern and a more extensive history of the use of non-opiate drugs. Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Alcoholism; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Comorbidity; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Treatment Outcome | 1998 |
[The history of heroin abuse by assaying 6-monoacetylmorphine and morphine in human hair].
The purpose of this study is to conclude the history of heroin abuse by assaying 6-monoacetylmorphine (MAM) and morphine (MOR) in human hair. The hair of heroin abuse was labeled and segmented, then washed and cut into fragments. After hydrolyses and extraction, 6-MAM and MOR in human hair were determined by GC/MS-SIM with selected ion monitoring. Results of the segmented hair were analyzed. It provided useful information about the history of heroin abuse (hair growth rate 1-1.5 cm/mon). Topics: Adult; Female; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Time Factors | 1998 |
[Detection of heroin metabolites: 6-monoacetylmorphine and morphine in human hair by GC/MS].
This paper presents a method to detect the main metabolites of heroin: 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) and morphine (MOR) in human hair using GC/MS-SIM. The hair specimens were washed with special solvents and cut into about 0.5 mm pieces. Ethylmorphine was added as internal standard and HCl solution for hydrolysis. After hydrolysis, 6-MAM and MOR were extracted by a mixture of solvents (chloroform-isopropyl alcohol-heptane 50:17:33). The residue of the extract was derivatized with N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyl trifluoroacetamide(MSTFA), then the trimethylsilyl(TMS)-derivatives were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using GC/MS-SIM. The correlation coefficients for 6-MAM and MOR were 0.9996 and 0.9997, respectively. The recoveries of both 6-MAM and MOR were over 50%. The RSD of within-day and between-day was less than 8% and 10%, respectively. The lower limit of detection of both 6-MAM and MOR was 0.5 ng.mg-1. Hair samples of 12 drug abusers were analyzed using this method, 8 of them gave positive results. This method is simple, accurate and sensitive. It is very suitable for routine case work. Topics: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives | 1998 |
Sexually arousing events and relapse to heroin-seeking in sexually experienced male rats.
We have shown previously, using a reinstatement procedure, that both priming injections of heroin and exposure to footshock stress reinstate heroin-taking behavior following prolonged drug-free periods. In the present study, we examined the effect of another highly arousing event, exposure to a sexually active female, on reinstatement of heroin-seeking. Male rats were first given sexual experience, being allowed to copulate on 4 occasions with sexually active females and were then trained to self-administer heroin (100 micrograms/kg per infusion, IV) for 4 3-h sessions/day for 5-6 days and 1 6-h session/day for an additional 6 days. Extinction sessions were then given for 4 days, 6-h/day, during which saline was substituted for heroin. On tests for reinstatement, males were presented with: 1. The wire-mesh side of an empty cage (baseline condition), 2. the sight, odor, and smell of a sexually inactive female, 3. the sight, odor, and smell of a female in heat, 4. a female in heat, and allowed to copulate, 5. intermittent footshock (15 min, 0.5 mA, 0.5 s on, mean off period of 40 s), or 6. a priming injection of heroin (0.25 mg/kg, SC). Reinstatement of heroin-taking behavior was observed after exposure to the priming injection of heroin and to footshock stress. Reinstatement of heroin-taking behavior was not induced by exposure to the females in any of the conditions. Thus, motivational arousal, as such, does not appear to be a sufficient stimulus for relapse to heroin-taking. Topics: Animals; Arousal; Copulation; Extinction, Psychological; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Libido; Male; Motivation; Rats; Sexual Behavior, Animal | 1997 |
Cannabinoid receptor gene (CNR1): association with i.v. drug use.
The receptors for tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient of marijuana, have been identified. A microsatellite polymorphism (AAT)n at the cannabinoid CB1 (brain) receptor gene (CNR1) consists of 9 alleles. Since the cannabinoid system is part of the reward pathway we examined the hypothesis that genetic variants of the CNR1 gene might be associated with susceptibility to alcohol or drug dependence. The study consisted of 92 subjects on an Addiction Treatment Unit (ATU) and 114 controls. All were non-Hispanic Caucasians. The ATU subjects were screened for all types of substance dependence using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS), and for a variety of substance abuse symptoms using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Since inspection of the distribution of alleles in controls vs i.v. drug use showed a decrease in the frequency of the 4 allele, and the < 4 alleles were rare, the alleles were divided into two groups, < 5 and < or = 5, and three genotypes < 5/< 5, heterozygotes, and > or =/> or = 5. When all variables were subjected to factor analysis, factor 1 showed a clustering of drug dependence variables and factor 2 of alcohol dependence variables. By ANOVA only factor 1 showed significant differences by genotype consistent with a model where homozygosity for the > or = 5 repeat alleles showed the greatest effect. The number of i.v. drugs used was significantly greater for those carrying the > or =/> or = 5 genotype than for other genotypes (P = 0.005). The association with specific types of drug dependence was greatest for cocaine, amphetamine, and cannabis dependence. The results are consistent with a role of cannabinoid receptors in the modulation of dopamine and cannabinoid reward pathways. Independent studies should be designed to further confirm the hypothesis that cannabinoid receptors may contribute to the susceptibility to drug abuse. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Administration, Oral; Adult; Alcoholism; Alleles; Amphetamines; Cocaine; Comorbidity; Disease Susceptibility; Evoked Potentials; Female; Gene Frequency; Genotype; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; Receptors, Cannabinoid; Receptors, Drug; Reward; Risk Factors; Smoking; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Substance-Related Disorders; Trinucleotide Repeats | 1997 |
[Anticipated effects of experimental heroin prescription on the method of administration and the use of other drugs].
Pending a Dutch heroin prescription trial (intended to regulate drug abuse), preliminary research was conducted into client factors that may influence the course and outcome, notably into administration patterns and changes in concomitant use of other drugs.. Interview.. Methadone programme Baan in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.. In a Rotterdam methadone programme, 60 clients were identified matching the target group of a heroin prescription trial; 42 respondents were interviewed. Using a semistructured questionnaire, data were collected on characteristics of drug use in the preceding month.. In addition to their methadone supply, the majority (90%) of the respondents used both heroin and cocaine. Heroin and cocaine were smoked as well as injected by 22% and 31% respectively. In the choice of a route of administration individually experienced effects played a major part, which suggests that participation in a prescription trial will not lead to shifts in employed routes of administration. Cocaine was often found to have a central position in polydrug use, while the function of heroin was mostly that of a modulator. This suggests that no direct effect on the use of cocaine can be expected from the prescription of heroin. On the contrary, the relationship between the available amount of money and the cocaine used was such that, considering that participants in a prescription trial may be left with more money, a prescription trial might lead to an increased use of cocaine.. The prescription of heroin does not seem to have a direct effect on the use of cocaine. Indirectly the use of cocaine might increase. Topics: Adult; Cocaine; Drug Prescriptions; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Social Environment | 1997 |
[Painful myoedema caused by rhabdomyolysis: a proposal of a new integrated therapeutic treatment].
Topics: Adult; Analgesics; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Arm; Combined Modality Therapy; Drug Overdose; Edema; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methylprednisolone; Muscular Diseases; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Pain; Rhabdomyolysis; Syndrome | 1997 |
Cardiovascular parameters of heroin-withdrawn addicts treated with guanfacine.
Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored in heroin addicts detoxified with guanfacine in an outpatient program. Retrospective analysis of the cardiovascular parameters from the addicts who failed this detoxification during the first 5 days of treatment (they consumed heroin within this period) showed that these patients experienced less hypotension and bradycardia when treated with the alpha 2-agonist than the group of successful patients. Therefore, the relapse to opiate use could be predicted, at least in some patients, by a minimal cardiovascular reaction to guanfacine. Opiate use was followed by significant increases in blood pressure and heart rate, as had happened in previous studies with clonidine-treated addicts. This finding further confirms a similarity between alpha 2-agonists adrenergic and opiates with regard to their cardiovascular effects. Topics: Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Blood Pressure; Guanfacine; Heart Rate; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1997 |
The impact of law enforcement activity on a heroin market.
It may be argued that seizing large quantities of heroin being imported into the country should decrease its supply and hence increase its price, resulting in a reduction in the quantity of the drug being purchased or consumed. To date, however, there has been no empirical evidence that heroin seizures in Australia have any effect on the price of heroin at street level. This article describes a 2-year research study during which the price and purity of street-level heroin were regularly monitored. It was found that heroin seizures had no effect on the price, purity or perceived availability of heroin at street level. It was further found that admissions to methadone treatment were not affected by the price or perceived availability of heroin or by local arrests for heroin use/possession, nor was any relationship found between these arrests and the price of street-level heroin. Nevertheless, two-thirds of those who sought entry to local methadone programmes indicated the price as a reason for stopping using heroin. This paper argues that supply-side law enforcement should only be used as a strategy for maintaining high heroin prices if the demand for heroin can be shown to be price-elastic and, further, that the costs of such a strategy need to be weighted against the benefits. Topics: Australia; Costs and Cost Analysis; Drug and Narcotic Control; Drug Contamination; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone | 1997 |
A statistical approach to the prediction of verifiable heroin use from total codeine and total morphine concentrations in urine.
There has been much debate in urine drug testing over what criteria should be applied to total codeine and total morphine concentration data to determine the likelihood that a urine donor has used heroin and whether such use can be demonstrated by the presence of 6-acetylmorphine. After determining that the stability of 6-acetylmorphine in frozen urine is adequate for a period of at least two years, a database of over 100 codeine and/or morphine positive urine specimens was subjected to relative operating characteristic analysis to identify a criterion that would indicate a high probability of detecting 6-acetylmorphine in a specimen and thus confirming heroin use. A two-fold criterion was identified. By using a criterion that requires the total morphine concentration to be greater than 5.000 mg/L and the total codeine to total morphine ratio to be less than 0.125, one can predict the presence of 6-acetylmorphine with a sensitivity of 92%, a specificity of 79%, and an overall accuracy of 73%. Although this criterion is statistically the most accurate in terms of both sensitivity and specificity for the data analyzed by the author, the results of other, criteria are presented to aid toxicologists and medical review officers in determining if analysis for 6-acetylmorphine is likely to produce useful results. Topics: Codeine; Drug Stability; Forensic Medicine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Predictive Value of Tests; Random Allocation; ROC Curve | 1997 |
How constant is an individual's route of heroin administration? Data from treatment and non-treatment samples.
Three routes of heroin use were identified--injecting, 'chasing the dragon' and snorting. Whilst injecting and 'chasing the dragon' accounted for virtually all current heroin use, snorting had been the first route of use for nearly a fifth of heroin users in both the treatment and community samples. Overlap of lifetime experience of the different routes was widespread, with the majority of heroin users in both the treatment and community samples having used heroin by more than one route. Although less than half of the treatment sample had used heroin by injection on the first occasion, more than 90% had injected at least once, and over 80% had at some time used by 'chasing the dragon'. Only a quarter of the community sample had first used heroin by injecting, and yet, by the time of interview, two-thirds of the sample had injected. The majority of durable changes in route of heroin use were towards injecting and 'chasing the dragon', with transitions to snorting being extremely rare. For both the samples, transitions to injecting were twice as frequent as transitions to 'chasing'. Snorting appeared to be an unstable route of use, with almost all who initially snorted their heroin now using by injecting or 'chasing the dragon'. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; England; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Incidence; Male; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 1997 |
Heroin smoking by 'chasing the dragon': origins and history.
The history of heroin smoking and the subsequent development and spread of 'chasing the dragon' are examined. The first heroin smoking originated in Shanghai in the 1920s and involved use of porcelain bowls and bamboo tubes, thereafter spreading across much of Eastern Asia and to the United States over the next decade. 'Chasing the dragon' was a later refinement of this form of heroin smoking, originating in or near Hong Kong in the 1950s, and refers to the ingestion of heroin by inhaling the vapours which result when the drug is heated-typically on tin-foil above a flame. Subsequent spread of 'chasing the dragon' included spread to other parts of South East Asia during the 1960s and 1970s, to some parts of Europe during the late 1970s and early 1980s, and to much of the Indian sub-continent during the 1980s. At the time of writing, 'chasing the dragon' has now been reliably reported from many parts of the world but not from others with an established heroin problem-such as the United States and Australia. The significance of this new form of heroin use is examined, including consideration of the role of the different effect with this new form of use, the different types of heroin, and changing public attitudes to injecting. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Asia, Southeastern; Europe; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; History, 20th Century; Humans | 1997 |
Heroin-related deaths in south-western Sydney.
Topics: Adult; Australia; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male | 1997 |
Activity of presumed dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area during heroin self-administration.
To assess the pattern of mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) activity associated with drug-seeking and drug-taking behavior, we monitored the firing rate of presumed DA neurons in the ventral tegmental area of trained rats during i.v. heroin self-administration (SA). Relative to a slow and irregular basal activity, the first SA of each session was preceded by a phasic increase and followed by a more persistent increase in discharge rate that peaked approximately 15-20 min later at the time of the second SA. All subsequent SAs were associated with a biphasic neuronal change: a transient decrease followed by a gradual increase that peaked just before the next SA. Our results support mesocorticolimbic DA activation in heroin-seeking behavior but suggest a transient inhibition of DA activity correlated with heroin reward. Topics: Animals; Dopamine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Limbic System; Male; Neurons; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reward; Self Administration; Tegmentum Mesencephali; Time Factors; Videotape Recording | 1997 |
Wound botulism associated with black tar heroin.
The incidence of wound botulism is increasing and the epidemiology of the disease is changing. The majority of new cases are associated with injection drug use, in particular, the use of Mexican black tar heroin. This case report and discussion of wound botulism illustrate the following important points: Dysphagia, dysphonia, diplopia, and descending paralysis, in association with injection drug use, should alert the treating physician to the possibility of wound botulism. In such patients, the onset of respiratory failure may be sudden and without clinically obvious signs of respiratory weakness. For the reported patient, maximum inspiratory force measurements were the only reliable indicator of respiratory muscle weakness. This is a measurement not routinely performed in the ED, but may prove essential for patients with suspected wound botulism. To minimize the effect of the botulinum toxin and to decrease length of hospital stay, antitoxin administration and surgical wound debridement should be performed early. Topics: Botulism; Combined Modality Therapy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Middle Aged; Respiratory Insufficiency; Treatment Outcome | 1997 |
Antibody-mediated clean-up of blood for simultaneous HPLC determination of morphine and morphine glucuronides.
For the interpretation of the concentration of morphine in blood samples of heroin consumers information about the concentration of the analgesic active morphine metabolite morphine-6-glucuronide is very important. Thus a simple but specific clean-up procedure based on immuno-affinity chromatography is presented for the extraction of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide from whole blood in cases of fatal heroin overdose. The preparation of the immunoabsorber by immobilization of antibodies against morphine-3-BSA and morphine-6-KLH with carbonyldiimidazole-activated trisacrylgel is described. The separation of the extracts is achieved by HPLC using native fluorescence detection. The limits of detection for this method are 10ng for morphine and morphine glucuronides/g blood. The results for the concentration of morphine and morphine glucuronides in blood from seven cases of heroin overdose are presented. By calculating the quotients for the concentrations of morphine-6-glucuronide/morphine the time elapsed since the last intake of heroin is estimated. Topics: Antibodies; Chromatography, Affinity; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunosorbents; Morphine Derivatives; Postmortem Changes; Time Factors | 1997 |
A comparison of blood toxicology of heroin-related deaths and current heroin users in Sydney, Australia.
Blood toxicology results for deaths attributed to heroin overdose during 1995 in the South Western Sydney (SWS) region (n = 39) were compared with those of a sample of 100 current SWS heroin users who had injected within the preceding 24 h. Heroin-related deaths had a higher median concentration of morphine than current heroin users (0.35 versus 0.09 mg/l). However, there was substantial overlap between the blood morphine concentrations of the two groups, ranging from 0.08-1.45 mg/l. This range incorporated 90% of heroin-related deaths. A third of current users had morphine concentrations over twice the toxic blood morphine concentration employed by the analytical laboratories, and 7% had morphine levels higher than the median recorded for fatal cases. Alcohol was detected in 51% of fatal cases (median = 0.10 g/100 ml) compared with 1% of current heroin user. There was a significant negative correlation among fatal cases between blood morphine and blood alcohol concentrations (r2 = -0.41). There was no significant difference between groups in the proportions of subjects positive for blood benzodiazepines. The results raise questions about the mechanisms of death in what are termed overdoses, and about the role of alcohol in these fatalities. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Alcoholism; Autopsy; Cause of Death; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Overdose; Drug Synergism; Ethanol; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine; New South Wales; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 1997 |
Morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide, morphine-6-glucuronide, and 6-monoacetylmorphine determined by means of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry-liquid chromatography in body fluids of heroin victims.
Morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G), and 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) were isolated from body fluids using solid-phase extraction and determined by means of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry-liquid chromatography (APCI-LC-MS) in selected ion monitoring mode. The following ions were monitored: m/z 286 for morphine; m/z 286 and 462 for M3G and M6G; m/z 211, 268, and 328 for 6-MAM; and m/z 289 for morphine-d3 (internal standard). The recoveries ranged from 82 to 89% The limits of detection were as follows: 0.1 ng/mL (morphine), 0.5 ng/mL (6-MAM), and 1 ng/mL (M3G and M6G). The analytes were determined in samples taken from 21 heroin-overdose victims. Twenty-one blood samples, 11 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples, 12 vitreous humor (VH) samples, and 6 urine samples were investigated. Blood concentrations (ng/mL) of morphine ranged from 8 to 1539, of M3G from 111 to 941, of M6G from 32 to 332, and of 6-MAM from 0 to 73. The levels of morphine were correlated with glucuronide values and with 6-MAM. The concentrations of morphine, M3G, and M6G in CSF were, as a rule, lower than in blood and lower in VH than in CSF. The concentrations of morphine and molar ratios of M6G-morphine in blood and CSF were correlated. Low ratios of M3G-morphine and M6G-morphine in blood of heroin-overdose victims indicated short survival time after drug intake. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Atmospheric Pressure; Autopsy; Chromatography, Liquid; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mass Spectrometry; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Narcotics; Urine; Vitreous Body | 1997 |
[Pain, anesthesia and drug addiction].
What are we talking about when we speak of pain in a drug abuser? Physical and psychiatric pain are confounded. Heroin anesthesizes pain in general and grief pain in particular. Is there a relationship between stomatology and pain? A drug abuser's psychopathology evolves over time. The biological effects of morphine, compared with the biological effects of subutex and methadone, are sufficient in themselves to justify their use in substitution therapy. But in practice, the psychopathological situation of the drug abuser requires us to construct a close rigorous relationship to maintain treatment. Once this relationship has been constructed within the frame work of the substitution therapy, the drug abuser will accept dental, medical and surgical care. Topics: Anesthesia; Comprehensive Health Care; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Morphine; Narcotics; Pain; Physician-Patient Relations; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance-Related Disorders | 1997 |
Imagery of craving in opiate addicts undergoing detoxification.
Craving is a significant factor in opiate addiction that is associated with drug-dependence and in relapse to drug use after treatment. In order to better understand the psychological and physiological mechanisms of craving for opiates, we have developed an imagery-based procedure using personal verbal descriptions of craving in abstinent opiate addicts. Thirteen opiate addicts in detoxification were required to imagine and describe their craving experiences while autonomic measures of heart rate and arterial pressure were taken. Subjects displayed a significant increase in systolic blood pressure and heart rate while describing drug craving compared with neutral descriptions. Furthermore, an increase in systolic blood pressure during imagery of craving descriptions compared with neutral descriptions was observed. These results provide preliminary evidence that imagery is powerful in eliciting craving for opiates, as indicated by subjective ratings and autonomic measures. The implications of the results of this paper for the cue-exposure paradigm and contemporary models of addiction are being discussed. Topics: Adult; Arousal; Autonomic Nervous System; Blood Pressure; Heart Rate; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Imagination; Male; Motivation; Narcotics; Pain Measurement; Patient Admission; Personality Inventory; Self Concept; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1997 |
Functional correlates of heroin sensitization in the rat brain.
The aim of the study was to measure the changes in cerebral energy metabolism and c-fos mRNA expression following challenge with heroin in drug-naive rats and in animals previously sensitized to the drug. Acute heroin administration to drug naive-rats produced a generalized metabolic depression. In contrast, challenge with heroin in drug-sensitized rats produced selective metabolic increases in structures belonging to the basal ganglia. These changes were accompanied by increased c-fos mRNA expression in the caudate-putamen nucleus. These results demonstrate that the process of sensitization to heroin is coupled to functional changes that are confined to the subcortical motor circuits of the basal ganglia. Topics: Animals; Brain; Caudate Nucleus; Drug Tolerance; Energy Metabolism; Gene Expression; Genes, fos; Glucose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Motor Cortex; Narcotics; Putamen; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; RNA, Messenger; Somatosensory Cortex | 1997 |
Ultrarapid opiate detoxification. What's all the fuss about?
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists | 1997 |
Ultrarapid opiate detoxification.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists | 1997 |
The road to nowhere--ACT drug trial.
Topics: Australia; Clinical Trials as Topic; Crime; Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics | 1997 |
When medical research is beholden to politics.
Topics: Australia; Clinical Trials as Topic; Costs and Cost Analysis; Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Politics; Research | 1996 |
The ACT heroin trial proposal: an overview. Australian Capital Territory.
Topics: Australia; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug and Narcotic Control; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Pilot Projects | 1996 |
"Acculturating" heroin use.
Topics: Acculturation; Australia; Clinical Trials as Topic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Pilot Projects | 1996 |
The heroin trial we had to have.
Topics: Australia; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 1996 |
The use of recombinant DNA technology in the design of a highly specific heroin sensor.
Topics: Acetylesterase; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Biosensing Techniques; Cattle; Cloning, Molecular; Colorimetry; Consensus Sequence; DNA, Recombinant; Esterases; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; Moraxella; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Rabbits; Rats; Recombinant Proteins; Rhodococcus; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Swine; United Kingdom | 1996 |
Heroin overdose: the case for take-home naloxone.
Topics: Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Home Care Services; Humans; Naloxone; Self Care | 1996 |
Drugs in blood samples from unconscious drug addicts after the intake of an overdose.
This investigation includes whole blood samples from 53 drug addicts found unconscious in the Copenhagen area with evidence of a heroin overdose. Heroin/morphine was detected in 85% of the patients and other opioids in 11%. One or more benzodiazepines, most often diazepam, were detected in 75% of the patients. A blood alcohol concentration higher than 1.00 mg/g was detected in 57% of the patients. Methadone was detected in seven patients, ketobemidone in four, amphetamine in five and cocaine in one. This investigation showed widespread multi-drug abuse and heroin/morphine alone was detected in only one patient. As indicators of heroin intake, 6-mono-acetylmorphine (MAM) and morphine were detected in this investigation. Topics: Adult; Denmark; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Middle Aged; Mobile Health Units; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Unconsciousness | 1996 |
Changes in human plasma nerve growth factor level after chronic alcohol consumption and withdrawal.
Numerous studies reported in recent years have shown that withdrawal from chronic consumption of drugs induces high levels of anxiety, both in humans and in animal models. In the present study, we demonstrated that withdrawal from chronic consumption of either ethanol or heroin causes a significant increase in plasma nerve growth factor, suggesting that the resulting anxiety condition triggers the release of this molecule. Although the functional significance of this phenomenon needs to be better defined, it is hypothesized that the increased levels of circulating nerve growth factor might be involved in homeostatic adaptive and/or reparative mechanisms. Topics: Adult; Aged; Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium; Alcoholism; Animals; Anxiety; Arousal; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Homeostasis; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nerve Growth Factors; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1996 |
Decreased density of I2-imidazoline receptors in the postmortem brain of heroin addicts.
The aim of this study was to quantitate imidazoline receptors in postmortem brains of heroin addicts who died of an opiate overdose. The density of I2-imidazoline receptors ([3H]idazoxan binding in the presence of adrenaline) and the immunoreactivity of the related 29/30 kDa imidazoline receptor protein were decreased (39% and 28%, respectively) in the frontal cortex. The density of brain I2-imidazoline receptors was also decreased in heroin-dependent rats (27%). This novel finding indicates that opiate addiction induces down-regulation of I2-imidazoline receptors in astrocytes, and presumably down-regulation of the functions associated with these receptors. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Brain Chemistry; Down-Regulation; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Idazoxan; Imidazoline Receptors; Immunoblotting; In Vitro Techniques; Kinetics; Male; Radioligand Assay; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Drug; Tubulin | 1996 |
The developmental outcome of children born to heroin-dependent mothers, raised at home or adopted.
In the present investigation we were interested to study the possible role of in-utero exposure to heroin and of the home environmental in the etiology of long-term developmental problems in children born to heroin-dependent parents in comparison to matched controls. The children were examined at .5-6 years of age by a developmental pediatrician and a developmental psychologist using, for the children up to 2.5 years of age, the Bayley Developmental Scales, and for children aged 3-6 years the McCarthy Scales for Children's Abilities. We examined 83 children born to heroin-dependent mothers, and compared the results to those of 76 children born to heroin-dependent fathers and to three control groups; 50 children with environmental deprivation, 50 normal children from families of moderate or high socioeconomic class, without environmental deprivation, and 80 healthy children from kindergartens in Jerusalem. There were five children (6.0%) with significant neurological damage among the children born to heroin-dependent mothers and six (7.9%) children among those born to heroin-dependent fathers. The children born to heroin-dependent mothers had a lower birth weight and a lower head circumference at examination when compared to controls. The children born to heroin-dependent parents also had a high incidence of hyperactivity, inattention, and behavioral problems. The lowest DQ or IQ among the children with cognitive levels above 70 was found in the children with environmental deprivation, next was the DQ or IQ of children born to heroin-dependent fathers, then the DQ or IQ of the children born to heroin-dependent mothers. When the children born to heroin-dependent mothers were divided to those that were adopted at a very young age and to those raised at home, the adopted children were found to function similarly to the controls while those not adopted functioned significantly lower. Our results show that the developmental delay and behavioral disorders observed among children born to drug-dependent parents raised at home may primarily result from severe environmental deprivation and the fact that one or both parents are addicted. The specific role of the in-utero heroin exposure in the determination of the developmental outcome of these children (if they do not have significant neurological damage), seems to be less important in comparison to the home environment. Topics: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; Birth Weight; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child of Impaired Parents; Child, Preschool; Developmental Disabilities; Family Health; Fathers; Female; Growth; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Israel; Male; Mothers; Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Psychosocial Deprivation; Sex Ratio; Social Class | 1996 |
Frequency of non-fatal heroin overdose: survey of heroin users recruited in non-clinical settings.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; London; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 1996 |
Relapse to heroin-seeking in rats under opioid maintenance: the effects of stress, heroin priming, and withdrawal.
It is widely believed that opioid withdrawal symptoms contribute to relapse to opioid use, but relapse is highly probable in experienced users even after prolonged abstinence and during opioid maintenance therapy. We have found using an animal model of relapse, the reinstatement procedure, that the two events that reliably reinstate heroin-seeking behavior are reexposure to heroin, and brief exposure to footshock stress. Contrary to expectation, opioid antagonist-induced withdrawal does not reinstate heroin-seeking. We now report on reinstatement of heroin-seeking in rats trained to self-administer heroin and subsequently exposed to a maintenance dose of heroin via minipump and allowed to self-administer saline. With the minipump in, naloxone-induced withdrawal did not reinstate drug-seeking, a priming injection on heroin was only mildly effective, and footshock was highly effective. Twenty-four hours after removal of the minipump (spontaneous withdrawal), animals reinitiated heroin-seeking and, subsequently, both heroin and footshock reinstated heroin-seeking. In summary, brief exposure to stress reinstated heroin-seeking in both heroin-maintained and withdrawn animals. The heroin prime reliably reinstated drug-seeking only in the absence of the minipump; opioid "withdrawal," as such, did not reinstate drug-seeking behavior. Naloxone given to heroin-maintained animals induced withdrawal symptoms, caused a mild depression in the levels of dopamine and its metabolites in the nucleus accumbens septi (NAS), but did not reinstate drug-seeking. Reinstatement of heroin-seeking during spontaneous withdrawal was not accompanied by reductions in basal dopamine and its metabolites in NAS. Topics: Animals; Electroshock; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Infusion Pumps; Male; Microdialysis; Naloxone; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Recurrence; Self Administration; Stress, Physiological; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1996 |
Within-session determination of dose-response curves for heroin self-administration in rats: Comparison with between-session determination and effects of naltrexone.
