Psychosocial Correlates and Early Substance Abuse Associated With Lifetime Hallucinogen Use Among Hispanic Young Adults.

INTRODUCTION: The Hispanic population is among the most rapid growing populations in the United States. Continued research is needed regarding factors associated with substance abuse and Hispanic individuals. The present study examined psychosocial correlates to lifetime hallucinogen use among a national sample of Hispanic adults. METHOD: A secondary analysis of the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health was conducted. Questions assessing previous lifetime substance use, psychosocial factors, and demographics were completed by 2,866 Hispanic adults. Weighted logistic regression analyses were used to identify significant predictors of lifetime hallucinogen use. RESULTS: Results indicated that greater than one in seven (15.1%) of Hispanic adults reported having ever used hallucinogens (lifetime use). Findings from the final multivariate regression revealed that those most likely to report lifetime hallucinogen use were male, used alcohol, marijuana, cigars, cigarettes, inhalants, and cocaine before the age of 21, and binge drank in the past 30 days. DISCUSSION: Culturally competent prevention strategies aimed at addressing hallucinogen use among Hispanics are needed. Further research studies examining psychosocial reasons explaining the high prevalence of hallucinogen use among this population are warranted.

Past 15-year trends in lifetime cocaine use among US high school students.

BACKGROUND: Most recent research on adolescent drug use has focused on alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Less is known about the recent epidemiology of adolescent cocaine use, which has serious health consequences. PURPOSE: To describe recent trends in cocaine use by U.S. high school students, and identify differences in lifetime and repeated use across sex and racial/ethnic groups. METHODS: We used data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) from 1999 to 2015. We estimated the prevalence of lifetime cocaine use (LCU) and repeated lifetime cocaine use (RLCU) across years by race/ethnicity and sex and tested for linear and quadratic trends. RESULTS: The prevalence of LCU decreased from 1999 to 2015 (9.54%-5.19%). RLCU also decreased (5.13%-2.84%). Despite the overall decline, LCU and RLCU both rose between 2009-2015 (LCU:2.78%-5.19%, RLCU:1.58%-2.84%). Boys had higher rates of LCU and RLCU than girls (LCU:6.42% vs 4.65%; RLCU:3.69% vs 2.18%). American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic adolescents had the highest overall prevalence of LCU. Black adolescents' LCU patterns differed from other racial/ethnic groups. The prevalence of LCU among Black boys increased over time, while the prevalence for Black girls remained consistently low. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent cocaine use is less common today than in the 1990s. However, rates of adolescent cocaine use have risen across all racial/ethnic groups in the past few years. Public health efforts should address at risk groups with particularly high or rising rates of cocaine use.

Glutamatergic and GABAergic susceptibility loci for heroin and cocaine addiction in subjects of African and European ancestry.

BACKGROUND: Drug addiction, a leading health problem, is a chronic brain disease with a significant genetic component. Animal models and clinical studies established the involvement of glutamate and GABA neurotransmission in drug addiction. This study was designed to assess if 258 variants in 27 genes of these systems contribute to the vulnerability to develop drug addiction. METHODS: Four independent analyses were conducted in a sample of 1860 subjects divided according to drug of abuse (heroin or cocaine) and ancestry (African and European). RESULTS: A total of 11 SNPs in eight genes showed nominally significant associations (P<0.01) with heroin and/or cocaine addiction in one or both ancestral groups but the associations did not survive correction for multiple testing. Of these SNPs, the GAD1 upstream SNP rs1978340 is potentially functional as it was shown to affect GABA concentrations in the cingulate cortex. In addition, SNPs GABRB3 rs7165224; DBI rs12613135; GAD1 SNPs rs2058725, rs1978340, rs2241164; and GRIN2A rs1650420 were previously reported in associations with drug addiction or related phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS: The study supports the involvement of genetic variation in the glutamatergic and GABAergic systems in drug addiction with partial overlap in susceptibility loci between cocaine and heroin addiction.

