Experience of Drug Abusers Participating in Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation Services Provided by the Counselling Centres for Psychotropic Substance Abusers (CCPSAs) in Hong Kong

Despite the official statistics showing that the number of drug users has been declining, the problem of drug abuse remains serious in Hong Kong. This problem is evidenced by the trend of hidden and prolonged drug abuse. The recovery of drug abusers is an important process, because the misuse of drugs can cause many bio-psycho-social complications. Therefore, 11 Counselling Centres for Psychotropic Substance Abusers (CCPSAs) in different districts in Hong Kong play an important role on those drug abusers [1]. As a core community-based drug rehabilitation service in Hong Kong, studies about CCPSAs are limited. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach to explore the experience of drug abusers participating in community-based drug rehabilitation services provided by CCPSAs. Five CCPSA users, who utilized the services for more than two months, participated in the semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Data collected were then analysed by thematic analysis, and five themes were generated: 1) receiving supportive counselling service in CCPSAs, 2) revealing variance towards nonmandatory services in CCPSAs, 3) encountering intrapersonal conflicts when participating in CCPSAs, 4) expanding social network through integration in group activities and 5) wishing to be a companion to other drug abusers. Findings of this study provide valuable insights towards services modification and the enhancement of drug rehabilitation and drug abusers’ wellbeing over the collaboration of healthcare workers, services providers and the media. However, this study has some limitations, and it presents suggestions for future research.

Work as An Effective Intervention Strategy and Rehabilitation Treatment Program for People Who Abuse Drugs And Alcohol

Despite years of interventions in the United States, substance abuse continues to be a major national problem in our society. For individuals affected, it can constitute a major disability and a decrease in quality of life. Current American societal expectations are that individuals who identify!they are involved in substance abuse will go to treatment, eventually recover, get off public assistance straightaway, and return to work. Most rehabilitation professionals also maintain the same expectations. The reality is that efforts of prevention do not appear to diminish the number of people with substance abuse. Traditional treatment appears to have minimal, if any, influence upon the cessation of substance abuse, and traditional vocational rehabilitation practices appear unsuited for the unique problems and types of symptoms experienced by substance abusers. Creative, yet sound, alternatives that combine effective treatment strategies and non-traditional vocational rehabilitation methods need to be exqlored and tested for effectiveness, and applied.

Acupuncture treatment of substanceinduced psychosis, addiction and pain: A review with case study

Substance-induced psychosis is an extreme mental disorder that is relevant to up to 25%of individuals presenting with first episode of psychosis.One out of three of those continuing the drug abuse will have a recurrent psychosis.In order to treat the psychosis and prevent recurrent drug abuse which might lead to another psychosis,the therapist should understand all parts of the process leading up to psychosis,including the root causes for the drug abuse and the addiction,the effect of the drugs on the body and the psychosis itself.This article reviews substance-induced psychosis and the process leading to the abuse,the addiction and the psychosis from both Western and traditional Chinese medicine and includes three case studies of patients with acute psychosis who were treated successfully.

Brain reward circuitry:The overlapping neurobiology of trauma and substance use disorders

Mental health symptoms secondary to trauma exposure and substance use disorders(SUDs)co-occur frequently in both clinical and community samples.The possibility of a shared aetiology remains an important question in translational neuroscience.Advancements in genetics,basic science,and neuroimaging have led to an improved understanding of the neural basis of these disorders,their frequent comorbidity and high rates of relapse remain a clinical challenge.This project aimed to conduct a review of the field’s current understanding regarding the neural circuitry underlying posttraumatic stress disorder and SUD.A comprehensive review was conducted of available published literature regarding the shared neurobiology of these disorders,and is summarized in detail,including evidence from both animal and clinical studies.Upon summarizing the relevant literature,this review puts forth a hypothesis related to their shared neurobiology within the context of fear processing and reward cues.It provides an overview of brain reward circuitry and its relation to the neurobiology,symptomology,and phenomenology of trauma and substance use.This review provides clinical insights and implications of the proposed theory,including the potential development of novel pharmacological and therapeutic treatments to address this shared neurobiology.Limitations and extensions of this theory are discussed to provide future directions and insights for this shared phenomena.

