BACKGROUND The risk of infectious, autoimmune and immunodeficiency diseases and cancers rise in opioid addicts due to changes in innate and acquired immune responses. Three types of opioid receptors (К-δ-μ) are expressed on the surface of lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes. The present study was designed to examine the effects of different concentrations of opium on the secretion of some cy...

BACKGROUND The effect of opium on glycemic control in diabetics is a controversial issue, as some studies have shown glucose lowering effect of opium in diabetes while the results of other studies do not support this idea. The possible role of opioid peptides in the regulation of food intake has been previously investigated. However, there is no data available about relationship between opium u...

Background: Many reports are available about the increasing rate of mortality due to overuse of opioids. It has been suggested that sleep apnea can be a cause of mortality because of overuse of opioids. Opium use is common in Iran. This study aimed to assess the effect of opium on polysomnographic findings in opium addicts with sleep apnea syndrome. Materials and Methods: In this prospective ca...

BACKGROUND Controversy persists over the potential benefits/harms of opium consumption in coronary heart disease. This study investigated the association between 12 months' major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and pre-procedural opium consumption among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS Retrospectively, 1545 consecutive men who underwent PCI between 21(st) Ju...

Abstract Background: Iran (I.R.) is suffering the growing problem of opiate abuse. In evaluation of the treatment plan for opium dependent patients, a valid and reliable instrument is needed to measure patients' severity of dependence. This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Persian version of the "Substance Dependence Severity Scale" (SDSS). Methods: After tr...

Background: Substance abuse and consequently the use of methadone in Iran are reported at high levels. Drugs alter sexual function by affecting the organs of the body. The aim of this study was to evaluate sexual functioning and serum testosterone levels in opiate addicts, individuals receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), and healthy men living in the city of Rafsanjan, Iran, in 2016...

The study was carried out in 1998 in two rural desert districts namely, Barmer and Bikanpr of Rajasthan where the consumption of opium or doda is very much prevalent due to social and cultural customs in the area. The median age of the addicts was 41.1 years. The mean age of the opium/ doda addiction, the mean age at marriage, mean age at effective marriage and duration of consumption of opium ...

BACKGROUND This study investigated the correlation between risk-taking and relapse among methamphetamine (MA) abusers undergoing the Matrix Model of treatment. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted on male patients who were stimulant drug abusers undergoing the matrix treatment in the National Center for Addiction Research. A sampling was done using the availability method includin...

the marked shift in the patterns of drug use in iran, from opium smoking to injecting drug use, has led to serious health-related outcomes. this study was designed to explore characteristics of people who inject drugs (pwid) in tehran, iran. nine hundred and four pwid were recruited from treatment and harm reduction facilities, as well as drug user hangouts in public areas in tehran. participan...

of opium. Indeed, there can be few (if any) officials in authority, either in India or China, having, or who could be reasonably expected to possess, more than a very general impression regarding the subject. Yet, in many districts in India, the use of opium is as common as in China itself. On the other hand, there are numerous medical officers, who, from personal experience and observation, of...