Características de la población expuesta a cocaína y pasta base de cocaína durante la gestación en el Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell / Characteristics of the population exposed to cocaine and cocaine base paste during gestation in the Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell

Introducción: para identificar el consumo de cocaína durante la gestación se utiliza frecuentemente el autorreporte; dado que esta conducta puede generar procesos judiciales y comprometer la tenencia de su hijo hay un porcentaje significativo de negación de consumo. El meconio del recién nacido puede identificar el consumo de sustancia desde la semana 20 de gestación.Objetivos: determinar la prevalencia del consumo de cocaína y pasta base de cocaína durante la gestación,describir sus características y evaluar el valor del autorreporte en referencia a la determinación en meconio.Metodología: se realizó un estudio observacional analítico de corte transversal en el Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell entre noviembre de 2010 y marzo del 2011. Se realizó una encuesta protocolizada sobre los hábitos de consumo y se obtuvo una muestra de meconio para su análisis por ELISA con una sensibilidad de 5 ng/g. Resultados: se obtuvieron 227 muestras de meconio,fueron positivos para el consumo de clorhidrato de cocaína y PBC con un corte de 5 ng/g el 9,25%. Se destaca que en las consumidoras de cocaína/PBC se observa una diferencia estadísticamente significativa(p=0,006) en la edad con una media de 28,04 años(DE=5,99) con respecto a la ausencia de consumo con una media de 24.66 (DE=5,42). Se observó una diferencia significativa en la población consumidora en la presencia de cuadros infecciosos(vulvovaginitis/sífilis) p=0,001. Los ingresos declarados en el núcleo familiar en la población consumidora de PBC estuvieron por debajo de la línea de pobreza. Se encontró una asociación importante entre el consumo de cocaína-PBC y marihuana. La especificidad de la autodeclaración fue muy alta pero la sensibilidad fue de 14,3...

Introduction: consumption of cocaine base pulp (PBC) in Uruguay was identified as a Public Health problem from the economic crisis that hit the country in 2002. To identify consumption of this substance in pregnant women in clinical practice is frequently used the self-report. Since the maternal cocaine consumption can generate law suits and may jeopardize the custody of the child there is a significant percentage of under reporting. Newborn`s meconium can identify cocain-PBC use from the 20th week of gestation. Objectives: determine the prevalence during pregnancy in a hospital population, describe their characteristics and assess the value of self-report in reference to the determination in meconium. Methodology: the methodology used in this ptoject was a observational analytic cross-sectional study of the population assisted in the Hospital Center Pereira Rossell between November 2010 and March 2011. A protocolized survey about consumption habits was conducted after an informed agreeing consent and a meconium sample obtained for analysis. By ELISA screening of NEOGEN brand the presence of cocaine and its metabolites in meconium was determined with a sensitivity of 5 ng/gy 20 ng/g.Results: 227 Meconium valid samples were obtained for analysis. 9,5% were positive for the consumption of cocaine hydrochloride and PBC with a cutoff of 5 ng/g. It is emphasized that in cocaine users / PBC a statistically significant difference (p = 0,006) was observed in the average age 28,04 years (SD = 5,99) compared to the absence of consumption with an average of 24,66 (SD 5,42). Pregnant women consumers Cocaine / PBC during pregnancy are over 19 years. A significant difference was observed in the consumer population regarding to the presence of infectious types (vulvovaginitis / syphilis) p = 0,001. Reported income in the household in the PBC consuming population was below the poverty line. Also was found a significant association between cocaine consumes and ...

Younger versus older African Americans: patterns and prevalence of recent illicit drug use.

