Drug Prevention Research Articles

Prevention starts here: effectiveness of substance abuse prevention module among adolescent students in Bengaluru- a quasi experimental study.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured educational module on substance abuse prevention program among adolescents in enhancing their knowledge against substance abuse. A quasi-experimental design was employed involving 120 students (mean age: 14.3±1.03 years, 59.2% boys) from two English medium schools. Participants were exposed to a structured module on substance abuse over a month. The study assessed changes in knowledge through pretest and post-test evaluations. Statistical analyses examined improvements in scores and the relationship between class of study and post-test knowledge scores. The intervention significantly improved students' knowledge about substance abuse (p<0.001) across all measured domains, genders, and classes, with the exception of the 7th class. A positive correlation was found between the class of study and post-test scores (Rs=0.288, p<0.001), indicating that higher classes were associated with greater improvements in knowledge. These findings suggest that the training effectively increased awareness and understanding of substance abuse among participants. The substance abuse prevention program successfully enhanced adolescents' knowledge and equipped them with resilience and coping strategies, thus reducing their vulnerability to peer pressure and substance abuse. Despite the lack of significant improvement in the 7th class, the overall positive outcomes underscore the importance of implementing such educational interventions to foster healthy development and well-being among students. Further research is encouraged to explore the specific barriers to effectiveness in younger classes and to refine program content accordingly.

The Effectiveness of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in Preventing and Controlling Drug Trafficking in Rokan Hilir Regency

The aim of this research is to determine the effectiveness of the Rokan Hilir National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in preventing and controlling drug trafficking in the Rokan Hilir area. The type of research used is descriptive qualitative research. The results of the discussion show that the prevention and control of drug trafficking carried out by the Rokan Hilir National Narcotics Agency is effective. This can be seen from several drug trafficking cases that were successfully uncovered by BNN Rokan Hilir. Several cases that have been uncovered and handled by BNN Rokan Hilir are cases of illicit narcotics trafficking. In 2023, officers confiscated 20.6 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. For his actions, the suspect is threatened with Article 114 paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1) 112 paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1) of Law Number 35 of 2009, with a maximum penalty of the death penalty. 2019BNN also succeeded in arresting a suspected dealer of 4.1 kg of methamphetamine and 10 thousand ecstasy pills. This proves that the National/City Narcotics Agency is working effectively in carrying out drug control and prevention in the Rokan Hilir area.

Screening and Retaining Adolescents Recruited Through Social Media: Secondary Analysis from a Longitudinal Clinical Trial.

Social media has become a popular method to recruit participants, particularly for studies with hard-to-reach populations. These studies still face challenges in data quality and, for longitudinal studies, sample retention. However, in addition to aiding in recruitment, social media platforms can help researchers with participant verification and tracking procedures during the study. There is limited previous research describing how longitudinal studies can use social media to screen and retain participants. This paper describes strategies implemented to screen and retain a nationwide sample of sexual minority youth who were recruited through social media platforms for a longitudinal study testing a drug abuse prevention program. Our screening strategies for participants included collecting necessary demographic information (name, phone, email, and social media accounts), verifying this information using publicly available web-based records, and sending confirmation emails to ensure working email addresses and correct dates of birth. Retention strategies included communications designed to develop positive participant relationships, incentives for survey completion, regular updating of participant contact information, targeting hard-to-reach participants, and using social media as an alternative means of contacting participants. During enrollment, although the only demographic data required were a phone number and an email address, 87.58% (1065/1216) of participants provided their Instagram as an alternative means of contact. This form of alternative communication remains the most preferred with 87.40% (1047/1198) of participants continuing to provide an Instagram username as of January 2023, about 3 years after recruitment began. In comparison, other alternative means of contact (eg, Facebook and alternative email) were provided by only 6.43% (77/1198) to 56.18% (673/1198) of participants. Direct messaging on Instagram was used to successfully confirm participant identity, remind participants to take annual follow-up surveys, and update lost participant contact information. Screening and retention strategies used in the study have helped achieve 96.30% (1171/1216) to 96.79% (1177/1216) sample retention across 3 waves of data collection. Though social media can be a helpful tool to recruit participants, attrition and participant authenticity difficulties may be associated with this method. Screening and retention strategies can be implemented to improve retention. Internet searches are effective for screening youth to ensure they meet eligibility requirements. Additionally, social media-Instagram in this study-can help to track and locate participants who do not respond to traditional contact methods. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03954535; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03954535.

