Does glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist stimulation reduce alcohol intake in patients with alcohol dependence: study protocol of a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Introduction: Alcohol dependence is a major public health problem. It is underdiagnosed and undertreated. Even when treated, more than 2/3 of patients in abstinence-oriented treatment will relapse within the first year.

[Treatment of acute pain in opioid addicts].

The challenge of managing acute pain in opioid-addicted patients is a question of fully understanding the pharmacological effects of the illegal drugs and to prevent overdosing or withdrawal symptoms. It requires a thorough knowledge of the patient's daily consumption of legal and illegal drugs and an understanding obtained through an accepting and empathetic communication with the patient. Substitution management aims to prevent opioid withdrawal symptoms and is not a means of managing pain.

[Strategies to avoid the risk of addiction when treating patients with chronic pains].

Addiction is a feared complication of long-term opioid treatment in patients with chronic pains. Strategies to decrease the risk of addiction include estimating of risk factors, establishing treatment goals realistic for pain and function, considering how to discontinue therapy if treatment goals are not achieved, avoiding administration forms with rapid absorption, using validated screening instruments and avoiding high opioid doses. If signs of addiction do occur, precautions to hinder overuse of opioid should be taken.

[The medicine and drug-abusing patient].

Opioids are frequently used in chronic cancer and non-cancer pain conditions. Addiction may develop during long-term opioid treatment and illegally as intravenous "street" addiction. Benzodiazepines are frequently used for legal indications.