A procedure was employed in the present study to obtain dose-response curves for heroin self-administration within each experimental session. The data generated using this procedure were compared to dose-response data obtained using between-session dose manipulations. The dose of heroin (18, 30, 60 or 100 micrograms/kg/inf) was varied across 4-hourly segments separated by a 20-min time-out period during which heroin was not available. The within-session dose-response procedure yielded data similar to those obtained using between-session dose manipulations when the order of dose presentation was increasing or random. However, the dose-response curve for total drug-intake was flat when the doses were presented in decreasing order. Further analysis of the dose-response curves in the within-session procedure demonstrated that the rate of heroin intake increased in the third and fourth hourly components compared to the first component, suggesting acute tolerance to the reinforcing and/or rate-suppressive effects of heroin. Furthermore, using a random order of dose presentation, administration of 3.0 mg/kg of naltrexone prior to the session shifted the dose-response curve for heroin self-administration 5-fold to the right in the within-session procedure. The data indicate that the within-session dose-response procedure can be used to investigate the pharmacology of heroin self-administration in rodents. Topics: Animals; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Motivation; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Reinforcement Schedule; Self Administration | 1996 |
Effects of prenatal exposure to opioids on focused attention in toddlers during free play.
The goals of this study were: (1) to determine if 24-month-old children exposed to opioids show decreased focused attention during free play compared with children of the same age who were not prenatally exposed; (2) to identify medical and social risk factors other than drug exposure that are related to focused attention; and (3) to determine if mothers' teaching ability had an effect on attention. Focused attention was rated during a 3-minute free play session for 30 toddlers who were methadone-exposed and for 44 comparison toddlers. The mother teaching the child to use a toy was also rated separately from the free play session. There was no difference in focused attention of 24 month olds during free play based only on prenatal exposure. Despite group differences in medical and social risk factors, only maternal IQ was significantly related to focused attention. Maternal instruction was strongly related to focused attention and mediated the effects of maternal IQ on attention. Topics: Attention; Child, Preschool; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Mother-Child Relations; Narcotics; Play and Playthings; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects | 1996 |
Overdose among heroin users in Sydney, Australia: I. Prevalence and correlates of non-fatal overdose.
A sample of 329 heroin users were interviewed regarding their personal experience of non-fatal heroin overdose. Experience of overdose was widespread, with two-thirds of subjects (68%) reporting having overdosed. The median number of life-time overdoses was three, with males and females equally likely to have overdosed. The majority (62%) of most recent heroin overdoses occurred in conjunction with the consumption of other central nervous system depressants (alcohol, benzodiazepines and other opioids). Logistic regression analyses indicated three independent factors associated with having overdosed: longer heroin using careers, greater heroin dependence and higher levels of alcohol consumption. Implications for the reduction in the prevalence and frequency of overdose are discussed. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cause of Death; Central Nervous System Depressants; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Overdose; Drug Synergism; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; New South Wales; Urban Population | 1996 |
Overdose among heroin users in Sydney, Australia: II. responses to overdose.
A sample of 329 heroin users were interviewed about their experiences at other peoples' heroin overdoses. The overwhelming majority (86%) had witnessed a heroin overdose, on a median of six occasions. Heroin users were reluctant to seek medical attention, with an ambulance being called on only half (56%) of the most recent overdose occasions. At only 17% of most recent overdoses was calling an ambulance the first action taken. Males reported taking significantly longer than females to call an ambulance. Nearly half (44%) of subjects reported that there were factors that had delayed or stopped them seeking medical assistance, the most common impediment being a fear of police involvement. The importance of interventions to encourage help-seeking at overdoses are discussed. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Attitude to Death; Drug Overdose; Female; Gender Identity; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; New South Wales; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Risk Factors | 1996 |
[Pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis carinii in a drug addict without evidence of HIV infection].
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Seronegativity; Humans; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Smoking | 1996 |
Temporal and geographic variations in the characteristics of heroin seized in Spain and their relation with the route of administration. Spanish Group for the Study of the Purity of Seized Drugs.
We studied the evolution of the purity and other characteristics of heroin seized in 17 Spanish provinces (especially seizures presumed to be street drugs) and explored their relation with the prevalence and recent changes in intravenous use. We found great variability in purity within and between provinces: in provinces with large cities the purity is similar to or greater than that detected elsewhere in Europe, in others it is less than 30 percent, and on the island of Mallorca it is over 60 percent. Purity has increased in recent years. The heroin in circulation is predominantly brown in all of Spain except on the Mediterranean coast. The principal adulterants detected are caffeine, paracetamol and piracetam; phenobarbital and procaine have disappeared. In provinces where white heroin is in circulation, most heroin users in treatment use the intravenous route; in provinces where brown heroin predominates, the proportion of chasers increases with increasing purity of heroin (correlation coefficient = 0.6). The disappearance of white heroin has paralleled the spread of the phenomenon of chasing. Topics: Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug and Narcotic Control; Drug Contamination; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Incidence; Spain; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 1996 |
Politics of hard and soft drugs.
Topics: Cannabis; Crime; Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Marijuana Smoking; Narcotics; Politics; Public Policy; United Kingdom | 1995 |
[Forensic psychiatric expert evaluation of so-called drug-induced psychoses].
A considerable number of schizophrenic persons also abuse illegal drugs. This comorbidity raises problems of diagnosis which become particularly important when concerning forensic questions. The hypothesis of a distinct psychopathological syndrome of drug induced psychosis is widely criticized in the literature. A case report is presented to demonstrate the problems of differential diagnoses and the difficulties for psychiatric expertizing arising from these problems. Topics: Adult; Cannabinoids; Commitment of Mentally Ill; Comorbidity; Expert Testimony; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; Male; Marijuana Abuse; Psychoses, Substance-Induced; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenic Psychology | 1995 |
The harmful effects of drugs as perceived by the Spanish public.
A regional survey on peoples' attitudes towards drugs was conducted in the fall of 1992 on 2500 individuals aged 14-70 years. The great majority of those surveyed considered the taking of heroin (98%), cocaine (95.9%) and amphetamines (94.7%) to be "very risky" for one's health. These percentages were considerably lower in the case of tobacco (41.3%) and alcohol (26.7%). Those surveyed pointed to 'heroin' (35.6%), 'all illegal drugs' (27%), 'legal drugs' (17.2%) and 'cocaine' (14.2%) as the most dangerous drugs for society. The study shows how alcohol and tobacco are perceived by Spaniards as less dangerous than illegal drugs. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Alcohol Drinking; Cocaine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Middle Aged; Psychotropic Drugs; Public Opinion; Smoking; Social Problems; Substance-Related Disorders | 1995 |
Controlled heroin availability in Australia? How and to what end?
The general public, police, service providers, and users/ex-users were asked their views about options for trial design and trial outcomes with regard to a proposal for experimental controlled heroin availability. There was substantial agreement between the samples on issues concerning trial design. In general, the samples from the community, service providers and users/ex-users were more likely to report that a trial would result in positive outcomes, whereas the police sample was more likely to report that a trial would result in negative outcomes. This study illustrates the value of systematic consultation of key groups in exploring the options for change, raising potential difficulties, and highlighting different interests. Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Australia; Crime; Drug and Narcotic Control; Drug Prescriptions; Feasibility Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Life Style; Public Opinion; Social Problems; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Treatment Outcome; Violence | 1995 |
Alcohol use in combination with cocaine, heroin and methadone by medical examiner cases.
The purpose of this review of all appropriate, available medical examiner (ME) studies is to provide information on cases with positive toxicologies for cocaine, morphine (the heroin metabolite) and methadone that have positive blood or brain alcohol concentrations (BACs).. Criteria for inclusion of U.S. ME studies in this review are (1) at least 20 cases with a positive toxicology for cocaine, morphine or methadone and (2) BAC test findings according to specific drug positivity. Only 19 studies conducted from 1969 to 1992 met these criteria; most studies reviewed were not included primarily because of their failure to present or link available BAC test findings with positive toxicologies for these other drugs.. The BAC-positive ranges were similar for cocaine and heroin. In reports on both heroin and methadone or on all three drugs, heroin-positive cases had the highest proportions and methadone-positive cases had the lowest proportions with positive BACs.. Published data confirm the substantial presence of alcohol in combination with cocaine, heroin and methadone among ME cases. Future ME studies should endeavor to link BAC and toxicology findings for other drugs according to drug-induced or drug-related manner of death. These data would advance our knowledge about the role of alcohol in drug deaths and provide additional information on substance abuse trends. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Alcoholism; Cause of Death; Child; Cocaine; Comorbidity; Coroners and Medical Examiners; Ethanol; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1995 |
[Changes in heroin administration route and frequency of human immunodeficiency virus infection].
Self-administration of drugs by different intravenous routes may induce a reduction in the organic complications of drug addiction (DA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the way of drug administration in a series of DA individuals in the province of Cádiz, Spain, and the evolution of the frequency of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in these patients.. The reports of all the drug users from the province of Cádiz admitted to the Detoxication Unit of the Hospital Punta de Europa in Algeciras, from January, 1989 to July, 1993 were reviewed. At the time of admission many data were evaluated, fundamentally the main route of drug administration, and anti-HIV seropositivity.. Seven hundred ten drug users were included in the study. Ninety-seven percent used mainly heroin. The route of drug administration on admission was intravenous in 56.1%, pulmonary in 39.7%, inhalatory in 3.2% and oral in 0.8%. Forty-one point seven percent patients were seropositive for HIV. The frequency of the use of the intravenous route throughout the semesters analyzed was I/89: 85.7%, II/89: 89.6%, I/90: 80%, II/90: 80.8%, I/91: 59.8%, II/91: 50%, I/92: 44.9%, II/92: 39%, I/93: 34.3% (p < 0.00001). The use of the respiratory route significantly increased. The percentage of anti HIV positivity in the drug users evaluated was 67.4, 80.8, 56.4, 46.9, 40.7, 34.1, 30.6, 36.3, 23.2% (p < 0.00001), respectively for the same periods. The decrease in the use of the intravenous route and the reduction in anti HIV seropositivity demonstrated a correlation coefficient of 0.91 with a confidence interval from 0.62 to 0.98 (p < 0.05).. The decrease, over time, in the use of the intravenous route for heroin administration in the collective analyzed was significantly associated with a decrease in HIV infection in these patients. Topics: Adult; Drug Administration Routes; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Substance-Related Disorders | 1995 |
Fatality due to gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and heroin intoxication.
The first case of fatal intoxication due to ingestion of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and intravenous use of heroin is reported. A 42-year-old man, known to have been a heroin addict and to have taken other psychoactive substances, who had been in treatment with GHB for several months, was found dead. Anatomohistopathologic examination showed generalized visceral congestion, edema and pulmonary anthracosis, chronic bronchitis and chronic active hepatitis. Toxicological findings included fluid and tissue distributions of GHB, morphine and 6-monoacetylmorphine. GHB and morphine concentrations were respectively 11.5 and 0.77 micrograms/mL (blood), 84.3 and 0.3 micrograms/mL (vitreous humor), 258.3 and 1.35 micrograms/mL (urine), 57.0 and 14.3 micrograms/mL (bile), 40.0 and 0.43 micrograms/g (brain), 43.0 and 0.60 micrograms/g (liver), 47.0 and 0.68 micrograms/g (kidney). Blood and urine levels of 6-monoacetylmorphine were 28.5 and 12.1 ng/mL respectively. The presumed mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics of GHB are briefly reviewed, with reference to its therapeutic use and to reports of non-fatal GHB intoxication. Topics: Adult; Fatal Outcome; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Sodium Oxybate; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1995 |
Dutch report advises prescribing heroin for misusers.
Topics: Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Netherlands | 1995 |
[On the borderline between prescription and supply of heroin].
Topics: Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Netherlands; Public Policy | 1995 |
Team research methods for studying intranasal heroin use and its HIV risks.
Nineteen years ago Douglas (1976), a sociologist, vigorously recommended team field research. As Douglas noted, most ethnography is carried out using the "Lone Ranger" approach, which--while producing a number of excellent studies--generally limits the researcher to small groups or parts of large groups. In the few cases where field research teams were assembled (e.g., Becker et al. 1961), they tended to be homogeneous and to simply divide the group being studied between them and then essentially perform identical investigations (Douglas 1976). Douglas had a different vision. He saw the optimal field research group as heterogeneous, able to take on large projects, and able to take multiple perspectives. Such a team would have a variety of talents, experiences, and inclinations to call upon and would be more able to connect with the people being studied (e.g., by including indigenous members noted for their sociability). Douglas argued for giving greater consideration in designing research to society's conflictory nature and the desire and need for people to misinform, evade, construct false fronts, lie, and deceive themselves. According to Douglas, field research teams were an excellent means of coping with these problems. With various members using their array of talents to study a problem from multiple perspectives and through numerous webs of social cliques and networks, research teams would be particularly able to get behind people's facades and produce valid data. Though Douglas presented a compelling argument, there is little evidence of an increase in team field research, with one exception: research groups studying HIV/AIDS. The NADR program, funded by NIDA, created a number of field research teams across the United States that combined ethnographers with indigenous staff who, whatever their principal duties, could be used to assist in the research. These field research teams were also part of a survey research effort, and, in this fashion, quantitative and qualitative methods were combined to a degree uncommon in social science research. While many of these research groups have since disbanded, COIP was fortunate enough to remain in operation. The authors have described how they assembled a field research team composed of COIP members that combined ethnographers with selected indigenous staff to address a particular problem--new heroin use and its implications for HIV/AIDS. The goals the researchers set for the study would have been impossible fo Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Chicago; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Research Design; Risk Factors; Sampling Studies | 1995 |
Death and survival in a cohort of heroin addicts from London clinics: a 22-year follow-up study.
Data are presented on the 43 people who died over a 22-year follow-up period of a cohort of 128 heroin addicts drawn in 1969 from the newly opened London clinics. The main causes of death were drug-related, with 18 deaths specifically determined as due to overdose, of which the great majority were among people being prescribed opiates at the time. The mortality rate was a mean of 1.84% annually, and the excess mortality ratio was 11.9. This excess was highest at the beginning and varied over the period of study, appearing higher at the opening of the clinics and again in the mid-1980s. No sex differences in mortality rates were demonstrated but the excess mortality was concentrated at younger ages. No prediction of the 85 survivors could be made on the basis of length of heroin use prior to study intake, nor on age at intake. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cause of Death; Cohort Studies; Drug Overdose; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; London; Male; Middle Aged; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Urban Population | 1994 |
Behavioral significance of phasic changes in mesolimbic dopamine-dependent electrochemical signal associated with heroin self-injections.
High-speed chronoamperometry with monoamine-selective carbon fiber electrodes was used in rats to monitor, during 5-6 consecutive daily sessions, changes in DA-dependent electrochemical signal in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) during intravenous heroin (0.1 mg/kg) self-administration (SA) behavior and passive repeated drug injections performed with a temporal scheme similar to that in the SA experiment. In trained animals, biphasic signal fluctuations time-locked to the individual lever-presses were found to accompany all but the first daily SAs. The signal gradually increased by 30-40 nM for the 10 minutes preceding the SA, reached a peak at the moment of lever-press and decreased abruptly by approximately 40 nM for 3-4 min after heroin SA. The cycle then repeated, reaching a new peak at the moment of the next lever-press. Rapid bi-directional fluctuations in signal associated with individual heroin SAs were superimposed on substantial tonic increase in signal baseline (400-500 nM). This increase quickly developed after presentation of heroin-related light cue and the first SA, was relatively stable during all subsequent SAs and decreased towards the baseline after the last SA of a session. Changes in signal baseline induced by repeated heroin SAs depended strongly upon the signal's basal level (r = -0.787); that signal preferentially increased when its basal values were low (0-300 nM), and decreased when signal was tonically elevated (> 600 nM). Repeated passive heroin injections also induced biphasic signal fluctuations and a similar tonic increase in signal baseline. Although a transient signal decrease (25 nM for 2-4 minutes) followed by a prolonged signal increase occurred after each but not the first passive injection, the gradual pre-injection signal acceleration was absent. Although DOPAC, a principal DA metabolite, may significantly contribute to the tonic increase in electrochemical signal seen during SA session, the changes in extracellular DA may be the main contributor to both the rapid signal increases preceding drug-taking and the transient signal decreases following heroin SA. If so, the present findings suggest that activation of mesolimbic DA cells and increase in DA transmission may be involved in the mediation of motivational and/or activational components of drug-seeking and drug-taking behavior. An acute termination of previous drug- and behavior-associated DA activation with a transient inhibition of DA release, immediately following Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Conditioning, Operant; Dopamine; Electrochemistry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Ion-Selective Electrodes; Limbic System; Male; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration | 1994 |
[Are maintenance substitution practices indicated in the framework of health care of drug addicts?].
Topics: Buprenorphine; Clinical Trials as Topic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Quality of Life; Social Support; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors | 1994 |
Neuroleptics block high- but not low-dose heroin place preferences: further evidence for a two-system model of motivation.
The researchers studied whether 2 separate motivational systems in the brain underlie the rewarding effects of morphine. The brainstem tegmental pedunculopontine nucleus (TPP) is involved in mediating the motivational effects of opiates in nondeprived (drug-naive) rats, whereas dopamine transmission is necessary in mediating the motivational effects of opiates in deprived rats (opiate withdrawal). The results show that heroin's motivational properties obey the same boundary between a nondeprived and a deprived motivational state. Bilateral ibotenic acid lesions of the TPP blocked the acquisition of a place preference for an environment paired with 0.05 mg/kg heroin (a dose that induces no withdrawal aversion) but had no effect on place preference for an environment paired with 0.5 mg/kg heroin (a dose that does induce withdrawal aversion). Dopamine antagonist pretreatment produced the opposite pattern of results. Topics: Animals; Antipsychotic Agents; Avoidance Learning; Brain Mapping; Brain Stem; Conditioning, Classical; Dopamine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Flupenthixol; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Motivation; Pimozide; Premedication; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Social Environment; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Synaptic Transmission | 1994 |
Psychotropic drug consumption and other factors associated with heroin overdose.
In clinical or forensic practice there are few studies assessing which risk factors are associated with heroin overdoses. A series of 76 consecutive non-fatal heroin overdoses were compared to 22 consecutive subjects who self-injected heroin within 1 h before admission to the emergency room. Whereas blood levels of alcohol and IgE and urinary cocaine metabolite levels were similar in both groups, higher benzodiazepine plasma levels were detected in the heroin overdose group. The assessment of methadone, dextropropoxyphene, amphetamines and cannabis in urine analysis did not show differences between both groups. The interview revealed that only 48% of subjects in the heroin overdose group self-administered the last dose of heroin before admission in the usual setting as compared to 100% of subjects in the non-overdose group. The application of a log-linear regression model identified self-injection of heroin in an unusual place and plasma concentrations of total morphine and benzodiazepines as risk factors for heroin overdose. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Benzodiazepines; Drug Overdose; Ethanol; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine; Psychotropic Drugs; Risk Factors; Social Environment; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Substance-Related Disorders | 1994 |
[Two traffic accidents after heroin consumption with fatal outcome].
We report on 2 road accidents where 4 people--drivers and front-seat passengers--were injured so badly that they consequently died. All four had consumed heroin, in addition to which both passengers had also consumed cocaine and dihydrocodeine respectively. The blood samples of one of the drivers was only taken after the onset of intensive medical treatment including infusions and transfusions. Nevertheless the result of the analysis clearly showed that the driving ability had been impaired by heroin. In the remaining cases the opiat concentrations were so high that they could have justified a fatal intoxication in themselves. This applies especially to one of the passengers who displayed an unconjugated morphine blood concentration of 0.96 m/l. However, also in this case at the time of the accident the blood circulation and heartbeat did not stop immediately. Topics: Accidents, Traffic; Cause of Death; Cocaine; Codeine; Fatal Outcome; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Substance-Related Disorders | 1994 |
Non-fatal heroin overdoses.
Topics: Adult; Cause of Death; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Respiration Disorders; Syncope | 1994 |
[Hyperglycemic coma or opiate poisoning].
Topics: Adult; Brain; Diabetic Ketoacidosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Drug Overdose; Emergencies; Fatal Outcome; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Patient Transfer; Psychiatric Department, Hospital | 1994 |
[Chronic venous insufficiency of the forefoot as a complication of intravenous drug abuse].
We report a 23 years old woman exhibiting localized chronic venous insufficiency of the forefeet after cocaine and heroin application into the foot veins. The diagnosis was confirmed by capillaroscopy (characteristic microangiopathy). Topics: Adult; Cocaine; Female; Forefoot, Human; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Substance-Related Disorders; Venous Insufficiency | 1994 |
[Clinical assessment of physical dependence potential of dihydroetorphine hydrochloride (DHE)].
This paper reports the DHE substitution clinical trial in 38 heroin addicts. The CINA (Clinical Institute Narcotic Assessment) scale was used to assess physical dependence potential. The CINA scale contains 10 opioid withdrawal signs (nausea, vomiting, gooseflesh, sweating, restlessness, tremor, larcrimation, nasal congestion, yawning, changes in heart rate and systolic blood pressure) and 3 opiate withdrawal symptoms (abdominal pain, muscle pain and feeling hot or cold). For each subject admitted to the Drug Detoxification and Treatment Center his (her) status on each of the 13 items of CINA were immediately rated. Then, naloxone 0.4 mg was injected iv to precipitate withdrawal symptoms and at 5, 10, 15 min after the naloxone injection, the CINA score of each patient was rated again. The differences among the scores of pre- and post-naloxone injection is a measurement of the degree of withdrawal symptoms. Then, a single dose of DHE was administered sublingually to each patient, all withdrawal symptoms disappeared. These results show that DHE can compete with naloxone for opioid receptors. A good dose-response relationship was found between the 100% suppressive withdrawal sign doses of DHE and the degree of withdrawal sign in heroin addicts. The physical dependence potential of DHE given to heroin addicts sublingually was probably more than that of methadone given to heroin addicts orally by making reference to the report of Dr. Peachy. Topics: Administration, Sublingual; Adolescent; Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Etorphine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders | 1994 |
[Asthmatic crisis caused by inhaled heroin].
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Asthma; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male | 1994 |
Estimating the number of HIV-infected injection drug users in Bangkok: a capture--recapture method.
The purpose of the study was to estimate the number of injection drug users infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Bangkok to allow planning for health services for this population.. A two-sample capture-recapture method was used. The first capture listed all persons on methadone treatment for opiate addiction from April 17 through May 17, 1991, at 18 facilities in Bangkok. The second capture involved urine testing of persons held at 72 Bangkok police stations from June 3 through September 30, 1991. Persons whose urine tests were positive for opiate metabolites or methadone were included on the second list.. The first capture comprised 4064 persons and the recapture 1540 persons. There were 171 persons included on both lists, yielding an estimate of 36,600 opiate users in Bangkok. Existing data indicate that 89% of opiate users in Bangkok inject drugs and that about one third are infected with HIV, yielding an estimate of approximately 12,000 HIV-infected injection drug users in Bangkok in 1991.. During the 1990s the number of cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other HIV-related diseases, including tuberculosis, in the population of HIV-infected injection drug users in Bangkok will increase dramatically, placing new demands on existing health care facilities. The capture-recapture method may be useful in estimating difficult-to-count populations, including injection drug users. Topics: Data Collection; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Methadone; Population Surveillance; Sampling Studies; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Thailand | 1994 |
Radioimmunoassay of hair for determination of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana exposure: comparison with self-report.
Radioimmunoassay of hair (RIAH) was compared with self-report for cocaine, heroin, and marijuana in two populations: 109 persons entering residential drug user treatment and 86 at follow-up posttreatment. Among treatment entrants, 89% of 87 RIAH cocaine-positives and 96% of 45 RIAH heroin-positives were confirmed by self-report. However, among those followed-up posttreatment, only 51% of 43 RIAH cocaine-positives and 67% of 18 RIAH heroin-positives were so confirmed. Whereas 95% of 104 self-reports of cocaine use in the combined population were confirmed by RIAH, only 69% of 80 self-reports of heroin use were. Self-report and RIAH for marijuana were weakly associated. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cannabis; Cocaine; Female; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Marijuana Smoking; Radioimmunoassay; Self Disclosure; Sex Distribution; Substance Abuse Detection | 1994 |
Effects of opiates on blood rheology.
To evaluate the possible effect of opiates on blood rheology, the plasma fibrinogen, prothrombin time and leukocyte aggregation were measured in 75 heroin addicts categorized by the time of abstention from heroin and the administration of naltrexone (25 active heroin abusers, 25 abstaining for 1 week, 11 abstaining for at least 5 months and 14 abstaining for 1 month and taking naltrexone during this period). No difference was detected in prothrombin time, but the leukocyte aggregation and fibrinogen were significantly different among the four groups (p = 0.028 and p = 0.0001, respectively). In particular, fibrinogen was 318 +/- 10.9 mg/dL in heroin abusers, significantly higher than that of the remaining three groups; the percentage of aggregated leukocytes was 5.01 +/- 0.77 in heroin users, significantly higher than that of subjects abstaining for at least 5 months. The fibrinogen levels declined sharply with abstention and an additive effect was noted with the administration of naltrexone, but leukocyte aggregation changed more slowly, and the effect of naltrexone (if any) was weaker. These data indicate an adverse effect of opiates on blood rheology and suggest that further studies should be performed to evaluate whether naltrexone may be useful in the prevention of major ischemic syndromes in patients with hyperfibrinogenemia and, perhaps, in those with high levels of leukocyte aggregation. Topics: Adult; Cell Aggregation; Female; Fibrinogen; Hemorheology; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukocytes; Male; Naltrexone; Prothrombin Time | 1994 |
What is the average price of an illicit drug?
Estimates of the total dollar value of the markets for illicit drugs are valuable for policy making. Such estimates are usually produced by multiplying estimated consumption by price. This paper argues that the relevant price for such calculations is not simply the price of one standard unit. There are substantial quantity discounts for illicit drugs, and there is a distribution of retail purchase sizes. Hence, the average price paid per gram need not equal the price of one gram. This concept is illustrated with calculations for heroin and cocaine. Topics: Cocaine; Costs and Cost Analysis; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1994 |
Assays of hypophyseal beta-endorphin in drug addicts killed by heroin overdoses. A preliminary note.
The results are reported of experimental research into the hypophyseal endorphins in 42 drug addicts killed by heroin overdose. All samples were found to contain endorphins in widely varied amounts: 21-239 ng/g, mean 81.8 +/- 45.8 ng/g. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; beta-Endorphin; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Pituitary Gland | 1994 |
[Toxic sinusal dysfunction from heroin consumption].
Topics: Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Sinoatrial Block | 1994 |
Transitions in patterns of heroin administration: a study of heroin chasers and heroin injectors.
A community sample of 408 heroin users was interviewed about changes in their predominant route of heroin administration. Clear preferences for specific routes of drug administration were evident. Two predominant routes of administration were found: injection (54%) and 'chasing the dragon' (44%). More than a third of the sample had changed their predominant route of administration (a 'transition'). Most commonly, only one transition was reported, from chasing to injecting. However, transition to injection was not inevitable: the majority of 'chasers' had never moved to regular injecting despite often using at high doses for many years. Modelling suggests that many chasers give up heroin without moving to injecting. The results indicate, however, a continuing risk of switching from chasing to injecting for those who continued to use. Women were less likely to move from chasing to injecting. Some heroin users had made the transition from injection to chasing; 28 (16%) of the current chasers had previously been regular heroin injectors. This change in route is less well-known and to our knowledge has not been previously investigated. Multiple transitions in route were uncommon; predominant route of administration, once established appears robust. Harm reduction interventions directed towards changing the risk behaviours of heroin users should take account of the different routes of current administration and the potential for future transitions within continued drug use. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Incidence; London; Male; Middle Aged; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Survival Analysis | 1994 |
Increased density of guanine nucleotide-binding proteins in the postmortem brains of heroin addicts.
