Early childhood maltreatment experience and later sexual behavior in Brazilian adults undergoing treatment for substance dependence

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of early childhood maltreatment and associations with later sexual behavior among adult substance users. Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled 134 substance dependents who sought outpatient care in São Paulo, Brazil. Childhood trauma prevalence was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). The Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST), drug of choice (DOC), and sexual behavior were also investigated. Results: The sample was composed predominantly of single adult males (76.1%), with alcohol as the DOC (73.9%). Experiences of emotional neglect (88.1%), emotional abuse (80.6%), physical neglect (78.4%), physical abuse (64.2%), and sexual abuse (31.3%) were prevalent. Women were more likely to have been sexually abused (OR 2.9, 95%CI 1.15-7.61) and physically abused (OR 3.7, 95%CI 1.31-10.6) in childhood. Those who were sexually abused in adulthood were more likely to have suffered physical abuse in childhood (OR 6.9, 95%CI 1.45-11.8). The odds of having been sexually abused in childhood were higher among subjects who reported to have exchanged sexual favors for drugs (OR 5.7, 95%CI 1.35-9.64) and to have been sexually abused in adulthood (OR 6.1, 95%CI 5.2-12.36). Conclusion: Physical and sexual abuse in childhood are highly prevalent in substance-dependent adults, and are associated with sexual revictimization and high-risk sexual behavior in adulthood.

Abortion and sex-related conditions in substance-dependent Brazilian patients / Aborto e saúde sexual e reprodutiva entre dependentes químicas brasileiras / Aborto y salud sexual y reproductiva entre drogodependientes brasileñas

Abstract: Abortion is a very sensitive issue with relevance to public health; however few clinical or population-based studies have examined induced abortion among drug users. The study aims to evaluate the prevalence of induced abortion and sex-related conditions in an inpatient drug user sample. A cross-sectional design study was conducted in an inpatient addiction treatment unit in São Paulo, Brazil, with a sample of 616 patients, aged 18-75. Sociodemographic data, sexual behavior, and dependence severity were evaluated in relation to induced abortion. Approximately 27% of patients reported having a history of abortion (themselves in the case of women or partners in the case of men). The mean age was 34.6±10.9 years old, 34.9% diagnosed with severe alcohol dependence, 33% were diagnosed with severe levels of dependence on other drugs, 69.6% were diagnosed cocaine users (inhaled and smoked), and alcohol was the drug of choice for 30.4%. Chances of having a history of abortion is greater for women than for men with a odds ratio (OR = 2.9; 95%CI: 1.75-4.76), (OR = 1.7; 95%CI: 1.09-2.75) of no condom use; (OR = 2.0; 95%CI: 1.35-3.23) of history of STI and (OR = 3.2; 95%CI: 1.29-5.73) use of morning-after pill. Drug- and alcohol-dependent patients have high-risk behaviours of sporadic use or no-condom use which contribute to unplanned pregnancy and induced abortion, making this vulnerable population a group which deserves special attention in sexual health prevention programmes and health promotion efforts for the reduction of induced abortion.

Resumo: O aborto é uma questão altamente sensível e com relevância para a saúde pública. Entretanto, poucos estudos clínicos ou populacionais já examinaram o aborto provocado em usuárias de drogas. O estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a prevalência de aborto provocado e condições sexuais em uma amostra de usuárias hospitalizadas. Foi realizado um estudo transversal em uma unidade hospitalar para tratamento de dependência química em São Paulo, Brasil, com uma amostra de 616 pacientes entre 18 e 75 anos de idade. Foram avaliados dados sóciodemográficos, comportamento sexual e gravidade da dependência química e a associação com o aborto provocado. Entre as próprias usuárias e seus parceiros masculinos, 27% relataram história de aborto. A média de idade era 34,6±10.9 anos, 34,9% tinham diagnóstico de dependência alcoólica grave, 33% tinham diagnóstico de níveis graves de outras dependências química, 69,6% usavam cocaína (inalada e/ou fumada) e álcool era a droga de escolha para 30,4% da amostra. Quando comparadas aos parceiros masculinos, as mulheres relatavam chances mais elevadas nos seguintes itens: história de aborto (OR = 2,9; IC95%: 1,75-4,76), falta de uso de preservativo (OR = 1,7; IC95%: 1,09-2,75), história de DSTs (OR = 2,0; IC95%: 1,35-3,23) e uso da pílula do dia seguinte (OR = 3,2; IC95%: 1,29-5,73). Os pacientes com dependência de álcool e outras drogas apresentam comportamentos de alto risco para uso nulo ou esporádico de preservativos, contribuindo para a gravidez não planejada e o aborto provocado, fazendo com que essa população vulnerável seja um grupo que merece atenção especial nos programas de prevenção em saúde sexual e nos esforços de promoção da saúde para a redução do aborto provocado.

