Epidemiology of dependence on illicit substances, with a special focus on opioid dependence, in the State of Punjab, India: Results from two different yet complementary survey methods

Presenting Pattern and Psychiatric Comorbidities in Rural versus Urban Substance Dependent Patients: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background

"Locality" is a significant factor in substance initiation, maintenance, and relapse. The pattern of substance dependence among rural and urban populations varies across studies and is scarcely studied, warranting further research. To compare presenting patterns (sociodemographic and drug-related variables), reasons for substance use, and psychiatric comorbidities (prevalence, type, and severity) between rural and urban substance-dependent groups.

Materials and Methods

This study was a cross-sectional analytical study in a government de-addiction center, including rural and urban patient groups aged 18-65. International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) criteria, and severity of dependence scale were used for diagnosing substance dependence. After detoxification, psychiatric comorbidity was assessed using brief psychiatric rating scale, Young's mania rating scale, and patient health questionnaire - somatic, anxiety, and depression symptoms scale. Post-analysis was performed to assess socioeconomic variables and access to de-addiction services.

Results

The final sample was 500 (250 rural and 250 urban). The post-analysis sample size was 386 (211 rural and 175 urban). The mean age was 38.2 ± 12.4 years, mostly males (n = 495, 99%). Substance frequency was opioids (92%)> benzodiazepines (24.8%) > alcohol (22%) > cannabis (1.6%) for rural and opioids (91.2%) > alcohol (29.6%) > benzodiazepines (14.8%) > cannabis (2%) for urban patients. More than half of patients had comorbid nicotine dependence. Rural patients were more benzodiazepine dependent (P = 0.007), and urban were more opioid + alcohol dependent (P = 0.001). Rural patients had higher age (P = 0.012), less education (P < 0.001), positive family history of substance (P = 0.028), daily wagers, and farmers (P < 0.001) than urban patients who were younger, students (P = 0.002), businessmen and government employed (P < 0.001). Urban patients expended more on drugs (P < 0.001), had higher treatment attempts (P = 0.008), and had better availability and accessibility of de-addiction services (P < 0.001). More rural users initiated substances to "enhance performance," whereas urban ones initiated for "stress relief/novelty" (P < 0.001). For treatment seeking, "External pressure" was a more common reason in urban patients (P < 0.001), who also had more psychiatric comorbidities (P = 0.026).

Conclusion

Significant pattern differences exist between rural and urban substance dependents, warranting emphasis on locality-specific factors for appropriate intervention.

Effects of Abstinence From Opioid on Neuropsychological Performance in Men With Opioid Use Disorder: A Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVES

Impairments in neuropsychological functioning (mainly memory, learning, attention, and executive functioning) among persons with long-term opioid use disorder (OUD) have been widely reported, with few studies suggesting that these are not permanent and can improve with abstinence. Thus, present study aimed to evaluate the neuropsychological functioning in persons with OUD and examine the effects of abstinence on the same over a period 8 weeks.

METHODS

A total of 50 patients with diagnosis of OUD as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Fifth Edition ( DSM-5 ) criteria underwent serial longitudinal neuropsychological assessments for executive functioning, attention and concentration, and verbal and nonverbal memory at baseline, 2 weeks, and 8 weeks of abstinence.

RESULTS

The mean performance scores representative of attention, concentration, verbal memory, and nonverbal memory showed significant improvement in the initial 2 weeks, and executive functioning showed significant improvement by 8 weeks of abstinence (all P 's < 0.01). A significant negative correlation was found between the duration of opioid use and performance on verbal memory tests (0.014), the frequency of intake per day and performance on nonverbal memory and executive functioning tests, and the severity of opioid dependence and performance on nonverbal memory test (0.019).

CONCLUSIONS

Neuropsychological functioning in certain domains was associated with the duration of opioid use, the frequency of daily opioid intake, and the severity of opioid dependence among persons with OUD at baseline. It showed significant improvement in domains of attention, concentration, verbal and nonverbal memory, and executive functions over a period of 8 weeks of abstinence.

Bride price, dowry, and young men with time to kill: A commentary on men's marriage postponement in India

Rising numbers of young unmarried men in India reflect a marriage squeeze that goes beyond the shortage of brides created by sex-selective abortion. We describe a decline in men's marriageability caused by their falling economic prospects at the same time as families of brides are increasingly seeking grooms with stable employment. We group young men into those without jobs or much education, those with education but no work, and the privileged few with education as well as employment. This classification resolves some of the seeming contradictions in the qualitative literature on marriage in India. Some of this literature talks about the rising prevalence of bride price and some about the persistence of dowry, while some papers reflect in general on the costs of being young, male, and aimless. Our commentary includes a review of the growing literature on the physiological and (perhaps) consequently behavioural and health outcomes of men's anomie.

Predictors of retention in the treatment for opioid dependence: A prospective, observational study from India

BACKGROUND

Literature on a longitudinal study of the determinants of treatment retention for patients with opioid dependence is limited.