Identification of common stria vascularis cellular alteration in sensorineural hearing loss based on ScRNA-seq.

The stria vascularis (SV), located in the lateral wall of the cochlea, maintains cochlear fluid homeostasis and mechanoelectrical transduction (MET) activity required for sound wave conduction. The pathogenesis of a number of human inheritable deafness syndromes, age related hearing loss, drug-induced ototoxicity and noise-induced hearing loss results from the morphological changes and functional impairments in the development of the SV. In this study, we investigate the implications of intercellular communication within the SV in the pathogenesis of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). We aim to identify commonly regulated signaling pathways using publicly available single-cell transcriptomic sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets. We analyzed scRNA-seq data, which was derived from studying the cochlear SV in mice with SNHL compared to normal adult mice. After quality control and filtering, we obtained the major cellular components of the mouse cochlear SV and integrated the data. Using Seurat's FindAllMarkers and FindMarkers packages, we searched for novel conservative genes and differential genes. We employed KEGG and GSEA to identify molecular pathways that are commonly altered among different types of SNHL. We utilized pySCENIC to discover new specific regulatory factors in SV subpopulation cells. With the help of CellChat, we identified changes in subpopulation cells showing similar trends across different SNHL types and their alterations in intercellular communication pathways. Through the analysis of the integrated data, we discovered new conserved genes to SV specific cells and identified common downregulated pathways in three types of SNHL. The enriched genes for these pathways showing similar trends are primarily associated with the Electron Transport Chain, related to mitochondrial energy metabolism. Using the CellChat package, we further found that there are shared pathways in the incoming signaling of specific intermediate cells in SNHL, and these pathways have common upstream regulatory transcription factor of Nfe2l2. Combining the results from pySCENIC and CellChat, we predicted the transcription factor Nfe2l2 as an upstream regulatory factor for multiple shared cellular pathways in IC. Additionally, it serves as an upstream factor for several genes within the Electron Transport Chain. Our bioinformatics analysis has revealed that downregulation of the mitochondrial electron transport chain have been observed in various conditions of SNHL. E2f1, Esrrb, Runx1, Yy1, and Gata2 could serve as novel important common TFs regulating the electron transport chain. Adm has emerged as a potential new marker gene for intermediate cells, while Itgb5 and Tesc show promise as potential new marker genes for marginal cells in the SV. These findings offer a new perspective on SV lesions in SNHL and provide additional theoretical evidence for the same drug treatment and prevention of different pathologies of SNHL.

Challenges for hepatitis B control in Asia-Pacific areas: Consolidating vaccination and rolling-out antiviral therapies.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) was, and still is, a prevalent liver disease in the world, especially high in the Asia-Pacific areas. With the advent of preventive vaccines and effective viral suppression drugs and active implementations, CHB has gradually become under control. The world-wide prevalence reduces from 4.2% in 1980 to 3.2% in 2020 study. CHB patients receiving long-term antiviral therapies significantly improve the clinical outcomes, saving from end-stage liver diseases. Despite of these impressive progresses, to meet the WHO sustained development goals (SDG) for CHB control, a 90% reduction of incidence and a 65% reduction of mortality in year 2030, there is still a long way to go. In this review, four ongoing approaches have been proposed: (i) A continuous monitoring of long-term vaccine efficacy in vaccinated populations; (ii) consolidating the hepatitis B virus vaccination program against vaccine hesitancy and limited resources; (iii) rolling-out current oral antivirals to more CHB patients not only for diseases treatment but also for infection preventions; and (iv) development of curative therapies, both friendly-to-dispense and affordable. A coherent and persevere efforts by the society may succeed and achieve the SDG for CHB in the future.

