scholarly journals Early age of onset of drug use in Paraguayan children and adolescents: a public health challenge

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-107
Author(s):  
Julio Torales ◽  
Israel González ◽  
João Castaldelli-Maia ◽  
Marcela Waisman ◽  
Antonio Ventriglio
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Age Of Onset ◽  
Social Adaptation ◽  
Early Age ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Illegal Drugs ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Salud Mental ◽  
Uso De Sustancias

La edad de inicio del consumo de drogas legales e ilegales es una variable crucial en el campo de la salud mental. Permite a clínicos y a investigadores de todo el mundo intentar predecir el riesgo vital de trastornos por uso de sustancias, enfermedad mental y adaptación social, y a diseñar estrategias de prevención e intervenciones precoces para hacer frente a estas entidades. El uso de drogas legales o ilegales durante la infancia y la adolescencia ha sido asociado a un vasto rango de malos resultados por distintos autores. El efecto del uso de sustancias al parecer incluye no sólo resultados relacionados con la salud, sino que posee también implicancias sociales negativas a largo plazo que afectan el sustento de los individuos. El inicio temprano del uso de drogas legales e ilegales es una epidemia social en Paraguay (Sudamérica). En este breve artículo, nuestro objetivo es presentar los pocos estudios realizados en el país que muestran una edad extremadamente temprana de inicio del consumo de drogas y proporcionar algunos argumentos sobre por qué estos datos deberían ser motivo de preocupación para los responsables de la formulación de políticas en el país. Palabras clave: Edad de inicio; Uso de drogas; Niños; Adolescentes. ABSTRACT The age of onset of legal and illegal drugs use is a crucial variable in the mental health field. It enables clinicians and researchers across the world to try to predict the lifetime risk of substance use disorders, mental illness and social adaptation, and to tailor prevention strategies and early interventions to address these entities. The use of legal or illegal drugs during childhood and adolescence has been linked to a vast range of bad outcomes by different authors. The effect of substance use seems to include not only health-related issues, but it also has long-term negative social implications that affect the livelihood of the individuals. Early initiation of legal and illegal drug use is a social epidemic in Paraguay (South America). In this brief piece, we aim to present the few studies done in the country showing an extremely early age of onset of drug use and to provide some arguments for why this data should be of concern for policy makers in the country. Keywords: Age of onset; Drug use; Children; Adolescents.

scholarly journals Oral health-related quality of life among a group of patients with substance use disorders in rehabilitation treatment: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed Amiri ◽  
Hajar Shekarchizadeh
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorder ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Caries Experience ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Abstract Background Little is known about the effect of illicit drugs on oral health-related quality of life. Our aim was to investigate oral health-related quality among patients with substance use disorder, and its association with dental caries experience and drug use profile. Methods Applying a stratified cluster random sampling method, we conducted a cross-sectional study on 267 in-treatment patients with substance use disorder in Isfahan, Iran in 2016. Self-administered questionnaires requested participants’ demographics and drug use profile. A trained dental student carried out personal interviews utilizing Oral Impact on Daily Performance (OIDP) instrument. Clinical examinations were conducted to record dental caries experience. T-test, ANOVA, pearson and spearman correlation coefficient, and linear regression model served for statistical analysis (p < 0.05). Results A great majority of the participants reported past use of opium (85%) followed by heroin (42.7%) and amphetamines (20.2%). The most common routes of drug administration were combined routes (44.6%) followed by smoking (36.7%). The mean score of OIDP was 22.4 ± 8.6. As high as 74.1% of the participants reported at least one OIDP impact. The most prevalent OIDP impact was “difficulty eating” (64.8%). The most prevalent cause of the impacts were “dental decay” and “tooth loss”. No significant association revealed between OIDP and patients’ demographics and drug use profile (p > 0.05). Participants with higher caries experience, reported greater OIDP (p < 0.05). Conclusions There is an oral impact on the daily performance of patients with substance use disorder. Patients with higher caries experience reported greater OIDP. Thus, in addition to normative assessment of oral health, clinicians should consider the patients' self-reported oral problems, and the social and mental aspects of oral conditions.

scholarly journals Oral health-related quality of life among a group of patients with substance use disorders in rehabilitation treatment: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed Amiri ◽  
Hajar Shekarchizadeh
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Caries Experience ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Abstract Background Little is known about the effect of illicit drugs on oral health-related quality of life. Our aim was to investigate oral health-related quality among patients with substance use disorders, and its association with dental caries experience and drug use profile. Methods Applying a stratified cluster random sampling method, we conducted a cross-sectional study on 267 in-treatment patients with substance use disorders in Isfahan, Iran in 2016. Self-administered questionnaires requested participants’ demographics and drug use profile. A trained dental student carried out personal interviews utilizing Oral Impact on Daily Performance (OIDP) instrument. Clinical examinations were conducted to record dental caries experience. T test, ANOVA, pearson and spearman correlation coefficient, and linear regression model served for statistical analysis (p < 0.05). Results A great majority of the participants reported past use of opium (85%) followed by heroin (42.7%) and amphetamines (20.2%). The most common routes of drug administration were combined routes (44.6%) followed by smoking (36.7%). The mean score of OIDP was 22.4 ± 8.6. As high as 74.1% of the participants reported at least one OIDP impact. The most prevalent OIDP impact was “difficulty eating” (64.8%). The most prevalent cause of the impacts were “dental decay” and “tooth loss”. No significant association revealed between OIDP and patients’ demographics and drug use profile (p > 0.05). Participants with higher caries experience, reported greater OIDP (p < 0.05). Conclusions There is an oral impact on the daily performance of patients with substance use disorders. Patients with higher caries experience reported greater OIDP. Thus, in addition to normative assessment of oral health, clinicians should consider the patients’ self-reported oral problems, and the social and mental aspects of oral conditions.

