Drug use among non-students in three countries

This paper reports a study of drug use among non-students in three countries: Mexico, Canada and India. In all three countries core items from a World Health Organization questionnaire were used. The results were generally consistent with the expectation that non-students would show greater use than students. The strongest relationship was found for cannabis (all three countries) and amphetamines (Canada and Mexico). The results indicate the need for special preventive programmes for non-students in both developing and developed countries.

Prevalence of primary T-wave changes in young men and their relationship to psychological and anthropometric data

The T wave in leads II, V4, and V6 in the electrocardiograms of 1,401 consecutively entering 18-year-old male conscripts at a military processing center in 1975 were classified, and the relationship between the frequency of the T-wave changes relative to the psychosocial and medical data of the subjects was examined. One percent of the conscripts had a negative T in one or more of these leads, and twelve percent showed some deviation from the "normal T," usually a T wave of less than ten percent of the R-wave amplitude. A common finding was the presence of a "notch" in the T wave of lad V4 (a negative deflection in the middle of a positive T wave). Those with T-wave changes showed the same incidence of signs and history of heart disease as those with a normal T. However, those with an abnormal T showed higher heart rate and systolic blood pressure at rest. Further, they had more nervous symptoms and a higher consumption of alcohol and tranquilizers. These findings were as common in the larger group of flat T waves as in the smaller group with T-wave changes of the type normally attributed to organic heart disease (i.e., having notched, or more or less inverted T waves without ST depression). The maximal work capacity and vital capacity were slightly lower in subjects with abnormal T waves. However, this was fully explained by lesser height. It is suggested that in the majority of these cases, T-wave changes in young adults are due to increased sympathetic tone rather than to organic heart disease.

The drug-use patterns of helping-profession students in Brisbane, Australia

A survey of 1691 first-and final-year students in the helping professions (medicine, law, nursing, pharmacy, police science, seminary, social work/ psychology, and teaching) as to their use of drugs was carried out during February to April, 1980, in Brisbane, Australia. The results indicated that about 86% drank coffee or tea, 85% drank alcohol, 85% used non-prescription analgesics, 31% used tobacco, 25% antihistamines, 9% marijuana, 9% sedatives, 6% tranquilizers, 2% hallucinogens, 2% stimulants, 1% cocaine and 1% used opiates at least once a year. Of these students, females used analgesics and antihistamines significantly more frequently than males and consumed more caffeine, tobacco and analgesics than males, while males drank significantly more alcohol than females. Final-year students used more alcohol, coffee or tea and tobacco, and used marijuana, coffee and tea and tobacco significantly more frequently than first-year students. Individuals who did not consider religion important used more alcohol and tobacco and used marijuana, tobacco and hallucinogens more frequently compared to individuals who considered religion to be important. There was also a significant difference in drug usage between the different courses of study for most of the substances, with law students using the majority of substances the most frequently and seminarians the least frequently.

Local anesthesia for ophthalmic surgery: patient preparation and management

Many ophthalmic procedures are performed in elderly patients who have serious concurrent disease. Local anesthesia with sedation can be a safe, advantageous method of management. Uneventful ophthalmic surgery under local anesthesia depends on proper patient selection, preparation, and perioperative management. Patients should understand the procedures and be cooperative. Preparation includes a through medical evaluation. Medical problems must be stable and appropriately managed. The goal of premedication is to have a calm, cooperative patient. Narcotic and an antiemetic sedative such as either promethazine, hydroxyzine, or droperidol should be given according to age and weight. A benzodiazepine may be added for amnesia and anxiolytic effect. Naloxone or physostigmine are available to specificity reverse the effects of narcotics or benzodiazepines, respectively. Awareness of the toxicity and limitations of local anesthetics is important for their safe use.

Drugs on a medical campus. II. Drug use among faculty members

One hundred out of a total of 207 members of the faculty of Medical College, Patiala, selected by a process of random sampling were covered in the present survey. They were divided into two groups--the senior consultants and the junior doctors. The lifetime prevalence rate for drug use was 78.9 per cent, and the commonest drugs used were alcohol and tranquilizers, followed by sedatives, stimulants, tobacco and cannabis. However, current use as shown by the 30-day prevalence rate showed that only three drugs--alcohol, tobacco and tranquilizers--are commonly used. More of the senior doctors were single-drug users (44 per cent) compared to only 20 per cent among the junior doctors, who experimented with a larger variety of drugs and took them more frequently than the seniors. Enquiry into the reasons for drug use revealed further differences between the two groups; a majority of the senior physicians stated that they took drugs to help them obtain relief from their tensions, whereas among the younger group a considerable number took them for thrills or out of curiosity. A majority of the physicians felt they would continue to use alcohol, tobacco and tranquilizers in the future, whereas they would not take cannabis, opium or narcotics.

