Sociodemographic factors of violent deaths related to licit or ilicit psychoactive substances: a cross-sectional study, Ceará, Brazil, 2015-2019.

OBJECTIVE: To assess association between sociodemographic factors, presence of licit or illicit psychoactive substances, and types of legal death in Ceará state, Brazil. METHODS: Cross-sectional study based on autopsy data and toxicology tests on victims of cases registered by the Ceará Forensic Expert service, from 2015 to 2019. RESULTS: Of the 4,198 cases analyzed, 55.6% were positive for licit and/or illicit substances, with greater frequency of benzodiazepines (22.4%) and cocaine (21.7%) among males (45.0%), young adults (58.7%), single people (49.0%), and those with low education levels (52.8%). Association was found between benzodiazepines (29.5%) and tricyclic antidepressants (15.6%) and suicides; cocaine (28.1%) and cannabis (27.1%) and homicides; and cocaine (28.2%) and tricyclic antidepressants (5.9%) and suspicious deaths. CONCLUSION: Sociodemographic factors were associated with the use of psychoactive substances and types of legal death. Benzodiazepines and cocaine were the most frequent substances in suicide and homicide cases, respectively.

Between the streets and the RAPS: Integrative review on the access of the homeless population to Mental Health Services. / Entre as ruas e a RAPS: Revisão integrativa sobre acesso das pessoas em situação de rua aos Serviços de Saúde Mental.

This integrative review systematized the factors that influence access to mental health services for the Homeless Population (HP) in harmful use of alcohol and other drugs in the Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS) in Brazil by categorizing the factors into access "barriers" and "facilitators". We selected 13 corresponding articles and subsequently assessed their methodological quality. We identified 19 access barriers and 22 access facilitators, observing a convergence and complementarity of the factors identified, with no disagreements between authors. Although there are specific barriers and facilitators related to substance use, most are connected to HP's conditions and lifestyles or how services address the HP. Discrimination, bureaucratic rigidity of services, and a lack of intra- and intersectoral integration were identified as significant barriers. On the other hand, Street Outreach Clinics and practices such as harm reduction and matrix-based support emerged as notable facilitators, adapting to patients' needs. Future studies should explore specific factors and the relationships between these factors.

Esta revisão integrativa sistematizou os fatores que influenciam o acesso da População em Situação de Rua (PSR) que faz uso prejudicial de álcool e outras drogas aos serviços de saúde mental na Rede de Atenção Psicossocial (RAPS) no Brasil, a partir da categorização dos fatores em "barreiras" e "facilitadores" de acesso. Selecionou-se 13 artigos correspondentes, com avaliação posterior de sua qualidade metodológica. Foram encontradas 19 barreiras e 22 facilitadores de acesso, observando uma convergência e complementaridade dos fatores identificados, sem dissensos entre autores. Embora existam barreiras e facilitadores específicos relacionados ao uso de substâncias, a maioria são vinculadas às condições e modos da vida da PSR, ou às formas dos serviços de lidar com a PSR. A discriminação, rigidez burocrática dos serviços, e a falta de integração intra e intersetorial foram identificadas como barreiras significativas. Por outro lado, os Consultórios na Rua e práticas como a redução de danos e o matriciamento emergiram como facilitadores notáveis, adaptando-se às necessidades dos usuários. Há necessidade de estudos futuros que se aprofundem em fatores específicos e nas relações entre estes fatores.

Esta revisión integradora sistematizó los factores que influyen en el acceso de la Población Sin Hogar (PSH) que hace uso nocivo de alcohol y otras drogas a los servicios de salud mental en la Red de Atención Psicosocial (RAPS) en Brasil, a partir de la categorización de factores en "barreras" y "facilitadores" del acceso. Se seleccionaron 13 artículos correspondientes, con posterior evaluación de su calidad metodológica. Se encontraron 19 barreras y 22 facilitadores de acceso, observándose una convergencia y complementariedad de los factores identificados, sin disensos entre autores. Aunque existen barreras y facilitadores específicos relacionados con el uso de sustancias, la mayoría están vinculados a las condiciones y estilos de vida de la PSH, o a las formas en que los servicios abordan la PSH. Se identificaron como barreras importantes la discriminación, la rigidez burocrática de los servicios y la falta de integración intra e intersectorial. Por otro lado, las Clínicas en la Calle y prácticas como la reducción de daños y el apoyo matricial emergieron como facilitadores notables, adaptándose a las necesidades de los usuarios. Es necesario realizar estudios futuros que profundicen en factores específicos y las relaciones entre estos factores.

