PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Substance Abuse Detection”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Feasibility of prescribing injectable heroin and methadone to opiate-dependent drug users: associated health gains and harm reductions.

OBJECTIVE: 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. DESIGN: A protocol-driven prospective observational study. Type of injectable opiate received was based on self-selection. SETTING: A large west London drug clinic. PATIENTS: 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. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Fatal intravenous misuse of transdermal fentanyl.

The introduction of a transdermal delivery system for fentanyl means that it is now more readily available. We present the first documented fatality after intravenous injection of the contents of a transdermal fentanyl patch. Prescribers need to be aware of the potential for misuse of fentanyl patches.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed2001

[Prevalence of cannabis and tobacco use in patients attending a methadone center. Evaluation by urinary biomarkers].

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cannabis and tobacco use in a population attending a Methadone Center. METHODS: We studied 49 patients over a 3-month period. Urine samples were obtained at three different times from each patient for analysis. We measured urinary cannabinoids using an immunopolarization assay to identify cannabinoid use. Cotinine concentrations were quantified in urine using a colorimetric assay to assess total urinary nicotine metabolites. RESULTS: The prevalence of cannabis use was high in this population. Urinary cannabinoids were present in 63% of the samples. Similarly 90% had high-urinary cotinine concentrations. CONCLUSION: Measurement of urinary biomarkers showed that tobacco and cannabis use was high among patients attending a Methadone Center.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Outpatient treatment entry and health care utilization after a combined medical/substance abuse intervention for hospitalized medical patients.

CONTEXT: Drug-abusing patients utilize extensive amounts of health services resources, yet the acute medical hospitalization has typically not been used effectively to engage patients in substance abuse treatment. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of an integrated substance abuse/acute medical care day hospital (DH) intervention. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective, consecutive chart review of patients referred to a day hospital program from the medicine service at an urban tertiary care teaching hospital. From the referral cohort, a comparison group receiving usual care was identified. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred twenty adult medicine inpatients with active substance abuse and self-identified motivation to enter treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outpatient substance abuse treatment entry and post-intervention health services utilization. RESULTS: Following DH treatment, 50.6% entered further outpatient substance abuse treatment (vs 2.4% comparison patients; P <.001). There was a significant increase in ambulatory medical visits for DH patients (pre-6 month 0.49 vs post-6 month 3.46; P <.001), greater than the change noted for comparison patients. However, there was no difference noted in pre-post hospitalization or emergency department utilization following the DH intervention. CONCLUSIONS: A DH program for substance abusing hospitalized medicine patients that introduces substance abuse treatment during treatment for an acute medical illness does appear to improve outpatient substance abuse treatment entry and ambulatory care utilization after hospital discharge.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

Telltale signs.

Educate your staff to identify and document the behavioral, physical, and performance-related signs of drug and alcohol dependency. Then help your dependent employee and her peers deal with the problem and move on.

Humans↗
PubMed2004

Potential benefits of quetiapine in the treatment of substance dependence disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Some antipsychotic medications prescribed for the treatment of psychoses, mood disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder in patients with coexisting substance dependence disorders (SDD) have reduced substance dependence. We studied the potential benefits of quetiapine in the treatment of SDD. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of data for 9 patients who were admitted to a 28-day residential rehabilitation program designed for individuals with SDD during a 3-month period from January 2003 through March 2003 and treated with quetiapine for nonpsychotic anxiety. These patients also met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, criteria for alcohol, cocaine and/or methamphetamine dependence and substance-induced anxiety disorder. The patients were assessed using the Hamilton-D Rating Scale for Depression (Ham-D), a 10-point Likert scale to measure alcohol or drug cravings, and random Breathalyzer and urine drug screens. RESULTS: Quetiapine was generally well tolerated. Only 1 of the 9 patients stopped taking the medication because of increased anxiety. Other patients reported improvement in sleep and anxiety. The mean decrease in Ham-D score at discharge for the responders was 18.5 (p < 0.005). The biggest decreases on the Ham-D occurred on the subscales of insomnia, agitation, somatic anxiety, psychologic anxiety, hypochondriasis and obsessional symptoms. The mean decrease in the Likert 10-point craving scale was 5.9 for the responders (p < 0.005). These patients' periodic Breathalyzer and urine test results suggested that they remained abstinent from alcohol and other drug use. CONCLUSION: Quetiapine was beneficial in the treatment of SDD in patients with nonpsychotic anxiety.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Pacific healthcare workers and their treatment interventions for Pacific clients with alcohol and drug issues in New Zealand.