[Tranquilizing effect of n-dipropylacetate and other GABA-ergic substances in conflict situations]

Effect of n-dipropyl acetate (n-DPA), amino oxyacetic acid (AOAA), pantogam and piracetam on rat behaviour was studied under conflict situation. n-DPA, AOAA and piracetam increased significantly the main index of the tranquilizing action, that is the number of water intakes from the drinking bowl, supported by electric stimulation. This effect was most pronounced in n-DPA. Bicuculline and corasol almost completely eliminated the tranquilizing effect of n-DPA, while this effect was abolished by caffeine only by 50%.

[Effect of mebikar on the state of animals under extreme conditions]

A new original tranquilizer mebicar exerts a protective action on some parameters of body function under the influence of extreme conditions (stress, hypoxia). Antihypoxic effect of the drug manifests within a wide dosage range (100-1000 mg/kg) and compares favourably with the effect of sodium hydroxybutyrate. Mebicar does not affect the muscle tone, movement coordination or working capacity of the animals. It is suggested that the normalizing action of mebicar as tranquilizer and antihypoxic agent may be related to its involvement in metabolism.

[Tranquilizing activity of adamantane derivatives]

It was established in experiments on mice and rats carried out according to conventional procedures that 13 adamantane derivatives have a greater tranquilizing activity than amantadine, 3-bromadamantoyl-1 diazomethane exerting a stronger effect than trioxazin. Two adamantane derivatives were found to have an anticonvulsant activity.

Extent and patterns of drug abuse among children in Malaysia

A field survey, based on a representative sample of children aged 12 to 16 years was carried out in three different areas of Malaysia. The data derived from the study have revealed that 10.5 per cent of them used drugs for non-medical reasons. Drug use was more common among boys (11.9 per cent) than girls (8.6 per cent). The highest frequency of drug was found in the youngest group--12-year-old children (13.5 per cent). The use of barbiturate and/or non-barbiturate sedatives (5.5 per cent) ranked first. This was followed in descending order by tranquillizers (4.5 per cent), simultants/amphetamines (3.9 per cent), heroin (3.6 per cent), morphine and/or opium (3.9 per cent), the hallucinogens (3.1 per cent) and cannabis (2.7 per cent).

Drug-related suicide: a DAWN profile

Drug-related suicides and suicide attempts/gestures account for a relatively large percentage of the drug-involved cases seen by hospital emergency rooms and medical examiners. While tranquilizer involvement characterizes the largest subgroup of suicide cases in the emergency room, barbiturate involvement is most frequently true of suicide cases seen by medical examiners. However, in both settings the suicides tend to be older and to include relatively more females and fewer Blacks than the nonsuicides.

A recent trend of drug dependence in Kurume district (southern Japan)

With the intention of grasping the trend of drug dependence in recent years, a comparative study was made of the relative prevalence of three different types of drug dependence, i.e., the sociopathic, neurotic and iatrogenic types, in each of the three postwar decades among patients seen at the neuropsychiatric clinic of Kurume University. As a result it was found that the recent trend of drug dependence has the following features: (1) multiplicity of drugs involved, (2) a continuing high incidence of the iatrogenic types, (3) resurgence of the sociopathic type, making the recent pattern of drug dependence similar to that prevailing in postwar years, and (4) prevalence of dependence or abuse among the younger generation. Consideration was also given to the sociopathologic significance of these recent features of drug dependence.

Emergency room admissions for acute drug reactions in a VA hospital

To determine the extent to which veterans used a VA Emergency Room (ER) for the treatment of acute drug reactions, the ER log of a VA Hospital was examined to ascertain the number of drug-related visits during the past 24 months. The low base rate suggests that veterans do not rely on a VA ER for the treatment of acute drug reactions and that proper medical supervision and medication management is maintained in the majority of cases. Those who did utilize a VA ER appear to be young (age range 25 to 34), used legally prescribed drugs in combination with alcohol or tranquilizers, and were often suicidal. More attention to the crisis state precipitated by the acute drug reaction is recommended.