Longitudinal analysis of the role of mindfulness on HIV stigma, depression, substance use and HIV outcomes among female sex workers living with HIV in the Dominican Republic.

Female sex workers (FSW) living with HIV experience greater depression and worse HIV outcomes than people living with HIV (PLHIV) overall. Mindfulness is related to lower depression and higher ART adherence in PLHIV. Few studies have assessed these relationships among FSW, especially longitudinally. This study assessed the temporal relationship between mindfulness, mental health and HIV outcomes among FSW from the Dominican Republic (DR). We analyzed data collected between 2018 and 2021 among 240 FSW using mixed modeling to assess contemporaneous relationships and time-lagged relationships between mindfulness and mental health (i.e., depression,HIV stigma, drug and alcohol use ), and HIV outcomes (i.e., ART adherence, viral suppression) , accounting for clustering of repeated measures. Greater mindfulness showed contemporaneous and time-lagged associations with lower depression (contemporaneous: b = -0.57, SE = 0.03, p < 0.001; time-lagged: b = -0.16, SE = 0.05, p < 0.001), lower HIV stigma (contemporaneous: b = -0.11, SE = 0.02, p < 0.001; time-lagged: b = -0.08, SE = 0.03, p = 0.003) and higher ART adherence (contemporaneous: b = 0.03, SE = 0.01, p = 0.003; time-lagged: b = 0.04, SE = 0.01, p = 0.004), and contemporaneous associations with reduced at-risk alcohol use and higher viral suppression (aOR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.99-1.00, p = 0.003; aOR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.01, p = 0.036, separately). Mindfulness instruction is a promising intervention for reducing depression and HIV stigma, and promoting better HIV outcomes among FSW living with HIV, meriting future intervention research in this area.

Adverse events and safety concerns among university students who misused stimulants to increase academic performance.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate psychostimulant drug use among academics in the health area of a higher education institution in Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODS: We conducted an online cross-sectional study of 389 university students from various health-related fields. This study used a questionnaire to investigate the social and behavioral aspects associated with using psychostimulants. RESULTS: The prevalence of psychostimulant use was 21%, primarily in men (23.07%), medicine students (19.70%), and psychology students (18.91%). Methylphenidate was the most commonly used drug (57%). Concomitant use of psychostimulants was reported in 37% and 35% of participants who started using them during graduation. A justifiable medical diagnosis was reported by 65% of the participants; however, a large portion had no indication for their use, and 77% acquired the medication without a medical prescription. The most frequently reported effects by users included lack of appetite (68%), tachycardia (58%), insomnia (43.5%), and agitation (50%). More than 70% of users also reported concurrent use of alcohol and illicit drugs, as well as depression and anxiety, which are contraindications for psychostimulant use. Additionally, 75% of students reported using psychostimulants for neuroenhancement purposes, with the majority (52%) perceiving their course performance as good and believing that it would be different without the drug (75.8%). CONCLUSION: Psychostimulant use in the study population revealed significant risks, including a lack of a valid diagnosis, unsupervised use, drug interactions, and side effects. Therefore, the data obtained in this study may contribute to the development of educational policies focused on preventing and controlling the indiscriminate use of these medications.

Critical Overview of Current Drug Abuse in Puerto Rico based on Governmental Data.

The abuse of psychoactive substances poses a critical public health challenge in Puerto Rico, with far-reaching implications for both individuals and society as a whole. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the patterns and trends associated with drug abuse in Puerto Rico, focusing on alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, benzodiazepines, opioids, and methadone. Recent statistics reveal a concerning increase in substance abuse, particularly among young adults. Long-standing problems with alcohol and tobacco continue to drive chronic health conditions, while the legalization of medical cannabis has influenced its usage patterns. The abuse of prescription medications, especially benzodiazepines and opioids, has intensified, contributing to an expanding opioid crisis on the island. This review critically examines the current scientific literature, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive, evidence-based strategies for prevention, intervention, and regulation. It also underlines the importance of continued research efforts and the development of tailored approaches to effectively address drug abuse in Puerto Rico. By shedding light on these complex challenges, the article provides valuable insights that can inform future initiatives aimed at curbing substance abuse and promoting the well-being of Puerto Rico's population.

