Recreational Use Research Articles

Temporal and spatial trends of fentanyl co-occurrence in the illicit drug supply in the United States: a serial cross-sectional analysis

BackgroundFentanyl and its analogs contribute substantially to drug overdose deaths in the United States. There is concern that people using drugs are being unknowingly exposed to fentanyl, increasing their risk of overdose death. This study examines temporal trends and spatial variations in the co-occurrence of fentanyl with other seized drugs. MethodsWe identified fentanyl co-occurrence (the proportion of samples of non-fentanyl substances that also contain fentanyl) among 9 substances or substance classes of interest: methamphetamine, cannabis, cocaine, heroin, club drugs, hallucinogens, and prescription opioids, stimulants, and benzodiazepines. We used serial cross-sectional data on drug reports across 50 states and the District of Columbia from the National Forensic Laboratory Information System, the largest available database on the U.S. illicit drug supply, from January 2013 to December 2023. FindingsWe analyzed data from 11,940,207 samples. Fentanyl co-occurrence with all examined substances increased monotonically over time (Mann-Kendall p<0.0001). Nationally, fentanyl co-occurrence was highest among heroin samples (approx. 50%), but relatively low among methamphetamine (≤1%), cocaine (≤4%), and other drug samples. However, co-occurrence rates have grown to over 10% for cocaine and methamphetamine in several Northeast states in 2017-2023. InterpretationFentanyl co-occurs most commonly with heroin, but its presence in stimulant supplies is increasing in some areas, where it may pose a disproportionately high risk of overdose. FundingThis work was partly supported by FDA grant U01FD00745501. This article reflects the views of the authors and does not represent the views or policies of the FDA or US Department of Health and Human Services.

Psychedelic mushroom-containing chocolate exposures: Case series

IntroductionThe recreational use of psilocybin or psilocin-containing products, a chemical found naturally in certain mushroom species, is on the rise across the United States. Several cases of serious clinical effects related to mushroom-containing products have recently been reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The emergence of these new products and their health consequences are not yet well understood. This case series aims to characterize exposures to mushroom-containing chocolate products, including patient characteristics, clinical effects, treatment(s), and clinical outcome severity, reported to a poison center network. Material and methodsThis was a retrospective case series conducted in patients exposed to mushroom-containing chocolate products across three poison centers between January 2023 to August 2024. Patients were identified via a database search of ToxSentry®. Patients were included if they were exposed to a mushroom-containing chocolate product. Patients were excluded if they ingested an unrelated product or if there was insufficient information documented within ToxSentry®. The primary endpoint was to describe clinical outcome severity after exposure to mushroom-containing chocolate products. ResultsA query of ToxSentry® identified 164 cases; 36 cases met study criteria. The median age of patients in this case series was 17 years old. For most patients (23, 64 %), the reason for the exposure was intentional, with 20 reporting intentional abuse or misuse of the product. Common clinical effects reported included mental status changes (26, 76 %), paranoia/hallucinations (10, 28 %), dysrhythmias (7, 19 %) and gastrointestinal discomfort (6, 17 %). There was one report of seizure. Most clinical effects lasted between 3 and 24 h after ingestion (29, 81 %). Intravenous fluids (18, 50 %) and benzodiazepines (7, 19 %) were the most common treatments given. No fatalities were reported. DiscussionWhile most patients in this series experienced minor clinical effects, some developed serious effects after ingestion of a mushroom-containing chocolate product. Findings from this study further characterize the limited patient demographics, clinical effects, and outcomes published thus far. Further characterization in a larger cohort of patients could expand on our initial findings and is needed to better identify factors that may influence clinical outcomes.