Use of calcitonin in psychotic agitation or mania

Synthetic salmon calcitonin was administered subcutaneously to 12 inpatients with several primary psychotic diagnoses. Increases in serum total calcium and inorganic phosphorus levels and decreases in CSF calcium level had earlier been observed during periodic psychotic agitation or mania. By contrast, calcitonin, which decreased serum calcium and phosphorus levels and increased CSF calcium level, appeared to produce transient (24-hour) increases in depression and decreases in arousal in this double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Quantitative activity monitoring confirmed the rater's impression that this agent had tranquilizing or depressant effects in such patients. When given in the evening, this polypeptide also appeared to delay sleep onset, as demonstrated both by nurses' 30-minute sleep checks and by the same longitudinal activity record. A decreased hypocalcemic response to calcitonin was noted in the agitated patients, which might explain the increases in serum calcium level described at the "switch".

[Micromethod of preparing and purifying labeled 4-methyl-5-beta-hydroxyethylthiazole]

A micromethod is developed for production and purification of small amounts (50-60 microgram) of 35S-4-methyl-5beta-hydroxyethyl thiazole(hemineurine)--a neurotropic agent, which is promising for treatment of delirium tremens. 35S-hemineurine was obtained as follows: sulfite separation of it from pyrimidine residues and other reagents py paper electrophoresis and the subsequent elution of labelled 4-methyl-5beta-hydroxyethyl thiazole from electrophoregramms. The purity of the preparation obtained was controlled by chromatographic, chemical and spectrophotometric analysis (using pure unlabelled preparation).

Adults' drug use: relationship to perceived drug use of parents, friends while growing up, and present friends

Results from a random household survey of the Boston Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area show a consistent and relatively strong association of adults' use of coffee, tobacco, alcohol, tranquilizers, and marijuana with their perceptions of present friends' use. Associations with parents' and past adolescent friends' use are much weaker. The results support efforts to explain illicit drug use with general theories of behavior acquisition and cast doubt on the utility of deviance theories.

Balanced regional analgesia--an hypothesis

An hypothesis is advanced, based upon observation of patients undergoing selected types of regional analgesic blocks, that total patient care during any regional analgesic technique consists of maintaining a balance of local analgesia, tranquillity and the use of a centrally acting analgesic. The latter is required to relieve non-specific distress unrelated to the operation which appears to be caused by a disturbance of sensory input to the cerebral cortex, possibly the proprioceptive input. A small group of patients will not respond to any sedation accompanying regional analgesia and need general anaesthesia. It is suggested that failure to appreciate all three parts of this triad may contribute to uncertainty of patient control during regional block.

The microvibrations of the body, an index for examination stress

Changes of whole-body microvibrations (MV) were quantitatively analyzed in 123 voluntary subjects during two examination situations and compared with the results obtained during the ensuing vacation. The force oscillations in the three space directions were measured during quiet bipedal standing and simultaneously recorded as a time function with the rectified and integrated force-time function (= rectified impulse). The rectified impulses related to body weight were used as a measure for the MV. Immediately before the examinations, all the subjects showed high values. These decreased significantly in the control measurement if the subjects passed the exams, but remained relatively high in the subjects who failed. In all three measurements, smokers and candidates who took tranquilizers before the exams show higher MV values than do the other subjects. Females are less tense than males, a difference particularly significant in the vertical (z) direction. The rectified impulse in this direction correlates positively with the estimated cardiac output. Body weight and body length show a positive correlation with the MV values in the horizontal forward-backward (x) and vertical (z) direction. The measurement of the whole-body MV enables quantitative evaluation of the complex load due to an examination situation. The hypothesis that different types of stress or personality affect given directions in space requires further investigation.

Drug usage as determined under conditions of anonymity and high questionnaire return rate

The present study had three principal purposes: (1) to collect, on one sample, information concerning lifetime usage of major drugs, overall frequency of usage, places and situations of initial usage, and exposure to drug usage through social group contacts; (2) to assure subjects of absolute anonymity in order to avoid biases introduced by identification of subjects; and (3) to obtain high questionnaire return rates in order to assure reduction of sample biases. A drug survey questionnaire dealing with marijuana, amphetamines, heroine, hallucinogens, tranquilizers, and antidepressants was administered in classroom settings to a total of 332 college students. Subjects did not record their names and thus were assured of complete anonymity. The return rate for questionnaires was 99.4%. Data were subgrouped for analysis to differentiate freshmen and upperclassmen and to differentiate males and females. For various subgroups, lifetime usage of marijuana and LSD ranged from 55 to 80.6% and from 14 to 30%, respectively. Current use ranged from 30.1 to 62.5% for marijuana and from 2.5 to 9.1% for hallucinogens. Sex differences were minimal, and usage levels were generally higher in upperclassmen than in freshmen.

