Opiate

Background Methadone is an effective therapy for opiate dependence. However, one of the commonest side effects is sexual dysfunction among male patients. Buprenorphine is an alternative to methadone. This study aimed to compare sexual desire among opiate-dependent male patients on buprenorphine (BMT) and methadone maintenance therapy (MMT). Methods This cross-sectional study involved 126 male opiate-dependent patient who were tested for total testosterone (TT) and prolactin levels, and were interviewed and completed the Sexual Desire Inventory-2 (SDI-2), Malay language of International Index of Erectile Function (Mal-IIEF-15) and the Malay version of the self-rated Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-BM) questionnaires. Results There were 95 (75.4%) patients on MMT and 31 (24.6%) on BMT. Patients on MMT scored significantly lower in the sexual desire domain (Mal-IIEF-15 scores) (p 

The authors used rats to study the impact of a history of opiate exposures on behavioral and autonomic responses to restraint stress. Brief restraint (30 min) provoked tachycardia and a pressor response, anxiety (as indexed by social interaction), grooming, and reduced exploration. The pressor response was reduced at 1 day, but not 7 days, after last opiate exposure; tachycardia was unaffected (Experiment 1). Stress-induced anxiety was potentiated 1 and 7 days after last opiate exposure (Experiment 2), and this potentiation was a function of dose (Experiment 3) and duration (Experiment 4) of opiate exposure. The results show that a history of opiate exposures alters vulnerability to stress and has implications for understanding coping, anxiety, and emotionality in former opiate users.

University of Maine at Machias Documentary Project:
"Whatever Works: Exploring Opiate Addiction”.

The documentary is an extremely personal look at an addiction that takes 1 life per day in Maine alone, and thousand of lives per day in the U.S.

Participants relayed their stories: a man on the lobster docks at Machiasport, Maine; a 30-year veteran EMT Responder, an Emergency Room Physician; a heroin dealer; a Vietnam Vet. They all relay very different experiences, all totaling up to one conclusion: It's a monumental task to break free of opiate addiction once it takes hold. The documentary also includes 8th Grader students, as a parallel universe to the interviews of addicts in various stages of treatment & recovery. The objectives of this work is both informational, giving an insider's view; & preventative, in hope that an echo of one of these voices might turn a young life in a safe direction.

Each UMM student Student participant: Marc Brine, Natalie Cline, Jose Gurrola, Carolin Moreta, Maximilliaan Peeters, Ciara Schoppee, and Lorenzo Segura performed on-location interviews, setup, sound, photography & final editing roles in equal rotation, co-authoring the project.

The 60-minute video is available via YouTube, to schools & anyone interested in the prevention of opiate addiction, especially in the teen years commonly affected.