OBJECTIVES: The current study examined recent substance use among younger and older African Americans and factors associated with recent use. METHODS: The current study used a subset of African American men and women (N = 260) from the NEURO-HIV Epidemiological Study (Mage = 42, SD = 9.27; 59% female). Self-report of past 6 month substance use was evaluated for 21 different substances by routes of administration (ROA). RESULTS: Older adults were 1.9 times (AOR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.13-3.26) more likely to have used crack in the past 6 months and half as likely to have used marijuana (AOR = .44, 95% CI = .25-.77). There were no significant differences for heroin use. DISCUSSION: Substance use at midlife may have significant implications for adverse social and health outcomes among African Americans. Findings support the need to better understand the developmental pathways of drug use and dependence among African Americans.

Association and interaction analyses of 5-HT3 receptor and serotonin transporter genes with alcohol, cocaine, and nicotine dependence using the SAGE data.

Previous studies have implicated genes encoding the 5-HT3AB receptors (HTR3A and HTR3B) and the serotonin transporter (SLC6A4), both independently and interactively, in alcohol (AD), cocaine (CD), and nicotine dependence (ND). However, whether these genetic effects also exist in subjects with comorbidities remains largely unknown. We used 1,136 African-American (AA) and 2,428 European-American (EA) subjects from the Study of Addiction: Genetics and Environment (SAGE) to determine associations between 88 genotyped or imputed variants within HTR3A, HTR3B, and SLC6A4 and three types of addictions, which were measured by DSM-IV diagnoses of AD, CD, and ND and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), an independent measure of ND commonly used in tobacco research. Individual SNP-based association analysis revealed a significant association of rs2066713 in SLC6A4 with FTND in AA (ß = -1.39; P = 1.6E - 04). Haplotype-based association analysis found one major haplotype formed by SNPs rs3891484 and rs3758987 in HTR3B that was significantly associated with AD in the AA sample, and another major haplotype T-T-G, formed by SNPs rs7118530, rs12221649, and rs2085421 in HTR3A, which showed significant association with FTND in the EA sample. Considering the biologic roles of the three genes and their functional relations, we used the GPU-based Generalized Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction (GMDR-GPU) program to test SNP-by-SNP interactions within the three genes and discovered two- to five-variant models that have significant impacts on AD, CD, ND, or FTND. Interestingly, most of the SNPs included in the genetic interaction model(s) for each addictive phenotype are either overlapped or in high linkage disequilibrium for both AA and EA samples, suggesting these detected variants in HTR3A, HTR3B, and SLC6A4 are interactively contributing to etiology of the three addictive phenotypes examined in this study.

Low frequency genetic variants in the µ-opioid receptor (OPRM1) affect risk for addiction to heroin and cocaine.

The µ-opioid receptor (MOR) binds exogenous and endogenous opioids and is known to mediate the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse. Numerous genetic studies have sought to identify common genetic variation in the gene encoding MOR (OPRM1) that affects risk for drug addiction. The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of rare coding variants in OPRM1 to the risk for addiction. Rare and low frequency variants were selected using the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute - Exome Sequencing Project (NHLBI-ESP) database, which has screened the exomes of over 6500 individuals. Two SNPs (rs62638690 and rs17174794) were selected for genotyping in 1377 European American individuals addicted to heroin and/or cocaine. Two different SNPs (rs1799971 and rs17174801) were genotyped in 1238 African American individuals addicted to heroin and/or cocaine. Using the minor allele frequencies from the NHLBI-ESP dataset as a comparison group, case-control association analyses were performed. Results revealed an association between rs62638690 and cocaine and heroin addiction in European Americans (p=0.02; 95% C.I. 0.47 [0.24-0.92]). This study suggests a potential role for rare OPRM1 variants in addiction disorders and highlights an area worthy of future study.

Cholesterol is associated with the presence of a lipid core in carotid plaque of asymptomatic, young-to-middle-aged African Americans with and without HIV infection and cocaine use residing in inner-city Baltimore, Md., USA.