In-hospital outcomes following an acute coronary syndrome in patients with recent cannabis use

Background: The prevalence and short-term cardiovascular consequences of recent cannabis use in patients admitted to an intensive cardiac care unit for acute coronary syndrome is not well established.Aims: To assess the prevalence of recent cannabis use detected by prospective systematic screening, and its prognostic value in predicting the occurrence of in-hospital major adverse events in consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome.Methods: From 07 to 22 April 2021, all consecutive patients admitted to an intensive cardiac care unit in 39 centres throughout France were studied prospectively. Systematic recreational drug screening was performed on admission by urine assay in all patients. The primary outcome was the prevalence of recent cannabis use. The secondary outcome was in-hospital major adverse events, defined by death, resuscitated cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock requiring medical or mechanical haemodynamic support.Results: A total of 772 patients were hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (mean age 64 ± 13 years; 74% male). Among those, 86 patients (11.1%) had a positive urine test for cannabis. Patients with cannabis detected were younger (53 ± 12 vs 65 ± 12 years, respectively; P < 0.001) and were more frequently male (88% vs 72%, respectively; P = 0.001). After a median hospitalization duration of 2 days, 33 (4.3%) in-hospital major adverse events occurred. The detection of cannabis was associated with a higher rate of in-hospital major adverse events after adjustment for prior co-morbidities (odds ratio 3.28; P = 0.015) and after adjustment for known predictors of severity (odds ratio 3.68; P = 0.009).Conclusions: The prevalence of recent cannabis use in patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome was 11.1%. The detection of recent cannabis use was independently associated with a higher occurrence of in-hospital major adverse events.

Predictors of perinatal cannabis use in colorado and the association with depression during pregnancy.

To evaluate the prevalence and predictors of cannabis use and reasons for use during and/or after pregnancy among Colorado birthing individuals. To determine the independent association of self-reported depression during pregnancy and cannabis used. Data from Health eMoms, a statewide perinatal longitudinal electronic surveillance system were analyzed. Perinatal cannabis use was defined as any use during and/or after pregnancy. Bivariate associations of birthing individual and infant characteristics with use were estimated using chi-square tests. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the independent relationship between depression and reported cannabis use versus no reported cannabis use. A weighted sample of 117,812 birthing individuals was analyzed from survey responses between 2018-2021. Among the 15,585 (13.3%) who reported perinatal cannabis use, 35.5% reported use during pregnancy and 87.3% reported post-partum use. Individuals with depression during pregnancy had 2.2 times higher adjusted odds (95% CI: 1.5. 3.3) of any perinatal cannabis use compared to those without depression. Among those who had any perinatal cannabis use, reported use for medical reasons was 92% during pregnancy, while 43% cited this as the reason for use 12-14months post-partum. Self-reported cannabis use during the perinatal period in a state with legalized recreational use was over 1 in 10. Use varied significantly by demographics and social factors with inconsistent perinatal guidance provided by healthcare professionals. Depression during pregnancy was significantly associated with use, illustrating the need for comprehensive mental health screening and therapeutic evidence-based interventions to support these individuals.

Sense of Community and Recreation Participation of Latinx Residents on the Bloomingdale Trail: Greenway Use in a Gentrifying Community

The goal of this study was to explore how the recreational use of the Bloomingdale Trail, a greenway located in gentrifying communities in Chicago, IL, was associated with a sense of community among long-term Latinx residents living in subsidized affordable housing units. Using a quantitative-dominant sequential mixed methods research design, we conducted surveys and interviews with long-term Latinx residents of three communities surrounding the Trail. The findings showed that higher recreational program participation on the Bloomingdale Trail was positively associated with visitation, sense of community, and improved perceptions of a sense of community compared to before the Trail opened. Also, higher Trail satisfaction was positively associated with sense of community and improved perceptions of a sense of community compared to before the Trail opened. Qualitative data were used to explain and elaborate on these findings.

Optimized guidelines for feminized seed production in high-THC Cannabis cultivars.

With the partial legalization of high-THC Cannabis sativa across 23 states for recreational use and 38 states for medical purposes in the United States, the Cannabis industry is poised for significant growth. Projected to reach a sales volume of $50.7 billion by 2028, this growth is driven by the trend of lifting Cannabis prohibition. High-THC C. sativa cultivars, containing more than 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) as defined by the 2018 US Farm Bill, are used for both medicinal and recreational purposes. Cannabis sativa is a short day, dioecious, annual plant, where female plants are favored for THC production, which requires seed feminization techniques to ensure an accurate female plant population. This involves using an ethylene inhibitor to induce sex reversal, leading to male flower development on female plants, allowing for self-pollination and the production of feminized seeds. However, challenges such as seed viability and the occurrence of male flowers in progeny have been noted. This review provides guidelines to enhance the production of viable feminized seeds in high-THC Cannabis cultivars. Literature findings indicate that Silver Thiosulfate (STS) is the most effective ethylene inhibitor for sex reversal and seed feminization in high-THC Cannabis cultivars. Specifically, a single dose of 3 mM STS should be applied during the vegetative stage via foliar spraying until runoff, followed by exposure to a short photoperiod of up to 12 hours to induce flowering and seed production. Progeny plants should be assessed for seed germination rate and compared for growth performance with the original parent plant to assess the declining effects of inbreeding. Adhering to these guidelines can improve the quality and viability of feminized seeds, meeting commercial market standards and industry demands for high-THC Cannabis cultivars.

