Principle of Slowed Wound Healing Due to Stress Revealed
There is no doubt that psychological stress significantly slows down the process of healing wounds. The principle of how this phenomenon occurs, however, has remained unexplained. Swiss scientists focused on macrophages. Their function is to remove pathogens from the healing wound.
Two-fifths of patients undergoing substitution therapy for opioid addiction excessively consume alcohol. However, only half of them perceive this as risky behavior or a problem. To achieve better outcomes in substitution therapy, it is necessary to regularly monitor alcohol consumption in these patients and take steps to reduce it.
In two centers providing substitution therapy for opioid-dependent individuals in Sydney, Australia, a study was conducted to evaluate alcohol consumption in these patients, factors related to excessive consumption, and how the patients perceive their alcohol use. With 264 individuals undergoing substitution therapy, a confidential structured interview was conducted, in which alcohol consumption was assessed using the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and dependence on illegal drugs was assessed using the Severity of Dependence Scale.
A total of 41% of patients had an AUDIT score ≥ 8, indicating excessive alcohol consumption. However, only half of them believed they drank too much or perceived their alcohol consumption as a problem. Patients with excessive alcohol consumption were more frequently found to be dependent on illegal drugs in the past 6 months. These patients also more frequently reported previous alcohol treatment and more often believed that drinking more than 4 standard alcoholic drinks at once is safe.
Excessive alcohol consumption increases morbidity and mortality in individuals undergoing substitution therapy for opioid addiction. Regular visits to the substitution therapy center are an opportunity to identify these patients and provide brief but regular targeted interventions to reduce alcohol consumption.
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Source: Islam M. M., Day C. A., Conigrave K. M., et al. Self-perceived problem with alcohol use among opioid substitution treatment clients. Addict Behav. 2013 Apr; 38 (4): 2018–21.
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