Substance use in a sample of medical patients.

The purpose of the current study was to assess the rate of substance use in patients with medical diseases who were admitted to different wards at Shiraz hospitals affiliated to the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Data were gathered from 600 randomly selected patients by a structured interview that included DSM-IV criteria for substance dependency. The mean ages for men and women were 45.

Analysis of opium use by students of medical sciences.

Aims And Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of opium use in university students.

Background: University health professionals and authorities are very concerned about substance use among university students.

Design: A survey with a representative sample of 2519 (1126 men and 1393 women) university students and opium use disorders assessed by means of DSM-IV criteria (Diagnostic Statistical Manual-IV Axis I during the year 2003).

Twelve-month maintenance treatment of opium-dependent patients.

The goal of this study was to compare the effects of 1, 3 and 8 mg per day doses of buprenorphine in the maintenance treatment of opium-dependent subjects in Iran over a treatment period of 12 months. Participants were randomized to three equal groups (171 subjects per group) of opium-dependent individuals who met the DSM-IV criteria for opioid dependence and were seeking treatment. They were treated in an urban outpatient clinic, offering a 1-hour weekly individual counseling session.