The impact of trauma on drug users’ identities

Background and Objective: Several over-the-counter drugs have been documented as an essential issue in the community pharmacy setting owing to their liability to abuse. Pharmacists act as a critical monitor for these concerns and evaluate the seriousness of the patients’ condition. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding drug abuse and misuse among pharmacists at a community pharmacy in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a validated self-administered questionnaire was carried out among community pharmacists over three months April to June 2019. The survey had 25 items on the experience, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, strategies, and opinions of participants toward drug abuse and misuse. Results: A total of 239 community pharmacists responded to the survey. About 84% of them had received training on drug misuse or abuse. The majority of community pharmacists (85.8%) would like to be provided educational programs on drug abuse in the future. Nearly all the pharmacists (94.9%) reported providing suitable advice to suspected drug misusers either in written or oral form at their pharmacies. Approximately 31% agreed or strongly agreed to dispense controlled drugs through a pharmacy. Regarding the ethical matter of selling misusers controlled drugs, 93.7% of the respondents believed that it is deceptive to offer misusers controlled medications. A comparison of knowledge and beliefs (univariate analysis) showed that the results were significant only for respondents who had graduated from Yemen (p = 0.007) and respondents who had an experience of four to six years or more (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The findings revealed that the majority of community pharmacists had been trained in recognizing drug abuse or dependence during their pharmacy college education. In addition, majority of them reported that they warned or counseled patients about the occurrence of adverse drug reactions to specific medications. However, majority of them agreed that selling controlled drugs is unethical in a community pharmacy. Thus, effective implementation of pharmaceutical rules and laws is a fundamental need in the Saudi Arabian health care system and we suggest stringent execution of the regulations by the Saudi health care authorities.

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we examined relationships and differences between personal and vicarious life stories, i.e., the life stories one knows of others. Personal and vicarious life stories of both members of 51 young couples (102 participants), based on McAdams’ Life Story Interview (2008), were collected. We found significant positive relationships between participants’ personal and vicarious life stories on agency and communion themes and redemption sequences. We also found significant positive relationships between participants’ vicarious life stories about their partners and those partners’ personal life stories on agency and communion, but not redemption. Furthermore, these relationships were not explained by similarity between couples’ two personal life stories, as no associations were found between couples’ personal stories on agency, communion and redemption. These results suggest that the way we construct the vicarious life stories of close others may reflect how we construct our personal life stories.

Purpose: To assess the knowledge, attitude and opinion of final-year undergraduate and postgraduate pharmacy students regarding inappropriate drug use in a university campus, Amman, Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a self-completed validated anonymous questionnaire that consisted of two parts was adopted. The first part of the questionnaire pertained to respondents’ demographic details, education level and any experience they might have had with drug misuse or abuse. The second part described students' knowledge, attitude and practice regarding the identification, prevention and management of drug misuse and abuse. Results: A total number of 198 pharmacy students filled the questionnaire (N = 131 undergraduate, and N = 67 postgraduate students). A majority of the students strongly agreed/agreed that all pharmacy staff must be trained on recognizing drug abusers (92.0 %), informed of the kinds of drugs abused in the local area of the pharmacy (93.4 %) and trained on methods of dealing with drug abusers (92.6 %). Conclusion: There is a need to implement a well-structured training on the identification, prevention and management of prescription and OTC drug misuse and abuse in undergraduate pharmacy curricula in Jordan. Modules should be updated regularly and tailored to meet the needs of pharmacy practice.