To directly evaluate the guanine nucleotide-binding (G) protein subunits alpha, beta, and gamma, which are involved in the signal transduction of opioid receptors, in the postmortem brains of heroin addicts who had died of an opiate overdose.. Specimens of the frontal cortex (Brodmann's area 9) were collected from 11 heroin addicts and 10 control subjects without a history of drug abuse. The biochemical status of human brain G protein subunits during opiate dependence was studied by means of immunoblotting techniques. Solubilized G proteins were separated by gel electrophoresis, transferred to pyroxylin membranes (western blotting) labeled with specific antiserum samples, and quantitated by image analysis after enhanced chemoluminescence.. In the frontal cortex, relevant increases in the immunoreactivities of G alpha i 1/2 (19% +/- 4%, P < .005), G alpha o (29% +/- 7%, P < .005), and G alpha s (26% +/- 5%, P < .005) but not of G alpha i3 were found in heroin addicts compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Moreover, the amount of G protein beta-subunit immunoreactivity was also consistently increased (27% +/- 8%, P < .01) compared with controls in the same brain region. These G protein changes in the brains of human opiate addicts paralleled (with the exception of G alpha s) those obtained in the brains of morphine hydrochloride-dependent rats. The increase in G alpha s immunoreactivity that was observed in the rat brain only after the short-term morphine administration (24% +/- 3%, P < .005) suggests that the increase in G alpha s immunoreactivity in the brains of human addicts could be the cellular response to a deadly overdose of heroin.. Alterations in the density of specific Gi and Go protein subunits that are coupled to mu-opioid and other opioid receptors may be of clinical relevance in opiate tolerance, dependence, and abstinence syndrome. Topics: Adult; Animals; Blotting, Western; Brain Chemistry; Cause of Death; Drug Overdose; Drug Tolerance; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; Female; Frontal Lobe; GTP-Binding Proteins; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Male; Morphine; Postmortem Changes; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Opioid | 1994 |
[Change in the administration route of heroin].
Topics: Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies | 1993 |
Myocardial decompensation in heroin addicts.
Topics: Adult; Electrocardiography; Fatal Outcome; Heart Failure; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1993 |
[Changes in route of drug administration in heroin addicts].
Topics: Drug Administration Routes; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 1993 |
[Heroin-induced pulmonary edema].
Based on a case story and having examined the literature, we describe the incidence, symptoms, course, complications and treatment of the kind of pulmonary oedema that may arise in connection with acute heroin intoxication. A possible pathogenesis is also discussed. Heroin-induced pulmonary oedema is rather frequent and the mortality is high. It differs from cardiogenic pulmonary oedema at essential points. It is most likely due to an increased permeability of the lung capillaries. However, it is still unclarified whether this is caused by a toxic or an allergic reaction, or by hypoxia. The treatment is supportive, using a respirator and oxygen enriched breathing air until the hypoxia has been abolished, and support of the circulation with reasonable liquid supply and infusion of inotropic and vasoactive drugs. Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Pulmonary Edema | 1993 |
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intranasal "snorted" heroin.
The purity of illicit heroin in the United States has increased steadily over the last several years, while prices have fallen. Associated with this trend, there has been a recent shift among heroin addicts from intravenous injection to intranasal use ("snorting"). Because of the lack of information on this route of administration, we evaluated the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of intranasal heroin. Results were compared to the effects of heroin by the intramuscular route. Six healthy, male volunteers were administered single doses of intranasal heroin hydrochloride (6 and 12 mg), intramuscular heroin hydrochloride (6 mg), and placebo. Blood levels of heroin, 6-acetylmorphine, and morphine were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Simultaneous physiological, behavioral, and performance measures were obtained. Peak blood levels of heroin were attained within 5 min of heroin administration by the intranasal route, similar to those observed for intramuscular administration. Generally, the pharmacokinetic profile of intranasal heroin was equivalent to that for the intramuscular route. Physiological, behavioral, and performance effects following intranasal administration were similar to the effects following intramuscular administration. The relative potency of intranasal heroin was estimated to be approximately one-half that of intramuscular administration. The efficacy of the intranasal route, combined with decreased heroin cost, reduced fear of infection, and the lack of requirements for additional drug paraphernalia, could make this an attractive route of drug administration to naive or infrequent drug users. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Behavior; Double-Blind Method; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Psychomotor Performance | 1993 |
Drug emergency patients are a burden for the medical care system: inadequate care for drug emergency patients.
During the course of the Drug Emergency Study in Bremen it became obvious that there are many problems left unsolved related to the medical care of intoxicated heroine addicts. From January to June 1992 there were 1230 drug emergencies, 409 hospital admissions and 644 emergency transportation. With or without antidote treatment, most patients leave the medical care system as soon as possible because of withdrawal symptoms. The physicians involved answered a short questionnaire about these problems: 80% of the physicians are dissatisfied with the present medical care situation for intoxicated drug addicts and feel that these patients are a burden for the hospitals (81%) and for themselves (73%); 93% of the physicians think that a central drug emergency unit, offering medical and psycho-social care would solve the present problems and would be a possibility for lowering drug emergencies and, as a further result, drug mortality. Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Cost of Illness; Emergencies; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Germany; Health Services Needs and Demand; Health Services Research; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Patient Admission; Physicians; Poisoning; Prospective Studies; Quality of Health Care; Retrospective Studies; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Surveys and Questionnaires; Transportation of Patients; Treatment Refusal; Urban Population | 1993 |
[Heroin related overdose problems].
During the first ten months of 1992 the Oslo Ambulance Department registered 716 incidences of assumed drug-related intoxications. 80% happened in down town Oslo. 19 cases of asystoly were recorded, 13 of the patients recovered after treatment, without sequelae. Five of these patients left the location after emergency help and they refused hospitalization. 432 of the patients were unconscious when the ambulance personal arrived, 472 were treated with naloxone both by the intramuscular and the intravenous route. Most of the persons refused further observation. A team of specially trained out reach workers offers help after acute medical treatment by means of "streetwork". The intervention is directed at addicts who have experienced an overdose. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Drug Overdose; Emergencies; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Naloxone; Norway; Poisoning; Social Support | 1993 |
Street sale of heroin--a profitable way of making a living?
The aim of the study was to give an outline of the financial environment of heroin-sale at street level in Norway and the possibilities of making retail sale of heroin a living. Data were gathered through police records and interviews with informants at street level. Retail sale price has been nominally stable at 300 Nkr (28 pounds, i.e., 1 pound = 11 Nkr) per end-user dose since 1978. This price is coupled to the price of one standard service by street prostitutes. Both the end-users and retailers formally make their living from social welfare payments. The retailer purchases from a wholesaler batches of up to 10 g of heroin at a cost of 50,000 Nkr (4800 pounds). At monthly intervals of delivery this yields 120,000 Nkr (11,500 pounds) as net tax-free income per year, on top of the social welfare payments, even when the retailer and his accomplice consumes a third of the purchased quantity. Crime of gain on the part of the retailer is negligible, due to increased risk of also disclosing his drug trafficking. Topics: Cost-Benefit Analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Financing, Government; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Incidence; Income; Marketing of Health Services; Norway; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Urban Population | 1993 |
[Vascular complications in drug addicts. Intermittent claudication in a HIV seropositive heroin addict].
The widespread use of heroin has revealed the growing life-threatening complications consequent on drug practice. The effects of heroin on the cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal and central nervous system have been well described in medical literature, but the vascular complication of chronic occlusive arterial disease of the lower limbs is rare. We report a case of a young female patient who was a chronic drug addict for over five years, with concomitant serum positiveness for HIV infection. The etiologic and pathogenetic mechanisms of such an uncommon vascular complication are discussed on the basis of the existing literature. Topics: Adult; Angiography; Arterial Occlusive Diseases; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Iliac Artery; In Vitro Techniques; Intermittent Claudication; Leg; Smoking | 1993 |
Preliminary findings with the indirect 5-HT agonist dexfenfluramine on heroin discrimination and self-administration in rats.
In the present study, the effect of the 5-HT releaser/reuptake inhibitor dexfenfluramine in heroin self-administration and morphine (3 mg/kg) drug discrimination paradigms was examined. Dexfenfluramine (1 mg/kg) reduced heroin self-administration (heroin dose 0.03 mg/kg/infusion; FR5 schedule; 1-h session/day). This effect was antagonised by the 5-HT1/2 receptor antagonist metergoline (1 mg/kg). In the drug discrimination model, dexfenfluramine (0.5-2.5 mg/kg) produced no significant generalisation to a morphine cue, and also failed to modify the generalization curve to heroin. Dexfenfluramine (1 mg/kg) produced a slight decrement in response rate in the drug discrimination model and this effect was potentiated by heroin. The mechanism(s) by which dexfenfluramine reduces heroin self-administration remain to be determined, however substitution for heroin would seem unlikely. Furthermore, this effect of dexfenfluramine is probably mediated by either 5-HT1 or 5-HT2 receptors. Topics: Animals; Discrimination Learning; Discrimination, Psychological; Fenfluramine; Generalization, Stimulus; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Metergoline; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors | 1993 |
Heroin withdrawal precipitated by nonmedical use of naltrexone.
Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Naltrexone; Self Medication; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1993 |
Methadone dose and heroin use during maintenance treatment.
A retrospective study examined the association between methadone dose and in-treatment heroin use as measured by fixed-interval urine testing in a cohort of 62 patients admitted to an Australian maintenance program. Urinalysis and methadone dose data were collected on subjects for a maximum two years and were analysed using Zeger & Liang's (1986) method for modelling longitudinal data. While allowing for patient descriptors and the time period in which urine samples were collected, the relative odds of using heroin were reduced by 2% for every 1 mg increase in the maintenance dose of methadone. It is estimated that the odds of patients maintained on 40 mg of methadone using heroin were 2.2 times those of patients maintained on 80 mg. Topics: Adult; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Patient Compliance; Substance Abuse Detection | 1993 |
Determination of dihydrocodeine in hair of opiate addicts by GC/MS.
After the examination of more than 300 hair samples of suspected heroin abusers, a large number of which proved positive, we can say that high concentrations of dihydrocodeine can be determined either in addition to, or in the place of, morphine and also frequently in combination with codeine. The opiates were extracted after dissolving the hair samples in NaOH and hydrolysis with HCl. The quantitative determination of dihydrocodeine was achieved by derivatisation with HFBA using GC/MS at m/u = 497. Dihydrocodeine is used in antitussive drugs. After the examination of individual hair samples, it was obvious that some heroin consumers had switched to dihydrocodeine. This may lead to the conclusion that dihydrocodeine itself is used either as an intoxicating drug or to reduce withdrawal symptoms. The increasing number of positive samples should be noted by the legal authorities. Topics: Codeine; Cross Reactions; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Substance Abuse Detection | 1993 |
Should the controlled provision of heroin be a treatment option? Australian feasibility considerations.
A proposal for a trial to provide heroin to dependent users in a controlled manner is currently being considered in the Australian Capital Territory. The political background to this proposal is outlined, as is the current 'drug scene'. A Stage 1 examination found that a trial of controlled provision of heroin is feasible in principle and recommended a further stage (Stage 2) of feasibility investigations to explore the practicalities. The results of the Stage 1 investigations and the proposals for Stage 2 are incorporated into discussion about three important issues: the feasibility research process, the therapeutic relationship, and social control. These considerations have wider applicability, both for treatment services for illegal drug users generally and for informing drug policy debates. Much can be learnt from the feasibility considerations, whether or not a trial of the controlled provision of heroin eventuates in Australia. Topics: Drug and Narcotic Control; Feasibility Studies; Health Policy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; New South Wales; Social Control, Formal; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 1993 |
[Nursing care of abstinent patients with heroin addiction].
Topics: Adult; Chlorpromazine; Female; Fever; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Promethazine; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Tachycardia | 1993 |
Relapse to opiate use provokes biphasic changes of blood pressure in heroin-withdrawn addicts treated with clonidine.
The effect of relapse to opiate use on blood pressure and heart rate has been studied in heroin-withdrawn addicts treated with clonidine in an outpatient detoxification procedure. The daily dose of clonidine was established according to body weight and amount of heroin usually consumed at the onset of treatment. Patients who returned to heroin use were detected by increased urinary levels of opiates. Clonidine elicited significant reductions of blood pressure and heart rate reaching a plateau in the second day of treatment. Heroin consumption was found to provoke a further decrease of both systolic and diastolic pressure when the time interval between the relapse and the cardiovascular determinations was about 3 h as estimated by the patients. At longer intervals (16 h) this effect was reversed and both the hypotensive and the bradycardiac actions of clonidine seemed to be impaired. The possible impact of endogenous opioids and alpha-2 receptor sensitivity on these biphasic alterations is discussed. Topics: Adult; Blood Pressure; Clonidine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Recurrence; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1992 |
Fatal intoxication due to the combined use of heroin and pyrithyldione.
Topics: Adult; Drug Interactions; Drug Synergism; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Male; Pyridones; Substance-Related Disorders | 1992 |
[Ischemic cerebral vascular stroke after heroin sniffing. A new case].
Three hours after sniffing a dose of heroin, a 30-year old man developed right hemiplegia with aphasia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed an infarct in the territory of the left anterior choroid artery. Cerebral vascular accidents occurring as complications of heroin addiction are rare: a review of the literature yielded only 13 documented cases. The main characteristics of these strokes are analysed and their pathogenetic mechanisms (immuno-allergic vasculitis, vascular spasm) are discussed. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Cerebral Infarction; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Radiography | 1992 |
Analysis of heroin seized in France.
Because of the increase in heroin trafficking in France, it was decided that data on samples of heroin seized in the country would be filed in a computer in the Interregional Forensic Science Laboratory at Lyon. The computer file has made it possible to identify certain physical and chemical similarities among samples of seized heroin. According to the data in the computer file, the colour, purity, diluents etc. of the heroin offered on the street has changed significantly since 1987. The Laboratory will be in a better position to identify the geographical sources of heroin seized in France once samples of seized heroin have been obtained directly from their countries of origin. Topics: Databases, Factual; Drug and Narcotic Control; Forensic Medicine; France; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 1992 |
Improving treatment outcome in pregnant opiate-dependent women.
Outcomes for 6 pregnant methadone-maintained opiate-dependent subjects in enhanced treatment were compared to those of 6 women receiving conventional methadone maintenance. Enhanced treatment consisted of weekly prenatal care, relapse prevention groups, thrice weekly urine toxicology screening with positive contingency awards for abstinence, and therapeutic child care during treatment visits in addition to treatment as usual. Treatment as usual included daily methadone, group counseling, and random urine toxicology screening. Study patients differed from the comparison group in three important ways, having fewer urine toxicology screens positive for illicit substances (59% vs. 76%), three times as many prenatal visits (8.8 vs. 2.7), and heavier infants (median birth weight, 2959 vs. 2344 grams). These results suggest that enhanced drug treatment can improve pregnancy outcome and, in particular, reduce low birth weight for this high-risk population. Topics: Adult; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Methadone; Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Patient Care Team; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prenatal Care; Recurrence; Social Environment; Substance Abuse Detection | 1992 |
Controlled use of heroin in patients on methadone maintenance treatment.
The efficacy of methadone maintenance treatment was evaluated on 93 patients after 10 years of therapy. On the basis of therapeutic compliance, patients were divided into three groups: (a) 40 Total-Agreement subjects on weekly take-home methadone; (b) 28 Partial-Agreement subjects, who regularly attended the clinic daily but presented episodic positive urinalysis; (c) 25 No-Agreement patients, who were absent from the clinic more than twice a month and had a high rate of urinalysis positive for morphine. Statistical analysis, based on social adjustment improvement and criminality rate decrease, divided the 93 patients into 2 distinct categories. The first category, characterized by high social adjustment and low criminality score, included the Total- and Partial-agreement groups. The second, characterized by significantly lower social adjustment and higher criminality score, included all No-Agreement patients. This suggests that methadone treatment was able to dissociate heroin use from low social functioning. It was concluded that, in a condition of adequate compliance the episodic use of heroin is of no harm to patients on methadone maintenance therapy, that is, methadone maintenance treatment permits a controlled use of heroin. Topics: Adult; Ambulatory Care; Criminal Psychology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Italy; Male; Methadone; Patient Compliance; Social Adjustment; Social Environment; Substance Abuse Detection | 1992 |
Methadone dosage, program policies, and heroin use among methadone patients.
Topics: Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Patient Compliance; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1992 |
First use of heroin: changes in route of administration over time.
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections; Male; Middle Aged | 1992 |
Anger, depression, and anxiety following heroin withdrawal.
Residents in a detoxification/motivation program for drug users provided speech samples just after detoxification and again 5 weeks later. Content analysis scales were used to obtain scores for Hostility (Inward, Outward, and Ambivalent), Cognitive Anxiety, Pawn, Origin, and Sociality. Comparisons were made with scores from a previous sample of students, unemployed people, and drug users. At the end of the program there were significant positive changes in all scores except those for Hostility Outward and Pawn. Of particular interest was the anger expressed just after detoxification and maintained at a significantly high level during the following weeks. This suggests a need for drug-treatment programs to include specific anger-management interventions. Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Anger; Anxiety Disorders; Depressive Disorder; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospital Units; Humans; Interview, Psychological; Male; New South Wales; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1992 |
Lack of hepatocyte involvement in the genesis of the sinusoidal dilatation related to heroin addiction: a morphometric study.
A histological and morphometric study demonstrated a relationship between vascular changes in the hepatic lobule and heroin consumption. To establish the role of hepatocytes in the genesis of sinusoidal dilatation, morphometric analysis was performed on ten drug abusers and eight controls. A total of 1800 hepatocytes, in 67 centrilobular areas, were analysed from biopsies from the total patient number. Computerized results of hepatocyte surface area, perimeter, maximum linear dimension and minimum linear dimension demonstrated no statistically significant difference for these variables, particularly for hepatocyte surface area (Controls: 268.66 +/- 95.25; drug abusers: 252.00 +/- 78.94, p = 0.24), when the two groups of patients were compared. Hepatocyte morphology at the time of the biopsy was unaltered, although transaminase values were elevated for all drug abusers. It is, therefore, possible that the hepatocytes were not implicated in the pathogenesis of sinusoidal dilatation. This suggestion supports our previous results, which suggested that heroin was capable of inducing direct vascular hepatotoxicity. Topics: Adult; Enterohepatic Circulation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Liver; Substance-Related Disorders; Vasodilation | 1992 |
[Acute plexus lesions in heroin dependence].
A wide spectrum of acute and chronic neurological syndromes are associated with heroin addiction. We report two cases with acute brachial/lumbar plexus lesions, with details of the clinical findings, diagnostic procedures and therapy. Possible causes are allergic or toxic reactions to heroin or added substances, as well as nerve compression due to local muscle swelling in connection with rhabdomyolysis. The extent of paresis which occurs is also determined by this compression. Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adult; Brachial Plexus; Drug Overdose; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Lumbosacral Plexus; Male; Nerve Compression Syndromes; Neurologic Examination; Rhabdomyolysis | 1992 |
[Heroin abuse and methadone substitution in pregnancy].
The pre- and postnatal data of 20 pregnant heroin addicts and their neonates are described. 16 women were treated with methadone to prevent withdrawal symptoms. A relatively stabile prenatal condition with a decrease of complications was achieved. On the other hand, the neonates suffered from severe withdrawal symptoms including seizures in spite of intensive paediatric care and prophylactic treatment with barbiturates. After a mean follow-up of one to two years a relatively good neurological development of the children was observed. Topics: Asphyxia Neonatorum; Cardiotocography; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Methadone; Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; Neurologic Examination; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Spasms, Infantile | 1992 |
Heroin, 6-acetylmorphine and morphine effects on threshold for rewarding and aversive brain stimulation.
Studies investigating the reinforcing and analgesic activity of heroin and morphine have found that heroin is a more potent compound. The rapid deacetylation of heroin to 6-acetylmorphine and morphine raises questions concerning the underlying mechanism responsible for this difference in potency. The present series of experiments addressed this issue by examining, in the rat, the relative potency of heroin and its active metabolites, 6-acetylmorphine and morphine, to lower the threshold for rewarding stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle and raise the threshold for aversive stimulation of the mesencephalic reticular formation. Reward and escape thresholds were determined by using a modification of the psychophysical method of limits. Heroin was found to be approximately 40 times more potent than morphine in lowering the reward threshold and approximately 6.5 times more potent in raising the escape threshold. 6-Acetylmorphine and heroin were approximately equipotent in producing significant effects on the threshold for both rewarding and aversive brain stimulation. These findings suggest that heroin's increased potency when compared to morphine may be due, in part, to the activity of 6-acetylmorphine. Topics: Animals; Aversive Therapy; Brain; Electric Stimulation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Male; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Rats; Reward | 1992 |
Interim methadone clinics: an undervalued approach.
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; New York City; Rehabilitation; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 1991 |
Self-detoxification by opiate addicts. A preliminary investigation.
A study of 50 opiate addicts attending a London service for treatment of drug dependence found that 47 subjects had previously made at least one attempt at self-detoxification. These subjects reported 212 previous attempts. Although 30 subjects reported having managed to complete at least one attempt, the success rate per episode was low (24%). One of the most commonly reported methods, used by 28 subjects, involved an abrupt cessation of opiates ('cold turkey'). Of the drugs used in their attempts at self-detoxification, benzodiazepines were reported by 24 subjects and opiates by 20. Practical strategies such as distraction and avoidance were also used. Self-help detoxification materials for opiate addicts might be useful. Topics: Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Opioid-Related Disorders; Remission, Spontaneous; Self Care; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1991 |
Methadone dose and urine morphine.
When methadone maintenance was introduced in 1965, daily doses of approximately 100 mg were advocated and used; later, doses under 50 mg became common; recently, doses between 50 and 100 mg have been recommended. In a historical study and a cross-section study in one program the authors found no relationship between methadone dose and urine morphine. Patients on methadone doses under 50 mg had nearly the same percentage of urine tests positive for morphine as did those on doses of 50 mg and more. Gender, ethnic background, and age were also unrelated to urine morphine. Time on methadone was inversely related to urine morphine. Patients maintained on methadone for 3 years or longer showed a marked decrease in urine tests positive for morphine. Increased urine morphine during one decade was associated with program and community changes that could have prompted increased heroin use. These findings suggest that variables other than methadone dose affect heroin use. Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Morphine; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; Substance Abuse Detection; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers | 1991 |
Postwithdrawal exposure treatment to prevent relapse in opiate addicts: a pilot study.
A major problem in treating opiate addiction is relapse within a few months after withdrawal. Learning models of relapse offer some promise toward understanding this problem. The present pilot study examines whether cue-exposure treatment to drug-related cues, in hospital and real life, might reduce relapse. Fourteen opiate addicts were withdrawn on clonidine over 6 days, and 10 of those were exposed to drug-related cues in hospital for 1 week and in real life for another. There were then followed as outpatients up to 6 months. Craving was elicited in half of the 10 patients exposed to drug cues who showed within- and between-session habituation. Four cases were opiate-free at 6 months follow up and 1 at 3 months. Half of the cases had relapsed to heroin at various times up to 6 months. Habituation to craving responses was not obviously related to outcome whereas vocational factors were. The operational use of craving in research is discussed. Topics: Adult; Cues; Desensitization, Psychologic; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Social Environment; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1991 |
[The parenteral drug addict in the emergency service].
Clinical and epidemiological features of intravenous drug addicts (IVDA), who attended the emergency department between 1984 and 1988, were studied. The number of cases treated over these 4 years had increased three-fold (256 vs 724). The median age had increased by 3 years (p less than 0.01). The sex ratio had not changed. A third of the cases knew that they were HIV-seropositive in 1988. The main reason for consultation in 1984 was overdosage and in 1988 it was fever. The rate of admission was similar in both years (around 21%). There was a significant increase in admissions caused by respiratory diseases in 1988 (p less than 0.0001) and a significant decrease of admissions caused by overdosage (p less than 0.001). Topics: Age Factors; Chi-Square Distribution; Drug Overdose; Emergencies; Emergency Service, Hospital; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Retrospective Studies; Sex Factors; Spain; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1991 |
Estimating drug consumption in opioid users: reliability and validity of a 'recent use' episodes method.
The efficient and accurate measurement of recent drug use is an essential component of treatment and research among opioid users. Urinalysis results alone will not give sufficient information to either the clinician or researcher, due to limitations in detection and an inability to distinguish extent of use. The present paper describes a 'recent use episodes method', adapted from the measurement of alcohol consumption, for obtaining self-reported drug use in eleven different drug categories. Reliability and validity data indicate that the method provides a quick means by which accurate information may be obtained on the overall recent drug use of opioid users. Topics: Adult; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Methadone; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 1991 |
Withdrawal from heroin and methadone.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Humans; Methadone; Neurologic Examination; Opioid-Related Disorders; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1991 |
Chasing the dragon: a wider perspective.
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Cocaine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Semantics; Substance-Related Disorders | 1991 |
[Urine checks as a supportive measure with drug abuse patients to supplement current therapy models].
Urine samples of 120 heroin-addicted probands who had to take part in urinanalysis tests were analysed during a 26 months' period. Up to 7 substances (morphine/diamorphie, codeine, cocain, LSD, cannabinoides, barbiturates and amphetamines) were tested. The results were compared to the results of a group of 177 cannabies-smokers. The purpose of this study was to find out in how far urinanalysis tests can change drug-consuming behaviour. More than 80% of the cannabis-smokers showed evidently a decrease of THC-positive urine samples at the end of the investigation period. Only about 13% had positive samples during the whole period. 12 out of 120 heroin-addicted probands (= 10%) had morphine-positive urine samples at the beginning of investigations. For 104 out of 1423 tested samples (46 probands) an unmistakable distinction between morphine/diamorphine- or codeine-intake was not possible because the concentrations found were too low. About 20% of the samples indicated a shift to a substitutional used drug like codeine. Further more a slightly significant increase of cannabis-intake was to be observed. Topics: Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Substance Abuse Detection | 1991 |
A comparison of the withdrawal responses of heroin and methadone addicts during detoxification.
This study compares the withdrawal responses of methadone and heroin addicts during a ten-day in-patient detoxification programme with methadone. Contrary to suggestions in the literature, the methadone group reported more severe withdrawal symptoms during both the acute withdrawal phase and the recovery phase. There were no differences between the two groups in onset or duration of symptoms. Whereas there may be reasons to favour methadone as a maintenance drug, its use may lead to difficulties during withdrawal. Topics: Adult; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Neurologic Examination; Opioid-Related Disorders; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1991 |
Heroin intoxication: the relation between plasma morphine concentration and clinical state at admission.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Naloxone; Substance-Related Disorders | 1991 |
[Detoxification from opiates through hospitalization: the long-term results. A longitudinal study of 104 admissions in 1982-1986].
One hundred and four drug addicts admitted to hospital during the period 1982-1986 were studied in order to evaluate whether detoxification from opiates in a protected environment had positive long-term results, namely a definitive rejection of the world of drugs. A follow-up of this population was carried out at the start of the current year and approximately 20% were found to be drug-free. Accumulated experience leads to the conclusion that hospitalisation may have a positive long-term outcome if a subject with proven motivation to "give up" is carefully selected, and if the subject is then inserted in a broader social health project. Topics: Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Humans; Italy; Longitudinal Studies; Methadone; Motivation; Opioid-Related Disorders; Therapeutic Community | 1991 |
Chasing the dragon.
