It is well recognized that many injecting drug users are poly-drug users. The intravenous use of Temazepam has become popular recently. In response to the ease of misuse, the pharmaceutical industry produced a formulation that would be as 'resistant' as possible to injecting. The preparation is a gel-filled formulation, one proprietary name being Temazepam Gelthix. General Practitioners have been encouraged to prescribe gel-filled capsules to potential drug misusers in order to reduce the harm Temazepam can cause by its misuse. This study of 23 Temazepam injectors shows that the group still find the gel-filled preparation readily injectable. It appears to be more problematic in causing medical complications including superficial thrombophlebitis, abscesses and deep venous thrombosis. Temazepam misuse can cause drug users to become more chaotic. The study group recognize this and suggest there should be stricter control on the supply of Temazepam to drug dependents. General Practitioners, who are the main source of Temazepam prescribing, require additional training in prescribing to drug users.
Twenty opiate dependents receiving long-term prescriptions of oral methadone, were identified as being habitual abusers of the anti-emetic drug cyclizine. A semi-structured interview elicited the dosage of cyclizine used, its effects, the reasons for starting and persisting with abuse of cyclizine and the attitudes of the patients to it. Cyclizine was taken in large doses intravenously with methadone. The effects initially were of intense stimulation, often with hallucinations, sometimes with aggressive behaviour, and occasionally with epileptic fits. Subsequent depressive mood changes occurred often accompanied by a craving for cyclizine. Tolerance to the drug occurred but no clear cut withdrawal syndrome is apparent. It seems that dependence upon cyclizine occurs. The significance of these findings for doctors, pharmacists and for drug treatment units is discussed. The paucity of information on the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics is noted.
The Government of the United Kingdom has produced a strategic plan called the Health of the Nation aimed at achieving better health in key areas including a reduction in rates of unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and cervical cancer. Conventional health care systems fail some groups with special needs. This cross-sectional interview study was undertaken to determine the level and type of contraceptive use, and the attitudes of female opiate abusers to the use and availability of contraceptives and cytology services. The subjects were 201 opiate-dependent women enrolled in a methadone maintenance programme in a large drug dependency unit: 169 (84.5%) were sexually active and 65 (44.2%) of non-pregnant sexually active women did not use a contraceptive method. Thirty-six (43.9%) of those using a contraceptive were using condoms, with which the majority were dissatisfied. Sixty-one (30.3%) had never had a cervical cytology smear and of those who had, 21.4% reported an abnormal result. The contraceptive practices and uptake of cervical screening services by the women studied are inadequate, reflecting poor use of conventional health care services. In addition to providing information on safer sexual practices, particularly promotion of condom use, we suggest that drug dependency units should expand their role to provide educational and preventative services to include aspects of women's health.
A retrospective case note study of 93 women was performed in order to assess the effect of maternal factors on neonatal outcome in a group of women attending a specialist clinic for pregnant drug users. There were no significant differences in outcome for chaotic drug users compared with non-chaotic drug users, or for cocaine users compared with non-cocaine using drug users. Women who reduced their methadone dose during pregnancy delivered babies of significantly higher birth weight than those whose methadone dose remained the same or increased (median 3027 g, range 1780-3629 g vs 2645 g, range 580-3720 g). Women who abused benzodiazepines during pregnancy produced babies of significantly lower birth weight than those women who did not use benzodiazepines (median 2100 g, range 580-3520 g vs 2767 g, range 1530-3720 g). The results of this study give healthcare staff evidence to use in encouraging drug-using women to avoid benzodiazepines during pregnancy and to reduce their methadone dosage. The treatment received from a specialist clinic may mitigate against some of the other recognised effects of drug use during pregnancy.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.