AIM

To find out patient- and treatment-related (buprenorphine-naloxone-assisted treatment [BNX treatment] versus naltrexone treatment) predictors for retention in maintenance treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 100 participants with opioid dependence were recruited by convenience sampling. The primary outcome was treatment retention - 3 months and 6 months postentry into maintenance treatment. Multiple assessments were done for the severity of opioid dependence and withdrawal, high-risk behavior, quality of life, and recovery capital - baseline and 3 and 6 months. The secondary outcome was to assess the change observed in the above-listed variables.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Bivariate analysis across retained and the dropout groups brought out significant differences for some (type of opioids and route of administration) but not for other (age, employment, and education) patient-related factors. Multivariate analysis, adjusting for the type of maintenance treatment, rendered these associations statistically insignificant. BNX-based treatment (compared to naltrexone maintenance) was the most significant predictor of treatment retention both at the end of 3 months and 6 months. Even after controlling for the severity of opioid dependence and withdrawal, type and route of opioid use, and high-risk behavior, patients on BNX were eleven times (14 times at the end of 6 months) more likely to be retained in the treatment. BNX group had significant improvements in the domains of recovery capital, quality of life, addiction severity, and severity of opioid dependence. There is a need to scale up the BNX-assisted treatment program in India and elsewhere.

Opium-associated QT Interval Prolongation: A Cross-sectional Comparative Study

How to cite this article: Sharma A. Opium-associated QT Interval Prolongation: A Cross-sectional Comparative Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(1):6-7.

Sublingual buprenorphine-naloxone precipitated withdrawal-A case report with review of literature and clinical considerations

Buprenorphine- Naloxone Fixed Dose Combination (BNX) is widely used to manage opioid use disorders. Contrary to evidence based concepts about sublingual bio-availability of naloxone, a few small studies have reported non-negligible amounts absorbed sublingually. But the extent to which these amounts exert opioid antagonist effects is yet to be established. We hereby report the first case of opioid dependence who developed a rare phenomenon of moderate to severe opioid withdrawal symptoms on administration of sublingual BNX after several days of being stabilized on plain buprenorphine (BUP). The case demonstrates the need to consider using buprenorphine monotherapy whenever such adverse effects are encountered. We also discuss the possible pharmacological explanations behind this rare side effect.

Tapentadol abuse and dependence in India

BACKGROUND

Tapentadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic available in India since 2011. International evidence suggests a low risk of abuse and diversion. Our study aims to question this perception in Indian context.

METHOD

We report the trend and profile of Tapentadol abuse cases that were treated at a tertiary level addiction treatment centre in southern India. We also describe the ease of repurposing oral tablets of Tapentadol into an injection. At the national level, we have examined the temporal and spatial trends of online interest in Tapentadol and compared it with a non-opioid drug Ilaprazole and an opioid drug Tramadol using Google Trends. We have used the National Drug Use Survey 2019 to illustrate the regional data.

RESULTS

23 cases of Tapentadol abuse sought treatment between 01/01/2011 and 30/08/2019. In last one year, the number of cases has more than doubled. A majority (N = 19, 83 %) of cases had intravenous Tapentadol abuse, needle sharing and 60 % were diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Tapentadol is attracting new users (N = 13, 56.5 %) as well as replacing other opioids (N = 10, 43.5 %) amongst drug users. Tapentadol has received more online interest than Ilaprazole. Temporal and spatial trends of online interest in Tapentadol parallel Tramadol. States with high prevalence of opioid users have shown high online interest in both opioid drugs.

CONCLUSION

Tapentadol is being widely abused, and urgent regulatory measures are required.

Estimating the size of substance using street children in Delhi using Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS)

Street children as a population sub-group exist in significant numbers in the developing world and have been reported to be vulnerable to adverse health and risk behaviours that include physical and sexual risk behaviour. However, the estimation of prevalence for various psychoactive substances among the street children in a representative sample has not been attempted in the developing country like India. This is challenging due to the absence of an appropriate sampling frame, the population living in isolation, hiding their identity and concealing their behaviour. Use of psychoactive substances in street children is riddled with these challenges. The present investigation describes the findings from size estimation study on a representative sample of street child (n = 766) in Delhi, by implementing the Respondent Driven Sampling Methodology (RDS). The weighted prevalence for three commonest substances was found as Tobacco (31.1 %), alcohol (13.5 %) and inhalants (11.3 %) used during the last one year with the estimated number as -Tobacco (21,770), Alcohol (9450) and Inhalants (5600). Almost one third of street children were using some substance. Also, a large majority of ever users were also using substances currently. The study demonstrates successfully the implementation of RDS for the estimation of the prevalence of psychoactive substances in a representative manner. A large majority of street children use psychoactive substances, and there is a need for more of such studies in other metropolitan cities so that local level interventions and planning can be done for treatment and prevention of psychoactive substances among the street children. The important public health implications had been discussed.