Fouling-Resistant Voltammetric Xylazine Sensors for Detection of the Street Drug “Tranq”

As the opioid crisis continues to wreak havoc on a global scale, it is increasingly critical to develop methodologies to detect the most dangerous drugs such as fentanyl and its derivatives, which have orders of magnitude higher potency than morphine. The scientific challenge for chemical detection of fentanyl and its derivatives is complicated by both the constantly increasing synthetic variations of the drug as well as the expanded use of adulterants. One tragically consequential example is the nocuous street drug known as “Tranq”, which combines fentanyl or a fentanyl derivative with the veterinary sedative Rompun®, chemically identified as xylazine (XYL). This pervasive street cocktail is exacerbating the already staggering number of fentanyl-related deaths as its acute toxicity poses a danger to medical first-responders and complicates their initial assessment and treatment options for overdose victims. Given the widespread use of XYL as an adulterant, an electrochemical XYL sensor capable of on-site operation by non-experts as a fast-screening tool is a notable goal. This work presents a voltammetry-based sensor featuring carbon electrodes modified with carboxylic-acid functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes layered with cyclodextrin and polyurethane membranes for sensitivity and selectivity enhancements. The sensor has critical and robust fouling resistance while providing sensitivity at 950 μA/mM∙cm2, a low limit of detection (~5 ppm), and the ability to detect XYL in the presence of fentanyl and/or other non-fentanyl stimulants like cocaine. The demonstrated sensor can be applied to promote public health with its ability to detect and indicate XYL in the presence of opioids, serving to protect drug-users, first responders, medical examiners, and on-site forensic investigators from exposure to these dangerous mixtures.

Changing composition of street drug nyaope and its implications in South Africa

Nyaope is a Novel Psychoacve Substance (NPS) that connues to bring major challenges to the health and social well-being of users and their communies in South Africa. The acve ingredients that make up this cocktail drug Nyaope were first idenfied in 2015 using Time-of- flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) in the samples collected from the surrounding areas of the capital city Pretoria, and they were found to be variable across the samples. This variability had posed challenges to the treatment and rehabilitaon programmes. The current study was conducted in 2020, and included significantly a larger number of Nyaope samples collected from two provinces: Gauteng and Kwa Zulu-Natal of South Africa. The analycal method applied was also an improved model of TOF-MS analyser with a larger library of various drugs and their metabolites for matching the ingredients. Strikingly, many non-addicve drugs that were found in the previous samples were not found in this study. The new trend of formulaon has become more addicve and compact with major opiates and a few selected opioids, and with paracetamol and caffeine in different combinaons. This study reports differences in the physical appearance and the chemical composion of street drug Nyaope across the 2 provinces of South Africa: Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal (KZN), and also compared with the previous findings of 2015 in the samples collected in Gauteng province. The drug appears to be widely consumed and has serious health consequences as per previous studies, and therefore, understanding the chemical substances used in the drug will be helpful in both treatment and rehabilitaon efforts.

Entertainment-oriented Use of ‘Depression’ on Chinese Social Media and Its Impact on Stigmatization of Depression Groups: A Survey Study

This study investigates the impact of entertainment-oriented uses of the term ‘depression’ on public attitudes and stigmatization. Utilizing a quantitative method collecting data from an online survey of 110 Chinese internet users, the research explores how exposure to casual or humorous references to depression correlates with attitudes towards individuals who actually suffer from depression. Key findings reveal that engagement with entertainment-related content is prevalent, particularly among younger demographics. The study shows that frequent exposure to such content increases the likelihood of using similar statements in casual contexts and decreases people’s trust in others’ depression claim. It is strongly correlated with more negative attitudes toward individuals with depression. Moreover, people who worry more about the misleading effects of entertainment-related term use show stronger willingness to offer support to depression patients.The results are guide for public education and policy. It highlights the need to take steps to address the harmful effects portrayed by recreational use of depression on social media. Recommendations include improving the education system, setting online support groups, and restricting time spent on social media.