Resumen: El aborto es una cuestión altamente sensible y relevante para la salud pública. Pese a ello, pocos estudios clínicos o poblacionales han analizado el aborto provocado en consumidoras de drogas. El estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar la prevalencia de aborto provocado y las condiciones sexuales en una muestra de drogodependientes hospitalizadas. Se realizó un estudio trasversal en una unidad hospitalaria para el tratamiento de dependencia a drogas en Sao Paulo, Brasil, con una muestra de 616 pacientes entre 18 y 75 años de edad. Se evaluaron datos sociodemográficos, comportamiento sexual y gravedad de la drogodependencia y su asociación con el aborto provocado. Entre las propias drogodependientes y sus parejas masculinas, un 27% informaron de un historial de aborto. La media de edad era 34,6±10.9 años, un 34,9% tenían un diagnóstico de dependencia alcohólica grave, un 33% tenían un diagnóstico de niveles graves de otras dependencias a drogas, un 69,6% consumían cocaína (inhalada y/o fumada) y el alcohol era la droga de elección para un 30,4% de la muestra. Cuando se compara con las parejas masculinas, las mujeres presentaban oportunidades más elevadas en los siguientes ítems: historial de aborto (OR = 2,9; IC95%: 1,75-4,76), falta de uso de preservativo (OR = 1,7; IC95%: 1,09-2,75), historial de DSTs (OR = 2,0; IC95%: 1,35-3,23) y uso de la píldora del día siguiente (OR = 3,2; IC95%: 1,29-5,73). Los pacientes con dependencia del alcohol y otras drogas presentan comportamientos de alto riesgo, asociados a un uso nulo o esporádico de preservativos, contribuyendo al embarazo no planeado y al aborto provocado, ocasionando que esa población vulnerable sea un grupo que merece atención especial en los programas de prevención en salud sexual y en los esfuerzos de promoción de la salud para la reducción del aborto provocado.

Sexual addiction in drug addicts: The impact of drug of choice and poly-addiction / Dependência sexual em dependentes químicos: o impacto de diferentes drogas de escolha e de polidependência

Summary Objective: To compare the risk of comorbid sexual addiction in a sample of individuals with a diagnosis of substance dependence, stratifying the sample by drug of choice as well as by mono versus polysubstance addiction. Method: All data were collected at Santa Casa de São Paulo, Brazil. The study sample comprised all alcohol or drug dependents admitted to the Addiction Treatment Unit between November 2013 and August 2014. A generalized linear model with a binomial distribution was performed to compare the odds of having a Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST) score greater than 6 points in the subgroups analyzed. Results: A total of 133 participants were included in our analysis, all reporting cocaine/crack and/or alcohol as drug of choice. Polysubstance addicts had a significant higher risk of a positive screening for sexual addiction compared to monosubstance addicts, age-sex adjusted odds ratios of sexual addiction being respectively 2.72 (95CI 1.1-6.71) and 0.37 (95CI 0.15-0.91). The odds of a SAST score greater than 6 was not statistically different between the cocaine/crack and alcohol groups, respectively 0.38 (95CI 0.14-1.02) and 2.67 (95CI 0.98-7.25). We found a significant relation between stronger drug addiction and greater levels of sexual addiction in the cocaine/crack group (p=0.0012), but not in the alcohol group. Conclusion: Our study reinforces the importance of assessing sexual behavior of drug addicts in clinical practice, especially considering users of multiple substances or with severe dependence.

Resumo Objetivo: Comparar o risco de dependência sexual em uma amostra de indivíduos com diagnóstico de dependência química, estratificados por droga de escolha e por dependência única ou de múltiplas substâncias. Método: Todos os dados foram coletados na Santa Casa de São Paulo, Brasil. A amostra estudada correspondeu a todos os indivíduos dependentes de álcool ou outras substâncias admitidos no Ambulatório de Dependência Química entre novembro de 2013 e agosto de 2014. Modelos lineares generalizados com distribuição binomial foram utilizados para comparar o risco de escores maiores que seis na Escala de Rastreamento para Dependência de Sexo (SAST) nos subgrupos analisados. Resultados: Foram analisados os dados de 133 pacientes usuários de cocaína/crack e/ou álcool. Usuários de múltiplas substâncias apresentaram risco significativamente maior de um screening positivo para dependência sexual comparados com usuários de uma única substância. Os odds ratios de dependência sexual ajustados por sexo e idade obtidos nos dois grupos foram, respectivamente, 2.72 (IC95% 1.1-6.71) e 0.37 (IC95% 0.15-0.91). O risco de dependência sexual entre usuários de cocaína/crack e álcool foi estimado, respectivamente, em 0.38 (IC95% 0.14-1.02) e 2.67 (IC95% 0.98-7.25), não indicando diferença significativa. Foi encontrada uma relação significativa entre severidade de dependência química e maiores níveis de dependência sexual entre dependentes de cocaína/crack, mas não de álcool. Conclusão: Nosso estudo reforça a importância de avaliar o comportamento sexual de dependentes químicos na prática clínica, especialmente considerando usuários de múltiplas substâncias, ou casos de maior severidade.

