Follow-Up Study of Crack Cocaine Users: Situation of the Patients After 2, 5, and 12 Years

OBJECTIVE: The study accompanied 131 crack-cocaine users over a 5-year period, and examined mortality patterns, as well as the causes of death among them. METHOD: All patients admitted to a detoxification unit in Sao Paulo between 1992 and 1994 were interviewed during two follow-up periods: 1995-1996 and 1998-1999. RESULTS: After 5 years, 124 patients were localized (95%). By the study endpoint (1999), 23 patients (17.6%) had died. Homicide was the most prevalent cause of death (n = 13). Almost one third of the deaths were due to the HIV infection, especially among those with a history of intravenous drug use. Less than 10% died from overdose. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that the mortality risk among crack cocaine users is greater than that seen in the general population, being homicide and AIDS the most common causes of death among such individuals.

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Tactile Contact as a Marketing Tool for Improving an HIV/STD Education Program’s Compliance / Retention with Crack Cocaine Users

Psychology and Mental Health Care ◽

10.31579/2637-8892/067 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 01-06

Author(s):

Ralph Jay Johnson

Keyword(s):

Crack Cocaine ◽

Future Research ◽

Booster Session ◽

Promotional Effect ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Public Setting ◽

Cocaine Users ◽

Marketing Tool ◽

Study Participants

Background: This research brief reports results from an exploratory pilot study on the use of socially acceptable touch in a public setting that accompanies a request to improve program compliance with “street level” crack cocaine users. Methods: Study participants consisted of 120 crack cocaine-using participants in a larger community-based HIV/STD prevention and research program targeting at-risk African-Americans. They were required to return for a series of four booster health education sessions over 2-5 days and 6 month and 1 year follow-up assessments. The most difficult aspect of this program was no-shows for the second booster session; study participants who attended at least two sessions were much more likely to attend all sessions and complete the entire lengthy program. The program director randomly approached some participants after the first visit in a public setting and briefly touched them as part of a handshake; then, the director asked them to return for their follow-up sessions. Whether they were approached or not was random. Analysis comprised descriptive and non-parametric statistics. Results: Ninety-three percent of participants who were asked to return and were touched returned for the second session; only 75% returned who had been asked to do so but were not touched. A statistically significant difference favored being touched and complying, as measured by second-session returning participants (p < .01), though it appeared the touch / request had more of a preventive than a promotional effect. Extraneous demographic and background factors were ruled out with the exception of age (older participants), which contributed slightly. Conclusions: Results suggest that a request “anchored” to a socially acceptable public touch is promising in terms of improving program participation and engagement. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.

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Ten Years of Cocaine: A Follow-up Study of 64 Cocaine Users in Amsterdam

Contemporary Drug Problems ◽

10.1177/009145099502200113 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 163-168

Author(s):

David F. Duncan

Keyword(s):

Follow Up Study ◽

Cocaine Users

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Electron Microscopy of Human Gallstones

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100065523 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

pp. 296-297

Author(s):

C. Wolpers ◽

R. Blaschke

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Room Temperature ◽

Bile Pigment ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

Triclinic Crystal System ◽

X Ray ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

Infra Red ◽

Main Components

Scanning microscopy was used to study the surface of human gallstones and the surface of fractures. The specimens were obtained by operation, washed with water, dried at room temperature and shadowcasted with carbon and aluminum. Most of the specimens belong to patients from a series of X-ray follow-up study, examined during the last twenty years. So it was possible to evaluate approximately the age of these gallstones and to get information on the intensity of growing and solving.Cholesterol, a group of bile pigment substances and different salts of calcium, are the main components of human gallstones. By X-ray diffraction technique, infra-red spectroscopy and by chemical analysis it was demonstrated that all three components can be found in any gallstone. In the presence of water cholesterol crystallizes in pane-like plates of the triclinic crystal system.

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