Revista Internacional de Investigación en Adicciones

Fentanyl: A General Approach

2025-06-07T15:22:33-05:00

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid from the phenylpiperidine group, 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin (Walter, 2023). It is currently the drug of first choice for general sedation, as it presents a lower risk of surgical respiratory arrest and post-surgical physical dependence. However, despite its specific therapeutic uses and due to its mechanism of action, it is a substance that, if consumed without medical supervision, can cause addiction in those who consume it. Sustained and abusive use of fentanyl affects health and, at the mental level, can generate symptoms such as decreased impulse control, alterations in thought content (delusions, paranoia), and sensory perception (illusions and hallucinations). At the physical level, it increases the risk of seizures and severe respiratory depression, and, compared to other substances, the risk of overdose and death is higher (Kilwein et al., 2018). Furthermore, it causes neurobiological changes that can persist for decades after cessation of use (Volkow & Blanco, 2023). In conclusion, recreational and illicit fentanyl use represents a major threat to public health.

Global Trends in Hashish Use among Youth: An Empirical Review of the Global North and the Global South

2025-01-23T09:42:28-06:00

Introduction: it is estimated that 229 million people consume hashish (cannabis) worldwide. In the last decade, there has been a 23% increase in cannabis consumption. A considerable number of studies have been conducted, both in the Global North and the Global South, regarding the factors and reasons that cause or lead to cannabis consumption among youth in different sociocultural contexts.

Objective: the main objective of this study is to gain in-depth insights of the trends of hashish use among the young individuals from the empirical studies conducted across the Global North and Global South.

Method: 65 empirical studies (scientific articles, reports, and books) were reviewed to develop a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the wide and growing prevalence of hashish among the general population, particularly among youth. The online databases Drug and Alcohol Use, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and JSTOR were consulted to identify relevant studies.

Results: the findings of the study are organized under four lines: the first uses of hashish among humans; the prevalence of hashish among youth in the Global North; the prevalence of hashish use among youth in the Global South, and the factors that promote hashish use among youth worldwide.

Discussion and conclusions: governments must formulate policies for prevention and intervention aimed at effectively addressing this growing concern.

Therapeutic Potential of Herbalism for Opioid Use Disorder

2025-01-10T09:51:07-06:00

Introduction: the opioid crisis continues to claim many lives, approximately one hundred thousand annually in the United States of America, motivating solutions. Currently, these focus on synthetic opioids and are helpful in some circumstances, but their adoption has not stymied opioid deaths. Possible solutions for opioid use disorder exist in substances known to herbal medicine, and these may be attractive treatment options.

Objective:: this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the integrative therapies available to current opioid users to help in the cessation, through decreasing withdrawal symptoms. We identified several herbal and nutraceutical therapies which require further investigation for their therapeutic potential in opioid use disorder.

Method: we performed a literature search using three databases: Google Scholar, China/Asia on Demand, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. A protocol was designed that incorporates the PRISMA guidelines, which was applied during the stages of searching and selecting articles.

Discussion and conclusions: tseveral herbal and nutraceutical treatments, including Sophora alopecuroides, crocin, and Berberis vulgaris extracts, and Hab-o-shefa, Tai-Kang Ning, and Fu-Yuan Pellet formulations, demonstrate promise for the treatment of opioid use disorder, motivating their further study in larger scale trials. If the results from previous smaller trials hold, herbal medicines may function as effective therapeutics as part of an opiate cessation regimen.

Factors Related to Conventional and Vape Tobacco Use in Adolescents: Systematic Review

2024-12-03T13:52:34-06:00

Introduction: tobacco consumption has been increasing and causing more than eight million people death per year worldwide. Vapers are a consumption alternative that commercializes, mostly, in adolescent population, and shows to be on the rise. This justifies the analysis of the factors related to the consumption of these kind of products in a stage of life as vulnerable as adolescence is. From different studies, those predisposing agents for the consumption of these substances, have been identified.

Objective: investigate the scientific literature and collect data about the risk factors related to tobacco and vaping consumption in adolescents.

Method: systematic review based on scientific articles and studies in databases such as Pubmed and EBSCO, published in a range of years from 2019 to 2024.

Results: ten articles were collected, developed in different countries around the world, which reported various factors that are related to the consumption of tobacco and vaping devices. Different sociodemographic risk factors are identified, among others, such as curiosity and flavors. Furthermore, having friends who use tobacco and vaped is one of the main risk factors for the consumption of these substances.