Addressing the needs for cultural adaptation of DARE-keepin' it REAL among Brazilian students: strategies to improve implementation.

BACKGROUND: The widely implemented prevention program in Brazil, PROERD (a translated version of the DARE-kiR program), showed no evidence of effect in preventing drug use in a recent trial. The lack of cultural adaptation and instructors' deviations from the curriculum were identified as potential reasons for its ineffectiveness. This study aims to identify points of inadequacy of the PROERD program for the Brazilian culture, suggesting strategies for revising the curriculum to improve implementation. METHODS: We triangulated data obtained from three different groups of study participants: semi-structured interviews with the law enforcement officer who implemented the program, focus groups with students who participated in the program, and questionnaires completed by external experts in the prevention field who evaluated the program's manuals. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis based on the Ecological Validity Model theory, which encompasses three main axes: methodology, content, and language to identify the main points for cultural adaptation. RESULTS: Regarding the program's methodology, there is an excess of activities with little interactivity involving literacy skills that do not match Brazilian students' cognitive development and require equipment unavailable in Brazilian public schools. Regarding content, activities were considered appropriate for evidence-based prevention; however, there were some contradictions related to the drug content. The language presented in the program's manuals was considered inappropriate for the culture of Brazilian youth (vocabulary, examples, and images). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study strongly recommends revising the PROERD curriculum Caindo na Real, ensuring it will align with the international prevention standards and Brazilian Culture.

A mindfulness-based intervention for Substance Use Disorder in a Brazilian vulnerable population: a feasibility mixed method study.

Introduction: Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a chronic condition that impacts various facets of an individual's life, and society as a whole. The Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) protocol is an innovative intervention that can help to prevent relapse, particularly when used as a post-treatment approach. However, although there is significant evidence of its effectiveness in studies from high-income countries (HICs), there is a dearth of studies examining its feasibility and efficacy in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Thus, this study investigates the feasibility of MBRP as an adjunct to outpatient treatment for SUD in a socially vulnerable Brazilian population. Methods: The study employed a mixed-methods design in eight Psychosocial Care Centers for Alcohol and Drugs (CAPS-ad) in the city of São Paulo, and involved 140 participants, 24 healthcare professionals and 7 CAPS-ad managers. In total, 17 MBRP intervention groups were conducted. The study assessed qualitative indicators of acceptability, demand, implementation, adaptation, integration, and limited efficacy testing through group interviews, in-depth interviews and field diary records. It also included limited efficacy testing of the protocol using a quantitative pre-post pilot study to investigate consumption behavior, using the Timeline Followback (TLFB) assessment method; depression, using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale; anxiety, using the state trait anxiety index (STAXI-2); craving, using the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS); readiness to change, using the Readiness-to-Change Ruler (RCR); and severity of dependence, using the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS). The qualitative data were triangulated with the quantitative data to comprehensively evaluate the feasibility of the intervention. Results: The sample comprised socially vulnerable participants with a high dropout rate, primarily due to social factors. Despite facing challenges in respect of regular engagement and initial cultural misperceptions of meditation, the intervention showed positive acceptance and mental health benefits, including impacts on consumption behavior. Discussion: The study emphasizes the importance of adapting the format of the protocol to better suit vulnerable populations, and to ensure its effective integration into the public healthcare system. Future research should explore protocol modifications, assess its effectiveness in different contexts, and conduct cost-benefit analyses for broader implementation.

"You said burnout? Whew, chile!" A multigenerational collaborative autoethnography on the complexities of burnout and care among Black women researching substance use.