ABSTRACT:Drug abuse is the willful misuse of either licit or illicit drugs for the purpose of recreation, perceived necessity or convenience. Drug abuse is a more intense and often willful misuse of drugs often to the point of addiction. In the eastern world the incidence shows a decline or a static pattern but the number of drug addicts is still enormous.. The major drug of abuse are heroin and marijuana but designer drugs are shown to be on the increase. The aim of the study is to determine the ratio of the drug abuse in student. For this purpose we selected different institutions including “the university of Lahore”, “Forman Christian college”(private sector) and Punjab university(Govt sector) and conducted survey in 500 student. High proportion of students was found abusing drugs. From this study, we came across multiple factors which are the main cause of drug abuse in medical student including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, as well as personality disorder like antisocial personality disorder. The most commonly abused drugs include stimulants, opioids, and benzodiazepines, antihistamines. Although survey have indicated high rate of illicit and prescription drugs misuse among college students, few have assessed the negative consequences, personel concerns, or interest in intervention for drugs use. Drug abuse although regarded as a personality disorder, may also be seen as worldwide epidemic with evolutionary genetic, physiology and environmental influences Controlling and affecting human behavior. Globally, the use has reached all time high. The study showed males are more drug abusers as compared to females. The drug abuse ratio in students of private sector is more as compared to Govt sector.

Characterization of Adolescent Prescription Drug Abuse and Misuse Using the Researched Abuse Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance (RADARS®) System

Few topics can be expected to provoke more spirited social conversation than sports or drug misuse or abuse. When the talk turns to sports and drugs, even professionals working with athletes are likely to disagree on the best approach to the problem. Dr Ryan, who has broad experience in sports medicine, presents the prevailing viewpoints on drug abuse and misuse by athletes and discusses the reason that an effective method of dealing with this issue has not been developed.

Background: The use of drugs for purposes other than those for which they are meant to be used or in excess amounts. Psychoactive drugs are some of the drugs more commonly abused, also, antibiotics and other medications too can be misused. Drug abuse and misuse can lead to serious social, medical and emotional harm to the patients, and antibiotic resistance that makes treatment harder are also likely complications. Method: Patients in both male and female wards of the Orthoepaedics Department of ATBUTH, Bauchi were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and their responses were recorded and data were analyzed using the SPSS version 29. Results: A total of 112 patients were interviewed, 76 males and 36 females. Thirty-two (28.6%) patients had taken various kinds of unprescribed medications while on admission: 9 patients had taken unprescribed tramadol, 4 patients had taken codeine, 6 Ampiclox, 5 flagyl and about 8 patients had taken different kinds of traditional medications while on admission. Among the 32 patients, 23 (72%) are aged less than 30 years, 5 (16%) are aged between 30 and 50 years and 4 (12%) are aged above 50 years. Sixteen (50%) had such medications brought to them by relatives or friends, 10 (30%) were given by other patients on admission, 5 (15%) brought or bought the drugs by themselves while 1 (5%) were given by a non-clinical staff of the hospital. Conclusion: Drug misuse and abuse is a very serious, deleterious practice with destructive consequences in its wake, such consequences as drug dependency with all its antecedent effects, antibiotic resistance and difficulties in controlling/managing infections are but a few. So, it’s very important to both educate patients about these terrible practices and cope with the spread of them in our wards and hospitals.

Background and Aim: The misuse and abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs present a significant global public health concern, particularly in Libya, where there is a lack of information regarding the knowledge and perspectives of community pharmacy personnel on this issue. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of community pharmacy practitioners concerning the misuse/abuse of prescription and non-prescription medicines. To identify the strategies employed to mitigate drug misuse and abuse. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study utilizing a standardized questionnaire was undertaken among 170 community pharmacy practitioners in Zawia City between January and March 2023, with data analysis conducted using SPSS. Results: Out of the 170 participants surveyed, 150 provided responses, yielding insights that 77.9% of respondents were able to differentiate between drug abuse and misuse.81.3% believed that some OTC medicines were being misused /abused in their pharmacy. 75% of the study sample thought that it was unethical to sell misused controlled drugs. The two most used strategies were advising consumers about adverse drug reactions (69.3%) and refusal to sell (58.6%). Conclusion: This study has provided valuable insights into community pharmacy practitioners' knowledge, attitudes, and perspectives regarding the misuse/abuse of OTC and prescription medicines. Strategies for OTC medicine regulations, ongoing pharmacy educational and training programs, and patient awareness are imperative to mitigate the risks associated with drug misuse and abuse.