Discussion and conclusions: there are three main risk factors that influence tobacco and vaping consumption in adolescents: peer influence, sex, and race/ethnicity, which can help create and implement new health-promoting policies aimed at the population teen.

Family Factors as a Risk Factor for Suicide in People in Residential Treatment for Substance Use

2025-03-24T15:00:16-06:00

Introduction: various risk factors for suicide have been studied in the literature in populations undergoing addiction treatment; these studies, however, focus on suicide as a construct, either as suicidal thoughts or ideation. Therefore, it is important to analyze the risk factors for suicidal behavior and delve deeper into the familial factors that modulate this relationship, especially in populations undergoing rehabilitation for substance use.

Objective: to analyze the influence of familial factors on suicide attempts in a population of inmates at an addiction treatment and rehabilitation center.

Method: a retrospective case-control study was conducted with a sample of 40 people who had attempted suicide and 59 control people.

Results: a 12-question questionnaire was applied through a mobile app to 99 participants. Of the participants, 79.8% were men and 20.2% were women; a high prevalence of suicide attempts was found in men. A family history of suicide is a risk factor that multiplies the likelihood of suicide up to sevenfold, while being male increases it sixfold. Education is a protective factor against suicide. Men rated their own emotional health as good, while the majority of women rated it as average.

Discussion and conclusions: the population at the treatment and rehabilitation center for addictions presents a complex suicide risk profile, influenced by factors such as gender, family history of suicide, and low educational level. The importance of individual assessments and specific intervention programs to address the particular needs of each gender within this context is highlighted.

Peer Influence and Cannabis Use in Young University Students in Southern Mexico

2024-11-27T17:12:46-06:00

Introduction: cannabis use constitutes a public health problem due to its multifactorial nature. In the university environment, peer influence emerges as a key factor that can encourage risky behaviors, such as cannabis use among young people.

Objective: to analyze the relation and the effect of peer influence on cannabis use.

Method: predictive correlational study with 772 university students from southern Mexico, aged between 18 and 29 years. Data were collected using two self-administered instruments (the Peer Pressure Inventory [PPI] and the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test [CUDIT]), scheduled on the digital platform SurveyMonkey.

Results: a total of 31.6% of young people reported having used cannabis at some point in their lives, of which 16.3% had harmful use and 8.7% had dependent use. A positive and significant relation between peer influence and cannabis use (rs = .188, p < .05) was found. The results of the linear regression model indicated that peer pressure predicts 5.8% of the variance in cannabis use (R²= .058, p < .05).

Discussion and conclusions: peer influence plays a significant role in cannabis use among college students. It would be relevant to implement educational programs and strategies to strengthen autonomous decision-making to reduce susceptibility to group dynamics that promote risky behaviors.

The Impact of Yoga Intervention on Liver Health in Individuals with Alcohol Addiction: A Pre-post Intervention Study

2024-11-28T16:06:49-06:00

Introduction: alcohol addiction is a pervasive public health issue associated with various adverse health outcomes, including liver dysfunction. Conventional treatment approaches for alcohol addiction often focus on substance withdrawal and psychological interventions. However, there is growing interest in exploring complementary therapies, such as yoga, for their potential to enhance overall well-being and support addiction recovery.

Objective: this study aimed to investigate the SGPT levels, a marker of liver function, in individuals with alcohol addiction.

Method: a pre-post intervention design was employed, with participants randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 18) receiving a structured yoga intervention, or a control group (n = 15) not participating in yoga practices. SGPT levels were measured at baseline and after a four-week intervention period. Statistical analysis, including ANCOVA, was conducted to compare post-intervention SGPT levels between groups while controlling for baseline levels.

Results: participants in the experimental group demonstrated a significant reduction in SGPT levels following the yoga intervention, compared to those in the control group. ANCOVA revealed a statistically significant difference in post-intervention SGPT levels between groups (p = 0.035), indicating the impact of yoga in improving liver health in individuals with alcohol addiction.

Discussion and conclusions: the findings suggest that a structured yoga intervention may lead to a significant decrease in SGPT levels among individuals with alcohol addiction or alcohol abuse disorder. These results highlight the potential of yoga as a complementary therapy for promoting liver health and supporting addiction recovery efforts.