Effect of enantiomeric purity on solubility determination of dexclamol hydrochloride

The solubility of (+/-)-4a,13b-trans)-[3(OH),13b(H)-trans]-3-isopropyl - 2,3,4,4a,8,9,13b,14- octahydro-1H - benzo[6,7]cycloheptal[1,2,3-de]pyrido[2,1-a]isoquinolin-3-ol hydrochloride [(+/-)-I] was 3.3 mg/ml in pure water. Its resolved enantiomers exhibited about a fivefold increase in solubility. Dexclamol hydrochloride, the (+)-I enantiomer, is bioactive as a neuroleptic and is soluble to the extent of 16.4 mg/ml. However, raw material purity in relation to the amounts of (+/-)-I racemate present significantly influences solubility and optimum conditions for dissolution. The effect of trace amounts of (-)-I or (+/-)-I forms of the solubility of (+)-I enantiomer raw materials was explained through phase solubility studies. Conditions required for preparation of clear solutions using raw materials of varying purity can be determined with derived expressions. The application and limitations of using an enantiomer as a tool to improve solubility are discussed.

Evaluation of certain tranquillisers and sedative premedications on the safety index of volatile anaesthetics

Safety index (S.I.) of ether, chloroform and halothane was determined in mice following premedication with chloral hydrate, phenobarbitone, diazepam and trifluoperazine given alone or in combination with atropine or hyoscine. The S.I. of ether was significantly raised by chloral hydrate and phenobarbitone when combined with atropine while trifluoperazine in combination with atropine or hyoscine lowered it. The S.I. of chloroform and halothane was raised by chloral hydrate, phenobarbitone and diazepam. The S.I. raising effects were augmented in chloroform anaesthesia and reduced in cases of halothane (except diazepam-hyoscine) when these premedications were combined with atropine or hyoscine.

Analgesic and tranquilizing activity of 5,8-disubstituted 2-aminomethyl-3,4-dihydronaphthalenes

Interesting analgesic activity approaching that of meperidine and codeine was observed in standard animal models for 8-chloro-3,4-dihydro-5-methoxy-2-pyrrolidinomethylnaphthalene (compound 7). This compound was orally effective and its analgesic activity was not reversed by the opiate antagonist, naloxone. A limited number of other 2-aminomethyl analogues displayed activity in neuroleptic screens.

[Clinical pharmacokinetics of azabutyron, a new short-term action neuroleptic]

Pharmacokinetics of azabutyron--a new Soviet-made neuroleptic was studied clinically without anesthesia and also during surgery against the background of deep and surface fluorothan anesthesia in conjunction with artificial nitrous oxide and oxygen ventilation of the lungs (2:1). After intravenous administration of the drug in a dose of 4 mg/kg its maximum concentration (about 8 gamma/ml) was recorded in 5 minutes and the amount eliminated during 2 hours of observation comprised 1--2 per cent of the dose introduced. In practically healthy individuals with no anesthesia the pharmacokinetics of azabutyron lies within the limits of a bicompartment pharmacokinetics model, while surface anesthesia, blood loss changes the pharmacokinetics of the drug to such an extent that is has to be described from the standpoint of the unicompartment model system.

The synaptic significance of metoclopramide induced dyskinetic-dystonic head and neck movements in pregnancy

Two young, pregnant women presenting dyskinetic-dystonic crises limited to head and neck (HNDD) due to metoclopramide (MP) were observed. Evidence has been brought for the specific extrapyramidal effect of dyskinetic-dystonic head and neck movements induced by MP in young females. The synaptic action of MP differs from that of the generally accepted dopamine receptor blocking neuroleptics such as the phenothiazines. Concomittant quasi opposing neuroleptic and nonneuroleptic like effects of this drug can not support the mechanism of dopamine receptor blockade as the explanation of the synaptic effect. The concept of "dopamine receptor imbalance" may explain the synaptic action of the metoclopramide.

The central action of 1-p-dimethylaminophenyl-5-allyl-5-(beta-hydroxypropyl) barbituric acid and the corresponding lactone

1-p-dimethylaminophenyl-5-allyl-5-(beta-hydroxypropyl)barbituric acid (NP) and the probably product of its isomerization alpha-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)allophanyl-alpha-allyl-gamma-methylbutyrolactone (MW) was studied. Behavioral experiments carried out on mice and rats showed that both the acid (NP) and the lactone (MW) suppress the reactivity of the central nervous system, and, to some degree, act like tranquilizing agents.