BACKGROUND: Stroke remains a leading cause of death in the United States. While stroke-related mortality in the USA has declined over the past decades, stroke death rates are still higher for blacks than for whites, even at younger ages. The purpose of this study was to estimate the frequency of a lipid core and explore risk factors for its presence in asymptomatic, young-to-middle-aged urban African American adults recruited from inner-city Baltimore, Md., USA. METHODS: Between August 28, 2003, and May 26, 2005, 198 African American participants aged 30-44 years from inner-city Baltimore, Md., were enrolled in an observational study of subclinical atherosclerosis related to HIV and cocaine use. In addition to clinical examinations and laboratory tests, B-mode ultrasound for intima-media thickness of the internal carotid arteries was performed. Among these 198, 52 were selected from the top 30th percentile of maximum carotid intima-media thickness by ultrasound, and high-resolution black blood MRI images were acquired through their carotid plaque before and after the intravenous administration of gadodiamide. Of these 52, 37 with maximum segmental thickness by MRI >1.0 mm were included in this study. Lumen and outer wall contours were defined using semiautomated analysis software. The frequency of a lipid core in carotid plaque was estimated and risk factors for lipid core presence were explored using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 37 participants in this study, 12 (32.4%) were women. The mean age was 38.7 ± 4.9 years. A lipid core was present in 9 (17%) of the plaques. Seventy percent of the study participants had a history of cigarette smoking. The mean total cholesterol level was 176.1 ± 37.3 mg/dl, the mean systolic blood pressure was 113.1 ± 13.3 mm Hg, and the mean diastolic blood pressure was 78.9 ± 9.5 mm Hg. There were 5 participants with hypertension (13.5%). Twelve (32%) participants had a history of chronic cocaine use, and 23 (62%) were HIV positive. Among the factors investigated, including age, sex, blood pressure, cigarette smoking, C-reactive protein, fasting glucose, triglycerides, serum total cholesterol, coronary calcium, cocaine use, and HIV infection, only total cholesterol was significantly associated with the presence of a lipid core. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed an unexpectedly high rate of the presence of lipid core in carotid plaque and highlights the importance of cholesterol lowering to prevent cerebrovascular disease in this population. Further population-based studies are warranted to confirm these results.

A case-control study of stroke risk factors and outcomes in African American stroke patients with and without crack-cocaine abuse.

BACKGROUND: Stroke in crack-cocaine abusers is increasingly recognized. We aimed to identify significant differences in stroke risk factors, characteristics, and outcomes between hospitalized stroke patients with and without crack-cocaine abuse. METHODS: This was a retrospective study that compared stroke patients with crack-cocaine abuse (cases) to stroke patients without crack-cocaine (controls). RESULTS: We identified 93 crack-cocaine cases and 93 controls admitted between January 2004 and May 2006 to one teaching hospital. There were significant differences between crack-cocaine cases and controls in age (48.7 years vs. 55 years) (P = 0.0001), male gender (65.6% vs. 40.9%) (odds ratios, OR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.22-2.21), arterial hypertension (61.1% vs. 83.9%) (OR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.15-0.60), hypercholesterolemia (18.7% vs. 68.5%) (OR = 0.10, 95% CI 0.05-0.21), diabetes (20.9% vs. 41.9%) (OR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.19-0.70), cigarette smoking (70.6% vs. 29%) (OR = 5.86, 95% CI 3.07-11.20), ischemic stroke (61.3% vs. 79.6%) (OR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.21-0.78), and intracerebral hemorrhage (33.3% vs. 17.2%) (OR = 3.03, 95% CI 1.53-6.00). Also, there were significant differences in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores (3.3 vs. 7) (P < 0.0001), and MRS scores (1.8 vs. 2.5) (P = 0.0022) at hospital discharge. Using univariable and multivariable logistic regression, we found that crack-cocaine abusers had 2.28 higher odds of having a favorable functional outcome (MRS score ≤ 2) at hospital discharge, after adjusting for stroke risk factors and characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that crack-cocaine abusers with stroke had fewer traditional risk factors, and more favorable functional outcome as compared to non-crack-cocaine abusers.