BACKGROUND: Researchers and participants who are members of minoritized populations experience negative psychosocial and wellness outcomes like burnout. Burnout may manifest uniquely for Black women in academia conducting research with Black women participants navigating similar sociocultural contexts. OBJECTIVES: This article qualitatively interprets our experiences as 15 Black women scholar-practitioners at a midwestern university conducting community-engaged research. We discuss our experiences of care and burnout while working to reduce opioid use disparities among Black women community members as we simultaneously navigate multilevel challenges in academia. DESIGN: We employ collaborative autoethnography, an autobiographical writing method, using a Black feminist framework and intersectionality methodology. METHODS: We are 15 Black women researcher-subjects on the REFOCUS study-a mixed-methods National Institute on Health-funded project examining nonmedical prescription opioid misuse among Black Kentuckians. We examined a series of multigenerational sista circles and individual journal entries we completed to understand the multilevel power dynamics impacting our individual and collective work, burnout, and care. RESULTS: Themes were: (1) "I see me in you": Research with Black Women, (2) "Pervasive, cellular, and epigenetic": Burnout Experiences; (3) "Taxing but rewarding": The Price We Pay to See an Outcome, and (4) "Thank God for the collective": Complexities of Caring Through the Process. CONCLUSION: We highlight the importance of continued efforts to address workload inequities among Black women in academia, particularly for those working to combat health disparities among Black women or within Black communities. We make recommendations for structural, institutional, and interpersonal steps to improve the support of Black women across career stages.

We discuss our experiences as a multigenerational collective of Black women researchers conducting substance use research among Black women reporting opioid misuse. We conducted a Black feminist collaborative autoethnography, which allowed us to become "researcher-subjects." As researcher-subjects, we examined our burnout and care reflections from multigenerational conversations and individual reflections. We make several recommendations across structural, institutional, and interpersonal levels to better support Black women working to reduce health disparities in Black communities.

[The symbolic value of drug use for ill-housed people: drug that kills and nourishes]. / O valor simbólico do uso de droga para população em situação de rua: droga que mata e alimenta.

Drugs have been consumed since ancient times, and their taboo has generated segregation and hindered the proper confrontation of harmful use. This study investigated the real and symbolic values of drug use for ill-housed people beyond pathologization, seeking to understand factors that hinder giving them up, even with intense losses and suffering. It also aimed to understand its implications for health care. This is a phenomenological qualitative research based on participant observation of ill-housed people care provided by the Street Clinic, interviews with ill-housed people and focus group with professionals from the Health Care Network in Rio de Janeiro city, Brazil, between March 2017 and July 2019. Results showed that "drug use" interacted with the research categories as follows: drugs are the main reason for living and staying on the streets; drugs motivate having financial activity; drugs cause abandonment of health treatment; drugs soothe and cause depression, suffering and hunger; drugs make them seek shelter and religion to "escape" using, but without adequate treatment hope leads to relapse and low self-esteem - which one want to get rid of, but few successes undermine hope. As expected, it is the reason for divergences among professionals regarding the type of care and support for ill-housed people. Given the results, how can we face abusive use that relieves hunger, loneliness, suffering and depression? How to take care of a use that generates hunger, depression, affective, health and self-esteem losses? A cyclical story told by people in situations of extreme vulnerability. Unveiling the symbolic plurality of drug use enables reflections and new ways of caring for ill-housed people.

Desde a antiguidade, consome-se drogas e seu tabu promoveu segregações e inibiu o enfrentamento adequado do uso nocivo. Este trabalho objetivou descortinar valores reais e simbólicos do uso de drogas pela população em situação de rua para além da patologização, buscando entender fatores que dificultam sua renúncia, mesmo com perdas e sofrimentos intensos. Este estudo visou também compreender as implicações do uso para o cuidado de saúde. Esta é uma pesquisa qualitativa fenomenológica, envolvendo observação participante do atendimento da população em situação de rua pelo Consultório na Rua, entrevistas com população em situação de rua e grupo focal com profissionais da Rede de Atenção à Saúde, em território do Município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, entre março de 2017 a julho de 2019. Resultados mostraram que "uso de droga" teve interação com as categorias da pesquisa da seguinte forma: droga é o principal motivo para viver e manter-se na rua; motiva a ter atividade financeira; faz abandonar tratamento de saúde; aplaca e provoca depressão, sofrimento e fome; faz buscar abrigo e religião, para "fugir" das drogas mas sem o tratamento adequado, esperança transverte-se em recaída e baixa autoestima, da qual deseja livrar-se, no entanto, poucos êxitos minam a esperança. Correcionalmente, é motivo das divergências entre profissionais quanto ao tipo de cuidado e apoio para necessidades da população em situação de rua. Diante dos resultados, como enfrentar o uso abusivo que alivia fome, solidão, sofrimento e depressão? Como cuidar do uso que gera fome, depressão, perdas afetivas, de saúde e autoestima? Uma história cíclica contada por pessoas em situação de extrema vulnerabilidade. Evidenciar a pluralidade simbólica do uso de drogas possibilita reflexões e novas formas de cuidar da população em situação de rua.