Acute Myocardial Infarction in a Amphetamine Abuser with Low ASCVD Risk: A Case Report

Wide availability of recreational drugs, like amphetamine, cocaine, cannabis etc has spread out these drugs to all classes and age groups in the society of Bangladesh. Among them association cocaine and cannabis with acute myocardial infarction has been well established. But the popular drug, amphetamine, which is available in tablet form containing the active ingredient named 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), has been reported to have significant cardiac and CNS toxicity. Repeated angina, even myocardial infarction due to active coronary vasospasm and accelerated atherothrombosis in amphetamine abusers has been reported in several case studies worldwide. But, only a few cases has been reported in Bangladesh. Here we present a case of acute myocardial infarction in a amphetamine abuser with low 10 years ASCVD risk. J Inv Clin Cardiol 2023; 5(2): 53-55

Recreational drugs use as prognostic factor of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients hospitalised for acute cardiovascular events

Abstract Background Among patients admitted to the intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU), systematic screening for recreational drugs evidenced a significant prevalence of recent use and was associated with a higher rate in-hospital outcomes. However, long-term cardiovascular consequences of recreational drug use remain uncertain. Purpose We aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of recreational drugs use at 1-year follow-up to predict major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in consecutive patients admitted to ICCUs for acute cardiovascular events from the Addiction in Intensive Cardiac Care Units (ADDICT-ICCU) study. Methods In this prospective multicentric study, all consecutive patients admitted to ICCUs over two weeks in April 2021 at 39 centres across France were included. Screening for recreational drugs use was performed by systematic urinary testing. One-year follow-up consisted of a clinical visit or direct contact with the patient and the referring cardiologist. The primary composite outcome was the occurrence of one of the combined MACCE defined as cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke. Subgroup analysis was performed in patients hospitalised at baseline for acute coronary syndrome. Results Of the 1499 consecutive patients screened, 1392 (93%) patients (63±15 years, 70% males) had a complete 1-year follow-up. Among them, 157 (11%) had an initial positive test for recreational drug use (cannabis, opioids, cocaine, amphetamines, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA]). After 1-year of follow, 94 (7%) patients experimented MACCE. Patients with positive testing exhibited a higher rate of MACCE than non-users (13% vs 6%, respectively, p=0.002). After adjustment for traditional prognosticators, recreational drug use was independently associated with the occurrence of MACCE (HR=2.99; 95% CI: 1.73-5.16, p&amp;lt;0.001). In the subgroup analysis of 713 patients hospitalised at baseline for acute coronary syndrome, 96 (14%) had a positive recreational drug test and 50 (7%) experienced MACCE. Using a multivariable Cox analysis in this population, recreational drug use was still independently associated with MACCE after adjustment for traditional prognosticators (HR=2.98; 95% CI: 1.43-6.21, p=0.004). Conclusions In a large cohort of consecutive patients admitted to ICCUs for acute cardiovascular events, the prevalence of recreational drug use was 11%. Recreational drug use was strongly associated with the occurrence of 1-year MACCE even after adjustment for traditional prognosticators.Central illustrationPrognostic impact of drug use