AIM: To provide an overview of the treatment interventions and practices of Pacific alcohol and other drugs (AOD) services in New Zealand. METHODS: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 31 Pacific staff members from 13 services registered with the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand National Directory. Issues around assessment, treatment interventions, outcome measures, service structure, and resources were explored. RESULTS: Overall, the practices in District Health Board (DHB) and Non-Government Organisation (NGO) Pacific services were found to be similar. The clinical concepts of assessment, treatment, and outcome measures were not clearly understood by Pacific workers. This was due to the lack of attention towards Pacific concepts and practices and values. A holistic approach was viewed to be the best approach when working with Pacific clients based on health belief models, such as the Fonofale model. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study provide baseline data of treatment interventions and service practices of Pacific AOD services. There appears to be a Pacific way of working with Pacific clients. The most effective worker for Pacific people is someone who has sound knowledge of AOD, Pacific cultures and processes, and has the ability to integrate both Palangi (European) and Pacific knowledge to help the client.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Patients with pain and addiction: what's a doctor to do?

Significant improvements in the evaluation and treatment of pain have led to more prescribing of and increased pressure to prescribe a variety of potentially addictive drugs to patients who are suffering from acute and chronic pain. Although these drugs serve an important purpose, they present risks to patients who are in recovery from addiction, are currently addicted, or have a family history of addiction. This article presents an overview of the concerns physicians face when treating such patients and outlines strategies for safely using these drugs.

Alcoholism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pharmaco-clinical aspects of methadone. Literature review of its importance in treatment of substance dependence].

In order to assess the initial hypotheses of Dole, who set the objectives of methadone maintenance in 1966, this article reviews all research findings available in the field. The side-effects of methadone appear rather infrequent with few long lasting effects. The selection of a dose sufficiently high to block opiat receptors seems make the patient little or not sensitive to heroin intake whereas treatment compliance seems to be dose-related until a plateau of about 120 mg/day. All studies show a dramatic decrease in heroin intake. In contrast, a change in the drug use profile toward an increase in alcoholism and cocaine intake appears in certain subjects. Regarding AIDS, results seem less clear, showing a global decrease in intravenous use as behavior at risk but providing apparently not a total protection unless complete discontinuation. The decrease in antisocial behavior appears clearly, interpreted as a decrease in the economic pressure on the consumer. As a consequence of these results, an assistance in social rehabilitation appears more effective. Whereas the literature regarding withdrawal clearly shows the usefulness of the technique regarding the duration and the persistence of withdrawal symptoms, it remains very blurred regarding long-term results. The average age (about 30 years) and the average duration of drug abuse (about 10 years) of the patients included in those studies lead to the conclusion that only a marginal part of the total population is taken in charge, meaning that these techniques will never be solutions to a problem of society but only individual therapies. This article also raises the problem of the passionate climate associated with these issues--with negative consequences regarding objectivity--and the methodological limitations found in too many studies on this topic.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗
PubMed1994

[Methadone substitution treatment. Results of an evaluation of 3 years implementation in an Austrian province].

Methadone maintenance treatment was introduced in Austria in 1987. The organisation of a methadone maintenance program in Upper Austria is described and the results of a follow up study 3 years after start of the program are presented. As positive effects of methadone treatment could be found an increase of time in work, a decrease of delinquency and a good compliance of HIV-positive patients with monitoring and treatment of their infection. Statistical correlations between social items and different outcome criteria are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Substance misuse in the young.

Many young people experiment with alcohol and drugs and a small minority meet the criteria for substance dependency. Yet substance misuse may be overlooked in children presenting with behavioural problems, difficulties at school and associated poor academic performance. This article considers the implications for management and prevention.

Adolescent↗