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Semantics | 1991 |
[Leukoencephalopathy following inhalation of heroin pyrolysate].
Inhalation of pre-heated heroin ("chinese blowing") is known to cause a spongiform leukoencephalopathy with marked neurological deficits. We report on 2 patients who developed severe cerebellar symptoms several days after interruption of heroin inhalation. The MRI findings suggested myelin damage to fibre tracts in the central nervous system, which are specifically involved in this disorder. Both patients survived with severe cerebellar deficits. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Cerebellar Diseases; Demyelinating Diseases; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male | 1990 |
Clonidine versus long- and short-term methadone-aided withdrawal from opiates. An uncontrolled comparison.
Twelve heroin addicts and one methadone addicts began withdrawal from street opiates, under clonidine cover, in a general psychiatric ward. Ten (80%) of them completed it within 6 days. Clonidine doses used were lower than in similar studies and all patients were alert and mobile throughout withdrawal. Two other groups of opiate addicts, of similar age and sex, were withdrawn on standard methadone regimens. Clonidine and methadone withdrawal had similar acceptability and attrition rates. Self-reports of subjective discomfort were higher in the clonidine group without affecting compliance with treatment. Withdrawal under clonidine cover deserves further study, in view of the need for postwithdrawal treatment to prevent relapse to opiate use. Topics: Adult; Clonidine; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Methadone; Neuropsychological Tests; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1990 |
Availability of drugs and psychological proneness in opioid addiction.
The role of drug availability and psychological proneness in opioid addiction was examined using longitudinal data from the Drug Abuse Reporting Program (DARP). The sample included 424 addicts who were followed up and interviewed approximately 12 years after admission to treatment in the DARP, and for whom admission, during-treatment, and 6-year follow-up data were also available. Drug availability and proneness were both found to be important for drug use at any given time--from initial stages of addiction as well as in Year 12 of the follow-up--but proneness was rated as relatively more important for opioid use in the later stages of the addiction career. Proneness measures contributed more to the prediction of long-term drug use outcomes. Topics: Adult; Ambulatory Care; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Methadone; Narcotics; Opioid-Related Disorders; Social Environment; Therapeutic Community | 1990 |
[Detection of morphine and codeine in blood samples with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (NCI and PCI) for differentiating codeine use from use of heroin and morphine].
Morphine and codeine were isolated from blood with C18 Bond Elut columns and derivatised with pentafluoropropionic anhydride (PFPA). The PFPA-derivatives were examined by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry using electron impact and chemical ionisation (positive and negative mode). The negative chemical ionisation, as most sensitive, was applied for the quantitation of both examined substances in forensic blood samples. Topics: Codeine; Diagnosis, Differential; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Morphine Dependence | 1990 |
The development of a Short Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS).
In previous studies a 32-item Opiate Withdrawal Scale was found to provide a reliable and valid means of measuring the signs and symptoms of withdrawal among heroin (and other opiate) addicts. This paper describes the processes whereby a shorter 10-item version of the same scale was developed. The Short Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS) is simple to understand and easy to administer, and it avoids the redundancy of items contained in the original scale. It is suggested that the SOWS provide a useful instrument which can be used both in research and clinical practice with opiate addicts. Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Neurologic Examination; Psychometrics; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1990 |
Pharmaceutical heroin and 'chasing the dragon'.
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 1990 |
Working with heroin sniffers: clinical issues in preventing drug injection.
Preventing illicit drug injection would be the ideal point for preventing HIV infection and AIDS among illicit drug injectors. This paper reports on clinical issues that arose in a program for intranasal ("sniffer") heroin users who were at high risk of injecting drugs. Extensive field notes were kept by the staff of the project. A generalized mistrust of authorities, denial of problems associated with non-injected drug use, and ambivalence about injecting were the major issues that arose during subject recruitment and the group sessions. The staff underwent trial and error learning, both becoming more confident in working with heroin sniffers, and finding better results for later participants in the study. Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Adult; Attitude to Health; Curriculum; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Patient Education as Topic; Pilot Projects; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous | 1990 |
Evaluation of clonidine suppression of opiate withdrawal reactions: a multidisciplinary approach.
The purpose of this open, uncontrolled study in a group of confirmed heroin addicts of both sexes was to determine whether clonidine by itself suppresses opiate withdrawal reactions, its maximal effective dosage range, the time of maximal effect, duration of its effectiveness and the extent of cardiovascular side effects. After a washout phase of opium residues, clonidine was administered for eight days and its effects were closely monitored and recorded. Even during the first 24 hour period, when clonidine was administered alone in a high dosage, it suppressed the signs and symptoms of opiate withdrawal reactions. The maximum effect was attained within three days. Thereafter, it maintained improvement until natural resolution of the reactions. Side effects were limited to some small but statistically significant cardiovascular changes. Illicit drug use during the treatment period indicated that drug related behaviour is only slightly affected by clonidine. The drug is thus effective in the acute withdrawal phase but does not replace the important psychosocial management needed to achieve long term drug abstinence. Topics: Arousal; Clonidine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Neurologic Examination; Patient Compliance; Referral and Consultation; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1990 |
Identification of 6-mono-acetylmorphine, as an indication of heroin abuse.
Topics: Chromatography, Gas; Drug Overdose; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine Derivatives | 1989 |
[Lead poisoning due to drug addiction: a new source of poisoning with clinical interest and important epidemiological consequences].
Lead poisoning has accompanied the human being throughout history. Owing to the increasing levels of safety at work, the incidence of occupational poisoning has decreased and new forms of non-occupational poisoning have emerged. We present 3 cases of drug addicts, with lead poisoning, as a result of using adulterated drugs. One of them was an intravenous drug addict who had abdominal pain and anemia. The other 2 inhaled heroin, one being slightly anemic and the other without symptoms and with normal hemoglobin levels. The drug adulterated with lead had not been previously recognized as a source of lead poisoning, being likely to cause serious epidemiological effects. Topics: Adult; Chronic Disease; Drug Contamination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Lead Poisoning; Male; Spain | 1989 |
Chronic intoxication by heroin; histopathological effects on seminiferous tubules.
Seminiferous tubules from heroin abusers and from rats chronically intoxicated by heroin samples presented a striking reduction in the thickness of the germinal epithelium. Light and electron microscopical studies showed a considerable increase of lipids and phagosomes in Sertoli cells, disorganization of their junction complexes, detachment of immature germ cells which appeared free in the tubular lumen, and formation of giant multinucleate spermatids. These alterations point out that Sertoli cells could be the target element for the toxic effect of heroin samples on the seminiferous epithelium. Topics: Adult; Animals; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Seminiferous Tubules; Sertoli Cells; Testis | 1989 |
Changing trends in drug use: the second follow-up of a local heroin using community.
The first Seadown study documented the way in which police action in closing down the cohort's central point for meeting and drug distribution had effectively destroyed the long established heroin distribution network. Throughout the period of low heroin availability the social network of the cohort was preserved as members developed a whole range of alternative coping styles (displacement activities) in compensation for the enforced abstinence caused by the heroin drought. During the period of observation heroin returned to Seadown initially through a small, unstable and informal distribution co-operative and stayed in this phase until a new central meeting place had been established. Thereafter once a pyramidal distribution network developed, most cohort members were able to modify or stop their displacement activities to accommodate the re-availability of heroin. Topics: Cohort Studies; England; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Social Control, Formal; Social Environment; Social Facilitation | 1989 |
[The newborn infant of the drug addicted mother. Clinical and therapeutic problems].
A revision of 16 newborns and their heroin-addicted mothers was carried out. The mean maternal age was 23.06 +/- 3.43 years, and mean duration of addiction was 3.07 +/- 1.43 years. The last dose of heroin was administered less than 24 hours prior to giving birth in every [corrected] case except one. Antenatal care was irregular and previous abortions were frequent. Two mothers had a history of syphilis, five had markers for anti-HIV antibodies. The mean duration of pregnancy was 37.8 +/- 2.28 weeks, and unknown in five cases. Mean birth weight was 2.715 +/- 281 g. Withdrawal symptoms were observed in 13 babies. Of these, 12 required treatment with phenobarbital and in 1 case with chlorpromazine as well. In 9 babies, hepatitis B prophylaxis was carried out and three had HIV antibodies. Topics: Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome | 1989 |
Time course of detection of 6-acetylmorphine in urine after heroin administration.
Topics: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Morphine Derivatives; Substance Abuse Detection; Time Factors | 1989 |
Intraventricular self-administration of heroin in the rat: reward seems dissociated from analgesia and physical dependence.
Experimentally naive rats were implanted with a cannula in the lateral ventricle of the brain and were allowed to self-administer heroin in doses of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1 or 2 micrograms/infusion or placebo for five daily sessions of 3 h. The number of self-injections was related to the unit dose in an inverted U-shaped manner: the 0.5 microgram/infusion dose induced the highest infusion rate. The total heroin intake was proportionally related to the unit dose. A hot-plate test performed immediately after the fourth session revealed no analgesic effects in any of the groups that self-administered heroin. A naloxone (10 mg/kg) challenge given immediately after the fifth session induced very mild withdrawal signs only in the group that administered the highest dose of heroin. The results indicate that rats readily acquire intraventricular heroin self-administration behaviour and suggest that the rewarding effects of heroin can be dissociated from its analgesic and physical dependence-inducing effects. Topics: Analgesics; Animals; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Injections, Intraventricular; Male; Nociceptors; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Reaction Time; Reward; Self Administration | 1989 |
Effect of chronic opioid administration on glycosylated haemoglobin levels in heroin addicts.
Levels of stable form of HbA1 in blood were estimated in 20 male heroin addicts, so as to assess the effect of chronic opioid use on glucose metabolism. No significant difference in the levels of stable form of HbA1 was observed in the heroin addicts as compared to controls, indicating absence of any long-term impairment of glucose tolerance in heroin addicts. Topics: Adult; Glycated Hemoglobin; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged | 1989 |
False positive urine drug screens from quinine in tonic water.
Urine surveillance of patients is a universal procedure in drug treatment programs for monitoring frequency and type of illicit drug use. The method is also being increasingly utilized by employers to screen employees for drug use. The presence of a prescribed substance in a subject's urine is considered objective evidence of illicit drug use, and is used to confront subjects. However, studies have demonstrated that urine surveillance is not infallible. The presence of inaccuracy in urine surveillance has definite negative consequences of both individuals and the testers. In this paper, we report that a positive urine test for quinine, which may be evidence of illicit drug use, results from the consumption of the amount of tonic water present in a mixed drink. The implications of this finding are discussed. Topics: Adult; Alcoholism; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mineral Waters; Naltrexone; Patient Compliance; Quinine | 1989 |
The experience of opioid abstinence: the relevance of motivation and history.
Questionnaire measures relating to a recent episode of unmodified heroin withdrawal (the target episode) were obtained from 70 subjects. The duration of the target episode, but not reported distress during the episode, correlated with the amount of heroin consumed in the previous 3 months. Data from scales measuring motivation during the target episode were factor analysed and two factors emerged, one relating to motivation concerning private affairs and the other relating to motivation derived from public sources. High scores for private affairs motivation were correlated with success in the target episode whilst there was a trend for public affairs based motivation to be associated with failure. Private affairs motivation was negatively correlated with length of heroin use but positively correlated with the number of coping strategies employed in withdrawal. The implications of these findings for the treatment of heroin users are discussed. Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motivation; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1989 |
Chasing the dragon and syringe-exchange schemes.
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; United Kingdom | 1989 |
The technology of dragon chasing.
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Administration, Inhalation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Risk Factors | 1989 |
Chasing the dragon: Indian experience.
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; India; Injections, Intravenous | 1989 |
Remission and relapse in heroin users and implications for management: treatment control or risk reduction.
A general practice based study of 117 heroin users receiving minimal intervention for their drug use examines the patterns and frequency of use from onset to last medical contact. Patterns of abstinence and relapse, and episodes of dependent and nondependent use are defined and quantified, demonstrating variations between and within individuals over time. This evidence of both controlled heroin use and remission and relapse not related to intervention is discussed and contrasted with the continued fixed belief of the public and professionals that heroin use is continuous, incurable, and permanent. Implications for therapy, especially in a "post-AIDS" era, are discussed. Topics: Adult; Criminal Law; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Recurrence; Scotland; Substance-Related Disorders | 1989 |
[Drug addiction and pregnancy. Principal obstetrical and pediatric complications].
The principal obstetrical and paediatric sequelae were studied in 22 heroin addicts who were followed up at Lariboisière Hospital in Paris between 1980 and 1984. The main effects were on the fetus with 45% showing growth retardation below the 10th percentile, 65% fetal distress, 9% prematurity; 33% had infections and 66% had the withdrawal syndrome. Because of this pathology a high number had to be transferred. Considering the period of study, HIV infection could not be evaluated. The most dramatic result seems to be the long-term effect on these children because only a third apparently live with their families and several suffer from abnormalities in psychomotor development. Topics: Adult; Female; Fetal Distress; Fetal Growth Retardation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications | 1989 |
Temporal clustering of heroin overdoses in Washington, DC.
During the 5-day period from 28 Feb. 1985 through 4 March 1985, 24 heroin overdoses occurred in the District of Columbia. Statistical tests for clustering of fatal and nonfatal overdoses during this interval identified 7 heroin-related deaths that occurred on March 1 to 2 as a statistically significant cluster (p = 0.007). An extension of the analysis for clustering to a 15-month period identified 2 additional clusters, 1 of fatal overdoses and 1 of nonfatal ones. When all victims of fatal overdose in cluster intervals were combined and compared with all other heroin-related deaths, no significant differences were noted for levels of morphine or ethanol in blood. However, bile morphine concentrations of cluster decedents were significantly lower than those of noncluster decedents (p = 0.033), suggesting that these decedents were less tolerant to the effects of narcotics than the comparison group. Heroin concentrations in street-level heroin samples collected during clusters did not differ from those collected during comparison intervals. These data conflict with the traditional explanation of overdose clusters, which attributes these events to unusually potent street-level heroin. Topics: Disease Outbreaks; District of Columbia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Risk Factors; Space-Time Clustering | 1989 |
Morphological findings in fatal drug addiction. An investigation of injection marks, endocrine organs and kidneys.
Tissue sections from injection marks from 30 drug addicts and sections from endocrine organs and kidneys from an additional 33 addicts were studied together with endocrine organs and kidneys from 20 'normal' persons. All 83 persons were submitted for medico-legal autopsy at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Copenhagen. In fresh injection marks haemorrhage in dermis and subcutis was present histologically in all cases. Acute inflammation was present in 38% and acute inflammation together with chronic changes in 41%. Fibrotic thickening of vein wall was seen in 14% and thrombosis in 10%. Birefringent foreign material occurred in 35%. In old injection marks and scars chronic inflammatory changes were observed in 93%, fibrotic thickening of vein wall in 20% and thrombosis in 10% of the cases. Birefringent material occurred in 17%. By comparison of changes in injection marks with the size and histological changes in the corresponding axillary lymph nodes, there was a tendency to a relation between chronic inflammatory changes in old injection marks/scars and enlargement of the lymph nodes in question, but no correlation to the histological degree of immunoactivity. Regarding alterations in the endocrine organs and the kidneys no important differences were demonstrated between drug addicts and 'normal' persons. Topics: Adrenal Glands; Adult; Cicatrix; Endocrine Glands; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Kidney; Male; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Ovary; Pituitary Gland; Skin; Testis; Thyroid Gland; Veins | 1989 |
Drug delinquency and drug-related deaths in the Federal Republic of Germany and Western Europe.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cannabis; Cocaine; Denmark; Female; France; Germany, West; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Ireland; Male; Substance-Related Disorders; Switzerland | 1988 |
Heroin addicts, AIDS, and aflatoxins.
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Aflatoxins; Drug Contamination; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 1988 |
Inhaling heroin during pregnancy.
Topics: Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Methadone; Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications | 1988 |
Heroin inhalation and asthma.
Opiate addiction is an increasing social problem, and there has been a change from taking opiates intravenously to inhaling them in many areas of Britain. Three patients with asthma who required mechanical ventilation soon after heroin inhalation were described. Two subsequently died of acute severe asthma. The patients were reluctant to admit to their addiction and persisted inhaling heroin despite medical advice and counselling. Opiate inhalation can provoke life threatening asthmatic attacks and should be considered in patients at risk of abusing drugs who have poorly controlled asthma. Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Adult; Asthma; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male | 1988 |
[Pulmonary vascular pathology in intravenous heroin addicts. A gammagraphic function study].
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Drug Administration Routes; Drug Contamination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Lung; Male; Pulmonary Embolism; Radionuclide Imaging; Respiratory Function Tests; Substance-Related Disorders; Talc | 1988 |
The proposal to make heroin available legally to intravenous drug abusers.
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous | 1988 |
Chasing the dragon: characteristics of heroin chasers.
Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Age Factors; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male | 1988 |
A comparison of the effects of intra-accumbens injections of amphetamine and morphine on reinstatement of heroin intravenous self-administration behavior.
In rats previously trained to self-administer heroin intravenously, the application of morphine directly to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) has been shown to reinstate responding after a period of extinction, suggesting that the activation of mesolimbic dopamine neurons might underlie the priming effects of i.v. injections of opiates and stimulants found previously. In the present experiments rats were trained to self-administer heroin intravenously. Following extinction training, and after a period of at least 30 min of no responding, bilateral microinjections of either 0.5 microliter saline or 10 micrograms/0.5 microliter (+)-amphetamine sulfate were made into the N. accumbens. Amphetamine, but not saline reinstated self-administration behavior for about 1 h. In contrast, bilateral intra-accumbens injections of either 5 or 10 micrograms/0.5 microliter morphine sulfate to these same animals led to only infrequent responses late in the 90 min session. Both drugs increased locomotor activity measured in independent tests. Because the locomotor activity produced by intra-accumbens morphine occurs independent of the mesolimbic dopamine system, unlike that produced by VTA morphine and intra-accumbens amphetamine, and because it does not show sensitization, it is argued that the reinstatement effects of opiates and stimulants on self-administration behavior are mediated by the mesolimbic dopamine system, and may be related to the ability of opiates and stimulant drugs to cause sensitization within that system. Topics: Amphetamine; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Morphine; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Self Administration; Septal Nuclei | 1988 |
Sleep in babies born to chronically heroin addicted mothers. A follow up study.
The effects of chronic addiction to, and withdrawal from, opiates on sleep have been described in experimental animals, in human adults and infants born to addicted mothers. These sleep alterations are seen through the first weeks of life. Thirteen maternally addicted babies were studied. Sleep samples were recorded and scored within a few days following birth and repeated 4 or 5 weeks later after recovery from the abstinence syndrome. A significant decrease in quiet sleep and increase of active sleep were found. The same alterations, although less marked, were observed in a follow up recording performed during the second month of life. Sleep alterations in addicted newborns could be related to central nervous system (CNS) distress caused by withdrawal. The authors however propose a perturbation of endogenous opiates subsequent to fetal addiction as a cause of sleep alterations. Topics: Adult; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; Pregnancy; Sleep | 1988 |
Treatment of heroin withdrawal with guanfacine: an open clinical investigation.
The alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulant, guanfacine, was used to treat, under open conditions, heroin addicts who volunteered to withdraw from heroin usage. Thirty-four addicts (29 males, 5 females) aged 17 to 31 years were treated for 5 to 15 days with varying doses of guanfacine (0.03 up to 1.75 mg daily). Efficacy was determined by the "Opiate Withdrawal Checklist" (OWCL), administered several times during the day, and by the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale. All symptom categories of the OWCL, except "sleep disturbances" were equally ameliorated by the treatment. According to the CGI, 88% of the cases were judged as having had a very good or good improvement. Tolerability to the medication was judged as good or very good in 94% of the cases. Topics: Adolescent; Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Adult; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Guanfacine; Guanidines; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Phenylacetates; Pilot Projects; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1987 |
Systemic candidiasis in Spanish heroin addicts: a possible source of infection.
Topics: Candida albicans; Candidiasis; Citrus; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Spain | 1987 |
Concentrations of free and conjugated morphine in blood in twenty cases of heroin-related deaths.
Topics: Adult; Chromatography, Gas; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrolysis; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Male; Morphine | 1987 |
[A red eye in intravenous drug use].
Topics: Abscess; Adult; Candidiasis; Combined Modality Therapy; Endophthalmitis; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Streptococcal Infections | 1987 |
[Pharmacology of diacetylmorphine (heroin)].
Topics: Central Nervous System; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Kinetics; Morphine | 1987 |
[The heroin addict and his family].
Topics: Adolescent; Family; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Personality; Social Conditions | 1987 |
[Perinatal aspects of the children of heroin addicts].
Maternal, perinatal and neonatal factors of 27 newborns of heroin addicted mothers were reviewed between 1980 and 1984. Results were compared with a control group of 2,587 normal newborns. A progressive increase in number of cases was observed in the last years. Mean age of heroin-addicted mothers was significant lower than control group (p less than 0.001). Only 18.5% were under obstetrical control for at least 4 times (p less than 0.001) and 40.7% had antecedents previous abortions (p less than 0.025). Four cases of maternal syphilis were diagnosed and also four mother were positive to HBsAg; statistical difference in both cases was highly significant with respect to control group (p less than 0.001). A higher index of premature rupture of membranes (11.1%, p less than 0.001) and cesarean sections (25.9%, p less than 0.001) was appreciated. No significant difference was observed attending to fetal presentation, instrumental delivery, Apgar test scores and pH of umbilical artery (p greater than 0.05). A higher incidence of preterm (18.5%, p less than 0.01) and small for gestational age babies (44.4%, p less than 0.001) was ascertained. Pregnancy control and no smoking habit might influence birth weight (p less than 0.001). Neonatal withdrawal syndrome was present in 44.4% and was related to mother's last dose and secondary to degree of heroin abuse (p less than 0.025). Topics: Birth Weight; Female; Gestational Age; Hepatitis B; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Maternal Age; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prenatal Care; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Syphilis Serodiagnosis | 1987 |
Liver in heroin smokers.
Topics: Adult; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Liver; Male | 1987 |
Heroin abusers in psychiatric beds. A Glasgow study.
A retrospective study was carried out of all heroin abusers admitted to an acute psychiatric unit to examine their use of the facility of in-patient care. The compliance with treatment was low. Most patients discharged themselves or were discharged prematurely for using drugs while in the ward; only 21% were discharged as planned. The value of hospital admission in the management of opiate abusers may have to be reconsidered in view of the increasing prevalence of heroin abuse and the limited number of psychiatric beds. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospital Units; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Patient Compliance; Retrospective Studies; Scotland | 1987 |
Heroin-induced vomiting in bulimia.
Topics: Adult; Body Weight; Bulimia; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Vomiting | 1987 |
Lead-contaminated heroin as a source of inorganic-lead intoxication.
Topics: Adult; Drug Contamination; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Male | 1987 |
[Methodology and problems in the study of drugs of abuse in urine].
The analysis of drugs of abuse in urine is a valuable tool for the detection of illicit drug use and the treatment and rehabilitation of addicts. In order for the results to be conclusive, however, several precautions have to be taken during the collection, storage, mailing and analysis of the urinary specimen. Since immunological methods for the determination of drugs of abuse are not completely specific, all positive results on immunoassay should be confirmed, at least for forensic purposes, by a chromatographic technique. Although much more complicated and time-consuming, some chromatographic techniques such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry offer the possibility of unambiguously identifying drugs of abuse. However, in some cases, even with this method it is not possible to decide whether the identified metabolite of a drug of abuse stems from food or illicit or elicit drug use. A single urinary analysis is, therefore, sometimes not sufficient to provide unambiguous proof of the use of illicit drugs. However, definite evidence of repeated drug abuse can be obtained if the person involved is carefully instructed as to which medicines or food must not be taken during the investigation period and yet the analysis of several urinary specimens taken at intervals of one or two days proves positive. Topics: Amphetamines; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Barbiturates; Benzodiazepines; Cannabinoids; Chromatography; Cocaine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Immunologic Techniques; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Specimen Handling; Substance-Related Disorders | 1986 |
Involvement of the ventral tegmental dopamine system in opioid and psychomotor stimulant reinforcement.
Topics: Animals; Cocaine; Desipramine; Dopamine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hydroxydopamines; Oxidopamine; Pargyline; Rats; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration; Substance-Related Disorders; Tegmentum Mesencephali | 1986 |
Locus of control and need for control among heroin users.
Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Internal-External Control; Motivation | 1986 |
Heroin addiction: morals revisited.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; History, 18th Century; History, 20th Century; History, Ancient; Humanism; Humans | 1986 |
Heroin--a new old drug.
Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Canada; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 1986 |
Heroin.
Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Canada; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 1986 |
A British view of prescribing pharmaceutical heroin to opiate addicts: a critique of the "heroin solution" with special reference to the Piccadilly and Kensington market drug scenes in London.
Using data derived from the London drug subculture, this study evaluates a suggestion that has become a source of recent international discussion, namely that as a means of solving the "heroin problem" and organized crime's involvement in it, pharmaceutical heroin should be prescribed legally to opiate addicts. It concludes that if the "heroin solution" were implemented in London this policy would have a number of negative unintended consequences. It would not undercut the illicitly manufactured heroin market to any extent but would most probably lead as well to a rapid and substantial increase in the numbers of pharmaceutical heroin users in Britain. This examination also indicates the need to evaluate the "heroin solution" before it is introduced into other countries, in the light of issues examined in this analysis. Topics: Crime; Drug Prescriptions; Health Policy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; London; Social Environment; Social Facilitation | 1986 |
Subjective perceptions to the intravenous "rush" of heroin and cocaine in opioid addicts.
Subjective responses to intravenous heroin and cocaine administration were investigated by questionnaire in a population of 40 male and 29 female confirmed heroin addicts. Responses of males and females were very similar for the heroin rush, ranking pleasure, relaxation, satisfaction, warmth, and thirst highest among 20 feelings surveyed and ranking feelings like sexual orgasm low, only fifteenth out of 20. Responses of males and females for the cocaine rush were similar in that both ranked excitement, pleasure, thirst, strength, and anxiety very high, in the top six responses, and both rated feelings like sexual orgasm relatively low, rank 9 for males and 15 for females. However, male and female responses for cocaine differed in that males ranked power very high, rank 2; and females ranked power relatively low, rank 10; but ranked satisfaction, rank 5; warmth, rank 5; and relaxation, rank 12; much higher than males who ranked them 15, 16, and 17, respectively. Despite the fact that sexual feelings were infrequently identified with rushes, the results best supported an interpretation that the population was largely inorgasmic without drugs, but found attractive orgasmic pleasure in heroin and cocaine. Males and females perceived the cocaine rush differently, but the reason of these differences is uncertain. Topics: Adult; Cocaine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Orgasm; Perception; Sex Factors | 1986 |
[Substance dependence and pregnancy. Experience in care].
Topics: Adult; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Risk; Smoking; Socioeconomic Factors; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1986 |
[Heroin-induced lung edema].
Topics: Adult; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Pulmonary Edema | 1986 |
[Renal failure in heroin addicts].
Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male | 1986 |
[Medical indication for heroin provision in Amsterdam].
Topics: Adult; Drug Prescriptions; England; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Netherlands; Palliative Care | 1985 |
HTLV-III exposure among drug users.
The Centers for Disease Control hierarchical classification of those at risk for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) underestimates the number of cases in which illicit drug use may play a role in the exposure to human T-cell leukemia virus type III. The immunosuppressive effects of nitrite inhalants are not sufficiently documented to elucidate their role as a cofactor in the development of AIDS. The currently available data on the immunosuppressive effects of self-administered parenteral drugs and their diluents indicate an associated elevation of immunoglobulin M, depressed helper/suppression T-cell ratios, and even damage to DNA. Illicit psychoactive drugs and their diluents may influence the virulence of the virus among parenteral drug users. An association between parenteral drug use and prostitution is not unexpected. Female prostitutes who use parenteral drugs may be at high risk for exposure to the virus and thus may transmit this infectious agent to their clients and their families. Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Amyl Nitrite; Antibodies, Viral; Chromosome Aberrations; Cocaine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; HIV Antibodies; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Immunoglobulin M; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Retroviridae Infections; Risk; Substance-Related Disorders; T-Lymphocytes; United States | 1985 |
Blockade of nucleus accumbens opiate receptors attenuates intravenous heroin reward in the rat.