Substance Use Portrayal in Oscar-nominated Movies

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia ◽  
Felipe Gil ◽  
Antonio Ventriglio ◽  
Julio Torales ◽  
Ligia Florio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Progressive Increase ◽  
Media Content ◽  
Media Content Analysis ◽  
Monitoring Drug ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Multiple Drugs ◽  
Gender Convergence

Background: As one of the forms of media and art most consumed in the world, Oscar-nominated movies should have their drug use representation monitored because of possibly influencing but also reflecting society’s behavior. Objective: To investigate drug use representation in scenes from movies nominated for the Academy Awards (Oscar) from 2008-2011, through media content analysis. Methods: 437 scenes from Oscar-nominated movies (best film, best actor and best actress categories) showing drug consumption and/or its effects were assessed. Each drug represented and identified in a given scene (i.e., drug use incident) was counted as a unit for the present study (n = 515). Survey settings were used to control for over- or under-estimation of the prevalence of a variable in a given year or movie. Results: All the Oscar-nominated movies portrayed at least one scene of drug use. There was a massive predominance of alcohol and tobacco in movies, with a high use among men who also use drugs, habitually or occasionally, but related to stress/tension, predominantly at home. However, there was a significant progressive increase in the use of drugs other than alcohol and tobacco, multiple drugs, and by women. Conclusion: These findings echo epidemiological studies on substance use in western countries, an overall trend towards greater home drug use representation and gender convergence since 1970, which increased since 2000. Monitoring drug use representation in Oscar-nominated movies may represent an important public health tool.

Does the Presence of On-Site Medical Services at Outdoor Music Festivals Affect Attendees’ Planned Alcohol and Recreational Drug Use?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Alison Hutton ◽  
Matthew Brendan Munn ◽  
Sydney White ◽  
Peter Kara ◽  
Jamie Ranse
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Recreational Drug ◽  
Recreational Drugs ◽  
Mandatory Requirement ◽  
Recreational Drug Use

Abstract Background: Dedicated on-site medical services have long been recommended to improve health outcomes at mass-gathering events (MGEs). In many countries, they are being reviewed as a mandatory requirement. While it is known that perceptions of risk shape substance use plans amongst outdoor music festival (OMF) attendees, it is unclear if attendees perceive the presence of on-site medical services as a part of the safety net. The aim of this paper is to better understand whether attendees’ perceptions of on-site medical services influence high-risk behaviors like alcohol and recreational drug use at OMFs. Method: A questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of attendees entering and attending two separate 20,000-person OMFs; one in Canada (Festival A) and one in New Zealand (Festival B). Responses focused on demographics, planned alcohol and recreational drug use, perceptions of medical services, and whether the absence of medical services would impact attendees’ planned substance use. Results: A total of 851 (587 and 264 attendees for Festival A and Festival B, respectively) attendees consented and participated. Gender distribution was equal and average ages were 23 to 25. At Festival A, 48% and 89% planned to use alcohol and recreational drugs, respectively, whereas at Festival B, it was 92% and 44%. A great majority were aware and supportive of the presence of medical services at both festivals, and a moderate number considered them a factor in attendance and something they would not attend without. There was significant (>10%) agreement (range 11%-46%; or 2,200-9,200 attendees for a 20,000-person festival) at both festivals that the absence of medical services would affect attendees’ planned use of alcohol and recreational drugs. Conclusions: This study found that attendees surveyed at two geographically and musically distinct OMFs had high but differing rates of planned alcohol and recreational drug use, and that the presence of on-site medical services may impact attendees’ perceptions of substance use risk. Future research will aim to address the limitations of this study to clarify these findings and their implications.

scholarly journals Familial dilated cardiomyopathy with RBM20 mutation in an Indian patient: a case report

2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumi Das ◽  
Sandeep Seth
Keyword(s):  
Ejection Fraction ◽  
Dilated Cardiomyopathy ◽  
Age Of Onset ◽  
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Left Ventricular Ejection ◽  
Early Age ◽  
Indian Patient ◽  
Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽  
First Case

Abstract Background Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease of the heart muscle characterized by ventricular dilation and a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 40%. Unlike hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), DCM-causing mutations are present in a large number of genes. In the present study, we report a case of the early age of onset of DCM associated with a pathogenic variant in the RBM20 gene in a patient from India. Case presentation A 19-year-old Indian male diagnosed with DCM was suggested for heart transplantation. His ECG showed LBBB and echocardiography showed an ejection fraction of 14%. He had a sudden cardiac death. A detailed family history revealed it to be a case of familial DCM. Genetic screening identified the c.1900C>T variant in the RBM20 gene which led to a missense variant of amino acid 634 (p.Arg634Trp). Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, the variant p.Arg634Trp has been earlier reported in the Western population, but this is the first case of p.Arg634Trp in an Indian patient. The variant has been reported to be pathogenic at an early age of onset; therefore, close clinical follow-up should be done for the family members caring for the variant.

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