Early Life Stress as Factor for Use of Psychoactive Substances: Integrative Review

Purpose: To identify, analyze and synthetize the scientific evidences that support Early Life Stress (ELS) diagnosis using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), since it assumes the use of psychoactive substances later in adolescence and adulthood. Individuals that experienced some form of childhood stress may present, in adulthood, consequences that manifest into mental disorders such as problematic use of psychoactive substances. Methods: An integrative review of the literature on the subject in the databases: PubMed, Web of Science, LILACS and Psycinfo, regards studies that have been indexed in the last ten years (2003-2014). Combination of controlled and uncontrolled factors in the use and abuse of psychoactive substances, CTQ and ELS adapted to each database. Findings: The alcohol was the most used drug by the participating subjects of these research;mostly, the use of psychoactive drugs, started when they were still in adolescence;ELS and the later use of psychoactive drugs can be found more frequently in female;the lack of internal resources for dealing with stress in adulthood after ELS occurrence may have as a consequence the use of psychoactive drugs as a coping mechanism. Conclusions: It was possible to identify scientific evidences that support the ELS diagnosis, measured by the CTQ, as a determining factor for the use and abuse of alcohol and/or other psychoactive drugs in adolescence and adulthood. Implications: Investigate the ELS as a strategy to improve the therapeutic project of patients in nursing care, which will be built based on scientific evidence, so it can be more effective.

Work and activity in rehabilitation of persons with co-occurring severe mental health difficulties and substance use problems

Background: Participating in working life is important for most peoples’ economy, self-confidence, independence, social life, and feeling of belonging. Persons with co-occurring severe mental health difficulties and substance use problems have challenges in entering working life. Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the importance of work and activity for the recovery of persons with co-occurring severe mental health difficulties and substance use problems and to determine the significant elements that aid them in getting into work and/or meaningful activities. Methods: A professional development program was conducted to explore how following-up on these persons could lead to participation in working life. The data were collected through qualitative interviews with 24 participants, and with 25 of those carrying out the follow-up. Results: The participants described the benefit from the follow-up as well. They expressed enthusiasm for work and vocational training, although they all did not obtain work. Many had a better life, with more daily structure and less substance abuse. The personal encounter between the helper and the participant was ascribed crucial importance— being respected and valued, being relied on, and being able to be honest were considered significant. Conclusions: The participants valued work and regular activities, a more structured life, decreased drug abuse, and altogether a better life. The helpers’ respect, recognition and their ability to see dignity through wretchedness?and broken agreements were important. The participants emphasized the importance of getting help for different problems from different helpers at the same time, and the providers’ interdisciplinary collaboration in teams was essential. It seems that the supported employment philosophy on speedy job seeking ought to be adapted to this target group and that prior social training may be necessary.

A review of the physiological and psychological health and wellbeing of naval service personnel and the modalities used for monitoring

Naval cohorts rely heavily on personnel to ensure the efficient running of naval organisations. As such, the wellbeing of personnel is essential. In an occupational setting, naval service personnel experience a variety of physiological and psychological stressors. Most naval services arrange annual physical fitness and body composition tests to ensure the physical readiness of personnel. However, these tests only evaluate a small amount of physiological capabilities. Components such as aerobic and strength capabilities are assessed, however, other components of physical fitness such as speed, agility, anaerobic capacity and flexibility are not. In addition to the physical capabilities, personnel are impacted by fatigue, nutrition and psychological stressors such as copping in stressful situations or dealing with time away from family and friends. This review will discuss the physiological and psychological factors that affect personnel's wellbeing. In addition to this, it will also evaluate the methods that are used to assess both physiological and psychological wellbeing.

Evaluation of Addiction among Students in First Year of a French University

Background: We aimed to describe addictive behaviours and identify risk factors for addiction among students in their first year of university, which is known to represent a stressful situation conducive to the emergence of addictive behaviours. Methods: Ongoing cross-sectional survey among first-year students of the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (France). The first 16 months of the survey, which is due to run for 5 years, are analysed here. A self-report questionnaire was proposed to all first-year students during their mandatory preventive medicine consultation. The questionnaire kit comprised validated questionnaires evaluating addiction to alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, solvents, tranquillizers, hallucinogens, opiates, other drugs, internet, and gambling or games of chance. Results: In total, 1139 students were included in this analysis;participation rate was 94% among all those invited to participate. Average age was 19 ± 1 years, male to female sex ratio was 0.54. Among respondents, 18% were at risk of addiction to alcohol, 2.3% were addicted;19.6% were smokers, and 5.5% were dependent. Cannabis was the most frequently used illicit substance, with 4.8% of students at risk, and 2 subjects addicted. For the internet, 11.6% of subjects were at risk, and 1.4% were addicted. By logistic regression, students receiving grants or whose parents have a low socio-professional category were at less risk of addiction to alcohol. We also found that students at risk were less likely to accept treatment. Conclusion: These initial findings show that certain addictive behaviours are particularly prevalent among first-year students, with identifiable risk factors or protective factors, thereby opening avenues for preventive and therapeutic measures.