The elderly are at particular risk for drug misuse and abuse, yet this problem is underdiagnosed. Drug misuse is the underuse, overuse, or erratic use of a drug. Drug abuse is the use of a drug for other than its intended purpose. A thorough nursing assessment is essential to detect and correct drug misuse and to diagnose drug abuse. In this paper methods to prevent and correct drug misuse and abuse are discussed. Case studies are used to illustrate the complexity of the problem.

A Prospective Examination of Service Use by Abused and Neglected Children Followed Up Into Adulthood

We analyzed intentional exposures to prescription opioids (buprenorphine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine, methadone and Oxycodone) using the Research Abuse, Diversion and Addiction-Related Survllience System (RADARS®) Poison Center data over a 5 year period 2003–2007 to see if there were temporal trends in the abuse and misuse of prescription drugs associated with (1) weekends vs. weekdays and (2) during select holiday periods vs. non-holiday periods. Over the study period 25 of 120 holiday period days showed a decrease of at least 1 SD from the mean and 9 of 120 holiday period days showed an increase of at least 1 SD from the mean. Over the study period there were 144,653 intentional exposures. Mean percent of cases by day of week ranged from 14.03% to 14.39%, with slightly higher use on weekend days. There was no significant difference when evaluating prevalence of intentional exposures by day of week (p = 0.99). There was no significant difference when evaluating weekend versus weekday (p > 0.05). In summary, the prevalence of abuse and misuse of prescription drugs was not impacted by day of the week or difference between weekday and weekend. The impact of 8 traditional holidays appeared to be associated with a minor decrease in abuse and misuse of prescription drugs. No temporally related increase in abuse and misuse of prescription drugs was noted and conversely a trend toward decreased abuse and misuse of prescription drugs was suggested.

Teacher identity has become an emergent theme in language teaching research. Research studies on language teacher identity have focused on teachers in secondary and tertiary education. Language teachers at primary schools have not been at the centre of research attention. To fill the gap, this study explores the construction of practice and identity in primary school English language teaching in Vietnam. The study drew on the theories of teacher identity in both general education and language teaching. The conceptual framework for inquiring into teachers’ construction of identity and practice was developed mainly from a social theory of learning (Wenger, 1998). The study used a combination of case study and narrative inquiry. The participants in the multiple cases are six teachers of English language working in six different primary schools in Vietnam. Data for the study were collected from interviews, classroom observations and reflective journals. The underlying principle of induction, especially cross-case analysis, was employed for data analysis in this study. The participating teachers’ identities and practices have been constructed from a variety of sociocultural factors such as family background, learning culture and social concepts of education, especially their own learning experience. Entering their teaching career, all of them built both theory and practice of teaching young learners by learning from their colleagues in primary schools. However, the six teachers’ participation in the primary school as a ‘community of practice’ included not only peace, happiness and harmony but also tensions, disagreement and conflicts. Therefore, each teacher sought other communities beyond the school community for learning to teach, such as a separate group of primary English language teachers, their family, higher level TESOL groups and the imagined community of Vietnamese and expatriate teachers. In this sense, their practices and identities have been constructed from multi-memberships in multi-communities. The participants’ construction of practice and identity faced pressures and disagreements. More challenging, though, was their navigation of professional legitimacy in both the school community and the wider society. They were particularly engaged with tensions and conflicts in the classroom and the school community. Understanding the educational reality in Vietnam and drawing on their own learning experience, they contended that their practice should be built on communication-oriented teaching. However, the implementation of this pedagogy has been hindered by various constraints including inadequate facilities, prevalent discourses in mainstream education, textbooks used in state schools and the expectations of pupils’ parents. Determined to transform their practice, they did not consider the constraints insurmountable but, rather, as an impetus for reform. Accordingly, their construction of practice and identity was marked by negotiations and reconciliations between the reality of mainstream education and their desired pedagogies. Beyond the educational community, they navigated other tensions in the wider society such as poor living conditions, the widespread “disease of private tutoring” and the conflicts between Vietnamese and Western cultures. Transcending all the obstacles, the participants successfully devised a system of specific practices for primary English language teaching embracing four constituents: artistic and entertaining activities integrated into language learning, English language use, meaningful contexts and social practice within and beyond the classroom. Their identities are reflected in these metaphors: artists, mothers, trial judges, intercultural promoters and democrats.