Vilazodone,aNovel SSRI Antidepressant with 5-HT1A Partial Agonist Properties: Diminished Potentiation of Chronic Oral Methylphenidate-Induced Dynorphin Expression in the Striatum in Adolescent Male Rats.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants such as fluoxetine are used in combination with the medical psychostimulant methylphenidate (Ritalin) in a variety of treatments in children and adults. Unintended co-exposure to these psychotropic medications also occurs in patients on SSRIs who abuse methylphenidate as a "cognitive enhancer" or recreational drug. Preclinical research shows that SSRIs such as fluoxetine when given in conjunction with methylphenidate potentiate addiction-related gene regulation by methylphenidate in the striatum, consistent with the known facilitatory role for serotonin in psychostimulant-induced neuronal and behavioral changes. Moreover, fluoxetine combined with methylphenidate also facilitated subsequent acquisition of cocaine self-administration in adolescent rats, suggesting an increased addiction liability for methylphenidate. In the present study, we investigated the impact of a novel SSRI, vilazodone, on methylphenidate-induced gene regulation in adolescent male rats. In contrast to prototypical SSRIs such as fluoxetine, vilazodone also acts as a partial 5-HT1A serotonin receptor agonist and is thus proposed to temper serotonin input to the striatum. We compared the effects of chronic treatment (4 weeks) with vilazodone (10mg/kg, twice daily) with those of fluoxetine (5mg/kg, twice daily) on striatal dynorphin expression induced by oral methylphenidate treatment (30/60mg/kg/day in drinking water, 8h access daily). Our results demonstrate that, in contrast to fluoxetine, vilazodone had minimal or no potentiating effects on methylphenidate-induced dynorphin expression. This diminished impact on gene regulation was seen throughout the striatum, including the nucleus accumbens, where increased dynorphin expression has previously been associated with various aspects of addiction. Our findings suggest that vilazodone may serve as a better adjunct SSRI with reduced addiction-facilitating properties.

Drones and Technopreneurship in Malaysia: Unlocking the Economic Potential of Drones in Built Environment Development

Drones, with diverse technological capabilities, are poised to revolutionise various traditional tasks, particularly in-built environment development while driving economic growth, innovation, and job creation. Within the Malaysian context, drones have evolved beyond recreational use to become sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles with untapped business potential. Against this backdrop, this paper explores a comprehensive review of drone development in Malaysia. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the review includes selected publication data from academic journals and online media published between 2018 and 2023, complemented with insights gathered from expert interviews. Aiming to bridge the discursive gap surrounding emerging drone technologies, the review focuses on identifying patterns and trends in recent Malaysian publications on drone applications, as well as understanding current issues related to its technology adoption. The thematic findings reveal a notable surge in interest in drone-related publications and draw clear connections between drone applications and diverse industrial sectors over the past six years. The paper emphasises critical issues such as community acceptance, the transforming landscape of business, diverse industry applications of drone technology, and government strategies for advancing drone technology. As a preliminary study, this paper establishes the foundation for leveraging the benefits of drone technology within the broader context of the built environment, social, and economic landscape. By shedding light on the evolving drone ecosystem in Malaysia, the paper contributes to fostering informed discussions and strategic initiatives in the integration and advancement of drone technologies. Thus, it offers valuable insights for professionals, economists, engineers, policymakers, and researchers alike.

Prevalence and Correlates of Cannabis Use among Cancer Survivors

Abstract Background Delaware has legalized marijuana use for both medical and recreational use. This study identified factors associated with cannabis use among adults with chronic relative to individuals without a history of cancer in the First State. Methods Combined data (2020, 2021 and 2022) from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were analyzed for Delaware. Multivariable logistic regression examined individual-level demographic, socio-economic, clinical, and behavioral predictors associated with marijuana use stratified by history of cancer. Results Cannabis use was lower among cancer survivors compared to individuals with no history of cancer (6.76% vs. 13.43%). However, a higher proportion of cancer survivors reported use for medical purposes (75.13% vs. 64.28%). Marijuana use prevalence decreased with age among cancer survivors. After adjusting for sex, age, educational attainment, self-reported race/ethnicity, mental health status and physical health status, current smoking (odds ratio [OR], 4.24 vs. 2.74) and binge drinking (OR, 2.45 vs. 1.75) were associated with cannabis use in both groups. Conclusions Adults with cancer were more likely to use marijuana. Marijuana use prevalence decreased with age. Public perceptions of marijuana is becoming more acceptable. Risk of medical conditions such as cancer increase with age. As such, older adults might also become consumers of marijuana. Clinicians should screen for marijuana use among patients and initiate open discussions with patients about the benefits and risks associated with marijuana. Key messages • Need for ongoing cannabis research to better understand and inform its use for medical purposes. • Development of high-quality standardized education materials and clinical practice guidelines for marijuana use.