Female sexual dysfunction in patients with sub-stance-related disorders

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction symptoms and the associated risk factors in a sample of patients with substance-related disorders admitted to a specialized in-patient care unit. METHODS: This study used a cross-section design, with eight months of data collection, conducted with substance-dependent women using structured questionnaires to collect socio-demographic data and identify their drug of choice. The Drug Abuse Screening Test, Short Alcohol Dependence Data questionnaire, Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, and Arizona Sexual Experience Scale were also administered. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 105 women who had a mean age of 34.8 years (SD = 12.1, range = 18-65) and were predominantly heterosexual (74.3%), single (47.6%), Caucasian (50.5%), catholic (36.2%), and educated only to the level of primary education (40%), with a monthly family income of up to one minimum salary (37.5%). In 42.9% of the patients, crack was the drug of choice; 47.6% of the sample qualified for the Drug Abuse Screening Test (substantial problems related to drugs), 43.8% exhibited Short Alcohol Dependence Data (moderate or severe dependency), 47.6% exhibited Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (high or very high nicotine dependence). The prevalence of sexual dysfunction symptoms was 34.2% (95% CI = [25.3, 44.1]), and a high level of nicotine dependence and low income increased the chances of having sexual dysfunction by 2.72-fold and 2.54 fold, respectively. An association was also observed between female sexual dysfunction symptoms and schooling and levels of drug dependence. CONCLUSIONS: Female sexual dysfunction symptoms were common among this sample and primarily associated with high levels of nicotine use.

Brief motivational interview and educational brochure in emergency room settings for adolescents and young adults with alcohol-related problems: a randomized single-blind clinical trial / Intervenção motivacional breve e brochura educacional em pronto-socorro para adolescentes e adultos jovens com problemas relacionados ao álcool: um ensaio clínico simples-cego randomizado

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of brief motivational interviewing and an educational brochure when delivered in emergency room to reduce alcohol abuse and related problems among adolescents and young adults. METHOD: A randomized single-blind clinical trial with a three-month follow-up was carried out at three emergency rooms from October 2004 to November 2005; subjects assessed were 16-25 years old treated for alcohol related events up to 6 hours after consumption. Socio-demographic data, quantity, frequency and negative consequences of alcohol consumption, motivation to change habits and future risk perception were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed on subjects who completed follow-up (completers). ANCOVA model was used to analyze the difference between the intervention groups with statistical significance level α = 5 percent and confidence interval (CI) of 95 percent. RESULTS: 186 subjects formed the initial sample, being 175 included and randomized to the educational brochure group (n = 88) or motivational interviewing group (n = 87). Follow-up assessment was performed in 85.2 percent of the sample. No significant difference between groups was observed. However, significant reductions (p < 0.01) in related problems and alcohol abuse were found in both groups. CONCLUSION: In this sample a reduction of alcohol use and related problems was observed. Preliminary data indicate that controlled clinical trials with motivational interviewing, educational brochure and nonintervention should be of future interest among Brazilian adolescent populations.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a efetividade da entrevista motivacional breve e de uma brochura educativa quando aplicadas em prontos-socorros para reduzir o abuso e problemas relacionados ao álcool entre os jovens. MÉTODO: Um ensaio clínico randomizado simples-cego com três meses de seguimento foi realizado em três prontos-socorros de outubro de 2004 a novembro de 2005, com indivíduos de 16-25 anos tratados por eventos relacionados ao álcool com até 6 horas após o consumo. Dados sociodemográficos, quantidade, frequência e consequências negativas, motivação para mudanças de hábitos e percepção para riscos do consumo de álcool foram avaliados. A análise estatística foi realizada em indivíduos que completaram o seguimento (completados). Modelo de ANCOVA foi utilizado para analisar a diferença entre os grupos de intervenção, com nível de significância estatística α = 5 por cento e intervalo de confiança (IC) de 95 por cento. RESULTADOS: 186 indivíduos formaram a amostra inicial, sendo n = 175 incluídos e randomizados para brochura educativa (n = 88) ou grupo entrevista motivacional breve (n = 87). O seguimento de avaliação foi realizado em 85,2 por cento da amostra. Não foi observada diferença significativa entre os grupos. No entanto, uma redução significativa (p < 0,01) em problemas relacionados eo abuso de álcool foram encontrados em ambos os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: Nesta amostra, a redução do abuso de álcool e problemas relacionados foi observada. Dados preliminares indicam que os ensaios clínicos controlados com entrevista motivacional breve, brochura educativa e não-intervenção deveriam ser de futuro interesse entre a população adolescente brasileira.