Substances of abuse consumption among patients seeking medical help for uro-andrological purposes:a sociobehavioral survey in the real-life scenario

Substances of abuse(SoA),as well as smoking and alcohol consumption,are well known for their impact on male fertility status,erectile function,and ejaculation.We assessed SoA consumption habits in a cohort of men seeking medical attention for uro-andrological purposes.Data from 7447 men seeking medical attention for the first time for uro-andrological purposes were analyzed.A complete medical and sexual history was collected for each patient.Smoking,alcohol,and SoA consumption were investigated.Descriptive statistics was used to describe the whole cohort.The primary motivations for their evaluation were lower urinary tract symptoms(LUTS),erectile dysfunction(ED),and infertility in 1912(25.7%),2944(39.5%),and 2591(34.8%)men,respectively.Previous use of SoA was reported by 378(5.1%)men,and 190(2.6%)individuals were current users.Patients seeking medical attention for infertility were more frequently current SoA users(107;4.1%)than men with ED(66;2.2%)and LUTS(17;0.9%)(both P<0.001).Current users of SoA were younger than those with past or no SoA history(P<0.001).Current SoA users were more frequently smokers(P<0.001)and alcohol consumers(P<0.001)than those with a previous history or those who had never tried SoA.In conclusion,approximately 3%of men seeking medical attention for uro-andrological purposes were current SoA consumers.Infertile men reported a higher use of SoA than those with ED or LUTS.Current SoA users were younger and more frequently concomitant smokers and alcohol consumers compared to those who did or had never used SoA.

Effects of Taijiquan and Qigong exercises on depression and anxiety levels in patients with substance use disorders:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Previous studies have shown that Taijiquan and Qigong exercise can effectively reduce depression and anxiety in healthy and clinical populations.At present,only a few reviews have elaborated on the premise of different types of interventions,and there is still a lack of studies that systematically summarize the clinical evidence of patients with substance use disorders.The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the impact of the Taijiquan and Qigong exercise on the mood of individuals with substance use disorders(SUD);Articles were searched in Pubmed,Embase,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,and CNKI from their inception to the May 24,2021.All randomized controlled trials(RCT)using Taijiquan and Qigong intervention were included.With the Review Manager software to determine the effect(standardized mean difference,SMD),subgroup analysis was conducted to intervention type,exercise time,and exercise duration.Nine studies totaling 823 participants were included in the study.Overall results indicated that Taijiquan and Qigong exercise had significant benefits in reducing depression(SMD=-0.35,95%CI:-0.53 to-0.18,Z=4.00,p<0.01)and anxiety(SMD=-0.31,95%CI:-0.50 to-0.11,Z=3.06,p<0.01)symptoms in SUD.When depression and anxiety were examined separately,subgroup analysis demonstrated that Taijiquan intervention(SMD=0.45,95%CI:-0.71 to-0.19,Z=3.39,p<0.01)and Qigong intervention(SMD=0.28,95%CI-0.51 to-0.04,Z=2.33,p=0.02),30–60 min exercise time(SMD=0.41,95%CI:-0.61 to-0.20,Z=3.82,p<0.01)and duration of 9–12 weeks(SMD=0.57,95%CI:-1.10 to-0.04,Z=2.10,p=0.04)more than 12 weeks(SMD=0.28,95%CI:-0.50 to-0.07,Z=2.59,p=0.01)could effectively alleviate the symptoms of depression.Meanwhile,Qigong intervention(SMD=0.31,95%CI:-0.52 to-0.10,Z=2.85,p<0.01),30–60 min exercise time(SMD=0.29,95%CI:-0.53 to-0.04,Z=2.28,p=0.02),more than 60 min exercise time(SMD=0.54,95%CI:-1.06 to-0.02,Z=2.05,p=0.04),and duration of less than 9 weeks(SMD=0.35,95%CI:-0.68 to-0.02,Z=2.07,p=0.04)had positive effects on alleviating anxiety symptoms with SUD.Taijiquan and Qigong exercise could reduce levels of anxiety and depression in those with SUD.Considering the small number of included studies,more reliable RCTs are needed on this topic.

Nematodes feel a craving- Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to study alcohol addiction

Alcohol is the most frequently-used addictive drug. However, the mechanism by which its consumption leads to addiction remains largely elusive. Given the conservation of behavioral reactions to alcohol, Caenorhabitis elegans （C. elegans） has been effectively used as a model system to investigate the relevant molecular targets and pathways mediating these responses. In this article, we review the roles of BK channels （also called SLO-1）, the lipid microenvironment, receptors, the synaptic machinery, and neurotransmitters in both the acute and chronic effects of alcohol. We provide an overview of the genes and mechanisms involved in alcoholism- related behaviors in C. elegans.