Environmental and social impacts of shifting park-use patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights from state and local park managers

Parks and protected areas offer a variety of ecosystem services and promote opportunities that enhance human health and well-being. However, these benefits may be jeopardized when overcrowding degrades environmental and social conditions in parks. The COVID-19 pandemic is assumed to have been associated with substantial increases in visitation to parks and protected areas, but patterns in use and degradation varied by site type (e.g., state versus local parks; urban versus rural). In this study, we aimed to understand how changing recreational use patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted parks, and how those changes differed between state and local parks across urban-rural gradients. We distributed a survey asking state park superintendents (n = 36) and local park managers (n = 84) in the state of North Carolina to estimate the extent of environmental and social impacts in their parks both before and during the pandemic. We discovered that, based on managers’ responses, state parks were approximately 12 times more likely to experience heightened environmental impacts and 23 times more likely to experience heightened social impacts than local parks during the pandemic, even when controlling for impact levels prior to the pandemic. We found no significant differences between urban and rural parks. These findings suggest regional parks may be the most vulnerable to environmental and social disturbances during times of heightened visitation, and thus highlight a need for both more resources and more attention to governance issues for these parks. Management implicationsThis study found that state parks in North Carolina experienced more frequent social and environmental impacts, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to local parks. This highlights the need to explore measures that can maintain state parks as sources of resilience and recovery during future crises while mitigating park impacts. Proposed strategies include:•Directing park usage to more resilient areas.•Establishing strategic partnerships between parks to enhance capacity.•Education and outreach to minimize visitor impacts.•Establishing emergency funds for parks most likely to be impacted during times of heightened visitation.•Expanding accessible greenspace in anticipation of increased visitation.

“Everyone Does Cocaine”: The Impact of Normalization on Practices of Club Drug Use and Risk Management

Background: While many have argued that recreational drug use is becoming increasingly normalized within youth culture, little has been done to explore what this means for risk management. Methods: Drawing on 2 years of ethnographic research with people who use club drugs in the Toronto Electronic Dance Music scene, this study explores how normalization impacts risk-taking and risk management practices of club drug use. Results: It finds that the relationship is complex, as normalization both facilitates and hinders the adoption of risk management practices. The nuances of this relationship are explored by focusing on three key themes: expectation of use, moderation of use, and sharing of risk information and advice. Conclusion: The findings are interpreted with reference to Rhodes’ “risk environment” framework and with particular attention to the need for harm reduction interventions that consider how risk behaviors are shaped by broader social and cultural contexts.

The effects of cannabinoids on the kidney.

Cannabinoids are a class of drugs derived from the Cannabis plant that are widely used for the treatment of various medical conditions and recreational use. Common examples include Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), spice, and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). With more than 100 cannabinoids identified, their influence on the nervous system, role in pain management, and effects due to illicit use have been extensively studied. However, their effects on peripheral organs, such as the kidneys, require further examination. With dramatic rises in use, production, and legalization, it is essential to understand the impact and mechanistic properties of these drugs as they pertain to renal and cardiovascular physiology. The goal of this review is to summarize prior literature on the expression of cannabinoid receptors and how cannabinoids influence renal function. This review first discusses the interaction of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and renal physiology and pathophysiology. Following, we briefly discuss the role of the ECS in various kidney diseases and the potential therapeutic applications of drugs targeting the cannabinoid system. Lastly, recent studies have identified several detrimental effects of cannabinoids, not only on the kidney but also in contributing to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Thus, the negative impact of cannabinoids on renal function and the development of various cardiovascular diseases is also discussed.

An investigative study on the causes of depression and the coping strategies among clinical medical students in private universities in North Central Nigeria