Edukasi Bahaya Laten Penyalahgunaan Narkoba pada Kalangan Pelajar SMA YPK Merauke, Provinsi Papua Selatan

Students as a manifestation of the nation should be clear and kept away from things that can damage the future, including the dangers of drugs. This is realized because students are a group that is quite broad and easily influenced. The aim of this service is an educational outreach activity on the latent dangers of drug abuse among YPK Merauke High School students as a series of Legal Literacy Roadshows in 2023 to increase understanding and legal awareness about the bad effects of drugs. The method used is in the form of conveying information through socialization and leaflets/social media. The result of this service is increasing the knowledge of YPK Merauke High School students about the latent dangers of drugs and obtaining comprehensive drug prevention and control information.&#x0D;

Breaking the silence: navigating adolescent knowledge, attitude, and perception on substance abuse in Diyala Province, Iraq

Background: Drug use often leads to a range of health risks, social complications, and involvement in criminal behavior. This study aims to investigate adolescents' understanding, opinions, and perspectives on substance abuse. Methods: Between October and December 2023, a cross-sectional study was undertaken in Diyala Province, Iraq. High school students were sampled using a multistage sampling technique. Bivariate analysis utilized independent sample t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Additionally, a multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to predict factors associated with knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions. All statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS version 16. Results: The study encompassed 365 students, with a mean age (SD) of 17.5 (+ 8.2), predominantly male (57.3%). Overall accuracy rates for knowledge, attitude, and perception stood at 87.1%, 86.7%, and 88.7%, respectively. Approximately 5.2% of the sample reported cannabis (hashish) use. Regression analysis revealed significant associations between higher knowledge scores and male gender (p=0.002, 95% CI:0.341, 0.729), urban residency (p&lt;0.0001, 95% CI:1.165, 4.524), and monthly income &gt; US$400 (p &gt;0.0001, 95% CI:0.907, 1573). Attitudes toward drug abuse prevention were influenced by male gender and highly educated parental backgrounds (p&lt;0.001, 95% CI:1.412, 5.223; p=0.002, 95% CI: 2.160, 4.881; p=0.007, 95% CI:1.810, 5.690). Perception scores were significantly associated with male gender (p=0.001, 95% CI: 0.430, 0.691), students from smaller families (p=0.013, 95% CI:2.201, 5.003), and those in the sixth class (p=0.021, 95% CI:1.423, 4.202). Conclusion: While adolescents demonstrate a solid understanding of societal norms and consequences associated with substance abuse, there may still be areas where perceptions can be refined and aligned more closely with the realities of drug abuse.

Mechanism of sturgeon intestinal inflammation induced by Yersinia ruckeri and the effect of florfenicol intervention

The mechanism by which Y. ruckeri infection induces enteritis in Chinese sturgeon remains unclear, and the efficacy of drug prevention and control measures is not only poor but also plagued with numerous issues. We conducted transcriptomic and 16 S rRNA sequencing analyses to examine the differences in the intestinal tract of hybrid sturgeon before and after Y. ruckeri infection and florfenicol intervention. Our findings revealed that Y. ruckeri induced the expression of multiple inflammatory factors, including il1β, il6, and various chemokines, as well as casp3, casp8, and multiple tumor necrosis factor family members, resulting in pathological injury to the body. Additionally, at the phylum level, the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota increased, while the abundance of Plesiomonas and Cetobacterium decreased at the genus level, altering the composition of the intestinal flora. Following florfenicol intervention, the expression of multiple apoptosis and inflammation-related genes was down-regulated, promoting tissue repair. However, the flora became further dysregulated, increasing the risk of infection. In conclusion, our analysis of the transcriptome and intestinal microbial composition demonstrated that Y. ruckeri induces intestinal pathological damage by triggering apoptosis and altering the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Florfenicol intervention can repair pathological damage, but it also exacerbates flora imbalance, leading to a higher risk of infection. These findings help elucidate the molecular mechanism of Y. ruckeri-induced enteritis in sturgeon and evaluate the therapeutic effect of drugs on intestinal inflammation in sturgeon.