Desde la antigüedad las drogas se consumen y su tabú ha promovido la segregación y ha inhibido el enfrentamiento adecuado del uso nocivo. El objetivo fue descubrir valores reales y simbólicos del consumo de drogas por parte de la población sin hogar más allá de la patologización, buscando comprender factores que dificultan la renuncia, incluso con pérdidas y sufrimiento intensos. También tuvo como objetivo comprender sus implicaciones para el cuidado de salud. Esta es una investigación cualitativa fenomenológica, que implica la observación participante de la atención de la población sin hogar por el Consultorio en la Calle, entrevista de la población sin hogar y grupo focal con profesionales de la Red de Atención a la Salud, en el territorio del municipio de Río de Janeiro, Brasil, entre marzo/2017 y julio/2019. Los resultados mostraron que el "consumo de drogas" interactuó con las categorías de investigación de la siguiente manera: las drogas son la principal razón para vivir y permanecer en la calle; que motivan tener una actividad financiera; que hacen que las personas abandonen el tratamiento de salud; que aplacan y provocan depresión, sufrimiento y hambre; que hacen que las personas busquen refugio y religión para "escapar" de las drogas, pero sin el tratamiento adecuado, la esperanza se convierte en recaída y baja autoestima, de la que quieren deshacerse, pero los pocos éxitos socavan la esperanza. Correccionalmente, es motivo de desacuerdos entre profesionales en cuanto al tipo de cuidado y apoyo a las necesidades de la población sin hogar. Ante los resultados, ¿cómo podemos afrontar el uso abusivo que alivia el hambre, la soledad, el sufrimiento y la depresión? ¿Cómo cuidar el consumo que genera hambre, depresión, pérdidas afectivas, de salud y autoestima? Una historia cíclica contada por personas en situación de extrema vulnerabilidad. Resaltar la pluralidad simbólica del uso de drogas posibilita reflexiones y nuevas formas de cuidar de la población sin hogar.

Repercussions of the covid-19 pandemic on the work of psychosocial care centers for alcohol and other drugs.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic on the work of Psychosocial Care Centers for Alcohol and other Drugs. METHOD: qualitative, descriptive - exploratory study, with 60 health workers from Psychosocial Care Centers for Alcohol and other Drugs in Porto Alegre/ Rio Grande do Sul, from January to December 2021. Collection was carried out using a questionnaire sent by email or in person and the analysis of the content of the responses was of the thematic type of the open question. RESULTS: an increase in demand from users and crises, social determinants of the pandemic, changes in work, contingency plans, moral distress and expressions of feelings by healthcare workers were observed. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: the repercussions of the pandemic on work and workers' mental health reflect the need for monitoring and care for workers in the post-pandemic period. It is also suggested to incorporate online activities to support the psychosocial care model.

Fostering collective action for adolescent well-being: citizen science in a Colombian semi-rural area.

We present findings from the Our Voice in Barú project, examining adolescent engagement in citizen science to address environmental and social factors affecting well-being in a semi-rural Afro-descendant community in Latin America. The project aimed to identify barriers and enablers of well-being, informing adolescent-led actions for sustainable environmental changes relevant to adolescent health. Utilizing the Our Voice citizen science method, which involved technology-enabled walks, participatory cartography workshops and community meetings, we engaged adolescents and other community members. Complex systems framework was employed to analyze results and assess the promotion of collective action and local change. Local enablers of well-being included availability of quality sports and recreational venues as safe spaces, educational settings and cultural aspects, fostering safety, community pride, and personal growth. Conversely, barriers included environmental contamination, deteriorated sports venues and drug addiction, indicating the community's limited access to services and exposure to harmful substances. Adolescent citizen scientists, in partnership with the research team and relevant community decision-makers, successfully achieved changes aimed at identified barriers, including infrastructural enhancements like the repair of pumps to remove stagnant water, improvements in the quality and safety of recreational venues, and the implementation of community-led initiatives to address substance abuse and promote healthier behaviors. The Our Voice in Barú project empowered adolescents to advocate for change and promoted collective action to tackle barriers identified as significant to their well-being.

