Substance use disorder in the anaesthetist: Guidelines from the Association of Anaesthetists: Guidelines from the Association of Anaesthetists.

Anaesthetists have a higher incidence of substance use disorder when compared with other doctors. This might be due to the ease of access to intravenous opioids, propofol, midazolam, inhalational agents and other anaesthetic drugs. Alcohol use disorder continues to be the most common problem. Unfortunately, the first sign that something is amiss might be the anaesthetist's death from an accidental or deliberate overdose. While there are few accurate data, suicide is presumed to be the cause of death in approximately 6-10% of all anaesthetists. If we are to prevent this, substance use disorder must be recognised early, we should ensure the anaesthetist is supported by their department and hospital management and that the anaesthetist engages fully with treatment. Over 75% of anaesthetists return to full practice if they co-operate fully with the required treatment and supervision.

Guidelines on suicide amongst anaesthetists 2019.

Anaesthetists are thought to be at increased risk of suicide amongst the medical profession. The aims of the following guidelines are: increase awareness of suicide and associated vulnerabilities, risk factors and precipitants; to emphasise safe ways to respond to individuals in distress, both for them and for colleagues working alongside them; and to support individuals, departments and organisations in coping with a suicide.

Nicotine intake in smokers increases following a single dose of haloperidol.

The effects of oral haloperidol on nicotine intake, subjective measures of craving and smoking satisfaction were compared with placebo in light-to-moderate smokers from a post-prandial cigarette and during the subsequent hour of unrestricted smoking. Subjects smoked significantly more, as measured by blood nicotine levels, when they had received haloperidol, although there was no difference between haloperidol and placebo on any subjective measures. These findings may be interpreted to reflect a compensatory increase in smoking in order to obtain the usual nicotine reward. Having achieved usual levels of reward, subjects did not experience a decrease in subjective measures of smoking satisfaction or an increase in nicotine craving.

Maternal drug use and length of neonatal unit stay.

AIMS: Infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) may require a prolonged neonatal unit admission, which has implications for both their families and bed occupancy. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the duration of neonatal unit stay would be influenced by the type of maternal drug use and particularly prolonged for the infants whose mothers had taken methadone with other substances. DESIGN: The medical records of infants born at term who were admitted consecutively to a neonatal unit because of NAS were reviewed. Data were collected regarding antenatal and neonatal factors likely to affect neonatal stay. Comparisons were then made between three groups of infants: those whose mothers took methadone alone, methadone plus other drugs or non-methadone opioids. SETTING: Level three neonatal intensive care unit. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-one infants with a median gestational age of 39 (range 37-42) weeks. FINDINGS: The 41 infants had a median duration of admission of 30 (range 3-68) days. Thirty-six of the infants required treatment for NAS; their median duration of treatment was 29 (range 6-68) days. The duration of stay and requirement for treatment were greater in the infants exposed to methadone and other drugs compared to those exposed to non-methadone opiods only (P = 0.0212, P = 0.0343, respectively). The duration of stay without requirement for treatment was also longest in the methadone plus other drugs group (P = 0.0117). CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged treatment and neonatal unit stay are influenced by the type of maternal drug abused.

Treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is suffered by infants withdrawing from substances on which they have become physically dependent after in utero exposure. They may require prolonged treatment and spend weeks or even months in hospital. A wide range of drugs have been used to treat NAS. The efficacy of few, however, have been adequately investigated. Evidence suggests that opioids are the most appropriate, at least in infants exposed to diamorphine or methadone. In all "head to head" trials, diazepam has been shown to be ineffective. Morphine and methadone are currently the most commonly prescribed opioids to treat NAS, but randomised trials have not been undertaken to determine which is the more beneficial. Many infants with NAS have been exposed to multiple substances in utero. Further research is required into whether a single opiate or a multiple drug regimen is the best option for such patients.

A review of shared care protocols for the treatment of problem drug use in England, Scotland, and Wales.

In 1995, the Department of Health instructed health authorities to establish protocols for the shared care of problem drug users. Response to this has been disappointing: 26 out of 120 health authorities have shared care arrangements in place, with the content of these differing widely.

A controlled evaluation of small-group education of general practitioners in the management of drug users.

We evaluated the effectiveness of small-group education of general practitioners (GPs) in the management of drug users. A total of 40 doctors were trained. Some 28 doctors who were unable to attend and 30 who did not want training participated as comparison groups. Sixteen months after the education, trained doctors notified significantly more drug users to the British Home Office database and more often prescribed methadone at first consultation with a drug user.

Characteristics of drug misusers and their perceptions of general practitioner care.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about drug misusers' views of the care they receive from general practitioners. AIM: This study set out to determine drug users' views about primary health care and their relationship with their general practitioners. METHOD: A semi-structured interview was conducted with 180 drug users who were consecutive attenders at five treatment services in north east London--a general practice with a special interest in treating drug users, a private drug clinic, a community drug team, a drug dependence unit and a street agency for drug users. RESULTS: The majority of the 145 London-based drug users attending the four treatment centres other than the general practice with a special interest were registered with a general practitioner (88%). Forty-two per cent of users sought out a general practitioner prepared to treat them, rather than register with a local or the family doctor. Most drug users reported that their general practitioners were aware of their drug problems (88%) but half of the general practitioners were not prescribing replacement drugs with almost 20% of the users not receiving prescriptions claiming that this was due to lack of knowledge or trust on the part of the doctor. Sixty per cent of the drug users attending the four centres perceived that their general practitioners held negative or neutral views about them. However, 34 of the 35 drug users interviewed in the specialist general practice believed their doctors had a positive view of drug users. CONCLUSION: Most drug users were registered with general practitioners but the relationship between doctor and patient was not always easy or productive. There is a need to clarify the role of general practitioners in this field and provide them with better educational opportunities.

Schizophreniform psychosis associated with the menstrual cycle.

The premenstrual and menstrual periods are associated with increased psychiatric disturbances, both of a psychotic and neurotic nature. Pre-existing psychosis can worsen in the premenstrual period, or, as we describe in the following case report, a psychosis can occur in the premenstrual period with complete remission once the bleeding has ceased.

Establishment of a liaison service for pregnant opiate-dependent women.

A pregnancy liaison and outreach service was developed as part of a community drug team to attract pregnant drug-dependent women into treatment. Women were provided with information on harm reduction, safer drug use and offered treatment for drug dependence. In total, 43 women (45 pregnancies) presented to the service over a 30-month period. Thirty-four women began out-patient treatment of opiate dependence. There was a significant reduction in maternal methadone dose by delivery. Of the 45 pregnancies, four women had therapeutic abortions, two first trimester and two second trimester spontaneous abortions and 34 live births (three women remained untraceable). All the pregnancies that continued to the third trimester proceeded uneventfully with a consequent live birth. Mean gestational age was 37.9 +/- 3.7 weeks, mean birth weight was 2863 +/- 526 g, 10 of the babies were small for gestational age. Fifteen babies required medication for neonatal withdrawal symptoms; mothers whose babies exhibited withdrawal symptoms were using significantly higher doses of methadone at delivery than mothers whose babies did not withdraw. The importance of providing this type of service for women drug users in the 1990s is discussed.

Management of the pregnant opiate user.

Increasing numbers of women are seeking help for drug misuse. In addition to problems associated with drug dependence, there are also problems concerning child care, pregnancy and women's health. In this paper we discuss the management of the pregnant opiate user, effects of opiate use in utero and postpartum and ways in which non-drug services can assist in the early identification and treatment of these women.