A quaternary derivative of naloxone, methyl naloxonium chloride (MN), was administered intracerebrally to rats trained to self-administer heroin intravenously. Increases in intravenous (IV) heroin self-administration rates were found following injections of low doses of MN into the nucleus accumbens (N.Acc), but not following injections of low doses of MN into the ventral tegmental area (VTA). These results were interpreted to suggest that the rewarding properties of IV heroin were decreased following N.Acc opiate receptor blockade. The relative insensitivity of the VTA to MN treatment was taken to suggest that VTA opiate receptors are either not essential or play a secondary role in mediating IV heroin self-administration. The present data support the notion that post-synaptic N.Acc opiate receptors play a crucial role in maintaining IV heroin self-administration. Topics: Animals; Brain Mapping; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Naloxone; Nucleus Accumbens; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Receptors, Opioid; Septal Nuclei | 1985 |
[Drug therapy in overdose and withdrawal syndrome in heroin addicts].
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Naloxone; Psychotropic Drugs; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1985 |
[Intense thrombocytopenia associated with the use of heroin].
Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic; Thrombocytopenia | 1985 |
Toxicity associated with long-term intravenous heroin and cocaine self-administration in the rat.
Laboratory rats were given unlimited access to intravenous cocaine hydrochloride or heroin hydrochloride. Animals self-administering cocaine quickly developed a pattern of episodic drug intake, with periods of excessive cocaine self-administration alternating with brief periods of abstinence. Subjects allowed continuous access to intravenous heroin showed stable drug self-administration, with a gradual increase in daily heroin intake over the first two weeks of testing. The general health of the animals became markedly different: those self-administering heroin maintained grooming behavior, pretesting body weight, and a good state of general health; rats self-administering cocaine tended to cease grooming behavior, to lose up to 47% of their pretesting body weight, and to show a pronounced deterioration in general health. The mortality rate for 30 days of continuous testing was 36% for animals self-administering heroin and 90% for those self-administering cocaine. These results suggest that cocaine is a much more toxic compound than heroin when animals are given unlimited access to intravenous drug. Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Cocaine; Grooming; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infusions, Parenteral; Male; Rats; Self Administration; Substance-Related Disorders | 1985 |
[Myocardial involvement in nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis following an opiate overdose].
Eight young addicts developed rhabdomyolysis as a complication of heroin overdose. ECG, plasma enzyme time activity curves and thallium myocardial scintigraphy were highly suggestive of a myocardial lesion associated with rhabdomyolysis. Such changes were particularly striking in 3 patients with acute left ventricular failure, as shown by a hemodynamic investigation (3 patients) and by echocardiography (1 patient). All patients recovered but myocardial scintigraphy and ECG remained abnormal for a period ranging from 8 months to 3 years following the acute episode. Although associated metabolic changes may play a role in myocardial dysfunction, the most likely mechanism appears to be a direct toxic effect of heroin on cardiac muscle. Topics: Adult; Cardiomyopathies; Electrocardiography; Heart; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Radioisotopes; Rhabdomyolysis; Thallium | 1985 |
[Rate of mucosocutaneous carriers of staphylococci in heroin addicts of the Barcelona area and the microbiological characteristics of heroin and the material of injection].
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Clostridium perfringens; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mucous Membrane; Skin; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Syringes | 1984 |
[The role of naloxone in the current diagnosis of drug dependence].
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naloxone; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1984 |
Rhabdomyolysis: a clinical entity for the study of role of proteases.
Topics: Creatine Kinase; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Muscles; Peptide Hydrolases; Rhabdomyolysis | 1984 |
The drug problem in The Netherlands.
In the Netherlands, the drug problem among adolescents developed as a new phenomenon in the mid 1960s. Without remarkable success, methadone maintenance programs were introduced in 1968. Drug free treatment in therapeutic communities, developed since 1972, was successful after the first experimental years. This success provoked the illusion that drug related problems could be solved by treatment; low threshold programs, putting few demands on participants, were established to dispense methadone. The illusion was that addicts can be motivated into further treatment if they are brought into contact with professionals. As the addict population kept growing and their street crimes increased in number, Dutch drug policies changed in 1978, using methadone as a means to decrease criminal activities rather than to treat addicts. This also turned out to be an illusion. Currently, there is strong political pressure to distribute heroin to addicts to diminish the negative side effects of drug abuse. Dutch drug policies are characterized by the opinion that drug problems cannot be solved and have to be accepted. Topics: Day Care, Medical; Family Therapy; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; History, 20th Century; Humans; Inactivation, Metabolic; Methadone; Netherlands; Politics; Professional-Patient Relations; Public Policy; Rehabilitation Centers; Social Problems; Therapeutic Community | 1984 |
[Heroin: a new cause of toxicological emergencies].
Topics: Diagnosis-Related Groups; Emergencies; Emergency Service, Hospital; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Spain | 1984 |
Frequency of heroin use and drug users' life-style.
Topics: Adult; Crime; Drug Administration Schedule; Family; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Life Style; Male; Social Environment; Socioeconomic Factors; Substance-Related Disorders | 1984 |
Street pharmacology: uses of cocaine and heroin in the treatment of addiction.
This paper examines a unique finding from a larger research study of methadone maintenance treatment at four treatment programs in three Northeastern states. In looking at methods used by narcotics addicts to withdraw or detoxify from heroin, we found a small group of persons who had successfully detoxified from heroin addiction using a structured injection regimen of gradually decreasing amounts of heroin and gradually increasing amounts of cocaine. While this paper represents the case study of ten cases, the regimen was reported by others as part of 'street pharmacology.' It is a relatively uncommon regimen, reportedly due to the expense of the procedure and the problems associated with cocaine abuse. It is the pharmacological aspects of the procedure which warrant attention. All ten cases reported little or no withdrawal symptoms after the last injection containing small amounts of heroin. It was widely believed that cocaine interacts with heroin in a way which masks withdrawal during the detoxification process, providing a measure of physiological relief. Information from the addict world on that interaction provides clues as to the biochemical properties of drug interactions and may suggest areas for further clinical and pharmacological research. Topics: Adult; Cocaine; Drug Interactions; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Methadone; Self Medication; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1984 |
[Course and complications of rhabdomyolysis following heroin poisoning].
A report is presented on two patients with massive rhabdomyolysis following heroin intoxication. Due to massive muscle edema of the lower legs, both patients needed early fasciotomy to prevent compression syndrome. The two cases followed a different course as regards complications and especially renal insufficiency and disorders of serum calcium and phosphorus regulation. Pathophysiology, prevention and therapy of complications are discussed. As a result of intensive physiotherapy, the long term functional outcome was satisfactory in both cases. Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adolescent; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leg; Male; Rhabdomyolysis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Water-Electrolyte Imbalance | 1984 |
Business as usual: heroin distribution in the United States.
This article criticizes the predominant analysis of heroin use as a social aberration and argues instead that the normal structure and functioning of U.S. capitalism generate both the market for the drug and the industry which supplies it. The structure of the distribution industry is much like those for comparable legal goods, but with distinctive features which provide reduced risk for dealers and long-term stability for the industry as a whole. The expansionary dynamic of the industry and the key role of syndicates in it are analyzed. The heroin industry is deeply integrated into the economy, and far-reaching social and economic change will be necessary if heroin use is to be significantly reduced. Topics: Commerce; Crime; Drug and Narcotic Control; Economics; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Social Problems; United States | 1984 |
[Severe infections in addicts to heroin administered intravenously].
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Bacterial Infections; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male | 1984 |
Immunological studies of heroin addicts.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antigen-Antibody Complex; Autoantibodies; Complement System Proteins; Cryoglobulins; Female; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Male; Middle Aged | 1984 |
The illicit non-pharmaceutical heroin market and drug scene in Kensington Market.
Topics: Adult; Crime; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; London | 1984 |
A review of drug addict abscesses.
Topics: Abscess; Adolescent; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Subcutaneous; Ireland; Male; Skin Diseases, Infectious | 1984 |
Sensorineural hearing loss in a heroin addict.
Topics: Acoustic Impedance Tests; Adult; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Cochlea; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Labyrinth Diseases; Male | 1984 |
[Apropos of 2 new cases of thrombocytopenia associated with heroin consumption].
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Thrombocytopenia | 1984 |
[Candida albicans endophthalmitis caused by intravenous heroin abuse].
Topics: Adult; Amphotericin B; Candidiasis; Diagnosis, Differential; Endophthalmitis; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Toxoplasmosis, Ocular | 1983 |
Chromosome damage in heroin-marijuana and marijuana addicts.
The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of chromosome damage in heroin-marijuana addicts and marijuana addicts. A group of 45 subjects, aged between 19 and 21 years, was divided into 15 controls, 15 heroin-marijuana addicts and 15 marijuana addicts. These patients were examined for the presence of chromosome aberrations in their peripheral lymphocytes. The findings indicate that the incidence of chromosome anomalies in heroin-marijuana addicts is approximately 21.3 times greater than in the controls and approximately 7.9 times greater than in marijuana addicts. Topics: Adult; Chromosome Aberrations; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Marijuana Abuse | 1983 |
Episodes of heroin use during maintenance treatment with stable dosage of (-)-alpha-acetylmethadol (methadyl acetate, LAAM).
The phenomenon of episodic heroin use by patients maintained on a surrogate opiate has been noted by clinical investigators since the early 1970s. Several investigators have hypothesized that relapse to heroin use is related to stressful events in the patient's life, and retrospective studies give some support to this hypothesis. In the present study, we asked patients every month to rate their situation with respect to 11 life areas. There were significant negative correlations between the absolute scores in most life areas and the amount of heroin use. However, the relationship between changes in life-area scores and changes in heroin use was less clear. Our data indicate that of patients who have substantial increases in heroin use, many do have negative changes in one or more life areas. However, not all patients who have such negative changes in life-area scores respond by increasing their heroin use. Topics: Family; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Life Style; Methadone; Methadyl Acetate; Recurrence | 1983 |
Drug addiction during pregnancy.
On the basis of current literature and their own experience, the authors discuss (1) the major complications possible in pregnant drug addicts, (2) whether the complications can be attributed to deficient prenatal care or to effects of drug abuse, and (3) the best prenatal care of drug-addicted mothers. Topics: Birth Weight; Delivery, Obstetric; Female; Fetal Monitoring; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant Mortality; Infant, Newborn; Methadone; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Prenatal Care; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1983 |
Pigmented lesions of the tongue in heroin addicts--fixed drug eruption.
Pigmentation of the tongue is an uncommon finding. We describe a case in which it was due to a fixed drug eruption following the inhalation of heroin pyrolysate and methaqualone vapours. Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methaqualone; Pigmentation Disorders; Tongue; Tongue Diseases | 1983 |
[Neonatal findings in children of drug-addicted mothers].
A group of 13 babies born to heroin-addict mothers has been studied in our Department during the last three years. Authors have recorded clinical features like neonatal abstinence syndrome, malformations, intrauterine growth, maternal age, gestational duration and delivery. They discuss different types of malformations and withdrawal symptoms, and make a comparative study with normal newborns of our hospital. Topics: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; Adolescent; Adult; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1983 |
[Thrombocytopenia associated with the endovenous administration of heroin].
Topics: Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic | 1983 |
[Drug dependence in the context of malingering].
Topics: Adolescent; Cannabis; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Italy; Malingering; Social Conformity; Substance-Related Disorders; Suicide, Attempted | 1983 |
[Rhabdomyolysis with acute kidney failure after heroin poisoning].
A 24-year-old man who had been a drug addict for years, was admitted to hospital having been unconscious for several hours after injecting an overdose of heroin. He was in acute renal failure with extensive swelling of soft tissues of the right upper leg and right buttock without external signs of injury. The swelling rapidly extended to both right limbs, trunk and external genitalia. The clinical suspicion of rhabdomyolysis was confirmed by a high level of serum myoglobin (1570 mg/ml), and in a gluteus maximus muscle biopsy. The acute renal failure caused by the rhabdomyolysis was reversible after a short period of haemodialysis and, after decompression fasciotomy of the affected muscles, there were no severe sequelae. In view of the good prognosis with early diagnosis an exact clinical examination (observation of soft tissue swelling and dark urine) is of great importance in case of heroin addiction and/or poisoning. Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adult; Edema; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Myoglobin; Myoglobinuria | 1983 |
[Hemiplegia following injection of heroin].
Two young drug abusers with nontraumatic hemiplegia have been observed. Onset of symptoms occurred within minutes after intravenous administration of heroin. One case had cerebral infarction and the other cerebral hemorrhage. Hypersensitivity to heroin or an unknown adulterant may play a role. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Brain Ischemia; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Hemiplegia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male | 1983 |
[Follow-up control after long-term withdrawal therapy in heroin and multiple drug addicts].
A follow-up study was done in 31 rehabilitation probands who were discharged consecutively from a long term drug withdrawal centre for heroin and multiple drug addiction. Referral had been on the basis of section 64 of the penal code and a motivation for treatment had to be established first. After discharge the majority of probands could be reassessed repeatedly. A total of 180 follow-up investigations included also urinanalysis and in 170 of these cannabinoids were looked for. Cannabis was detected in only two cases. When other addictives were demonstrated in a few cases they could be attributed to codeine-containing medicines beyond doubt. Regular follow-up assessments of past drug addicts including urinanalyses serve for further stabilisation of the patients and at the same time indicate long-term success of treatment. Topics: Cannabinoids; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Narcotics; Substance-Related Disorders | 1983 |
Drug "overdoses" among U.S. soldiers in Europe, 1978-1979. II. autopsies following deaths and near-deaths.
On-site investigations involving interviews with spouses, friends, coworkers, supervisors, and commanders were conducted following 37 deaths or near-deaths by drug overdose among U.S. soldiers stationed in Europe. Subjects were all active-duty soldiers put on the seriously ill list at any Army hospital with an initial diagnosis which included suspected drug overdose. Victims were typically single Black males, less than 22, high school graduates in excellent health. They had been in Germany 7-24 months, liked their jobs, and were judged better than average workers by both peers and supervisors. Fifty percent played on a unit sports team, 6 of 10 had German girlfriends, and one-third had prior disciplinary problems. Although nearly half had been previously identified as having a drug or alcohol problem, only two or three could be called addicts in even the broadest sense. Six cases were suicide gestures, and only these six cases did not involve heroin and/or alcohol. The modal case followed a party, with substantial drinking. In only 25% of the cases did the victim collapse upon injection. More often he went to bed, vomited during the night, and choked on or inhaled vomitus. The data suggest reexamination of two common myths: that heroin users comprise a very unique, albeit undesirable, sample of the general population; and that "overdose" deaths are the result of ignorance, incompetence, or indifference. Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Alcoholic Intoxication; Black or African American; Black People; Europe; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Marriage; Military Personnel; Substance-Related Disorders; Suicide | 1983 |
[Diagnosis and treatment of heroin poisoning].
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1983 |
Leucoencephalopathy after inhaling "heroin" pyrolysate.
47 patients with spongiform leucoencephalopathy but no other consistent abnormalities, except brown pigmentation of the alveolar macrophages in the lungs, are described. 11 patients have died. Epidemiological studies indicate at the cause of the illness the inhalatory use of poisoned heroin vapours (pyrolysate). The heroin is primarily sold on the black market in Amsterdam. The Netherlands. Over 170 suspect heroin samples were collected for analysis of the possible poisonous factor. Although suspect, none of the samples could be unambiguously related to the observed illness. Chemical, toxicological, and histopathological investigations have not so far revealed the nature of the poisonous factor, but several neurotoxic agents that are known to cause comparable leucoencephalopathies have been ruled out. This appears to be the first manifestation of the poisonous potential of the unknown causative factor. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Brain; Brain Diseases; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Netherlands; Smoke; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Volatilization | 1982 |
Trichosporon cutaneum endocarditis: a sequela of intravenous drug abuse.
A 42-year-old abuser of intravenous drugs developed fulminant aortic insufficiency necessitating a prosthetic valve replacement. Trichosporon cutaneum was isolated from the surgical specimen. The patient received a total of 3,195 g of amphotericin B, and 148 g of 5-fluorocytosine during his four-month hospitalization. He manifested no additional signs of persistent fungal infection, but died one year later from an intracerebral hemorrhage. Topics: Adult; Endocarditis; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Mitosporic Fungi; Mycoses; Substance-Related Disorders | 1982 |
[The problem of drugs in Lombardy: analytical and epidemiological contributions].
Topics: Cannabinoids; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Italy; Male; Marijuana Abuse; Methods; Morphine | 1982 |
Penile ulcer in heroin abuse: a case report.
The rarity of reported cases of cutaneous ulcerations in heroin abusers prompts this report of a 25-year-old man with a painless, slightly necrotic and purulent ulcer of the dorsal shaft of the penis. The differential diagnosis of the lesion and cutaneous manifestations of heroin abuse are reviewed. To our knowledge, this is only the second reported case of penile ulcer from heroin injection. Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Penile Diseases; Skin Ulcer | 1982 |
["Heroin" leukoencephalopathy].
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal | 1982 |
[Administration of methadone to heroin users in general practice].
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Metabolic Clearance Rate; Methadone | 1982 |
["Heroin" leuko-encephalopathy: spongiform leukomyeloencephalopathy following inhalation of the pyrolysate of impure heroin].
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Brain; Brain Diseases; Drug Contamination; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male | 1982 |
Heroin addict responses to six weeks of detoxification with LAAM.
This paper describes the range of experience of 28 heroin addicts who received LAAM instead of methadone over six weeks in an outpatient detoxification program. Four patients are singled out to illustrate the variety of response during withdrawal, temporary abstinence from drugs, and social adjustment. The paper explores the motivation of patients and both their physical and subjective responses to the detoxification attempt. By describing a variety of patients, the paper documents clinical responses that cannot be communicated in statistical summaries or single-case reports. Overall, the cases illustrate the difficulties of brief-stay outpatient detoxification from heroin. Clinicians should expect to see only small steps toward rehabilitation during a patient's attempt to taper from opiates, but even minimal progress may justify the use of detoxification programs as a link between "street life" and the decision to enter long-term treatment. Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Methadyl Acetate; Patient Dropouts; Social Adjustment; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1982 |
[Renal lesions caused by opiates].
Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Kidney Diseases; Nephrotic Syndrome | 1982 |
Heroin myelopathy.
Topics: Adult; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Myelitis; Myelitis, Transverse | 1982 |
Heroin abuse indicators: a modest reinterpretation.
Topics: Emergencies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Michigan | 1982 |
The response of out-patient opiate addicts to the provision of a temporary increase in their prescribed drugs.
Addicts who use illicit drugs despite receiving a maintenance prescription present a difficult management problem for drug dependence clinics. This study looks at a small group of such addicts and at their response to the provision of a temporary increase in their prescribed opiates. The results indicate that this increase led to a reduction in illicit drug use and to improvements in social functioning. These and other findings are discussed. It is suggested that clinics should be more prepared to consider such temporary increases, but the need for careful monitoring and for the involvement of more than one member of the treatment team is stressed. Topics: Adult; Alcohol Drinking; Employment; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Male; Methadone; Opioid-Related Disorders; Patient Compliance; Social Behavior | 1982 |
[Medical aspects of heroin dependence].
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Social Behavior | 1981 |
Preadsorbent thin-layer chromatography. III. Direct detection of quinine in urine as a presumptive test for heroin.
Topics: Chromatography, Thin Layer; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Quinine | 1981 |
Endotoxin content of street heroin.
Topics: Endotoxins; Fever; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Pharmaceutical Preparations | 1981 |
[Bacterial endocarditis in drug addicts. 20 cases (author's transl)].
The authors report on 20 cases of bacterial endocarditis in heroin addicts, i.e. 9.1% of all cases of that infection observed over an 8-year period. The disease involved the tricuspid valve in 80% of the cases and was due to Staphylococcus aureus in the same percentage of patients. Diagnosis was sometimes difficult in the right heart but was confirmed by repeated echocardiography. Combined antibiotic therapy was administered for 45 days. Only one patient died of relapsing endocarditis on valve prosthesis. Six patients were operated upon: 2 for cardiac failure, 2 for persistent infection and 2 for recurrent pulmonary embolism. Three patients underwent valve replacement and 3 tricuspidectomy. The persistence of pulmonary embolism after eradication of the infecting organism does not seem to warrant surgery. Topics: Adult; Echocardiography; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Recurrence; Staphylococcal Infections; Tricuspid Valve | 1981 |
Persian heroin in the San Francisco Bay area: 1977-1980.
A new type of heroin has increased in frequency in the San Francisco Bay Area in the past three years. "Persian" heroin, coming to this country from Southwest Asia, differs from commonly-seen heroin in several ways: (1) distinctive marketing channels, (2) different routes of administration, (3) increased purity, (4) more severe withdrawal, and (5) different demographic characteristics of users. "Persian" heroin users tend to be younger and more likely to be White and unemployed as compared to other heroin users. Topics: Adult; California; Crime; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Socioeconomic Factors | 1981 |
Drug abuse patterns of patients on methadone treatment in New York City.
Urine specimens from methadone treatment clinics were screened for various abused drugs between 1974-1979 by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and immunoassay techniques (IAT). A comparison of the relative incidence of drugs abused reveals that IAT are more sensitive and detect far greater number of subjects abusing drugs than TLC. The results also show a significant abuse of heroin and cocaine during the period studied and a variation of the incidence of other drugs used during the same period. While these patients did not receive benzodiazepenes and tricyclic antidepressants by prescription, their abuse alone and in combination with each other was also found to be widespread. Low levels of PCP and/or its analogs were found in 1978 and 1979. The frequent finding of low levels of PCP in combination with other drugs indicates the availability of this hallucinogen and point to its use in combination with other illicit drugs such as cocaine, amphetamine, and heroin. The suggestion is made that more sensitive analytical methods for drugs screening be utilized in methadone monitoring programs, and that other classes of drugs be added than are currently required. Topics: Amphetamines; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; Barbiturates; Benzodiazepines; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Cocaine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; New York City; Phencyclidine Abuse; Radioimmunoassay; Substance-Related Disorders | 1981 |
Placental transfer of narcotic analgesics in man.
Topics: Adult; Female; Fetal Death; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Pregnancy; Tissue Distribution | 1981 |
The validity of self-reported heroin use.
During a 2-year follow-up interview, 272 male veteran heroin addicts reported their recent heroin use and provided a urine sample. Eighty-four percent of those reporting no heroin use in the 3 months preceding the interview, and 78% of those declaring no use in the previous week had urines found negative for opiates. The subjective impressions of the interviewers were useful in predicting the veracity of the self-reports. Subjects who had been in longer-term treatment, especially therapeutic communities, were more likely to report heroin use truthfully. Topics: Adult; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interview, Psychological; Male; Self Disclosure; Therapeutic Community; Truth Disclosure; Veterans | 1981 |
Hyperkalaemia in drug addicts.
Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hyperkalemia; Male; Methadone | 1980 |
Dilaudid use: trends and characteristics of users.
The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent of Dilaudid use and characteristics of users in a population of individuals admitted to drug treatment programs over a four-year period. It was found that the number and rate of Dilaudid use had increased from 1% of those admitted in 1974 to 10% in late 1977. In comparison to other drug users, Dilaudid users were more likely to be white and middle-class. Dilaudid users were also likely to use the drug intravenously and to obtain it by street buys and to also use heroin. Data suggest that Dilaudid use is easily integrated into a heroin-using life style and may serve as a heroin substitute, and that Dilaudid users are a population that has characteristics similar to the type described as the Southern addict. Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Florida; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydromorphone; Injections, Intramuscular; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Opioid-Related Disorders; Social Class; Socioeconomic Factors; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors; White People | 1980 |
The Singapore heroin control programme.
In 1975 Singapore experienced a sudden heroin epidemic, and within two years an estimated 3 per cent of the males, 15-24, were involved. In 1977 the Government responded with an all-out enforcement strategy aimed at rapid containment. Demand reduction involved the large scale arrest of suspected users, and the immediate commitment of those with positive urines to Drug Rehabilitation Centres. The primary rehabilitation emphasis is on instilling discipline, social responsibility and sound work habits. Releases are placed on two years of compulsory supervision with a 5-day cycle for reporting and urine specimens. Sixty-three per cent show no detected drug use within the first year of supervision. Supply reduction efforts are equally strong and, while these were not immediately successful in limiting availability, heroin is currently very scarce and expensive. While there is some evidence of the substitution of cannabis, psychotropic drugs and alcohol, the number of new heroin cases is minimal. Overall, the epidemic appears to have been controlled. Topics: Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Singapore; Substance-Related Disorders | 1980 |
Sequential use of drugs and alcohol: a reexamination of the stepping-stone hypothesis.
This study examines sequential use of various drugs and alcohol among 1544 subjects being treated for substance abuse in 10 treatment centers. Several models were developed to examine drug usage with respect to specific lags dealing with the number of years between periods of beginning use of different types of drugs. The models also assessed the relationships between the lags from first to regular use of specific drugs. Length of use and amount of the drug used first in a sequence are associated with the lag from regular use of that drug to regular use of another drug--especially when the initial drug is marijuana. Contrary to expectation, shorter lags from first to regular alcohol use point toward longer lags from regular alcohol use to use of other drugs. However, the lag from first to regular alcohol use is positively related to the lag from first to regular marijuana use. Topics: Alcoholism; Analysis of Variance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Marijuana Abuse; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Time Factors | 1980 |
[Health problems in prisoners].
We interviewed 258 prisoners in Nordern-Switzerland. At that time, 55% suffered from a chronic or an acute illness. 32% smoked 20 and 37% more than 20 cigarettes a day. 46% had consumed drugs in the past (marihuana, LSD, heroin). Topics: Adult; Aged; Cannabis; Health; Health Status; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; Male; Marijuana Abuse; Middle Aged; Prisoners; Sexual Behavior; Smoking; Sports; Substance-Related Disorders; Suicide | 1980 |
Fetal exposure to narcotics: neonatal sleep as a measure of nervous system disturbance.
Newborn infants, chronically exposed in utero to low doses of methadone with or without concomitant heroin, display more rapid eye movement sleep and less quiet sleep than control infants, while babies fetally exposed to both opiates and nonopiates have less organization of sleep states. Other perinatal factors, such as birth weight and gestational age, are related more to the amount of fetal drug exposure than to the type. Topics: Birth Weight; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Methadone; Nervous System Diseases; Pregnancy; Sleep; Substance-Related Disorders | 1980 |
The effect of schedule removal on the maintenance of heroin self-injection.
The present study investigated the effect of schedule removal on the maintenance of heroin self-injection in 80% reduced body weight Wistar rats. During the acquisition phase, 42 animals were subjected to a fixed time 1 min food delivery schedule and were allowed to self-inject either heroin or saline for 10 days. During the maintenance phase (Days 11-15), animals in both the heroin and saline conditions were randomly allocated to schedule, no schedule, and no schedule plus food groups. Infusion rates, hot plate response latencies, and food intake were used as dependent measures to monitor differences between groups. The results revealed that schedule removal disrupted, but did not extinguish, heroin-seeking behaviour. Topics: Animals; Eating; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Rats; Reaction Time; Reinforcement Schedule; Self Administration; Time Factors | 1980 |
[Clinical and chemico-toxicological considerations on newborn infants of drug-addicted mothers].
Topics: Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Substance-Related Disorders | 1980 |
A study of phenmetrazine (Preludin) abuse.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Appetite Depressants; Black or African American; Body Weight; Data Collection; Drug and Narcotic Control; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Obesity; Phenmetrazine; Random Allocation; Sex Factors; Substance-Related Disorders; United States; White People | 1980 |
Heroin activity in New York City, 1970-1978.