A comparison of the social and sexual networks of crack-using and non-crack using African American men who have sex with men.

The role of crack cocaine in accelerating the HIV epidemic among heterosexual populations has been well documented. Little is known about crack use as an HIV risk factor among African American men who have sex with men (AA MSM), a group disproportionately infected with HIV. We sought to compare the social and sexual network characteristics of crack-using and non-crack using AA MSM in Baltimore, MD, USA and to examine associations of crack use with sexual risk. Participants were recruited using street-based and internet-based outreach, printed advertisements, word of mouth. Inclusion criteria were being aged 18 years or older, African American or of black race/ethnicity, and have self-reported sex with another male in the prior 90 days. Crack use was operationalized as self-report of crack in the prior 90 days. Logistic regression was used to identify variables that were independently associated with crack use. Of 230 enrolled AA MSM, 37% (n = 84) reported crack use. The sexual networks of crack-using AA MSM were composed of a greater number of HIV-positive sex partners, exchange partners, and partners who were both sex and drug partners and fewer networks with whom they always use condoms as compared to non-crack using AA MSM. Crack use was independently associated with increased odds of bisexual identity and networks with a greater number of exchange partners, overlap of drug and sex partners, and lesser condom use. Results of this study highlight sexual network characteristics of crack-smoking AA MSM that may promote transmission of HIV. HIV interventions are needed that are tailored to address the social context of crack-smoking AA MSM risk behaviors.

Public crack cocaine smoking and willingness to use a supervised inhalation facility: implications for street disorder.

BACKGROUND: The health risks of crack cocaine smoking in public settings have not been well described. We sought to identify factors associated with public crack smoking, and assess the potential for a supervised inhalation facility to reduce engagement in this behavior, in a setting planning to evaluate a medically supervised crack cocaine smoking facility. METHODS: Data for this study were derived from a Canadian prospective cohort of injection drug users. Using multivariate logistic regression we identified factors associated with smoking crack cocaine in public areas. Among public crack smokers we then identified factors associated with willingness to use a supervised inhalation facility. RESULTS: Among our sample of 623 people who reported crack smoking, 61% reported recently using in public locations. In multivariate analysis, factors independently associated with public crack smoking included: daily crack cocaine smoking; daily heroin injection; having encounters with police; and engaging in drug dealing. In sub analysis, 71% of public crack smokers reported willingness to use a supervised inhalation facility. Factors independently associated with willingness include: female gender, engaging in risky pipe sharing; and having encounters with police. CONCLUSION: We found a high prevalence of public crack smoking locally, and this behavior was independently associated with encounters with police. However, a majority of public crack smokers reported being willing to use a supervised inhalation facility, and individuals who had recent encounters with police were more likely to report willingness. These findings suggest that supervised inhalation facilities offer potential to reduce street-disorder and reduce encounters with police.

Examining racial/ethnic disparities in sexually transmitted diseases among recent heroin-using and cocaine-using women.

BACKGROUND: This study examined racial differences in the prevalence of sexual risk behaviors and their associations with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among recent heroin-using and cocaine-using women. METHODS: Participants were 214 women (59% black, 41% white) who were recruited during 2002-2010 using targeted sampling to participate in a study in Baltimore, Maryland, and reported using heroin, cocaine, or crack during the previous 6 months. Participants completed self-report questionnaires about their drug use, sexual risk behaviors, and lifetime history of one of six STDs, including gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, or trichomoniasis. RESULTS: More black women (50%) than white women (28%) reported a lifetime STD. Although there were no racial differences in the lifetime prevalence of sexual risk behaviors assessed, there were racial differences in the sexual behaviors associated with ever having a lifetime STD. Simple logistic regressions revealed that ever having a casual sex partner or anal sex were correlates of having a lifetime STD among black women but not among white women. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that ever having a casual sex partner was significantly associated with having a lifetime STD among black women, and ever trading sex for money was significantly associated with having a lifetime STD among white women. CONCLUSIONS: Findings are consistent with national studies and elucidate racial disparities in STDs and associated sexual behaviors among recent heroin-using and cocaine-using women. Findings underscore the need to tailor STD prevention interventions differently for black and white recent heroin-using and cocaine-using women.

