BACKGROUND Drug abuse, especially opium abuse, is a major public health problem in Iran. Recent reports suggest that opium sellers cheat their customers by adding lead to the opium. Contaminated opium can threaten the health of consumers. The present study aimed to compare the serum level of lead between opium dependents and a control group. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study in which 5...

Objective To describe an outbreak of lead poisoning among opium users in the Islamic Republic of Iran and estimate the number of affected people in the country. Methods We used data from the country's largest poison treatment centre to illustrate the epidemiology of an outbreak of lead poisoning in oral opium users. We describe the government's referral and treatment guidelines in response to...

Objectives To investigate the association between opium use and subsequent risk of death. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting The Golestan Cohort Study in north-eastern Iran collected detailed validated data on opium use and other exposures at baseline. Participants were enrolled between January 2004 and June 2008 and were followed to May 2011, with a follow-up success rate of over 99%. Pa...

The paper examines the rise and fall of Golden Triangle opium-producing region, by focusing on local economic social conditions, as well international factors that have affected opium production in Myanmar (formerly Burma), Laos, Thailand. By 1970, countries produced 70 percent world’s opium, but even late 1990s, figure remained 66 percent, only today has region become less significant, a resul...

BACKGROUND In clinical practice, the level of sensory block in spinal anesthesia in opium abusers is lower than that in non-abusers because of adaptive changes caused by opium use. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the level of sensory block resulting from the intrathecal administration of 0.5% bupivacaine in opium abuser patients undergoing lower extremity and lower abdomin...

ôbjective: ôpium was referred to as the ancient medicine's method of choice for treating diabetes mellitus. but in some recent studies, it is reported as the cause for higher blood sugar levels. the aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of opium use among diabetic patients and attitude of them towards the effects of opium use on their disease. methods: this cross-sectional study ...

Opium consumption is increasing in some eastern societies, where it is grown. We investigated the effect of opium smoking on plasma atherogenic index and incidence of lethal cardiac arrhythmia, i.e. ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) in rabbits. Animals were divided into two-, normo- and hyper-cholesterolemic main groups fed with normal or high cholesterol diet prior...

BACKGROUND The main source of studies about effects of opium consumption on heart and brain attacks originates from Iran Therefore the aim of the present study was to assess opium addiction as a probable influencing factor for ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out in two Cardiology and Neurology clinics in Eastern Iran in 201...

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...

Through epidemiological method, prevalence of drug dependence in the four villages of Panjgur is estimated to be 3.37% of the population.. Cannabis was found to be abused by 1.13%, opium 0.5% and heroin 0.64%. The difference between the estimates of heroin abuse made earlier through information from patients and the current survey is more than five times. It is suggested that currently used est...