Heroin activity in New York City is traced from 1970 using a variety of indicators. A steady decline in the number of new "intensive" users (those who required treatment) is noted, beginning around 1970. Various possible explanations of this decline are examined. Reductions in the supply of heroin or in the demand for heroin do not appear to be causes of the decline in new users, as these reductions occurred after the decline in new users had already begun. Demographic changes--the passing of the baby boom cohort through the period of highest risk of beginning heroin use--also does not appear to be a viable explanation, as trends in use of other drugs do not show a decline. Changes in attitudes toward heroin as a specific drug are left as the most plausible explanation of the decline in the number of new intensive heroin users. Topics: Attitude; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; New York City; Risk; Time Factors | 1980 |
Immunoglobulins in heroin users.
Concentrations of the serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgM, and IgA as well as rheumatoid factor were studied in a group of 80 intravenous and non-parenteral heroin users who were US soldiers serving in Vietnam and who were unique in their use of unadulterated heroin. Significant elevations of IgM out of normal range and IgG above controls were found in intravenous heroin users, while significant elevations of IgA above controls were found in non-parenteral heroin users. Rheumatoid factor was not found in either group. Evidence is presented to support the hypothesis that IgM elevation may be due to bacterial or other contamination but not to liver disease. The higher IgA in non-parenteral heroin users is postulated to reflect local antibody synthesis. The failure to detect rheumatoid factor in this study supports the view that the stimulation of rheumatoid factor is due to excipients or contaminants not found in the "uncut" drug. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Hepatitis B Antibodies; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Immunoglobulins; Male; Rheumatoid Factor | 1980 |
Heroin and chromosome damage.
Topics: Adult; Chromosome Aberrations; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Methadyl Acetate | 1980 |
Effects of heroin and naltrexone on plasma prolactin levels in man.
Plasma levels of prolactin were increased following intravenous self-administration of heroin by young men with a history of heroin addiction. Following 10 days of controlled heroin usage, tolerance could be demonstrated to the acute prolactin-releasing effect of heroin. There was no evidence that a single dose of naltrexone affected basal prolactin levels. Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Naloxone; Naltrexone; Prolactin | 1980 |
Complications of heroin injections of the neck.
The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the importance of heroin injections in the neck as an etiology of superficial and deep neck infections and to familiarize the otolaryngologist with the problems in the diagnosis and management of such infections. This study represents the first series to be reported in the world literature of patients with neck infections secondary to heroin injections. Fifty-seven patients with neck infections related to injection of heroin in the neck (main-lining) were studied. These patients were admitted to Detroit General Hospital during the three-year period between January 1974 and December 1976. The clinical signs and symptoms, location of the abscesses, soft tissue radiographs of the neck, arteriograms and ultrasound examinations of the neck are discussed. The diagnostic evaluation and the treatment of the heroin addict who presents with an inflammatory neck mass are outlined, emphasizing the difficulty and the importance of differentiating between cellulitis, abscess, and pseudoaneurysms of the carotid and subclavian arteries. Topics: Abscess; Adult; Aneurysm; Carotid Artery Diseases; Cellulitis; Diagnosis, Differential; Edema; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neck; Subclavian Artery | 1980 |
Conditioned responses to a videotape showing heroin-related stimuli.
Heroin addicts on 0 or 2 mg of methadone and finishing a 14-day detoxification program, and control subjects were shown a videotape of heroin-related stimuli. Psychological questionnaires were completed before and after the videotape, while physiological responses were monitored during viewing. It was found that the experimental subjects had an increased level of anxiety, depression, and subjective level of craving following the stimulus presentation, with the controls showing no similar change in these measures. In addition, the experimental group had significant increases in heart rate and galvanic skin response compared with controls. The results present some of the first objective evidence of conditioned abstinence occurring in addicts exposed to stimuli closely related to those found in the natural environment. Topics: Conditioning, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Respiration; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Videotape Recording | 1980 |
Self-destructive behavior patterns in male and female drug abusers.
One hundred and fourteen male and female drug abusers were interviewed regarding their histories of self-destructive behaviors. The data were analyzed to determine if, and identify what, differences existed between males and females with respect to types and extent of self-destructiveness. The analyzed data indicate that male and female drug abusers present very different self-destructive portraits. These portraits and their component parts are presented along with possible explanations for the differences. The paper also presents some of the differences between drug abusers and the general population with respect to self-destructiveness. Topics: Accidents, Traffic; California; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Sex Factors; Substance-Related Disorders; Suicide | 1980 |
Predicting changes in drug use and treatment entry for local programs: a case study.
Recent sharp decline in treatment admissions by opiate abusers stimulated the conduct of a study designed to provide timely data to treatment system administrators for the next cycle of program and budgetary planning. The process of designing the study involved definition of required study characteristics, review of four categories of drug abuse research, and generation of seven locally relevant hypotheses. Interviews were conducted with 335 heroin adicts: 196 new admissions to treatment and 139 "street" addicts not currently in treatment. Major findings were a marked reduction in the quality, availability, and price of heroin; very negative perceptions of methadone maintenance, especially by female respondents; decline in heroin popularity and increase in reported use of alcohol, amphetamines, and barbiturates; and differing perceptions of treatment by sex of respondent. Response patterns suggest that users who are not entering treatment are less "strung-out than those entering treatment because of decline in availability and quality of heroin and consequent increased mixing of drugs. The emphasis in the report is on the conduct of a study which can be timely, feasible, and useful to local planners. The study weaknesses and recommended remedies are discussed, as well as the characteristics which made the findings immediately useful to administrators and planners. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Health Planning; Health Surveys; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Pennsylvania; Rehabilitation, Vocational; Substance-Related Disorders | 1980 |
Heroin abuse indicators: a test of recent assumptions.
Recent substance abuse literature discusses the measurement of heroin abuse prevalence using an indirect method of indicator analysis. Medical and legal indicators are assumed to be related to each other and to prevalence in specific directions. The present study tests the relationship between six commonly used indicators. The results indicate that not all assumed relationships are obtained in the predicted direction and implications of this for future prevalence study are discussed. Topics: Costs and Cost Analysis; Emergency Service, Hospital; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Michigan | 1980 |
Dependence in rats after one injection of heroin-, LAAM- or hydromorphone-zinc tannate.
Complex zinc tannate salts of heroin, hydromorphone and l-alpha-acetylmethadol were synthesized and injected in a slow-release vehicle, into rats. One, 3, 7, 10 and 14 days after the drug was administered rats were injected with naloxone hydrochloride (10 mg/kg) and during the following 4 hours body weights, core temperature and behavioral signs such as diarrhea, writhing, teeth chattering and wet dog shakes were recorded. On every naloxone testing day the narcotic-treated groups presented behavioral signs of abstinence, but weight loss and temperature changes were much less consistent. Reduction of core temperature following naloxone administration seems to be an earlier indicator of physical dependence than weight loss. According to the parameters tested a level of physical dependence can persist for at least two weeks after a single injection of these narcotic salts. Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Body Temperature; Body Weight; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydromorphone; Methadone; Methadyl Acetate; Naloxone; Rats; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders | 1979 |
Bacillus cereus panophthalmitis after intravenous heroin.
Two healthy young black men developed panophthalmitis after intravenous heroin injections. Bacillus cereus, considered to be a relatively noncommon pathogen for man, was found to be the causative agent as it was recovered from the anterior chamber and viterous cavity of both cases. The ocular findings were unilateral in each case, and neither patient had any sistemic involvement from the bacteremia. The onset of visual symptoms varied from 24 to 36 hours after the last intravenous injection with the eye becoming rapidly blind. Photographs of the early fundus lesions included preretinal hypopyon-like lesions and peculiar changes in the blood vasculature. Intracameral gentamicin and steroids did not alter the cause, and treatment was enucleation. Topics: Adult; Anterior Chamber; Bacillus cereus; Blindness; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; Panophthalmitis; Vitreous Body | 1979 |
Naltrexone and behavior therapy for heroin addiction.
Topics: Adult; Behavior Therapy; California; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ethnicity; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naloxone; Naltrexone | 1979 |
The abstinence phobia.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Anxiety; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Phobic Disorders; Relaxation Therapy; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Token Economy | 1979 |
Heroin addiction: relationship between the plasma levels of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, LH, FSH, and the plasma concentration of heroin.
Changes in sexual function and hormone levels are commonly found in subjects addicted to narcotics. In this study we examined 16 male and 3 female addicts who had been taking heroin (H) in the last year in doses higher than 150 mg/day. In these patients, who presented similar clinical problems, we assayed by RIA the plasma levels of heroin, testosterone, (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), androstenedione (A), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) for periods of 150 min, 6 h and 9 h. We found a significant reduction of T and DHT concomitant with higher plasma concentrations of heroin but no relevant changes of A, LH and FSH. T and DHT returned to the initial levels after the decrease of heroin concentration. The GnRH test effectd on a female subject allowed us to make the diagnosis of hypothalamic amenorrhea. In the same patient no circadian rhythms for T, DHT and A were detected. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Amenorrhea; Androgens; Androstenedione; Binding, Competitive; Dihydrotestosterone; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Luteinizing Hormone; Male; Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones; Testosterone; Time Factors | 1979 |
Heroin and naltrexone effects on pituitary-gonadal hormones in man: tolerance and supersensitivity.
Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Luteinizing Hormone; Male; Naloxone; Naltrexone; Prolactin; Testosterone | 1979 |
[The neuropsychiatric symptoms of heroinism (author's transl)].
Topics: Ataxia; Coma; Depression; Electroencephalography; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Muscular Diseases; Myelitis, Transverse; Nervous System Diseases; Neuritis; Neurocognitive Disorders; Nystagmus, Pathologic; Parkinson Disease, Secondary; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; Sleep Wake Disorders; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Tremor | 1979 |
Studies in clinical liver disease.
Topics: Adult; Autoantibodies; Bacterial Infections; Biopsy; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Cholestasis, Extrahepatic; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Halothane; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B Antibodies; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypergammaglobulinemia; Liver; Liver Diseases; Liver Function Tests; Male; Middle Aged | 1979 |
Gonadotropin response to synthetic gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH) in heroin addicts.
To determine whether the pituitary-gonadal deficiency in heroin addicts is related to heroin's effect on the hypothalamus, the authors administered gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH) to 10 male heroin addicts and 5 controls and measured follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) response. Basal FSH and LH levels were significantly lower in addicts; after GnRH stimulation the addicts' FSH and LH values increased but not significantly compared to controls. The difference between the two groups' response was highly significant. The authors suggest that heroin causes an incomplete blocking of gonadotropin secretion at the pituitary level, inducing a hypophyseal-gonadal deficiency and a long-lasting depletion of the endogenous releasing factor, which accounts for the reduced response to GnRH. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Gonadotropins, Pituitary; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hormones; Humans; Luteinizing Hormone; Male; Pituitary Gland; Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones; Time Factors | 1979 |
Hepatitis B antigen and antibody in heroin users.
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBsAg) were determined on 442 asymptomatic heroin users and 246 controls. Of the drug-taking group, 124 used heroin intravenously and 318 nonintravenously (smoking, sniffing). Twenty-three (5.2%) heroin users were HBsAg positive and 118 (26.7%) anti-HBsAg positive, compared to three (1.2%) HBsAg positive and 28 (11.4%) anti-HBsAg positive controls, both statistically significant. HBsAg was positive in eight (6.5%) intravenous heroin users and statistically identical to 15 (4.7%) HBsAg positive nonintravenous users. Positive anti-HBsAg in 55 (44.4%) intravenous heroin users compared to 63 (19.8%) nonintravenous users, however, is statistically significicant. Topics: Adult; Antibodies, Viral; Hepatitis B Antibodies; Hepatitis B Antigens; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male | 1979 |
Talc emboli and retinal neovascularization in a drug abuser.
A 38-year-old male drug abuser had multiple emboli in the retinal circulation of the posterior pole of both eyes. He showed widespread peripheral retinal capillary nonperfusion and neovascular proliferation at the junction of perfused and nonperfused retina. The emboli were considered to be talc particles from the intravenous administration of suspensions of oral medications. The presumed mechanism of development of neovascularization in this case was the filtering out of the particles by the retinal vasculature with vaso-occlusion, ischemia and subsequent retinal neovascularization. Topics: Adult; Embolism; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Ophthalmoscopy; Pentazocine; Retinal Vessels; Substance-Related Disorders; Talc; Tripelennamine | 1979 |
["Sudden binaural deafness" after acute heroin intoxication (author's transl)].
After intoxication by an overdose of intravenously applied heroin, a 20 year old man developed a nearly symmetrical, tub-shaped sensorineural deafness of max. 50-60 dB at the frequencies 1000-4000 Hz, which receded completely within 3 days. In addition, a short survey is given of hitherto known neurological complications after heroin intoxication. Topics: Adult; Audiometry; Deafness; Hearing Loss, Sudden; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male | 1979 |
[The effect of heroin and methadone on pregnancy and the newborn infant].
Topics: Female; Fetus; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Labor, Obstetric; Methadone; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1979 |
Thrombocytopenia associated with intravenous heroin abuse.
Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Thrombocytopenia | 1979 |
Levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) in the treatment of heroin addicts. I. Dosage schedule for induction and stabilization.
One hundred and seventy-nine patients who were dependent on street narcotics were inducted into LAAM. Ninety-two were inducted using a slow schedule: 20, 20, 30, 30, 40, 40, 50, 50, 60, 60, 70, 70, 75 mg on successive clinic visits (Mon., Wed., Fri.). Only 23% of the patients followed this schedule to 50 mg; 55% requested and received a faster induction. Eighty-seven patients were inducted using a rapid schedule: 20, 30, 40, 40, 50 mg. This schedule was acceptable to the majority of patients and caused no complaints of overdosing. We suggest that this schedule be used in clinics where patients who have been shown to be dependent are inducted directly onto LAAM. Topics: Adult; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Methadyl Acetate; Middle Aged | 1979 |
Radioimmunoassay of hair for determining opiate-abuse histories.
Heroin and morphine metabolites can be detected in hair with the use of commercially available radioimmunoassay reagents and with minor sample preparation. Hair samples obtained from morphine-treated mice and heroin users contained nanogram levels of the drug per milligram of hair (single human hair). The results of the hair analyses for all subjects admitting the use of heroin were positive, whereas the results of only 30% of thin-layer chromatographic urinanalyses of these same subjects were positive. In addition, differences in drug concentration for sections of hair near the scalp and near the distal end correlated with the length of time the drug had been used. These results exemplify the potential advantages of the use of hair analysis over urine and serum analyses in terms of accessibility, sample stability, and long-term retention of information. Topics: Animals; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Forensic Medicine; Hair; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Mice; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Narcotics; Opioid-Related Disorders; Radioimmunoassay; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic | 1979 |
The frequency of narcotic use before and after admission to a methadone maintenance program.
A total of 453 program participants of the Narcotic Abuse Treatment Program, San Diego Country, a methadone maintenance program, were asked to report their use of heroin prior to and after program participation. Results indicated a significant reduction in reported heroin use, suggesting that the program has affected change in the quantity of heroin used by participants and that heroin use of program participants is not sufficient by itself to motivate other criminal involvement. A program may be effecting a reduction in heroin use by clients as well as criminal activity, but the effects may be totally unrelated. Topics: California; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone | 1979 |
The involvement of interoceptive factors in the maintenance of heroin-seeking behavior.
The role of interoceptive stimuli in conditioned heroin-seeking behavior was investigated using forty-two naive male Wistar rats. A 21-day Phase I period in which 28 animals self-injected heroin in saline solution was followed by a 5-day Phase II period in which 7 animals were allowed access to the original solution; 7 animals were allowed access to saline only; 7 animals were allowed access to distilled water; and 7 animals were allowed no access to any solution. Results showed that only the heroin and (heroin-associated) saline groups shows a significant difference in operant rate compared to animals that had been continually exposed to saline only. It was concluded that heroin-seeking behavior was maintained in the (heroin-associated) saline group as a result of physiological conditioning following repeated association of saline with heroin. Topics: Animals; Defecation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections; Male; Rats; Reaction Time; Self Administration; Time Factors | 1979 |
Effects of passive immunization against morphine on heroin self-administration.
Antimorphine antibodies produced in Rhesus monkeys immunized with morphine-6-hemisuccinate-BSA were passively administered to recipient monkeys trained to self-administer heroin and cocaine. Following antibody administration, changes in heroin self-administration behavior were observed which were similar to those achieved with low doses of naloxone. Both manipulations increased heroin self-administration without affecting cocaine responding. Topics: Animals; Cocaine; Conditioning, Operant; Haplorhini; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immune Sera; Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; Macaca mulatta; Morphine; Naloxone; Self Administration | 1978 |
Narcotism: dimensions of the problem.
It is evident that the indirect indicators that are used to provide some estimate of heroin use trends are susceptible to distortion by variables having little to do with total heroin use. A panel of indicators, employed together, moving in the same direction, are seen as the best information available, and confidence can be placed in their implications. We have witnessed a rapid increase in the use of heroin in the decade that began in 1960. From 1970 to 1973 a decrease occurred followed by an increase in prevalence that lasted about two years. Since 1975 there appears to have been a levelling off or even a slight decrease in heroin use with a shift of higher use patterns to the West Coast. These changes are the result of many factors on both the demand and the supply sides of the equation. There is reason to believe that the curve could slope sharply upward again if substantial efforts are not made to control the quantity of available heroin, to prevent the recruitment of new users and to treat those now overinvolved with the drug. However, heroin prevalence rates will not recede to the pre-1960 level in the foreseeable future, and immediate goals include lowering them even more. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Costs and Cost Analysis; Crime; Epidemiologic Methods; Hepatitis B; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Time Factors; United States | 1978 |
Pseudogynecomastia secondary to injection of heroin into breast tissue.
A 50-year-old man who has a heroin addict developed bilateral, symmetrical swelling of the breasts as a result of injecting himself directly into the breasts for several years. Results of histologic examination of the breast tissue showed granulomatous inflammation and a foreign body reaction without gynecomastia or tumor. Liver and endocrine functions were generally normal. Topics: Breast; Foreign-Body Reaction; Gynecomastia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Middle Aged | 1978 |
Analgesia duration and physical dependence in mice after a single injection of three heroin salts and morphine sulphate in various vehicles.
Mice were given single s.c. injections of morphine sulphate (M.S.), heroin hydrochloride (H.HCl) and the sparingly-soluble diheroin pamoate (H.Pam) and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-2,6-dihydroxybenzoate (H.Bnz) in three vehicles, saline, peanut oil, or a slow-release vehicle (SRV) and tested for analgesia by both the tail-clip and hotplate techniques. Duration of analgesia as assessed by the tail-clip method was always longer than that by the hotplate when equivalent doses were used in any vehicle. The H.Pam and H.Bnz salts significantly prolonged the analgesia: the mean duration in mice injected with equivalent amounts of heroin base was 3.0 hr for the group receiving heroin HCl in saline and 7.8 hr after H.Bnz in slow-release vehicle. An inverse relationship was evident between the degree of dissociation of H from the three salts, at pH 7.3 and their durations of analgesia in vivo. This was statistically significant (p less than 0.01) at the higher dose level. All mice were challenged with naloxone hydrochloride (1 mg/kg) 24 hr after the injection of each narcotic agonist preparation. The jumping behaviour elicited by naloxone was not consistently related to dose, salt form, or vehicle employed for the injection of agonists, but from 12.5 too 54.2% of all the mice did jump at that time. The durations of analgesia observed and the intensity of the jumping response correlated significantly with the mean number of jumps per mouse after the naloxone challenge. Topics: Analgesia; Animals; Delayed-Action Preparations; Guinea Pigs; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Naloxone; Reaction Time; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 1978 |
Rupture of a subclavian artery aneurysm in a heroin addict. Report of a case.
A previously healthy heroin addict died suddenly and unexpectedly of hemothorax due to rupture of a subclavian artery aneurysm. He had been using the neck veins for mainlining. The pathogenesis of the aneurysm is discussed. Topics: Adult; Aneurysm; Hemothorax; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Rupture, Spontaneous; Subclavian Artery | 1978 |
Addictive potential of drugs is concern in pain relief.
Topics: Chronic Disease; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Pain; Pain, Intractable | 1978 |
[Pathologic anatomical findings in heroin poisoning].
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Brain Edema; Female; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Pulmonary Edema; Pulmonary Embolism | 1978 |
A study of street heroin lots for the presence of the hepatitis B surface antigen.
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) of subtype ay predominates among narcotic addicts infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Europe, Australia and the United States. However, the ad subtype predominates among the non-addict carriers of HBsAg. We investigated the possibility that heroin lots were contaminated with HBV at a source of opium production, the Middle East, a geographical region where HBsAg/ay predominates in the general population. One hundred and nine lots of street heroin were assayed for HBsAg by radioimmunoassay. None of the lots tested was reproduceably HBsAg positive. These results suggest that the heroin itself is not responsible for the high incidence of HBV infection or for the predominance of HBsAg/ay in the addict population. The predominance of HBsAg/ay among addicts in Europe and Australia as well as the United States might be due to extensive needle sharing among a mobile population of drug abusers, although such worldwide dissemination of one subtype by these means is unlikely. Topics: Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Turkey; United States | 1978 |
[Severe fetal growth retardation by maternal heroin addiction. A casuistic report (author's transl)].
A case of poor intrauterine fetal growth is reported, observed during the pregnancy of a 16 years old heroin addicted primigravida. Near on term she was delivered of an almost mature male liveborn of only 37 cm and 1300 g. Our results of placental function-tests with reference to otherwise reported effects of maternal heroin addiction are discussed. Topics: Adolescent; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Male; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Placenta Diseases; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1978 |
Renal consequences of narcotic abuse.
Heroin addiction is associated with several severe and occasionally fatal renal complications. Acute renal failure consequent to rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria, when treated supportively, carries a good prognosis. Staphylococcal or other bacterial septicemia may in itself prove fatal and is associated with a proliferative immune complex, acute glomerulonephritis, which generally follows the course and prognosis of septicemia. The necrotizing angiitis reported in heroin addicts still is largely undefined. Focal and segmental glomerular sclerosis is the most common pathologic finding in the syndrome of heroin-associated nephropathy (HAN). Typically, HAN presents with massive proteinuria and progresses rapidly to renal failure. Presumptive evidence supports the premise that heroin or its vehicles elicits immunologically mediated renal damage. The antigen still is unidentified. Removing the antigenic challenge by stopping heroin injection apparently interdicts the progression of renal disease. Renal transplantation can be effectively accomplished in patients with HAN without early recurrence if patients discontinue the use of heroin. Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adult; Female; Glomerulonephritis; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Kidney Diseases; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Middle Aged; Myoglobinuria; Polyarteritis Nodosa; Prognosis; Proteinuria; Sepsis; Syndrome; Transplantation, Homologous | 1977 |
[Heroin addiction].
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1977 |
Heroin maintenance.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; United States | 1977 |
Pituitary-gonadal function in heroin addicts.
The present study deals with pituitary-gonadal function in male heroin addicts, 6 patients with schizophrenia and 31 with mild personality disorders. We examined the serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone levels at the moment of hospitalization (at the maximum of heroin addiction), and 48 h and 10 days later. FSH levels were definitely reduced in all the patients and did not change during the period of heroin withdrawal. The LH levels were reduced to a lesser extent, but significantly, and did not change after 10 days of abstinence from the drug. Testosterone levels were very low and increased in the schizophrenics during withdrawal, but not in the other addicts. The possible influence of heroin addiction on catecholamine metabolism in the central nervous system and, therefore, on the hypothalamic releasing factor and pituitary gonadotrophins, and the peripheral effect on testicular function are discussed. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypothalamus; Luteinizing Hormone; Male; Personality Disorders; Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones; Remission, Spontaneous; Schizophrenia; Testosterone; Time Factors | 1977 |
The epidemiology of drug abuse: current issues. Indicators of drug abuse--buys.
Topics: California; Costs and Cost Analysis; Disease Outbreaks; Epidemiologic Methods; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance-Related Disorders | 1977 |
Heroin self-administration is under control of vasopressin.
Topics: Animals; Arginine Vasopressin; Behavior, Animal; Growth Hormone; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immune Sera; Male; Oxytocin; Prolactin; Rats; Self Administration; Vasopressins | 1977 |
Percutaneous heroin injection causing Horner syndrome.
Topics: Adrenergic Fibers; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Horner Syndrome; Humans; Injections | 1977 |
[Morphine intoxication and abstinence].
Topics: Dextropropoxyphene; Drug Tolerance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Naloxone; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1977 |
[Emergency care of heroin intoxication--experiences at Serafimer Hospital].
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Amphetamines; Emergency Medical Services; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Sweden | 1977 |
A musculoskeletal syndrome in intravenous heroin users: association with brown heroin.
During a recent 5-month period, 16 intravenous heroin users were hospitalized with a previously unrecognized complication of drug abuse. The characteristic symptoms were similar in all patients and included fever, paraspinal myalgias, and periarthritis. There was no evidence of bacterial infection, hepatitis, or drug abstinence as the cause of these musculoskeletal symptoms. Continued heroin use was associated with progressive musculoskeletal symptoms, while discontinuation of heroin use resulted in complete recovery. Antibiotics did not affect the outcome, and the syndrome was self-limited in all hospitalized patients. The pathogenesis of this syndrome is unknown but may be related to the heroin, which was described as brown by the patients, or an adulterant. Topics: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Muscular Diseases; Pain; Periarthritis; Spasm; Spondylitis | 1977 |
Epidemiology abuse: epidemiologic and Psychosocial perspectives on heroin maintenance.
Two perspectives on drug abuse have evolved. Epidemiologic approaches treat drug abuse as if it were an infectious disease and deal with it within the framework of host, agent, and environment. Epidemiologists, approaching drug abuse from a public health standpoint, tend to think in terms of supply reduction. Psychosocial approaches focus on the demand aspect of drug abuse. Interest centers on psychological/sociological explanations of drug-taking behavior, such as psychopathology and alienation, and on unintended consequences of supply-reduction strategies. The author proposes that the two models eomplement each other and need to be integrated. A policy of strict supply reduction for nonaddicts coupled with heroin maintenance for addicts is suggested. Such a policy combines epidemiologic emphasis on supply reduction with psychosocial stress on the impractible nature of addiction and the futility of prohibitionlike approaches. Topics: Attitude to Health; Epidemiologic Methods; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Public Health; Social Conditions; United States | 1977 |
Drug addiction in pregnancy.
32 pregnancies in 29 drug-addicted women were studied ouver eight years in one obstetric department working in close liaison with a drug dependency centre. Of the 24 pregnancies which came to term, only 10 were seen at the antenatal clinic before 22 weeks' gestation. 19 of the women were addicted to heroin or methadone or a mixture of both, 4 were taking soft drugs, and 1 was taking pethidine only. Labour commenced spontaneously in 17 pregnancies and was induced in 7. All labours lasted less than twenty hours. 23 infants survived. Those born to the mother taking pethidine and to 4 mothers who withdrew their drug of dependence four weeks before delivery showed no signs of narcotic withdrawal, but 13 out of 14 infants born to mothers taking heroin or methadone developed narcotic withdrawal syndrome. It is recommended that drug therapy during pregnancy in addicts should be supervised by a psychiatrist known to the patient and that oral methadone be substituted for heroin. Planned induction will ensure delivery in hospital, at the hospital which has supervised the pregnancy. Babies in danger of developing narcotic withdrawal syndrome should be observed in the special care baby unit for the first week of life. Topics: Adult; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Labor, Obstetric; London; Methadone; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors | 1976 |
Pulmonary edema of acute overdose reaction and near-drowning: some radiographic and physiologic comparisons.