Xylazine abuse, the growing risk: A review of its effects, upsurge use and associated fatalities in the USA and Puerto Rico.

In the last decade, the opioid overdose epidemic has been exacerbated by the emerging drug of abuse, xylazine. This veterinary anesthetic, an alpha-2 agonist, not only potentiates the fatal effects of opioids but also causes toxic endothelial effects. This review aims to assess the impact of xylazine use and overdoses within the context of the opioid crisis as a public health issue. The research used data from scientific publications, state health reports, and analyses from the Institute of Forensic Sciences of Puerto Rico. The databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus were searched for relevant publications. The search strategy employed two groups of terms: the drug of interest (xylazine) and types of exposure (drug use, overdose, substance abuse, etc.). The initial search in PubMed was then extrapolated, and the search terms were adjusted for appropriate database syntax. According to the most recent publications and CDC data in the USA, approximately 95 % of fentanyl overdose cases involve xylazine, while the other 5 % of overdose cases are attributed solely to xylazine, predominantly administered intravenously. In the last four years, more than 4000 overdose deaths have been related to xylazine use; the northeastern United States had reported the most significant number of deaths. This number changes daily as reanalysis results and new data are published. Less than 50 % of states perform tests for xylazine detection or maintain statistical monitoring of overdoses related to this drug. The absence of testing impedes emergency room physicians from making accurate diagnoses, increasing the likelihood of fatal overdoses. This review highlights five major concerns: (1) The recognition of intoxication as a primary concern and the unavailability of alpha-2 antagonists for treatment. (2) The challenges in the clinical setting linked to xylazine abuse and its co-administration with substances like fentanyl and its analogs. (3) The necessity for robust government statistical resources for the unification and dissemination of critical overdose and emerging drug abuse detection information. (4) The need for effective rehabilitation programs, including psychosocial support and treatment interventions, to respond to this public health crisis. (5) The urgency for further research to understand the prevalence, toxic effects of chronic or acute use, and the clinical implications in xylazine users, including the development of alpha-2 antagonists for treatment. We conclude that addressing these concerns is crucial to working with the xylazine abuse situation.

Predictive factors for hospital self-discharge in tuberculosis admissions in the state of Rio de Janeiro, from 2011-2018: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess factors associated with hospital self-discharge of patients with tuberculosis in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2011-2018. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study in a referral hospital. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics were compared according to hospitalization outcome (self-discharge, formal discharge, or death). Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for the association of self-discharge with explanatory variables were estimated using Cox regression. RESULTS: Of the 1429 hospitalizations, 10.4% ended in self-discharge. Female sex (HR = 1.47; 95%CI 1.03;2.11), age ≤ 42 years (HR = 2.01; 95%CI 1.38; 2.93), substance use (HR = 1.62; 95%CI 1.12; 2.34), hospitalization after treatment dropout (HR = 2.04; 95%CI 1.37; 3.04), and homelessness (HR = 2.5; 95%CI 1.69; 3.69) were associated with self-discharge. CONCLUSION: Patients with social vulnerability require more careful monitoring during hospitalization. MAIN RESULTS: Homeless people, illicit drug use, female sex and history of dropout from previous treatment showed association with hospital self-discharge in patients with tuberculosis admitted to a reference hospital in the state of Rio de Janeiro. IMPLICATIONS FOR SERVICES: Need for more comprehensive support for vulnerable patients, in addition to promoting treatment adherence and training health professionals to deal with the complex psychosocial issues related to tuberculosis. PERSPECTIVES: It is crucial to develop public policies that consider social factors in tuberculosis management, as well as promoting cooperation and multisectoral approaches to address both tuberculosis and underlying social issues.