Construction and Validation of a Scale to Measure Gender Roles in Drug Use in Mexican Adolescents

2025-02-18T09:16:07-06:00

Introduction: the gender gap that existed in the past between adolescent males and females in terms of drug use has now practically disappeared. However, the gender perspective is relatively new in the study of drug use, especially in Mexico. Frequently, research has overlooked the premise that gender is separate and distinct from sex, focusing primarily on identifying consumption differences based on sex. This has led to a limited understanding of how cultural norms might be involved in the initiation, use, and abuse of drugs among adolescents.

Objective: to construct and validate a scale that measures gender roles in substance use.

Method: a cross-sectional study was carried out in 706 public high school students in the State of Sonora. An exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was performed to establish the relationship between the observed variables and the latent dimensions.

Results: factor analysis demonstrated the validity of the scale and confirmed the existence of a four-factor structure: (F1) social expectations of drug use; (F2) motives for drug use in women; (F3) social norms of drug use, and (F4) motives for drug use in men;the model showed an adequate fit and high reliability.

Discussion and conclusions: the scale is ideal for undertaking research to explore how gender roles influence drug use among Mexican adolescents.

Academic Stress Related to Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption in Rural High School Students

2025-01-22T09:33:08-06:00

Introduction: academic stress is a physiological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral activation response to academic stimuli and events. It can indirectly affect health by promoting unhealthy behaviors, such as increased consumption of tobacco and alcohol.

Objective: the aim of this study is to determine the relationship between academic stress and the consumption of alcohol and tobacco among rural high school students.

Method: a sample of 163 rural high school students was selected using stratified simple random sampling without replacement. The instruments used were SISCO, AUDIT, and EECT, which measure levels of stress, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use, respectively. The study employed a non-experimental, cross-sectional, prospective, and correlational design.

Results: 33% of students exhibited a profound level of academic stress; 47.2% reported consuming alcoholic beverages, with 5.5% showing probable addiction; 27.6% participants identified as active smokers, and 4.9% reported daily consumption. A negative relationship was found between academic stress and alcohol consumption, while a positive relationship was observed between academic stress and tobacco use.

Discussion and conclusions: research indicates an absence of a significant relationship between academic stress and alcohol consumption; however, a relationship exists between academic stress and tobacco use among high school students. No significant correlation was found between academic stress and alcohol consumption; conversely, a positive correlation was identified between academic stress and tobacco use.

Evidence on the Validity and Precision of the Parental Supervision Inventory in Mexican Adolescents and Effects on Substance

2025-03-27T09:19:58-06:00

Introduction: parental supervision is the set of parental behaviors to obtain information about their children's behavior and has been shown to be a strong predictor of adolescent disruptive behaviors.

Objective: to obtain the validity and precision evidence of the Parental Supervision Inventory (PSI) in two versions and to evaluate its association with licit (CSI) and illicit (CSIL) substance use. It was hypothesized that there would be differences in PSI by sex, age and type of consumption.

Method: instrumental study with 1,105 adolescents from five public high schools in Guadalajara. A translation and back-translation of the ISP and cognitive interviews were conducted to assess their comprehension. The ISP and the CSL and CSIL were evaluated by means of Google Forms in the last month. An exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was performed, internal consistency was estimated and the association of ISP with CSI and CSIL was estimated.

Results: the PSI structure included four factors in its two versions with 21 and 13 items with adequate fit indices. Its internal consistency ranged from ω= .85 to .90. CSL of 10.7% and CSIL of 4.2% were identified with no differences by gender. Significant differences were identified between men and women in rules and supervision, as well as between nonconsumers, CSL and CSIL, and differences in coldness-rejection and perceived overcontrol between nonconsumers and CSIL. There were no differences by age.

Discussion and conclusions: validity and accuracy evidence supports the use of ISP-21 and ISP-13 in Mexican adolescents. It was identified that poor supervision predicts the use of any substance. Poor supervision and absence of rules predicted licit substance use, and poor supervision, coldness-rejection and perceived overcontrol predicted illicit substance use.

Digital Addictions and Artificial Intelligence: Between the Algorithm and Well-Being

2025-01-22T14:58:57-06:00

Digital technology has transformed our lives, but it has also introduced new challenges, such as the compulsive use of devices and digital platforms. Digital addiction, particularly in the context of social media, video games, and content consumption, has become a growing phenomenon with significant implications for mental and social health. In this context, AI emerges as a key player with a dual role: on one hand, it contributes to the development of these addictions through recommendation algorithms that maximize screen time; on the other, it offers innovative solutions for prevention and treatment through tools like therapeutic chatbots and early detection systems.