BackgroundPrescription drugs are controlled medicines due to their potential risks of being diverted, misused, and abused. Since the introduction of antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs, HIV is currently regarded as a chronic condition. However, prescription drug diversion, misuse, and abuse might serve as one of the critical barriers for achieving optimal medication adherence among people living with HIV, thereby negatively impacting the HIV care mandate. The primary aim of this scoping review is to gather evidence on the prevalence, practices, risk factors, and motives associated with prescription drug diversion, misuse, and abuse, as well as the evidence on the association between prescription drug diversion, misuse, and abuse with antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence.MethodsThis review will be guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s framework as well as recommendations by Levac et al. (Implement Sci 5:69, 2010). We will search the following databases for relevant literature meeting our eligibility criteria: PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCOhost (Academic Search Complete, MEDLINE, and Newspaper Source), World Health Organization, Science Direct, and Open Access Theses and Dissertations. Studies published within the period of January 1996 to June 2019 are eligible. The included studies should report evidence on the prevalence, practices, risk factors, motives, or association between ART adherence and prescription drug diversion, misuse, and abuse. Thematic analysis will be applied to summarize the review findings.DiscussionWe anticipate finding a considerable number of research studies on prescription drug diversion, misuse, and abuse among people living with HIV. Our synthesis of this evidence base is intended to serve as guidance for future research studies. The study findings will be disseminated through the traditional academic platforms, such as peer-reviewed publications and presentations at relevant local and international conferences, symposiums, and seminars.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42017074076

Background: Drug abuse is a worldwide issue affecting all human life aspects including health, social, economic, and security status. According to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime reports, over 5% of adults used drugs at least once in the year 2015, and 29.5 million of them had consequences of inappropriate use of drugs. Information about severity of the problem in Saudi Arabia is limited, and therefore, a study was conducted among pharmacy staff to assess their knowledge, belief, and practice on drug misuse and abuse. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Pharmacy professionals with more than three months of experience were included in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain participant's responses. Chi-square test was used to evaluate the association of sociodemographic factors with the participant's responses. Results: Ninety pharmacy professionals responded to this study. Overall 69 (76.7%) participants agreed that misuse and abuse are two different terms. Overall 48.9% (n = 44) of participants believed that the misuse or abuse of medications in Saudi Arabia is in an alarming situation. In addition, study showed different practices for patients who were suspected to be medication abusers. Conclusion: This study provided an initial picture about pharmacy staffs' knowledge and opinion regarding the misuse and abuse of medicines in Saudi Arabia. Participants' reactions and practices toward such behaviors were different and not consistent. Therefore, there should be a clear policy to define the role of the pharmacy staff toward the misuse and abuse of medication in Saudi Arabia.

To study the clinical symptoms associated with seroconversion for HIV-1 among misusers of intravenous drugs. Case-control study in cohorts of drug misusers and homosexual men. Outpatient clinic, Municipal Health Service, Amsterdam. Misusers of intravenous drugs from our prospective cohort who seroconverted for HIV. Controls were drug users positive for HIV, drug users negative for HIV, and homosexual men who had seroconverted. Five out of 18 (28%) drug users were admitted to hospital with bacterial pneumonia in the four to six months between their last visit at which they were HIV negative and their first visit when they were HIV positive. For comparison none of the 27 homosexual men who seroconverted for HIV, three out of 177 (2%) drug users negative for HIV, and 10 out of 112 (9%) drug users positive for HIV reported bacterial pneumonia. One out of the 18 drug users who seroconverted suffered from oesophageal candidiasis at the time of seroconversion. Other clinical symptoms did not differ between drug users who seroconverted and those who remained negative for HIV, probably due to the high background morbidity among the drug users. Seroconversion to HIV-1 among intravenous drug misusers is associated with bacterial pneumonia. Those drug users with previously negative test results for HIV who are admitted to hospital for bacterial pneumonia should be tested to detect primary infection with HIV-1.