Effectiveness of the liquid method of feeding suckling piglets

The article examined the dependence of sow productivity, the growth rate of suckling piglets, their weight at transfer to rearing, the consumption of precursor feeds, and their costs on dry and liquid feeding systems for piglets in the suckling period. The dependence on feed costs for piglet feeding, veterinary drugs for prevention, and the costs and profitability of piglet rearing in these feeding systems were analyzed. It was found that the use of the liquid milk replacer Opticare Milk helped to improve the survival rate of piglets up to weaning by 7.5 %, increase their number in the sow's nest at this time by 7.0 %, increase the average daily growth of suckling piglets by 20.4 %, increase the absolute weight gain by 19.8 %, increase the weight of the piglet litter at weaning by 22.0 % and increase the individual weight of the piglets at weaning by 14.7 % compared to piglet litters fed dry granulated starter provide Superior Neonatal. Multiple fertility, high fertility, and litter weight of piglets at birth did not depend on how piglets were fed during the suckling period. With liquid feeding of suckling piglets, the proportion of piglets with diarrhea decreased by 12.20 % and the costs for the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases increased by 58.5 %, the costs for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases by 55.4 %, and the veterinary costs for rearing a piglet during the suckling period by 53.8 % compared to analogs with dry feeding. To 1 kg of gain, these costs increased by 33.1 % due to prevention and 28.4 % due to treatment, resulting in a 28.5 % overrun of the total costs for treatment and prevention. In general, the costs for feeding and medical and preventive measures increased by 157.8 % per animal and 122.2 % per 1 kg of gain compared to dry feeding. At the same time, under the liquid feeding system for suckling piglets, the cost of keeping a sow per weaned piglet fell by 6.00 %. The proportion of these costs per piglet decreased by 21.6 %, and the cost of keeping a sow per 1 kg increased. Still, the cost of a piglet at weaning increases by 13.2 %, the cost of 1 kg live weight of piglets at weaning increases by 5.6 %, the share of feed and veterinary components in the cost of rearing a piglet increases by 9.1 %, and by 3.4 %. At the same time, the market value increases by 14.7 %, the income from rearing a piglet rises by 17.9 %, and the profitability of rearing a piglet increases by 1.95 %.

Penyuluhan Bahaya Narkoba Di Kalangan Remaja Khususnya Pelajar SMKN 1 Kisaran

The purpose of this community service activity is to educate students at SMK Negeri 1 Kisaran on how to avoid drug abuse. drug abuse. This community service activity used an counseling strategy; all activities were planned and conducted with 25 student representatives from each grade and level. The comparison results between pre-test and post-test showed that the PKM can improve the knowledge of participants about the dangers of drugs and drug abuse prevention efforts; the number of participants who were able to mention the types of drugs, the dangers of drugs, and efforts to prevent drug drug abuse prevention efforts increased from 30% to 95%, and the average score reached 87 out of the maximum score. reached 87 out of the maximum score.

Health education in the school environment: interdisciplinary practices, constitutional guarantees, and full development of the individual

Health Education in schools plays a crucial role in promoting the physical, mental, and social well-being of students, contributing to the formation of healthy and conscious citizens. By integrating health promotion into daily activities, this approach aims to disseminate information and encourage healthy habits, emphasizing the importance of interaction between the school and healthcare teams. Key points such as disease prevention, nutrition education, physical activity, mental health, sexual education, drug prevention, community partnerships, and ongoing evaluation outline a comprehensive plan. Considering the historical context from hygienic models to contemporary approaches, a critical understanding of these phases is vital for creating a healthy school environment and empowering students to make informed choices for a healthy life. In addition, the Health in School Program (PSE) is a joint initiative of the Ministries of Health and Education in Brazil, launched in 2007, to promote the health and well-being of public school students. With an emphasis on integrating health and education, PSE covers various areas, including healthy eating, disease prevention, combating Aedes aegypti, and physical activity, operating in all stages of basic education. Community involvement is crucial, and the program involves constant monitoring and access to healthcare services. PSE stands out for its preventive focus, aiming to educate conscious and healthy citizens. Furthermore, the article argues for the integration of health into the Political-Pedagogical Project (PPP) of schools, as advocated by the 1988 Federal Constitution. It emphasizes the influence of economic and social policies on population health and the school's importance as a space for health promotion. The National Common Curricular Base and National Curriculum Parameters recognize the transversality of health in education. PPP, seen as a democratic instrument, is essential for collaboration between health and education. The pedagogical approach of John Dewey and Paulo Freire highlights the importance of experience, dialogue, awareness, meaningful learning, empowerment, reflective practice, and cultural contextualization. The expansion of this approach to teachers and staff is considered vital in the educational process.