Functional genetic variants that increase synaptic serotonin and 5-HT3 receptor sensitivity predict alcohol and drug dependence.

The 5-HT3 receptor is rapidly potentiated by ethanol and mediates fast excitatory serotonin (5-HT) transmission that modulates dopamine release in the reward circuitry. The 5-HT transporter regulates synaptic 5-HT availability. Functional polymorphisms in genes encoding the transporter and receptor may therefore influence addiction vulnerability. In this study, 360 treatment-seeking African American male patients with single and comorbid DSM-IV lifetime diagnoses of alcohol, cocaine and heroin dependence and 187 African American male controls were genotyped for the triallelic 5-HTTLPR functional polymorphism in the 5-HT transporter gene (SLC6A4) and 16 haplotype-tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across HTR3B (including the functional rs1176744 Tyr129Ser) and HTR3A, genes encoding 5-HT3 receptors. The HTR3B rs1176744 gain-of-function Ser129 allele predicted alcohol dependence (P=0.002) and low 5-HTTLPR activity predicted cocaine/heroin dependence (P=0.01). Both the HTR3B Ser129 allele (P=0.014, odds ratio (OR)=1.7 (1.1-2.6)) and low 5-HTTLPR activity (P=0.011, OR=2.5 (1.3-4.6)) were more common in men with alcohol+drug dependence compared with controls. Moreover, the HTR3B Ser129 allele and low 5-HTTLPR activity had an additive (but not an interactive) effect on alcohol+drug dependence (OR=6.0 (2.1-16.6)) that accounted for 13% of the variance. One possible explanation of our findings is that increased synaptic 5-HT coupled with increased 5-HT3 receptor responsiveness may result in enhanced dopamine transmission in the reward pathway, a predictor of increased risk for addiction. Our results may have pharmacogenetic implications for 5-HT3 therapeutic antagonists such as ondansetron.

Probability and predictors of remission from life-time nicotine, alcohol, cannabis or cocaine dependence: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.

AIM: To estimate the general and racial/ethnic specific cumulative probability of remission from nicotine alcohol cannabis or cocaine dependence, and to identify predictors of remission across substances. DESIGN: Data were collected from structured diagnostic interviews using the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-DSM-IV version. SETTING: The 2001-2002 National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) surveyed a nationally representative sample from US adults (n = 43,093) selected in a three-stage sampling design. PARTICIPANTS: The subsamples of individuals with life-time DSM-IV diagnosis of dependence on nicotine (n = 6937), alcohol (n = 4781), cannabis (n = 530) and cocaine (n = 408). MEASUREMENTS: Cumulative probability estimates of dependence remission for the general population and across racial/ethnic groups. Hazard ratios for remission from dependence. FINDINGS: Life-time cumulative probability estimates of dependence remission were 83.7% for nicotine, 90.6% for alcohol, 97.2% for cannabis and 99.2% for cocaine. Half of the cases of nicotine, alcohol, cannabis and cocaine dependence remitted approximately 26, 14, 6 and 5 years after dependence onset, respectively. Males, Blacks and individuals with diagnosis of personality disorders and history of substance use comorbidity exhibited lower hazards of remission for at least two substances. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of individuals with dependence on nicotine, alcohol, cannabis or cocaine achieve remission at some point in their life-time, although the probability and time to remission varies by substance and racial/ethnic group. Several predictors of remission are shared by at least two substances, suggesting that the processes of remission overlap. The lower rates of remission of individuals with comorbid personality or substance use disorders highlight the need for providing coordinated psychiatric and substance abuse interventions.