The consequences of childhood maltreatment on dual-diagnosis psychiatric conditions and clinical outcomes in substance use disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that the phenotypic expression of substance use disorders (SUD) may be influenced by exposure to childhood maltreatment (CM). OBJECTIVE: To assess how CM could impact severity (relapse, treatment dropout, withdrawal), age of substance use onset, psychiatric dual diagnosis (depression, anxiety, PTSD, distress), and self-harm behavior/suicide attempts in adults with SUD, we performed a systematic review and meta-analyses. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Embase to identify articles examining the association of maltreatment (physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or neglect) before age 18 years with clinical features and course of illness SUD. Multilevel random effects models were performed. Heterogeneity was quantified using the I2 statistic. Subgroup/meta-regression analyses were employed to investigate sources of heterogeneity. Risk of bias was assessed using an adapted version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. RESULTS: Forty-five studies were included. CM was associated with all tested outcomes, such as anxiety (OR = 1.52; 95 % CI = 1.39, 1.65), depression (OR = 1.57; 95 % CI = 1.40, 1.77), PTSD (OR = 1.67; 95 % CI = 1.40, 1.99), psychological distress (OR = 1.49; 95 % CI = 1.24, 1.78), self-harm behavior and suicidal attempts (OR = 1.70; 95 % CI = 1.47, 1.96), SUD severity (OR = 1.15; 95 % CI = 1.04, 1.26), and younger age of onset use (OR = 0.76; 95 % CI = 0.69, 0.84). However, comparisons between outcomes revealed that the association was stronger for dual diagnosis symptoms/conditions than for measures of SUD severity itself. Meta-analyses for some outcomes had large statistical heterogeneity, though these were partly addressed through additional analyses. Gender, mean age of participants, polysubstance use pattern, substance of preference, and CM subtype were found to be moderators of these associations. CONCLUSIONS: The consequences of CM on individuals with SUD are more closely linked to co-occurring psychiatric manifestations than to the severity of common clinical indicators (relapse, treatment dropout, withdrawal), and this finding has important implications. FUNDING: None. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42021245936).

Traditional Medicine, Culture, and Psychedelic Science: New Pathways for Recovery From Substance Use Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: This article provides an intercultural transdisciplinary perspective on the Indigenous roots of the resurging field of psychedelic science in the management of substance use disorders (SUDs). Ritual uses of entheogens (i.e., psychedelics of natural origin) are elaborate technologies for navigating, containing, and therapeutically directing non-ordinary states of consciousness induced by these compounds. METHOD: A narrative review of the literature on the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca, peyote, psilocybin-containing mushrooms, Incilius alvarius-derived 5-MeO-DMT (5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine), and iboga for the treatment of SUDs was conducted. This article also describes the application of some of these entheogens within a pilot intercultural clinical program implemented by the Yaqui tribe in Sonora, Mexico, for the treatment of SUDs and other mental health challenges. RESULTS: Observational research and preliminary clinical studies indicate the therapeutic potential and relative safety of these compounds in appropriate contexts, including the use of careful screening practices and complementary psychotherapeutic interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary research points to the potential therapeutic value of integrating entheogenic plant and fungi medicine with culturally attuned therapeutic strategies. Respectful intercultural dialogue across worldviews and scientific paradigms allows for the further development of new perspectives at the intersection of entheogens, addiction treatment, mental health, and traditional medicine. More interdisciplinary research is necessary in this field.

Sleep debt-induced anxiety and addiction to substances of abuse: A narrative review.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) has been conceptualized as an outcome of a dysregulated reward system. However, individuals with SUD suffer from anxiety with an intensity depending on the abstinence period length. This review discusses the role of anxiety as a major contributor to the initiation and perpetuation of SUD, and its dependence on an up-regulated defense-antireward system. In addition, it is discussed that sleep debt, and its psychosocial consequences, promote anxiety, contributing to SUD generation and maintenance. Healthy sleep patterns can be disrupted by diverse medical conditions and negative psychosocial interactions, resulting in accumulated sleep debt and anxiety. Within this narrative review, we discuss the interplay between the motivation-reward and defense-antireward systems, framing the progression from recreational drug use to addiction. This interplay is nuanced by sleep debt-induced anxiety and its psychosocial consequences as contributory vulnerability factors in the genesis of addiction.

Persistent homology reveals robustness loss in inhaled substance abuse rs-fMRI networks.