On the Evidence of Things Not Seen: A Systems-Driven Analysis of LifeSkills Training, University and Tobacco Industry Efforts in School-Based Drug Prevention

ABSTRACT Background Despite recent declines, youth nicotine vaping remains seen by experts as a national public health epidemic. Few, if any, researchers have examined how related high-profile and school-based prevention programs such as LifeSkills Training (LST) are further disseminated with cooperation from research-to-practice entities as well as the tobacco industry. Purpose Provides a systems-driven documentary analysis of efforts pertaining to prevention entities at the University of Colorado, Boulder, as well as LST, and the tobacco industry. Methods Employs focused synthesis data collection with constant comparative analyses. Results Likely previously unseen and related to LST, is the degree to which prevention entities with a public mission appear to cooperate among themselves and with the tobacco industry as part of a longstanding, if not elaborate, school-based drug prevention social system characterized by patterned evidence of opaque or furtive representations and/or activities. Discussion Along with limitations, summarizes a research-to-practice social system likely compromising school-based prevention and, in turn, the health of the young people they serve. Theorizes a symbolic politics explanatory mechanism while providing recommendations toward transparency for more informed school-based prevention decision-making. Translation to Health Education Practice Emphasizes the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing Inc. (NCHEC) critical thinking and program evaluation competencies.

D.A.R.E. Drug Prevention during the Pandemic: Response to COVID-19

D.A.R.E. Drug Prevention during the Pandemic: Response to COVID-19

Innovative in vivo rat model for global cerebral hypoxia: a new approach to investigate therapeutic and preventive drugs.

Introduction: Severe acute global cerebral hypoxia can lead to significant disability in humans. Although different animal models have been described to study hypoxia, there is no endogenous model that considers hypoxia and its effect on the brain as an independent factor. Thus, we developed a minimally invasive rat model, which is based on the non-depolarizing muscle blocking agent rocuronium in anesthetized animals. This drug causes respiratory insufficiency by paralysis of the striated muscles. Methods: In this study, 14 rats underwent 12min of hypoxemia with an oxygen saturation of approximately 60% measured by pulse oximetry; thereafter, animals obtained sugammadex to antagonize rocuronium immediately. Results: Compared to controls (14 rats, anesthesia only), hypoxic animals demonstrated significant morphological alterations in the hippocampus (cell decrease in the CA 1 region) and the cerebellum (Purkinje cell decrease), as well as significant changes in hypoxia markers in blood (Hif2α, Il1β, Tgf1β, Tnfα, S100b, cspg2, neuron-specific enolase), hippocampus (Il1β, Tnfα, S100b, cspg2, NSE), and cerebellum (Hif1α, Tnfα, S100b, cspg2, NSE). Effects were more pronounced in females than in males. Discussion: Consequently, this model is suitable to induce hypoxemia with consecutive global cerebral hypoxia. As significant morphological and biochemical changes were proven, it can be used to investigate therapeutic and preventive drugs for global cerebral hypoxia.

Mood and microbes: a comprehensive review of intestinal microbiota's impact on depression.

Depression is considered a multifaceted and intricate mental disorder of growing concern due to its significant impact on global health issues. The human gut microbiota, also known as the "second brain," has an important role in the CNS by regulating it through chemical, immunological, hormonal, and neurological processes. Various studies have found a significant bidirectional link between the brain and the gut, emphasizing the onset of depression therapies. The biological and molecular processes underlying depression and microbiota are required, as the bidirectional association may represent a novel study. However, profound insights into the stratification and diversity of the gut microbiota are still uncommon. This article investigates the emerging evidence of a bacterial relationship between the gut and the brain's neurological system and its potential pathogenicity and relevance. The interplay of microbiota, immune system, nervous system neurotransmitter synthesis, and neuroplasticity transitions is also widely studied. The consequences of stress, dietary fibers, probiotics, prebiotics, and antibiotics on the GB axis are being studied. Multiple studies revealed the processes underlying this axis and led to the development of effective microbiota-based drugs for both prevention and treatment. Therefore, the results support the hypothesis that gut microbiota influences depression and provide a promising area of research for an improved knowledge of the etiology of the disease and future therapies.