Circuitos de uso de crack nas cidades de São Paulo e Porto Alegre: cotidiano, práticas e cuidado / Tours of crack use in the cities of Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre everyday practices and care

Introdução: Na atualidade, o uso abusivo de drogas vem tomando dimensões preocupantes, configurando um importante problema de saúde pública. Dentre os aspectos responsáveis pelo agravamento da situação está o surgimento de novas substâncias, as quais vêm alterando as práticas de uso e potencializando seus danos. Dentre elas o derivado da pasta de coca, denominado popularmente de crack, destaca-se pelos prejuízos à saúde dos usuários e devido à associação crescente entre sua utilização e a prática de atos violentos e degradantes, especialmente difundida pelos meios de comunicação. Objetivos: Descrever os circuitos, compreender comportamentos, práticas e significados relacionados ao consumo de crack entre freqüentadores de locais de alta concentração de usuários e vendedores desta droga instalados na região central de duas capitais brasileiras: São Paulo/SP e Porto Alegre/RS. Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo etnográfico, com observação participante e registro em diário de campo. Resultados: Nos resultados foram descritos os circuitos percorridos pelos usuários, concentrados em partes específicas da região central das duas cidades: Bairro da Luz/SP e nas imediações do Loteamento Santa Terezinha em Porto Alegre/RS, assim como suas dinâmicas, nas quais a concentração de pessoas em situação de rua e suas atividades rotineiras, principalmente em suas interrelações com representantes do poder público, como a polícia e instituições de assistência social, ganham destaque. O cotidiano desses locais caracteriza-se por relações tensas e freqüentes conflitos entre os diferentes atores participantes dos circuitos Pelas características dos contextos de pesquisa, a grande maioria dos usuários apresentava um padrão de uso compulsivo de drogas, especialmente de crack, no qual o auto-cuidado ou quaisquer outras atividades eram secundarizadas frente ao consumo frenético da droga...

Introduction: In current days, drug abuse has been acquiring alarming dimensions, configuring an important problem of public health. Among the factors which are responsible for the worsening of the situation is the appearance of new substances which have been altering the practices of use and potentiating its damages. Among these is the product of cocaine paste, popularly called crack, which characterizes by the harm to the users health and a growing association between its use and the practice of violent and degrading acts, which has been given a lot of attention by the media. Objectives: To describe the circuits, understand the behaviors, the practices and the meanings related to crack consumption among goers of places of high concentration of users and sellers of this drug, in the downtown area of two Brazilian capitals: São Paulo/SP and Porto Alegre/RS. Methodology: A qualitative-ethnographic study was undertaken, with participant observation and register in field journal, having these as a basis for data analysis. Results: In the results, the circuits taken by the users concentrated in specific parts of the central area of both cities were described: Bairro da Luz, in São Paulo, and the region between Rodovia Castelo Branco, Avenida Farrapos and Loteamento Santa Terezinha in Porto Alegre/RS. And also its dynamics: the concentration of people living in the street and their routine activities, specially their relations with state representatives (such as the police and social assistance institutions) are highlighted. The everyday routine of these places is characterized by tense relations and frequent conflicts among the different actors in interaction. According to the research context, most users presented a pattern of compulsive use, in which self-care or any other activities were in second place in relation to the frenetic drug use...

Fumando la piedra: emerging patterns of crack use among Latino immigrant day laborers in New Orleans.

The devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina have contributed to a dynamic demographic shift in the Latino composition of New Orleans. This article focuses on a particularly deleterious pattern of crack cocaine smoking associated with numerous social and health consequences. Utilizing a rapid assessment methodology, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 52 Latino immigrant day laborers in New Orleans. Findings reveal that the presence of a flourishing drug market has facilitated and maintained patterns of crack use including initiation and periods of daily use. Moreover, feelings of isolation and constant exposure to victimization due to day laborers' marginal status are described as contributing to this use. This qualitative analysis reveals how social processes and contextual factors contribute to crack use among Latino day laborers in a post-disaster context. This study has important public health implications in the spread of HIV and other blood borne pathogens.