Both acute overdose reaction and near-drowning may present as pulmonary edema. With both, the heart is usually not enlarged and clearing occurs within 48 hours, unless complicated by infection or aspiration. In near-drowning there is metabolic acidosis, whereas in acute overdose reaction there is combined respiratory and metabolic acidosis. Topics: Adult; Barbiturates; Carbon Dioxide; Cardiomegaly; Dextropropoxyphene; Diagnosis, Differential; Drowning; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Oxygen; Pulmonary Edema; Radiography; Substance-Related Disorders | 1976 |
The social functioning of opiate maintenance clinics in London and New York City.
Topics: Cost-Benefit Analysis; Financing, Government; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; London; Methadone; National Health Programs; New York City; Patient Care Team | 1976 |
Medicinal use of hypodermic needles in an addict patient population.
Narcotic addicts may become so conditioned to the use of hypodermic needles that self-injection without a drug may become pleasurable. This phenomenon has raised the question as to whether addicts in treatment should be administered any medication by hypodermic needle for fear of precipitating withdrawal or inducing a craving for heroin. In this study addicts in treatment were given a medicinal needle challenge but there were no documented deleterious effects. Topics: Conditioning, Operant; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Subcutaneous; Morphine; Needles; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome | 1976 |
Interpersonal behavior in a small group setting during the heroin addiction cycle.
In a study of social interaction during an experimental addiction cycle, male narcotic addicts expressed more hostility after higher doses of heroin. No consistent role variations were observed in dominance, friendliness, or therapeutic-orientation. Topics: Adult; Dominance-Subordination; Group Processes; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hostility; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Middle Aged; Motivation; Motor Activity; Role; Social Isolation; Time Factors; Verbal Behavior | 1976 |
Psychopathology, craving, and mood during heroin acquisition: an experimental study.
Six detoxified addict volunteers were allowed to self-administer intravenous heroin on an essentially self-determined schedule. Two periods of heroin acquisition were compared: an unmodified cycle in which patients could become intoxicated and a later cycle in which the effects of heroin were blocked with a narcotic antagonist. In the unblocked condition, patients initially experienced an increase in positive mood, but with chronic administration there was a significant rise in psychopathology and the development of a generalized dysphoric state. Similar changes did not occur when the same patients took heroin while blocked with a narcotic antagonist. Drug craving rose dramatically when "unblocked" heroin was available, but gradually fell during methadone detoxification. Following treatment with a narcotic antagonist, the presence of heroin failed to elicit any sustained rise in craving and drug taking was dramatically reduced. Topics: Adult; Aggression; Anxiety; Depression; Drive; Emotions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hostility; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Narcotic Antagonists; Psychological Tests; Self-Assessment; Token Economy | 1976 |
Differential effects of maternal heroin and methadone use on birthweight.
An analysis of birthweights of 337 neonates in relation to history of maternal narcotic usage was undertaken. Mean birthweight of infants born to mothers abusing heroin during the pregnancy was 2,490 gm, an effect primarily of intrauterine growth retardation. Low mean birthweight (2,615 gm) was also seen in infants born to mothers who had abused heroin only prior to this pregnancy, and mothers who had used both heroin and methadone during the pregnancy (2,535 gm). Infants born to mothers on methadone maintenance during the pregnancy had significantly higher mean birthweights (2.961 gm), but lower than the control group (3,176 gm). A highly significant relationship was observed between maternal methadone dosage in the first trimester and birthweight, i.e., the higher the dosage, the larger the infant. Heroin causes fetal growth retardation, an effect which may persist beyond the period of addiction. Methadone may promote fetal growth in a dose-related fashion after maternal use of heroin. Topics: Adult; Birth Weight; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ethnicity; Female; Gestational Age; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Small for Gestational Age; Maternal Age; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Methadone; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prenatal Care | 1976 |
Levomethadyl acetate: prolonged duration of opioid effects, including cross tolerance to heroin, in man. 1973 [proceedings].
Topics: Adult; Drug Tolerance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Methadyl Acetate; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors | 1976 |
Psychopathology and mood during heroin use: acute vs chronic effects.
In the context of evaluating the effects of a narcotic antagonist on opiate acquisition, 14 detoxified addicts self-administered increasing doses of unblocked heroin intravenously over a ten-day period. Early in the addiction cycle, subjects experienced tension relief and euphoria but this was followed shortly by a shift in the direction of increasing dysphoria and psychopathology. Nonetheless, individual injections of the drug continued to induce brief episodes of positive mood, an effect enhanced by frequent injection. Heroin self-administration was sharply reduced when subjects were blocked with naltrexone, a narcotic antagonist, and the negative effects observed during unblocked drug use were not observed. Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Chronic Disease; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Emotions; Euphoria; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Morphine; Motor Activity; Naloxone; Naltrexone; Psychopathology | 1976 |
Neuronal depletion in the globus pallidus of heroin addicts.
Decreased neuronal population densities are described in the globus pallidus of narcotic addicts. Toxicologic studies indicate mixed addiction to be frequent, but exposure to parenteral heroin is the only common factor. This permanent brain damage seems more likely to be caused by recurrent episodes of hypoxia during severe reactions to narcotics than to be related to direct neurotoxic effects of heroin. The lesion may account for some of the long term changes observed in addicts. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Depression, Chemical; Globus Pallidus; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neurons; Putamen | 1976 |
Methadone dispensing by community pharmacies.
This study reports 1 year follow-up data of 96 patients who received methadone at selected community pharmacies instead of traditional program dispensaries. Outcomes are comparable to those reported for traditional programs. Security measures were not a problem. The results indicate that most patients can begin methadone maintenance at a pharmacy without a period of stabilization at a program unit. Of several factors studied, arrest record, both preceding and during treatment, based on official police data was the single factor significantly associated with employment and continuation in methadone treatment. Community pharmacy dispensing of methadone is a useful means of operating a methadone treatment program. Topics: Adult; Community Pharmacy Services; Employment; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone | 1976 |
Acute cardiomyopathy with recurrent pulmonary edema and hypotension following heroin overdosage.
An 18-year-old man developed acute pulmonary edema following heroin overdose. Two days after initial improvement, there was recurrence of hypotension and pulmonary edema with severe hypoxemia refractory to mechanical ventilatory support utilizing positive and end-expiratory pressure. Cardiac catheterization revealed elevated pulmonary capillary wedge pressure suggestive of left ventricular failure. The use of digitalis and diuretics resulted in prompt clinical improvement and ultimate recovery. Evidence is presented indicating that this patient represents an uncommon but important syndrome of acute cardiomyopathy with left ventricular failure which complicates the clinical course of certain cases of heroin overdose. Its physiologic diagnosis is of obvious importance in the choice of proper therapy, thereby increasing the patient's chances of recovery. Topics: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Heart Diseases; Heart Failure; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypotension; Male; Pulmonary Edema; Recurrence | 1976 |
Sex roles and street roles.
A proposed typology of the street roles of female addicts was tested through interviews with 62 female addicts. Five role types are identified which are distinct from one another and exhaust the range of roles reported by respondents. A number of limitations to the typology are isolated and discussed. Topics: Crime; Dependency, Psychological; Employment; Female; Gender Identity; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Identification, Psychological; Income; Interview, Psychological; Life Style; Sex Factors; Sex Work; Social Control, Formal | 1976 |
[Anesthesia and resuscitation of a heroin addict].
Topics: Anesthesia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Middle Aged; Resuscitation | 1975 |
EEG findings in heroin addicts during induction and maintenance on methadone.
This study investigated changes in the EEG of addicts initially on heroin as they progressed through the induction and maintenance phases of a methadone program. Spectral analysis of bipolar recordings revealed significant consistent differences only in the eyes-closed resting state. Patients under the influence of heroin showed large sharp peaks at 9-10 c/sec, particularly in the parieto-occipital recording. Methadone induction led either to marked reduction of this peak and widening of alpha band activity or to an increase in frequency of the alpha peak to 12 c/sec. After several months of methadone the alpha peak was still absent unless heroin abuse was present, a theta peak was present in three of four patients, and the alpha bandwidth remained broad. Changes in the theta band were more difficult to interpret. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Alpha Rhythm; Cerebral Cortex; Electroencephalography; Euphoria; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Rest; Theta Rhythm | 1975 |
The clinical usefulness of narcotic antagonists: implications of behavioral research.
Topics: Aftercare; Behavior Therapy; Conditioning, Operant; Cyclazocine; Extinction, Psychological; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Humans; Methadone; Naloxone; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Patient Dropouts; Reinforcement, Psychology; Research Design; Self-Assessment | 1975 |
Personality and behavior patterns of heroin-dependent American servicemen in Thailand.
The authors compared a groups of heroin-dependent American servicemen stationed in Thailand with a matched control groups of men not dependent on heroin. The data gathered regarding social history, attitudes, work record, previous drug use, personality, and intelligence show significant differences between the heroin-dependent men and the control group in four areas: intelligence, work record, number of years of schooling and number of drug used before using heroin. The data suggest that many of the heroin-dependent men had difficulties related to a distant or negative relationship to their fathers; however, in contrast to previous studies of heroin addicts, they do not confirm a relationship between heroin dependence and any particular personality pattern. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Educational Status; Family Characteristics; Father-Child Relations; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Intelligence; Intelligence Tests; Juvenile Delinquency; Male; Military Medicine; MMPI; Personal Satisfaction; Personality; Sexual Behavior; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Social Adjustment; Substance-Related Disorders; Thailand; United States; Urban Population; Work | 1975 |
Mechanism of action of narcotics in the production of menstrual dysfunction in women.
The ability of morphine to block ovulation in animals prompted investigation of the frequency and mechanisms of menstrual abnormalities in women addicted to narcotic analgesics. Menstrual histories obtained from 76 former heroin addicts receiving daily methadone maintenance revealed that more than one-half of these women had experienced menstrual abnormalities while taking heroin or methadone. In order to determine the specific physiologic effects of narcotic analgesics on reproductive function, detailed endocrinologic studies were carried out in seven of these patients who complained of amenorrhea or irregular menses while receiving methadone. Four of the seven women manifested abnormalities of the control of gonadotropin secretion. Three of these four failed to exhibit cyclic gonadotropin release, as evidenced by an absence of increased levels of follicular phase follicle-stimulating hormone, midcycle gonadotropin peaks or luteal phase progesterone increments. In the fourth patient a prolonged follicular phase (30 days) of the menstrual cycle was detected. One of these four patients also had low basal gonadotropin levels and failed to exhibit luteinizing hormone increments greater than control levels in response to ethinyl estradiol (positive feedback). The remaining three women exhibited normal patterns of gonadotropin secretion during the observation period. In these women, menstrual bleeding occurred in response to withdrawal from luteal phase (10 to 20 ng/ml) progesterone levels and to exogenous ethinyl estradiol, suggesting normal uterine responsivity to progesterone and estrogen. Although not documented, it is likely that oligo-ovulation was the cause of the irregular menses in these three patients. Amenorrhea is commonly associated with methadone ingestion or heroin addiction and appears to be related to an alteration of the hypothalamic mechanisms controlling gonadotropin secretion. Tolerance to these effects of methadone may develop after chronic ingestion. Topics: Adult; Amenorrhea; Barbiturates; Central Nervous System; Corpus Luteum; Ethinyl Estradiol; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Gonadotropins; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Humans; Luteinizing Hormone; Menstruation Disturbances; Methadone; Ovulation; Phenothiazines; Pituitary Gland; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Radioimmunoassay; Substance-Related Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires; Uterus | 1975 |
A primer on heroin.
Topics: Costs and Cost Analysis; Crime; Efficiency; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Methadone; Morals; Opium; Papaver; Plants, Medicinal; United Kingdom; United States | 1975 |
High incidence of precipitins in sera of heroin addicts.
We analyzed sera of 50 consecutively hospitalized heroin-abuse patients for precipitins against several antigens. Forty-seven addicts had precipitins against extracts from moldy hay, and 34 against extracts from bagasse. Thirty-six showed precipitin bands against extracts from one or more of the following: Aspergillus, Micropolyspora faeni, and Thermoactinomyces vulgaris. These findings were significantly different from those of a control population (P less than .0001 for all antigens tested). The recent culture identification of bacteria and fungi from street heroin suggests that the addicted population may be injecting antigenic material intravenously, with subsequent antibody formation. Topics: Adult; Antibody Formation; Antigens; Antigens, Bacterial; Antigens, Fungal; Aspergillus; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Immunoelectrophoresis; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Micromonosporaceae; Pneumoconiosis; Precipitin Tests; Precipitins | 1975 |
Treating heroin overdose.
Immediate attention must be given to the respiratory system of the heroin abuser; then he should be given naloxone HCl. Search for evidence of use of additional drugs, which may compound problems. Pulmonary edema, aspiration pneumonia and pulmonary embolization are the most common complications. Infections, particularly endocarditis, and cardiac arrhythmia also occur with heroin overdose. Hepatitis is common. Treatment must include not only attention to the presenting symptoms but also referral to a rehabilitation center when possible. Topics: Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Emergency Service, Hospital; Endocarditis; Female; Genital Diseases, Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Infections; Male; Methadone; Naloxone; Pulmonary Edema; Respiratory Insufficiency | 1975 |
Attitudes toward the sale and use of drugs--a cross-sectional analysis.
Samples of six specific groups (both students and adults) were intensively surveyed on their differential attitudes toward the use and sale of eight drug types. Resulting comparisons between groups, drugs, and attitudes provide a relative picture of the attitudes on drug sale and use held by those surveyed. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Alcoholism; Amphetamine; Attitude; Barbiturates; Cannabis; Cocaine; Drug and Narcotic Control; Faculty; Female; Hallucinogens; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Male; Parents; Smoking; Students; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1975 |
Heroin maintenance and heroin control.
Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Civil Rights; Costs and Cost Analysis; Crime; Drug and Narcotic Control; Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Methadone; Prisons; United Kingdom; United States | 1975 |
Letter: Male-sex-organ function in drug users.
Topics: Alcoholism; Animals; Cannabis; Genitalia, Male; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Spermatogenesis; Substance-Related Disorders; Testosterone | 1975 |
Acute heroin fatalities in San Francisco. Demographic and toxicologic characteristics.
The mortality rate due to heroin overdosage in San Francisco has increased dramatically since 1968 and now stands as one of the highest in the United States. While the numbers of heroin fatalities in many eastern United States cities have declined substantially in the past few years, the figures for San Francisco and the other West Coast areas continue to increase. The group of heroin overdose victims from the 1970 through 1973 period is more predominantly Caucasian and younger than from the 1963 through 1965 period. In nearly all of the victims, the presence of morphine (a heroin metabolite) was noted in bile or urine, and in about half the results of blood alcohol tests were positive. Measurement of blood morphine concentrations in the victims showed no significant difference from the concentrations noted in a control group of heroin addicts dying from causes other than overdosage. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; California; District of Columbia; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Morphine; New York City | 1975 |
Multiple births in drug-addicted women.
Two sets of twins and two sets of triplets were delivered in a group of 126 pregnant drug addicts. The over-all multiple-birth incidence of 1:32 is three times more prevalent than that found in the general population. Three of the four multiple births were dizygotic. The mothers with the dizygotic multiple births were on moderate to elevated levels of heroin or methadone at the time of conception. Mechanisms are presented to help explain why narcotics may cause supraovulation and multiple births. Topics: Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Methadone; Ovulation; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy, Multiple; Triplets; Twins | 1975 |
Six-month follow-up of eosinophil counts in veteran heroin addicts.
Monthly eosinophil counts were taken from 40 patients while they were undergoing narcotic maintenance. The overall results indicate that there was relatively little change in the eosinophil values throughout the six-month period. This hospital found, however, that there was a positive correlation between elevated eosinophil counts and heavy illicit drug use. This seems to indicate a correlation between intravenous drug use and a high eosinophil count. Topics: Adult; Amphetamine; Barbiturates; Eosinophils; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Leukocyte Count; Male; Middle Aged; Military Medicine; Morphine; United States | 1975 |
Guillan-Barré syndrome in heroin addiction.
In two cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (acute polyneuritis) as a complication of narcotic abuse, the onset of paralysis began approximately 4 and 12 hours after self-administration of opiates intravenously. Bulbar and respiratory paralysis developed in one patient and required prolonged ventilation therapy; the other patient had peripheral muscular and unilateral facial weakness, with notable pleocytosis was present in both. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Agglutinins; Cerebrospinal Fluid; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Lymphocytes; Male; Muscular Diseases; Polyradiculopathy; Respiration, Artificial; Respiratory Paralysis; Respiratory Tract Diseases | 1975 |
Opiate use in London.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; Amphetamine; Cocaine; Drug Prescriptions; Family Characteristics; Female; Hallucinogens; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; London; Male; Methadone; Prospective Studies; Substance-Related Disorders | 1975 |
Editorial: A new "heroin epidemic"?
Topics: Disease Outbreaks; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; New York City | 1975 |
A clinical tool with heroin addicts: the urine stall.
Detection of illicit drug use by means of urine analysis has become a standard procedure in the treatment of drug addicts. Withholding urine is a way in which an addict can compromise the effectiveness of urine analysis. This behavior can be a form of acting out and should not be interpreted in a superficial manner. An attempt should be made to explore the latent psychological material it may represent. Topics: Acting Out; Adult; Anxiety; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Urine | 1975 |
Effects of heroin and methadone on plasma cortisol and testosterone.
Narcotic addicts self-administered heroin intravenously for 10 days under controlled research ward conditions and were subsequently detoxified with methadone for 7 days. Plasma testosterone levels decreased signifcantly when heroin dosage was between 45 and 65 mg/day contrasted to predrug base-line levels. Testosterone levels remained depressed during methadone withdrawal. No statistically significant changes in a.m. plasma cortisol levels were observed during both heroin acquisition and methadone withdrawal. Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Male; Methadone; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Testosterone; Time Factors | 1975 |
Follow-up of a representative sample of heroin addicts.
The 3.5 year follow-up status of a representative sample of addicts prescribed heroin at London Treatment Centres was ascertained using Home Office records. Fifty-six percent were still receiving opiates from Clinics with 39% still receiving heroin. Six percent were dead, 2% were in prison, while 34% were not know to be using drugs or to be institutionalized. Outcome was significantly related to age with the older sample members being more likely to be prescribed opiates and less likely to be classified as "Off" drugs. This result is in contrast to American reports and is possibly indicative of a perpetuation of dependency encouraged by current treatment methods. Outcome was further partially related to a typology of life styles formulated from date from the original samplw with those who were the most Stable in 1969 being more likely to receive heroin on prescription in 1973, and those classed as Loners and Two-Worlders in the original survey being the most likely to be classed al "Off" drugs by the Home Office. Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Crime; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Life Style; Male; Methadone; Social Adjustment; Social Isolation | 1975 |
The metabolism of morphine and heroin in man.
Topics: Adult; Biotransformation; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant; Molecular Conformation; Morphine | 1975 |
The resurgence of heroin abuse in the District of Columbia.
Prospectively collected drug abuse trend surveillance data suggest that the rate of heroin use in Washington, D.C. is rising following a two year decline in the magnitude of this problem. Supportive data include increased potency of street level heroin, increased numbers of heroin-related deaths, increased detection of heroin positive urine specimens in the D.C. Superior Court arrestee population, increased demand for addiction treatment services and rising property crime rates. Increased prevalence of heroin use has not yet been associated with an increase in incidence, suggesting that former heroin users have begun to use once again following a period of abstinence. Analysis of heroin specimens seized across the United States suggests that cities formerly dependant upon European (white) heroin have now developed a new heroin distribution system which supplies Mexican (brown) heroin. This has offset the reduction in heroin use observed during 1972-1973 concomitant with the East Coast heroin shortage and widespread introduction of addiction treatment services. Topics: Adult; Criminal Psychology; District of Columbia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Mexico; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Prisoners; Prospective Studies | 1975 |
Immunologic abnormalities in heroin addiction.
Topics: Adult; Agglutinins; Antibodies; Antibodies, Antinuclear; Bacteria; Blood Proteins; False Positive Reactions; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Hepatitis B Antigens; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Latex Fixation Tests; Liver Function Tests; Male; Neutrophils; Syphilis Serodiagnosis; Treponema pallidum | 1974 |
Comparison of the Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory and Mini-Mult with drug users.
Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; MMPI; Personality Assessment; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors | 1974 |
Amphetamines in the District of Columbia. III. Stimulant abuse in narcotics addicts in treatment, with an emphasis on phenmetrazine.
Topics: Adult; Barbiturates; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Community Health Services; Demography; District of Columbia; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Methadone; Phenmetrazine; Substance-Related Disorders | 1974 |
Detection of dependence-producing drugs in body fluids. Report of a WHO Meeting of Investigators.
Topics: Amphetamine; Barbiturates; Body Fluids; Chromatography; Chromatography, Paper; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Hallucinogens; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Immunoassay; Immunologic Techniques; International Cooperation; Methadone; Narcotics; Psychotropic Drugs; Spectrophotometry; Substance-Related Disorders; Tranquilizing Agents; World Health Organization | 1974 |
Microbiologic study of street heroin and injection paraphernalia.
Topics: Aspergillus; Bacillus; Bacteria; Clostridium perfringens; Drug Contamination; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Escherichia coli; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections; Needles; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus; Syringes | 1974 |
Heroin-overdose deaths in Atlanta. An epidemic.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Autopsy; Black People; Disease Outbreaks; Drug Contamination; Drug Packaging; Female; Georgia; Health Surveys; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Needles; Sex Factors; White People | 1974 |
Letter: Heroin deaths.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Pulmonary Edema | 1974 |
Editorial: Heroin deaths--mystery or overdose?
Topics: Death, Sudden; Drug Contamination; Drug Tolerance; Ethanol; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Time Factors | 1974 |
Surveillance of heroin-related deaths in Atlanta, 1971 to 1973.
Topics: Drug Contamination; Drug Tolerance; Georgia; Health Surveys; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous | 1974 |
Changing patterns of multiple drug use among applicants to a multimodality drug treatment program.
Topics: Amphetamine; Attitude of Health Personnel; Barbiturates; Cannabis; Cocaine; Community Mental Health Services; Connecticut; Drug and Narcotic Control; Hallucinogens; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Substance-Related Disorders; Therapeutic Community | 1974 |
Reliability of interview data concerning current heroin use from heroin addicts on methadone.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Ambulatory Care; Ethnicity; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interview, Psychological; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Self Concept; Self Disclosure; Sex Factors | 1974 |
British opiate users: II. Differences between those given an opiate script and those not given one.
Topics: Age Factors; Attitude; Attitude to Health; Drug and Narcotic Control; Drug Prescriptions; Employment; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Malingering; Methadone; Opium; Personality; Sex Factors; Substance-Related Disorders; United Kingdom | 1974 |
Experiences with a combination of group therapy and methadone maintenance in the treatment of heroin addiction.
Topics: Allied Health Personnel; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Motivation; Patient Dropouts; Psychotherapy, Group | 1974 |
Pharmacological adjuncts in the treatment of opiate dependence.
Topics: Cyclazocine; Cyclopropanes; Drug Evaluation; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Morphine Derivatives; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Opium; Pain; Pupil; Respiration; Sleep; Substance-Related Disorders | 1974 |
Heroin addiction and pregnancy.
Topics: Apgar Score; Birth Weight; Breech Presentation; Chlorpromazine; Delivery, Obstetric; Female; Fetal Death; Hepatitis; Hernia, Inguinal; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant Mortality; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Infant, Premature; Jaundice, Neonatal; Menstruation Disturbances; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prenatal Care; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; United States | 1974 |
An epidemiologic assessment of heroin use.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Communicable Diseases; Demography; Disease Outbreaks; Disease Reservoirs; Disease Vectors; District of Columbia; Epidemiologic Methods; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Social Problems; United States | 1974 |
Changes in heroin self-administration by a rhesus monkey after morphine immunisation.
Topics: Animals; Antibody Formation; Antigen-Antibody Reactions; Antigens; Cocaine; Conditioning, Operant; Extinction, Psychological; Freund's Adjuvant; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunization; Immunoglobulin G; Macaca; Morphine; Serum Albumin | 1974 |
Heroin addiction.
Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Electrocardiography; Female; Fetal Diseases; Fetus; Heart Diseases; Hepatitis A; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Injections, Intramuscular; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Lung Diseases; Male; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Methods; Neurologic Manifestations; Pneumonia, Aspiration; Pregnancy; Pulmonary Edema; Pulmonary Embolism; Respiratory Insufficiency; Skin Diseases | 1974 |
Surgical sequelae of drug abuse.
Topics: Abscess; Aneurysm, Infected; Arteritis; Arthritis; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Drainage; Endocarditis; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Hand; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intra-Arterial; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Lung Diseases; Myositis; Narcotics; Pancreatitis; Phlebitis; Substance-Related Disorders; Surgical Procedures, Operative | 1974 |
Opiate "overdose" deaths in the District of Columbia. I. Heroin-related fatalities.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Death, Sudden; District of Columbia; Drug Synergism; Drug Tolerance; Ethanol; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male | 1974 |
Mycotic aneurysm of the carotid artery.
Topics: Adult; Aneurysm, Infected; Brachiocephalic Trunk; Carotid Arteries; Carotid Artery, Internal; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Ligation; Male; Middle Aged; Radiography; Wounds, Gunshot | 1974 |
Biological false positive serological tests for syphilis among drug addicts.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Electrophoresis; False Positive Reactions; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Hemagglutination Tests; Hepatitis B Antigens; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; Substance-Related Disorders; Syphilis Serodiagnosis; Treponema pallidum | 1974 |
Letter: Psychologic vs. pharmacologic heroin dependence.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Life Style; Psychology | 1974 |
The lungs and drug abuse.
Topics: Adult; Bronchography; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Granuloma; Heart Valve Diseases; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Injections, Intravenous; Lung; Lung Diseases; Male; Narcotics; Pulmonary Edema; Respiratory Tract Infections; Sepsis; Substance-Related Disorders; Syringes; Talc; Tricuspid Valve; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary | 1974 |
Eosinophilia in veteran heroin addicts.
Topics: Adult; Eosinophilia; Eosinophils; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Leukocyte Count; Male; Middle Aged; Military Medicine; Time Factors | 1974 |
Hyperimmunoglobulinemia in heroin addiction: some epidemiologic observations, including some possible effects of route of administration and multiple drug abuse.
Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Amphetamine; Antigens; Arizona; Barbiturates; Cocaine; District of Columbia; Female; Hawaii; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypergammaglobulinemia; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; New York City | 1974 |
Letter: Etiology of heroin-associated nephropathy.
Topics: Animals; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Kidney; Kidney Diseases; Mice | 1974 |
Heroin maintenance clinics. A discussion of the U.S. addiction treatment and the "British System".
Topics: Community Health Services; Drug Prescriptions; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; London; Methadone; United Kingdom; United States | 1974 |
Drug associations as a measure of habit strength for specific drugs.
Topics: Adult; Amphetamine; Association; Barbiturates; Cannabis; Culture; Ethanol; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Morphine; Personality Inventory; Verbal Behavior; Word Association Tests | 1974 |
Drug use by U.S. Army enlisted men in Vietnam: a follow-up on their return home.
Topics: Adult; Amphetamine; Barbiturates; Cannabis; Educational Status; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Military Medicine; Narcotics; Opium; Phytotherapy; Prognosis; Smoking; Substance-Related Disorders; United States; Vietnam | 1974 |
Heroin addiction trends.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Community Health Services; Disease Outbreaks; District of Columbia; Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Jurisprudence; Methadone; Prisons; Seasons; Social Control, Formal; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1974 |
Transaminase abnormalities in intravenous users, smokers and sniffers of heroin.
Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adolescent; Adult; Alanine Transaminase; Cannabis; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Liver; Male; Military Medicine; Smoking; United States; Vietnam | 1974 |
Studies of EN-1639A (naltrexone): a new narcotic antagonist.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Cyclazocine; Cyclopropanes; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Headache; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Morphinans; Narcotic Antagonists; Reflex, Pupillary; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors | 1974 |
Adverse reactions to heroin use.