Acute Diabetes Complications After Transition to a Value-Based Medication Benefit

The association of value-based medication benefits with diabetes health outcomes is uncertain. To assess the association of a preventive drug list (PDL) value-based medication benefit with acute, preventable diabetes complications. This cohort study used a controlled interrupted time series design and analyzed data from a large, national, commercial health plan from January 1, 2004, through June 30, 2017, for patients with diabetes aged 12 to 64 years enrolled through employers that adopted PDLs (intervention group) and matched and weighted members with diabetes whose employers did not adopt PDLs (control group). All participants were continuously enrolled and analyzed for 1 year before and after the index date. Subgroup analysis assessed patients with diabetes living in lower-income and higher-income neighborhoods. Data analysis was performed between August 19, 2020, and December 1, 2023. At the index date, intervention group members experienced employer-mandated enrollment in a PDL benefit that was added to their follow-up year health plan. This benefit reduced out-of-pocket costs for common cardiometabolic drugs, including noninsulin antidiabetic agents and insulin. Matched control group members continued to have cardiometabolic medications subject to deductibles or co-payments at follow-up. The primary outcome was acute, preventable diabetes complications (eg, bacterial infections, neurovascular events, acute coronary disease, and diabetic ketoacidosis) measured as complication days per 1000 members per year. Intermediate measures included the proportion of days covered by and higher use (mean of 1 or more 30-day fills per month) of antidiabetic agents. The study 10 588 patients in the intervention group (55.2% male; mean [SD] age, 51.1 [10.1] years) and 690 075 patients in the control group (55.2% male; mean [SD] age, 51.1 [10.1] years) after matching and weighting. From baseline to follow-up, the proportion of days covered by noninsulin antidiabetic agents increased by 4.7% (95% CI, 3.2%-6.2%) in the PDL group and by 7.3% (95% CI, 5.1%-9.5%) among PDL members from lower-income areas compared with controls. Higher use of noninsulin antidiabetic agents increased by 11.3% (95% CI, 8.2%-14.5%) in the PDL group and by 15.2% (95% CI, 10.6%-19.8%) among members of the PDL group from lower-income areas compared with controls. The PDL group experienced an 8.4% relative reduction in complication days (95% CI, -13.9% to -2.8%; absolute reduction, -20.2 [95% CI, -34.3 to -6.2] per 1000 members per year) compared with controls from baseline to follow-up, while PDL members residing in lower-income areas had a 10.2% relative reduction (95% CI, -17.4% to -3.0%; absolute, -26.1 [95% CI, -45.8 to -6.5] per 1000 members per year). In this cohort study, acute, preventable diabetes complication days decreased by 8.4% in the overall PDL group and by 10.2% among PDL members from lower-income areas compared with the control group. The results may support a strategy of incentivizing adoption of targeted cost-sharing reductions among commercially insured patients with diabetes and lower income to enhance health outcomes.

Treatment patterns and characteristics of patients with migraine: results from a retrospective database study in Japan

Background Clinical characteristics and treatment practice of patients with migraine in Japan in real-world setting have not been fully investigated. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using claims database to understand the clinical practice of migraine in recent years and to characterize patients potentially not managed well by current treatment options.MethodsOur study used data from the large claims database maintained by JMDC Inc. Patients with diagnosis of headache or migraine between January 1, 2018, and July 31, 2022, were defined as the headache cohort, and those with migraine diagnosis and prescription of migraine treatments among the headache cohort were included in the migraine cohort. In the headache cohort, characteristics of medical facilities and status of imaging tests to distinguish secondary headache were examined. Treatment patterns and characteristics of patients potentially not managed well by acute/preventive treatment were described in migraine cohort.ResultsIn the headache cohort, 989,514 patients were included with 57.0% females and mean age of 40.3 years; 77.0% patients visited clinics (with ≤ 19 bed capacities) for their primary diagnosis, and 30.3% patients underwent imaging tests (computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging). In the migraine cohort, 165,339 patients were included with 65.0% females and mean age of 38.8 years. In the migraine cohort, 95.6% received acute treatment while 20.8% received preventive treatment. Acetaminophen/non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were most common (54.8%) as the initial prescription for migraine treatment followed by triptan (51.4%). First treatment prescription included preventive treatment in 15.6%, while the proportion increased to 82.2% in the fourth treatment prescription. Among patients with more than 12 months of follow-up, 3.7% had prescription patterns suggestive of risk of medication-overuse headache, and these patients were characterized by a higher percentage of females and a higher prevalence of comorbidities.ConclusionsThis study revealed that approximately one-fifth of the patients with migraine visiting medical facilities use preventive drugs. The presence of potential patients at risk of medication-overuse headache and the role of clinics in migraine treatment were also described.