Analyzing functional brain activity through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is commonly done using tools from graph theory for the analysis of the correlation matrices. A drawback of these methods is that the networks must be restricted to values of the weights of the edges within certain thresholds and there is no consensus about the best choice of such thresholds. Topological data analysis (TDA) is a recently-developed tool in algebraic topology which allows us to analyze networks through combinatorial spaces obtained from them, with the advantage that all the possible thresholds can be considered at once. In this paper we applied TDA, in particular persistent homology, to study correlation matrices from rs-fMRI, and through statistical analysis, we detected significant differences between the topological structures of adolescents with inhaled substance abuse disorder (ISAD) and healthy controls. We interpreted the topological differences as indicative of a loss of robustness in the functional brain networks of the ISAD population.

Sense of coherence and substance use in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study systematically reviews the evidence on the association between sense of coherence (SOC) and substance use during adulthood. Two researchers conducted independent literature searches on the PubMed, LILACS, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases. Original articles assessing SOC and substance use in adults (age > 19 years) were included. Two reviewers independently assessed studies in two phases - initially by reading the title/abstract, then the full text. Discrepancies were resolved by a third reviewer. Estimates were pooled using random-effects models. Bibliographic search identified 21 studies on the association between SOC and substance use in adults. Studies (n = 11) that assessed the association with tobacco smoking found a 0.92 (95%CI: 0.82; 1.01, very low degree of certainty) odds of smoking among those with a high SOC; the association was not modified by age. Individuals with a strong SOC had lower odds of using alcohol (pooled effect: OR = 0.70, 95%CI: 0.50; 0.90, very low degree of certainty); adjustment for confounding variables decreased the magnitude of the association (pooled OR = 0.89, 95%CI: 0.80; 0.98). This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that a strong SOC protects against substance use among adults regardless of age, with practical implications for preventive interventions and tailored strategies aimed at high-risk individuals. Longitudinal studies are needed to understand the impact of SOC on substance use. Examining interactions with socioeconomic factors and including diverse populations would enhance generalizability.

The Translated and Adapted Brazilian Version of the Behavioral Enabling Scale for Family Members of Psychoactive Substance Users: An Analysis of the Factorial Structure and Internal Consistency.

OBJECTIVE: The enabling behaviors of family members of psychoactive substance users can be crucial in maintaining addiction. There are no psychometrically evaluated instruments to measure the frequency of the enabling behaviors of family members of psychoactive substance users. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the internal consistency and factor structure of the Behavioral Enabling Scale. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was carried out, with a secondary analysis of data collected from 400 family members of psychoactive substance users that used a hotline service in Brazil. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted with an initial sample of 200 protocols, and with the remaining 200 protocols, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The internal consistency estimate proved entirely satisfactory in both samples, where the first presented a Cronbach's alpha of 0.76 and the second had a consistency estimate of 0.79. Factor analysis was conducted using a shortened version of the instrument, with 15 items, during which six factors that cover 65% of the scale's explained variance were extracted. KMO = 0.68 and Bartlett's test of sphericity = X2 (gl = 153) 497.201, p < 0.0001, were significant. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian version of the Behavioral Enabling Scale is a valid tool that measures the frequency of the enabling behaviors of family members of psychoactive substance users. The measurement instrument enables further investigations into the behavior of family members regarding the use of psychoactive substances by their relatives.

Mental health conditions of Colombian adolescent population: An approach to risk.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mental health conditions of adolescents in the city of Manizales, Colombia, and explore risk regarding gender-based differences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Quantitative, nonexperimental, descriptive research with associative scope. A total of 316 adolescents were assessed using five scales to evaluate mental health conditions: the Perceived Stress Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Penn Alcohol Craving Scale and The Substance Dependence Severity Scale. Univariate and bivariate analysis was performed, Chi square and Odds Ratio were tested. RESULTS: The findings indicated that being female is a risk factor for high levels of perceived stress, depressive episodes and anxiety. Additionally, adolescents who are not attending school are at higher risk for dependence and abuse of psychoactive substances. Conversely, being female acts as a protective factor against dependence on psychoactive substances. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest a higher tendency among the participants towards experiencing depressive episodes. Regarding perceived stress, 71.5% of the participants fell into the low category, while 70.6% experienced a current episode of generalized anxiety.