Topics: Abscess; Adolescent; Adult; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Chromosomes; Endocarditis; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Liver; Lung Diseases; Male; Methadone; Nephrotic Syndrome; Nervous System Diseases; Osteomyelitis | 1974 |
Heroin induced rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure: a case report.
Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Myoglobinuria; Paralysis | 1974 |
Letter: Bacteria cultured from heroin paraphernalia.
Topics: Bacteria; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Needles; Syringes | 1974 |
Born with a habit. Infants of drug-addicted mothers.
Topics: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; Adult; Age Factors; Barbiturates; Camphor; Chlorpromazine; Codeine; Diazepam; Female; Fetus; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Maternal Age; Methadone; Opium; Phenobarbital; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders | 1974 |
Differences in family characteristics of heroin injectors and inhalers.
Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adolescent; Adult; Educational Status; Ethnicity; Family Characteristics; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Military Personnel; Occupations; Parent-Child Relations; Prognosis; Racial Groups; Smoking; Socioeconomic Factors; United States; Vietnam | 1974 |
Validity of screening methods for drugs of abuse in biological fluids. II. Heroin in plasma and saliva.
Topics: Adult; Dextromethorphan; False Positive Reactions; Free Radicals; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunoassay; Malate Dehydrogenase; Male; Methods; Morphine; Radioimmunoassay; Saliva; Time Factors; Tritium | 1974 |
A follow-up study of female narcotic addicts: variables related to outcome.
Topics: Barbiturates; England; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Homosexuality; Humans; Methadone; Narcotics; Sepsis; Social Behavior; Substance-Related Disorders | 1974 |
Editorial: A case for heroin maintenance.
Topics: Costs and Cost Analysis; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Jurisprudence; Legislation, Drug; Methadone; Turkey; United Kingdom; United States | 1974 |
Galactorrhea-amenorrhea syndrome associated with heroin addiction.
Topics: Adult; Amenorrhea; Depression, Chemical; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Lactation Disorders; Pituitary Neoplasms; Pregnancy; Puerperal Disorders | 1974 |
Assessment of pupil size during acute heroin withdrawal in Viet Nam.
Topics: Adult; Circadian Rhythm; Constriction; Dilatation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Pupil; Reflex, Pupillary; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; United States; Vietnam | 1974 |
Heroin neuropathy.
Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Chronic blood-loss due to self-injection.
Topics: Adult; Anemia, Hypochromic; Chronic Disease; Female; Hemorrhage; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intra-Arterial; Injections, Intravenous; Methods | 1973 |
Letter: Unusual cardiac and neurological reactions to narcotics.
Topics: Adult; Brain; Cocaine; Demyelinating Diseases; Electrocardiography; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infarction; Male; Morphine; Myelitis; Myelitis, Transverse; Myocardial Infarction; Paralysis; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Personality characteristics of servicemen returned from Viet Nam identified as heroin abusers.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Mental Disorders; Military Psychiatry; MMPI; Personality; Substance-Related Disorders; United States; Vietnam; Warfare | 1973 |
A theoretical note on personality characteristics of heroin addicts.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; MMPI; Personality; Prisoners; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Some comments about the personality comparison of incarcerated and street heroin addicts.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; MMPI; Personality; Prisoners; Prisons; Social Behavior | 1973 |
A clinical evaluation of 81 heroin addicts in Vietnam.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Military Medicine; Morphine Dependence; Psychoses, Substance-Induced; Vietnam | 1973 |
Sternoarticular septic arthritis in heroin users.
Topics: Abscess; Adult; Arthritis, Infectious; Blood; Cartilage; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Knee Joint; Male; Osteomyelitis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Radiography; Ribs; Staphylococcus; Sternoclavicular Joint; Sternum; Substance-Related Disorders; Suppuration | 1973 |
Development of tolerance to street heroin in addicted and nonaddicted primates.
Topics: Animals; Blood Gas Analysis; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Contamination; Drug Tolerance; Habituation, Psychophysiologic; Haplorhini; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Papio; Respiratory Function Tests; Seizures; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors | 1973 |
Immunoglobulin alterations associated with heroin addiction.
Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Immunoglobulins; Liver Diseases; Liver Function Tests; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis in heroin addicts.
The diagnosis of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis was made in seven narcotic addicts between 1967 and 1972. Vertebrae involved were either cervical or lumbar. Bacteriologic diagnosis was made in each case by percutaneous needle biopsy and aspiration. Staphylococcus aureus was cultured in two patients. Five patients had infections due to Gram-negative bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter. All patients were cured by treatment with antibiotics and immobilization. Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Bacteria; Bacterial Infections; Biopsy, Needle; California; Cervical Vertebrae; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Lumbar Vertebrae; Male; Osteomyelitis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Radiography; Staphylococcal Infections; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Phoenix House. Changes in psychopathological signs of resident drug addicts.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anxiety; Criminal Psychology; Depression; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hostility; Humans; Internal-External Control; Male; Middle Aged; MMPI; Personality; Psychological Tests; Psychotic Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Therapeutic Community; Voluntary Health Agencies | 1973 |
Incarcerated and street heroin addicts: a personality comparison.
Topics: Adult; Criminal Psychology; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; MMPI; Personality; Prisoners; Prisons; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Heroin addiction: a treatable disease.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Analgesics; California; Community Health Services; Counseling; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Methadone; Social Problems; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Jaundice and coma in heroin addiction.
Topics: Adult; Coma; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Jaundice; Male; Sepsis; Staphylococcal Infections; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Treatment of heroin addiction. Multimodality approach.
Topics: Counseling; Cyclazocine; Day Care, Medical; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; New York City; Pregnancy; Substance-Related Disorders; Therapeutic Community | 1973 |
Skin complications of heroin addiction. Bullous impetigo.
Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Impetigo; Male; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Methadone and opiate addiction again.
Topics: Acetates; Child; Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; New Zealand; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1973 |
Estimation of the number of narcotic addicts in an urban area.
Topics: District of Columbia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methods; Statistics as Topic; Substance-Related Disorders; Urban Population | 1973 |
Misuse of heroin and methadone in the city of Oxford.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; England; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Models, Biological; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Favorable experience with bacterial endocarditis in heroin addicts.
Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Enterobacteriaceae Infections; Female; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Hemiplegia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Pseudomonas Infections; Pulmonary Embolism; Respiratory Insufficiency; Splenomegaly; Staphylococcal Infections; Streptococcal Infections; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Heroin-associated infective endocarditis. A report of 28 cases.
Topics: Adult; Candida; Candidiasis; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Female; Haemophilus Infections; Haemophilus influenzae; Heart Failure; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Neurologic Manifestations; Panophthalmitis; Skin Manifestations; Splenomegaly; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
A pilot study of occasional heroin users.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anxiety; Attitude to Health; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Intelligence Tests; Interpersonal Relations; Interview, Psychological; Male; Motivation; Personality; Personality Inventory; Pilot Projects; Projective Techniques; Self Medication; Social Behavior; Social Class; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Hypermacroglobulinemia associated with heroin use in adolescents.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Antibody Specificity; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Female; Hepatitis B Antigens; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immune Sera; Immunodiffusion; Immunoelectrophoresis; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin D; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Male; Precipitin Tests; Rabbits; Substance-Related Disorders; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia | 1973 |
The heroin ulcer. New addition to the differential diagnosis of ulcers of the penis.
Topics: Adult; Ampicillin; Diagnosis, Differential; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Penile Diseases; Skin Ulcer; Staphylococcal Infections; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Methadone programs.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1973 |
What's happening in hard-drug rehabilitation?
Topics: Behavior; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Morphine; Narcotic Antagonists; Psychotherapy; Reinforcement, Psychology; Substance-Related Disorders; Therapeutic Community; United States | 1973 |
The children of drug users.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Child Development; Child Welfare; Child, Preschool; Family; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1973 |
Heroin addiction in an adolescent population.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Family; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Communicable-disease theory of heroin addiction.
Topics: Communicable Diseases; Epidemiologic Methods; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Shall we allow heroin maintenance?
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Methadone; Substance-Related Disorders; United Kingdom; United States | 1973 |
Containing heroin abuse.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1973 |
The scope of illicit drug use in a Vietnam combat unit.
Topics: Adult; Attitude; Cannabis; Crime; Educational Status; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Intelligence; Male; Military Medicine; Substance-Related Disorders; United States; Vietnam | 1973 |
Heroin addiction in the suburbs--an epidemiologic study.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Costs and Cost Analysis; Employment; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Michigan; Peer Group; Residence Characteristics; Socioeconomic Factors; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Treatment of chemical dependency of the morphine type.
Topics: Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Morphine Dependence; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Heroin addiction: its relation to sexual behavior and sexual experience.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Ejaculation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Libido; Male; Middle Aged; Orgasm; Reinforcement, Psychology; Sexual Behavior; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
The new methadone regulations.
Topics: Community Pharmacy Services; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Methadone; Pain; Pharmacy Service, Hospital; Substance-Related Disorders; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration | 1973 |
Bronchiectasis following heroin overdose. A report of two cases.
Topics: Adult; Bronchiectasis; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypoxia; Inhalation; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Male; Radiography; Respiratory Function Tests; Respiratory Insufficiency; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Acute toxic drug ingestions at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. 1963 through 1970.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Barbiturates; Female; Glutethimide; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Iron; Male; Maryland; Middle Aged; Poisoning; Salicylates; Substance-Related Disorders; Suicide | 1973 |
Alcoholism among methadone patients: a specific treatment method.
Topics: Alcohol Drinking; Alcoholism; Disulfiram; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitalization; Humans; Methadone; Reinforcement, Psychology; Social Adjustment; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Self-destructive aspects of hard core addiction.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Attitude; Black or African American; Death; Depression; District of Columbia; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interview, Psychological; Male; Methadone; Personality Inventory; Racial Groups; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; Suicide; Violence | 1973 |
What we're learning about methadone and some other addiction programs.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Methods; Parent-Child Relations; Psychoses, Substance-Induced; Socioeconomic Factors; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1973 |
Nonepidemic features of heroin addiction.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Drug-induced pulmonary disease.
Topics: Emergencies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Nalorphine; Naloxone; Pulmonary Edema; Respiratory Insufficiency; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Surgical implications of some types of drug dependence.
Topics: Adult; Barbiturates; Female; Foreign Bodies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections; Injections, Intra-Articular; Injections, Intramuscular; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Ischemia; Male; Muscles; Opium; Phlebography; Substance-Related Disorders; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Thrombophlebitis | 1973 |
Use of alcohol by addict and nonaddict populations.
Topics: Alcohol Drinking; Alcoholic Beverages; Alcoholism; Counseling; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Sex Factors; Social Adjustment; Social Behavior; Social Control, Formal; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
The relationship between background and extent of heroin use.
Topics: Criminal Psychology; Family; Florida; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Interview, Psychological; Jurisprudence; Male; Occupations; Personality; Probability; Social Adjustment; Substance-Related Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires | 1973 |
Patterns, range and effects of misused psychotropic substances in North America today.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Alcoholism; Amphetamine; Cannabis; Child; Drug and Narcotic Control; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; Male; Solvents; Substance-Related Disorders; Tranquilizing Agents; United States | 1973 |
Low birth weight of infants associated with maternal heroin use: New York City, 1966-67 and 1970-71.
Topics: Adult; Birth Weight; Black or African American; Ethnicity; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Illegitimacy; Infant, Newborn; Maternal Age; New York City; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Puerto Rico; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Heroin addiction--an epidemic disease.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Jurisprudence; Methadone; New York City; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Methadone in the Southwest: a three-year follow-up of Chicano heroin addicts.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Alcoholism; Child; Criminal Psychology; Ethnicity; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Life Style; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; New Mexico; Prisons; Social Adjustment; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Diagnostic confusion from lymphatic lesions in heroin addicts.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Biopsy; Diagnosis, Differential; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Lymphadenitis; Lymphatic Diseases; Male; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Heroin maintenance clinics.
Topics: Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Research; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1973 |
The soldier addict: a new battlefield casualty.
Topics: Achievement; Adult; Family; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Juvenile Delinquency; Male; Military Psychiatry; Personality Disorders; Prognosis; Social Adjustment; Social Class; Substance-Related Disorders; United States; Vietnam; Warfare | 1973 |
Group therapy in a methadone treatment program: an evaluation of changes in interpersonal behavior.
Topics: Adult; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Methadone; Personality Inventory; Psychoanalytic Theory; Psychotherapy, Group; Sensitivity Training Groups; Student Health Services; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Methadone maintenance: the effect of knowledge of dosage.
Topics: Attitude; Communication; Competitive Behavior; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Physician-Patient Relations; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires | 1973 |
Absence of morphine-binding activity in serum from heroin addicts.
Topics: Binding Sites, Antibody; Blood Proteins; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Morphine; Nephrotic Syndrome; Protein Binding; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Heroin and crime.
Topics: Crime; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1973 |
Treating today's heroin user.
Topics: Drug Tolerance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Methadone; Nalorphine; Opium; Rehabilitation Centers; Socioenvironmental Therapy; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1973 |
An improved detoxification technique for heroin addicts.
Topics: Ambulatory Care; Counseling; Day Care, Medical; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Internal-External Control; Methadone; Methods; Psychotherapy, Group; Self Medication; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Bone scanning in the drug abuse patient: early detection of hematogenous osteomyelitis.
Topics: Adult; Female; Fluorine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Lumbar Vertebrae; Male; Middle Aged; Osteomyelitis; Radioisotopes; Radionuclide Imaging; Sacroiliac Joint; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
The dynamics of a heroin addiction epidemic.
Topics: Age Factors; Crime; District of Columbia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Rhabdomyolysis and acute myoglobinuric renal failure following heroin use.
Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adult; Biopsy, Needle; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Muscles; Muscular Diseases; Myoglobinuria; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Changing medical complications of illicit drug use.
Topics: Endocarditis, Bacterial; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naloxone; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; Tetanus | 1973 |
Are methadone withdrawal patients overprotected?
Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Prisoners; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Engaging heroin addicts in treatment.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Allied Health Personnel; Appointments and Schedules; Attitude of Health Personnel; Emergency Service, Hospital; Employment; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitals, General; Humans; Male; Marriage; Methadone; Middle Aged; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Personnel, Hospital; Professional-Patient Relations; Psychiatric Department, Hospital; Remission, Spontaneous; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
"Quality of street heroin".
Topics: Chromatography, Thin Layer; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Pennsylvania; Quinine | 1973 |
Methadone maintenance programs.
Topics: Anxiety; Crime; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation as Topic; Methadone; Motivation; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors; United States | 1973 |
Effect of heroin on corticosteroid production in pregnant addicts and their fetuses.
Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Birth Weight; Blood; Delivery, Obstetric; Female; Fetus; Gestational Age; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Labor, Obstetric; Methadone; Pregnancy; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors; Twins; Umbilical Cord | 1973 |
When "the people" take over a hospital.
Topics: Civil Disorders; Community Participation; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Hospitals, Community; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Methadone; Organization and Administration; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Heroin induction of lung maturation and growth retardation in fetal rabbits.
Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Embryonic and Fetal Development; Female; Fetal Diseases; Fetus; Growth Disorders; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intramuscular; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Injections, Intravenous; Lung; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Rabbits | 1973 |
Coming to grips with an urban heroin addiction epidemic.
Topics: Adolescent; Ambulatory Care; District of Columbia; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Prisoners; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
A heroin maintenance program in the United States?
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Black or African American; Black People; Cannabis; Crime; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Male; Methadone; Methods; Middle Aged; Opium; Sex Factors; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; United Kingdom; United States; White People | 1973 |
Medical safety and side effects of methadone in tolerant individuals.
Topics: Adult; Alkaline Phosphatase; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Blood Proteins; Drug Tolerance; Ethnicity; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Liver Function Tests; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; New York City; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors; Transaminases | 1973 |
The heroin crisis among US forces in Southeast Asia. An overview.
Topics: Adult; Asia, Southeastern; Environmental Exposure; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Military Medicine; Military Personnel; Motivation; Peer Group; Social Adjustment; Stress, Physiological; Stress, Psychological; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; United States; Warfare | 1973 |
Heroin epidemics.
Topics: Chicago; Crime; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Housing; Humans; Minority Groups; Poverty; Social Problems; Socioeconomic Factors; Substance-Related Disorders; Urban Population | 1973 |
The "British system" of heroin maintenance.
Topics: Crime; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Methods; Substance-Related Disorders; United Kingdom; United States | 1973 |
Nathan Smith Davis.
Topics: Alcoholism; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Liver Diseases; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Epidemic patters of drug abuse.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Socioeconomic Factors; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1973 |
The politics of methadone treatment.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Counseling; Ethnicity; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Male; Methadone; Michigan; Psychosocial Deprivation; Quality of Health Care; Rehabilitation Centers; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration | 1973 |
Regional lung-function abnormalities in narcotic addicts.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Half-Life; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Lung; Male; Microspheres; Radionuclide Imaging; Substance-Related Disorders; Technetium; Time Factors; Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio; Vital Capacity; Xenon | 1973 |
Methadone maintenance, pregnancy, and progeny.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Apgar Score; Birth Weight; Female; Fetal Death; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Methadone; New York City; Obstetric Labor, Premature; Parity; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prognosis; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Nontraumatic plexitis and heroin addiction.
Topics: Adult; Black People; Brachial Plexus; Electrodiagnosis; Electromyography; Evoked Potentials; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Lumbosacral Plexus; Male; Motor Neurons; Muscular Diseases; Neural Conduction; Neuritis; New York City; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors | 1973 |
Levomethadyl acetate. Prolonged duration of opioid effects, including cross tolerance to heroin, in man.
Topics: Acetates; Administration, Oral; Adult; Amino Alcohols; Delayed-Action Preparations; Dimethylamines; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Tolerance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; Pupil; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors | 1973 |
Morphine concentrations and survival periods in acute heroin fatalities.
Topics: Autopsy; Death, Sudden; Ethanol; Half-Life; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Lung; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Poisoning; Time Factors | 1973 |
Pseudoheroinism.
Topics: Abscess; Chronic Disease; Criminal Psychology; Drug and Narcotic Control; Drug Contamination; Ethics, Medical; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Quinine; Skin Diseases; Terminology as Topic; United States | 1973 |
The use of methadone in a representative group of heroin addicts.
Topics: Adult; Amphetamine; Attitude; Barbiturates; Criminal Psychology; Drug Evaluation; Employment; Ethnicity; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; New York City; Quinine; Social Control, Formal; Social Welfare; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Letter: Street heroin in Washington, D. C.
Topics: District of Columbia; Economics; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans | 1973 |
Female narcotic addicts: a follow-up study of criminal and addiction careers.
A sample of 66 female narcotic addicts first examined in prison in 1967-8 was followed-up four years later. At the end of the period of follow-up 36% were off narcotics, 32% were still addicted, and 15% had died. Altogether 62% committed further offences. Drug offences and offences against property were almost equally frequent and accounted for over two-thirds of all convictions. There was no evidence of a link between prostitution and narcotic addiction. A significant association was found between continued delinquency and continued addiction during the period of follow-up. Addiction career and criminal career coincided in over three-quarters of the subjects, who tended either to continue manifesting both forms of deviant behaviour (46%) or to relinquish both (30%). The findings are in keeping with the view that narcotic addiction and crime are not causally related but may be parallel effects of common underlying factors leading to social deviance. Topics: Crime; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Sex Work; Social Behavior Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; United Kingdom; Violence | 1973 |
A free clinic approach to drug abuse.
Topics: Adolescent; Alcoholism; Amphetamine; California; Cannabis; Child; Community Health Services; Emergencies; Heart Massage; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; Narcotic Antagonists; Respiration, Artificial; Scopolamine; Social Conformity; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
The myth of international control: American foreign policy and the heroin traffic.
Topics: Criminal Psychology; Drug and Narcotic Control; Financing, Government; Government Agencies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; International Cooperation; Legislation, Drug; Politics; Social Control, Formal; United States | 1973 |
[Editorial: The newborn infant of the drug-addicted mothers].
Topics: Adult; Birth Weight; Depression; Female; Fetal Diseases; Fetus; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hyperbilirubinemia; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Microsomes, Liver; Narcotics; Pregnancy; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Political vs. public attitudes toward treating heroin addicts.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Attitude; Capital Punishment; Communicable Disease Control; Crime; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Jurisprudence; Legislation, Medical; Male; Middle Aged; New York; Politics; Public Opinion; Punishment; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1973 |
[Drug dependence. 1. Definition, narcotic agent, mode of action and hazards].
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Amphetamine; Cannabis; Chronic Disease; Cocaine; Condiments; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; Male; Opium; Psychopharmacology; Smoking; Solvents; Substance-Related Disorders; Tranquilizing Agents | 1973 |
Heroin metabolism in the rat.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Carbon Radioisotopes; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Kidney; Kinetics; Liver; Male; Rats; Time Factors; Tritium | 1973 |
Acute opiate overdose: a preliminary report on mechanisms of death.
Topics: Administration, Oral; District of Columbia; Drug Synergism; Drug Tolerance; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Methadone; Narcotics; Opium; Quinine; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
Clinical experiences with narcotic antagonists: cyclazocine and naloxone.
Topics: Cyclazocine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Naloxone; Psychotic Disorders | 1973 |
The decline of heroin addiction in the District of Columbia.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Crime; District of Columbia; Drug and Narcotic Control; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone | 1973 |
Problems of mixed addictions on a detoxification unit.
Topics: Community Health Services; Drug Tolerance; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Massachusetts; Methadone; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
The heroin and barbiturate epidemics in Boston.
Topics: Barbiturates; Boston; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance-Related Disorders | 1973 |
A heroin addiction scale revisited.
Topics: Alcoholism; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methods; MMPI; Psychometrics; Statistics as Topic; Substance-Related Disorders | 1972 |
[Detection of diamorphine (heroin) and its metabolites in the addict's urine].
Topics: Chromatography, Gas; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methods; Organometallic Compounds; Silicon Dioxide; Substance-Related Disorders | 1972 |
Methadone in a 30-day detoxification program for narcotic addicts: a critical review.
Topics: Aftercare; Counseling; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Social Work; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors; Washington | 1972 |
Detoxification of multiple-drug abusers with sodium amytal.
Topics: Amobarbital; Barbiturates; Ethanol; Ethchlorvynol; Glutethimide; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance-Related Disorders | 1972 |
Slow detoxification in heroin addiction. Combined use of methadone and psychotherapy.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Psychotherapy; Substance-Related Disorders | 1972 |
The heroin-marijuana relationship: a basic aspect of drug management.
Topics: Adolescent; Cannabis; Drug Tolerance; Euphoria; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance-Related Disorders | 1972 |
Ethical and social-psychological aspects of urinalysis to detect heroin use.
Topics: Attitude; Drug and Narcotic Control; Ethics; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1972 |
Social characteristics of addiction to heroin.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Parent-Child Relations; Personality Disorders; Social Environment; Socioeconomic Factors; Substance-Related Disorders; Work | 1972 |
Renal lesions in heroin addicts. A study based on kidney biopsies.
Topics: Adult; Basement Membrane; Biopsy, Needle; Blood Pressure; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Hepatitis B Antigens; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Kidney; Kidney Diseases; Microscopy, Electron; Middle Aged; Proteinuria; Substance-Related Disorders | 1972 |
The socioeconomics of heroin dependency.
Topics: Adult; Costs and Cost Analysis; Crime; Drug and Narcotic Control; Economics; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Legislation, Drug; New York City; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1972 |
A behavioural-pharmacological treatment of dually addicted patients.
Topics: Adult; Alcoholism; Behavior Therapy; Disulfiram; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Substance-Related Disorders | 1972 |
[Heroin epidemic in United States].
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Substance-Related Disorders; United States | 1972 |
Maintenance treatment of narcotic addicts (not British nor a system, but working now).
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Black or African American; Black People; Crime; Employment; Ethnicity; Family Characteristics; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Income; London; Male; Marriage; Methadone; Methamphetamine; Middle Aged; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Social Class; Social Conformity; Substance-Related Disorders; United Kingdom | 1972 |
Patterns of behavior of heroin addicts.
Topics: Adult; Employment; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Income; Life Style; London; Male; Methadone; Parent-Child Relations; Personality; Residence Characteristics; Sex Factors; Social Behavior; Social Isolation; Statistics as Topic; Substance-Related Disorders | 1972 |
Methadone fatalities in heroin addicts.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Alcoholism; Female; Geography; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; Weather | 1972 |
Methadone substitution.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Methadone; Substance-Related Disorders | 1972 |
Heroin maintenance?
Topics: Cocaine; England; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Social Environment; Substance-Related Disorders | 1972 |
The pregnant narcotic addict: a psychiatrist's impression.
Topics: Amenorrhea; Child Abuse; Child Rearing; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Libido; Physician-Patient Relations; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Psychiatry; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders | 1972 |
Drug addiction and the newborn.
Topics: Birth Weight; Child Development; Child Welfare; Chlorpromazine; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders | 1972 |
Heroin-induced pulmonary edema: a case report.
Topics: Adult; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Military Medicine; Pulmonary Edema; Substance-Related Disorders | 1971 |
A study of some failures in methadone treatment.
Topics: Adult; Alcohol Drinking; Criminal Psychology; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Jurisprudence; Male; Methadone; Middle Aged; Remission, Spontaneous; Social Adjustment; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders | 1971 |
HEROIN ADDICTION.
Topics: England; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Substance-Related Disorders; Toxicology | 1964 |
MENSTRUAL ABNORMALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH HEROIN ADDICTION.
Topics: Amphetamine; Amphetamines; Barbiturates; Biomedical Research; Bromides; Cannabis; Codeine; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Menstruation Disturbances; Meperidine; Morphine; Pituitary Gland; Substance-Related Disorders; Toxicology | 1964 |
Obstetric and gynecologic aspects of heroin addiction.
Topics: Female; Fertility; Fetus; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Research; Substance-Related Disorders | 1962 |
Chronic hepatic dysfunction in heroin addicts. Possible relation to carrier state of viral hepatitis.
Topics: Carrier State; Hepatitis A; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Liver Diseases; Substance-Related Disorders | 1960 |
Homologous serum hepatitis in youthful heroin users.
Topics: Hepatitis B; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Jaundice; Substance-Related Disorders | 1960 |
Womb fantasies in heroin addiction: a Rorschach study.
Topics: Fantasy; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Rorschach Test; Substance-Related Disorders; Uterus | 1960 |
Transmission of serum hepatitis in heroin addicts.
Topics: Hepatitis B; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Jaundice; Medical Records; Substance-Related Disorders | 1959 |
Medical management of acute withdrawal symptoms in juvenile male and female heroin addicts; a preliminary report.
Topics: Adolescent; Female; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders | 1958 |
Heroin addiction among pregnant women and their newborn babies.
Topics: Female; Fetus; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Obstetric Labor Complications; Pregnancy; Substance-Related Disorders | 1958 |
Viral hepatitis: multiple attacks in a narcotic addict.
Topics: Hepatitis A; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Narcotics; Substance-Related Disorders | 1956 |
Heroin addiction in a male adolescent; complications during psychotherapy.
Topics: Adolescent; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Psychotherapy | 1956 |
Tetanus in heroin addicts.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance-Related Disorders; Tetanus; Tetanus Toxoid | 1955 |
DOING without heroin.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance-Related Disorders | 1955 |
[Manifestations and treatment of morphine and heroin addiction].
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Morphine; Morphine Dependence; Substance-Related Disorders | 1955 |
A social and psychiatric study of adolescent opiate addicts.
Topics: Adolescent; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Substance-Related Disorders | 1954 |
Heroin addiction among young men.
Topics: Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Psychology; Substance-Related Disorders | 1954 |
Heroin addiction in adolescent boys.
Topics: Adolescent; Heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male | 1951 |