Substance Use Among People Seeking Health Care Services in Primary Health Care Settings in Coastal Karnataka

Background: Patients with substance use disorders are common in general medical practice and are a major risk factor for several non-communicable diseases. Appropriate screening is a vital step for providing brief interventions which can provide a good opportunity to tackle this crisis and in achieving target 3.5 of the sustainable development goal which includes strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. Objectives: To study the magnitude of substance use and factors associated with it among people seeking health care services at primary care settings. Methods: The cross-sectional study recruited people seeking services at primary care settings to screen for substance users (SU) and determine the associated factors. The data was collected using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire including socio-demographic characteristics, health status and the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test tool. Results: The study showed that 43.4% of the participants were SU. The current use of smokeless tobacco was higher compared to tobacco smoking (21.3% and 4.7%). The multivariate logistic regression showed that advancing age (AOR: 2.61 and 95% CI of 1.01–6.79), male gender (AOR: 705 and 95% CI of 4.25–11.70), primary and middle school (AOR: 3.24 and 95% CI of 1.52–6.92) literacy status, unemployed (AOR: 0.49 and 95% CI of 0.25–0.95), religion and other backward caste (AOR: 2.42 and 95% CI of 1.37–4.30) were significant correlates of SU. Conclusion: Substance use was reported by two-fifths of the participants seeking services at primary care centres in our study and stresses the need for incorporating brief interventions to prevent higher degrees of dependence and its complications.

Financial impact of medication reviews by clinical pharmacists to reduce in-hospital adverse drug events: a return-on-investment analysis

BackgroundAdverse drug events contribute to rising health care costs. Clinical pharmacists can reduce their risks by identifying and solving drug-related problems (DRPs) through medication review.AimTo develop an economic model to determine whether medication reviews performed by clinical pharmacists could lead to a reduction in health care costs associated with the prevention of potential adverse drug events.MethodTwo pharmacists performed medication reviews during ward rounds in an internal medicine setting over one year. Avoided costs were estimated by monetizing five categories of DRPs (improper drug selection, drug interactions, untreated indications, inadequate dosages, and drug use without an indication). An expert panel assessed potential adverse drug events and their probabilities of occurrence for 20 randomly selected DRPs in each category. The costs of adverse drug events were extracted from internal hospital financial data. A partial economic study from a hospital perspective then estimated the annual costs avoided by resolving DRPs identified by 3 part-time clinical pharmacists (0.9 full-time equivalent) from 2019 to 2020. The return on investment (ROI) of medication review was calculated.ResultsThe estimated annual avoided costs associated with the potential adverse drug events induced by 676 DRPs detected was € 304,170. The cost of a 0.9 full-time equivalent clinical pharmacist was € 112,408. Extrapolated to 1 full-time equivalent, the annual net savings was € 213,069 or an ROI of 1–1.71. Sensitivity analyses showed that the economic model was robust.ConclusionThis economic model revealed the positive financial impact and favorable return on investment of a medication review intervention performed by clinical pharmacists. These findings should encourage the future deployment of a pharmacist-led adverse drug events prevention program.

Anti-Drugs Chatbot: Chinese BERT-Based Cognitive Intent Analysis

Drug abuse has always been a severe issue, but the proportion of drug abuse and addiction is rising. According to research reports, youth are motivated to access drugs mainly due to curiosity and peer influence. Additionally, youth especially lack proper knowledge and education surrounding drug abuse. Analyzing whether potential addicts intend to access drugs is helpful in preventing drug abuse and addiction. We developed an Anti-drug Chatbot for young people on a popular online social platform. We can detect potential risks, obtain warnings from the user-entered query and provide these to professional consultants for help. In this article, we present a hierarchical system with bidirectional encoder representation from transformers (BERT) to efficiently recognize and classify a user’s intent. We use the Chinese BERT-based model to utilize contextual information to perform classification and recognition. We evaluate our proposed system on our conversational dataset.