The link between recent sexual abuse and drug use among African American male college students: it's not just a female problem in and around campus.

This study examined the relationship between sexual abuse in or around campus and drug use among young African-American males in college. It offers cross-sectional analysis of data collected from the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Awareness and Use Study (ASAAUS). Data collection took place in October 2004 via a self-administered survey among 181 African-American male students. Males who reported past sexual abuse in or around campus were significantly more likely than nonsexually-abused males to have used tobacco (41% v. 19%, p < .05), alcohol (82% v. 49%, p < .05), marijuana (59% v. 30%, p < .05), and cocaine (18% v. 2%, p < .05) in the 30 day preceding the interview. Logistic regression analyses indicated that sexual abuse history in or around campus was significantly associated with past year (OR = 9.8, p < or = 0.001) and past 30 day (OR = 5.0, p < or = 0.001) drug use.

Toward a global view of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and cocaine use: findings from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use cause considerable morbidity and mortality, but good cross-national epidemiological data are limited. This paper describes such data from the first 17 countries participating in the World Health Organization's (WHO's) World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Household surveys with a combined sample size of 85,052 were carried out in the Americas (Colombia, Mexico, United States), Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Ukraine), Middle East and Africa (Israel, Lebanon, Nigeria, South Africa), Asia (Japan, People's Republic of China), and Oceania (New Zealand). The WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to assess the prevalence and correlates of a wide variety of mental and substance disorders. This paper focuses on lifetime use and age of initiation of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine. Alcohol had been used by most in the Americas, Europe, Japan, and New Zealand, with smaller proportions in the Middle East, Africa, and China. Cannabis use in the US and New Zealand (both 42%) was far higher than in any other country. The US was also an outlier in cocaine use (16%). Males were more likely than females to have used drugs; and a sex-cohort interaction was observed, whereby not only were younger cohorts more likely to use all drugs, but the male-female gap was closing in more recent cohorts. The period of risk for drug initiation also appears to be lengthening longer into adulthood among more recent cohorts. Associations with sociodemographic variables were consistent across countries, as were the curves of incidence of lifetime use. CONCLUSIONS: Globally, drug use is not distributed evenly and is not simply related to drug policy, since countries with stringent user-level illegal drug policies did not have lower levels of use than countries with liberal ones. Sex differences were consistently documented, but are decreasing in more recent cohorts, who also have higher levels of illegal drug use and extensions in the period of risk for initiation.

Drug use and weight loss in HIV-infected Hispanic men.

Weight loss is an independent risk factor for mortality in HIV but the role of drug use in HIV-related weight loss is not well described. We conducted this study to determine the role of drug use in HIV-related weight loss. Men (n=304), all of whom were Hispanic, were recruited into one of three groups: HIV-infected drug users; HIV-non-infected drug users; and HIV-infected non-drug users. Body mass index (BMI) was measured at successive visits. The groups were re-categorized based on self-reported drug use at the current visit into: (1) users of cocaine alone; (2) users of cocaine and opiates; (3) users of opiates alone; (4) former drug users; and (5) those who denied ever using drugs (all HIV-infected). The effect on BMI of the duration of use of the specific drug types was evaluated using repeated-measures analyses. Longer duration of exclusive opiate use or mixed cocaine and opiate use did not affect BMI in the men, regardless of HIV status. Exclusive cocaine use was associated with a decline in BMI among HIV-infected men (-0.070 kg/m(2) per month duration of use; SE=0.033; p=0.037) but not among HIV-uninfected men (0.024 kg/m(2) per month; SE=0.023; p=0.29). Adjustment for marijuana, cigarette and alcohol use in all men, or for CD4 count, viral load or HIV medication use in the HIV-infected men, did not alter the conclusions. We conclude that the use of opiates or combined opiates and cocaine does not increase the risk of weight loss in the presence or absence of HIV infection. Exclusive cocaine use may exacerbate weight loss in HIV-infection.