BackgroundDepression is among known mental health conditions and students in schools of medicine are not immune to it. In this investigative study, 211 clinical medical students of two private universities from North-Central Nigeria were examined on depression prevalence, the contributory factors and their coping strategies.MethodsThe Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), the Medical Student’s Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ) and identified coping strategies according to Coping Oriented to Problems Experienced Inventory (COPE) were instruments of data collection.ResultsThe results were obtained by both descriptive analysis and test of association between some categorical variables. The depression prevalence amongst the participants was 159 (75.4%). Females (124 (78.0%)) were more depressed than males (35 (22.0%)). Factors identified as contributing to depression were the heavy academic workload (124 (78.5%)), insufficient family time (93 (58.1%)) and financial constraints (54 (34.0%)). The most utilized method of coping with their stress was engaging on social media (133 (84.2%)), followed by talking with relatives or friends (99 (62.7%)) and use of recreational drugs (20 (12.8%)). The findings from this study have shown that more than three-quarters of the respondents suffered from varying degrees of depression from mild, 63 (29.9%), moderate, 53 (25.1%) to severe, 43 (20.4%).ConclusionsThe heavy academic workload was a major source of depression. Colleges of Medicine should take pro-active steps towards their students’ mental health and academic workload should be well spaced to reduce the stress imposed by the frequency of examinations.

Spatiotemporal responses of ungulates to hunting in a fenced multi-use area

Context Human activities, such as tourism and hunting, affect the spatiotemporal behaviour of wildlife. For example, it is well documented that ungulates change their spatiotemporal behaviour as a response to hunting pressure, but less is known about ungulate responses to hunting in areas where human activity is common throughout the year and ungulates are constrained by fences. Aims In this camera-trap study, we analysed the change in spatiotemporal behaviour of wild ungulates (elk, Cervus canadensis (3519 events), moose, Alces alces (1153 events), and white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus (2708 events)) in response to the hunting period in a recreational and fenced park, the Cooking Lake–Blackfoot Provincial Area, Canada. Methods We used general linear models to compare species-specific patterns of intensity of use, calculated as events per week, in response to changes in the nature of human disturbance, namely a shift from recreation to hunting activity. In particular, we compared intensity of use in and out of the hunting season to determine whether species engaged in spatial patterns of avoidance with respect to hunting. We used daily and seasonal patterns of activity to determine how ungulates shifted their temporal use in response to hunting activity and whether they became more nocturnal as a result. Key results We found that ungulates responded temporally to the hunting period by generally shifting their activity to more nocturnal hours, with white-tailed deer showing the biggest temporal shift, suggesting that the ungulates distinguish between consumptive and non-consumptive human activities. Nevertheless, temporal overlap between humans and all ungulate species increased during the hunting period as humans targeted times of increased ungulate activity. Spatially, the response was less distinctive and was species-specific. Elk showed little change in spatial behaviour in response to the hunting period. In contrast, moose decreased the use of trail areas and other areas frequented by humans, whereas deer, counterintuitively, increased the use of trail areas, albeit their use became much more nocturnal. Conclusions We have shown that responses of ungulates to hunting exceed those to non-consumptive recreational use, and whereas temporal responses (increased nocturnality) were consistent across ungulate species, spatial responses were species-specific. Implications Management in small fenced multi-use areas needs to account for shifts in the intensity of disturbance resulting from a change in human disturbance from recreational activity to hunting. Providing spatial opportunities for avoidance of humans is key for most species if hours of operation in these areas already limit the timing of human activity.

Issue of recreational use of sildenafil

Introduction and purposeErectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to achieve and maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. Sildenafil is one of the most popular medications used to treat ED, but in recent years, there has been a growing trend of recreational use of this drug, particularly among younger individuals, which can lead to numerous negative health consequences. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the recreational use of sildenafil, especially among younger individuals.State of knowledgeSildenafil primarily affects the smooth muscle of the blood vessels in the corpora cavernosa, facilitating the achievement and maintenance of an erection. The most common side effects of sildenafil include headaches, dizziness, facial flushing, nausea, muscle pain, and nasal congestion. A relatively rare but potentially severe side effect of sildenafil is priapism. It is noted that those using sildenafil recreationally often have multiple sexual partners, as the drug helps them prolong sexual encounters. Studies show that sildenafil is used by groups that should have no problem achieving sexual satisfaction. The use of the drug in combination with alcohol and other substances is noticeable.ConclusionsRecreational use of sildenafil appears to be an increasingly common behavior among young men who do not have difficulties achieving or maintaining an erection. There are no studies yet that specifically examine the recreational use of sildenafil among women. It is necessary to conduct further research to better understand the prevalence of this phenomenon and to identify the factors that predispose individuals to engage in recreational use of sildenafil.