Luciana Roberta Donola Cardoso

O consumo de álcool como fator de risco para a transmissão das DSTs/HIV/Aids

CONTEXTO: No Brasil 74,4% da populacao ja fez uso de alcool alguma vez na vida (Cebrid/Unifesp, 2005). O consumo dessa substância tem sido associado com a pratica de comportamento sexual de risco para as DSTs/HIV/Aids. OBJETIVOS: Revisar a literatura que investiga associacao entre comportamento sexual de risco para infeccao do HIV e o uso de alcool. METODOS: Realizou-se uma busca bibliografica nas bases de dados MEDLINE e LILACS nos periodos de 2000 a 2007. A busca foi realizada por meio do cruzamento dos unitermos comportamento sexual de risco, HIV e Aids com os unitermos alcool, uso, abuso e dependencia de alcool. RESULTADOS: Dados encontrados na literatura apontam que homens (heterossexuais e homossexuais), adolescentes, imigrantes e profissionais do sexo sao os que associam, mais frequentemente, alcool com pratica de sexo sem preservativo. As mulheres se expoem ao risco com menor frequencia. CONCLUSOES: O uso de alcool associado ao comportamento sexual mostrou ser um fator de risco para transmissao das DSTs/HIV/Aids, visto que, quando ingerido antes ou durante o ato sexual, favorece a pratica sem preservativo. O local em que se consome a bebida, antes ou durante o ato sexual, e a quantidade ingerida parecem ser fatores preponderantes na manutencao dessa associacao.

Uso de substâncias na adolescência e problemas familiares

This study aimed to evaluate the association between substance use (alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs) and family problems among 965 adolescents from 50 public schools in two cities in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, in 2007. The Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI) was used for data collection. Use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs was associated with a negative assessment of the family relationship, lack of monitoring/support, and psychoactive substance use by family members (p < 0.05). Adolescents that reported having used alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs had more family problems than those who did not consume any substance (p < 0.001). Adolescents that used alcohol and tobacco (p = 0.028) and illicit drugs (p < 0.001) reported having more family problems than those who used only alcohol. The results highlight the importance of awareness of alcohol and tobacco use by adolescents, since such use was associated with significant family impairments, similar to illicit drug use.

Gender parity and drug use: are girls catching up with boys?

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between gender and use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs in adolescents aged 10 to 18 years in the municipalities of Jacareí and Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS A total of 971 adolescents completed the Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI). RESULTS In our sample, 55% of adolescents were male, 33.8% reported having made use in the previous month of alcohol, 13.5% of cigarettes, and 6.4% of illicit drugs. There was no significant difference between genders in the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs in any of the analysis (p > 0.05). The use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs was associated with the city, age, educational level, school failure, and relationship with parents (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Substance abuse among adolescents in our sample seems to follow the recent global trend towards the equalization of drug use between genders. This result should be taken into account by public health professionals in developing policies for this problem.

Alcohol dependence and CD4 cell count: is there a relationship?

Alcohol and other drugs use seem to be common among people infected with HIV on antiretroviral treatment (ART). Their effects on HIV progression is still in debate. This study aimed to assess the association between alcohol and drug use and an HIV disease progression biomarker (CD4 cell count) among patients on ART. A cross-sectional study was carried out at an HIV treatment center affiliated with Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Four hundred and thirty-eight HIV-positive patients on ART were interviewed by trained psychiatrists and psychologists using the following instruments: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and the Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire (SMAQ). In the previous month, 219 (50%) and 41 (9.3%) patients reported use of alcohol and illicit drugs, respectively. Fifty patients (12.6%) were classified as having harmful alcohol use by AUDIT. According to SCID-I, 80 patients (18.3%) were alcohol abusers, 24 (5.5%) alcohol dependents, and 21 (4.2%) had a current depressive disorder. Almost 73% (n = 319–72.8%) of the patients were adherent to ART. Alcohol dependents were nine times (p < 0.01) more likely to have CD4 cell count ≤200/mm3, and this association was independent of ART adherence. In conclusion, alcohol dependence seems to be associated with low CD4 cell count in HIV-positive patients. Based on these data, HIV health care workers should always assess alcohol consumption in the treatment setting, and patients should be advised that alcohol dependence may be linked to low CD4.

Problemas escolares e o consumo de álcool e outras drogas entre adolescentes

The relationship between school problems and the use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs in 965 adolescents in the towns of Jacareí and Diadema (SP) was assessed by us through the self-administered questionnaire DUSI Drug Use Screening Inventory. This instrument helps assess drug use and related problems. Substance use was associated with , lack of concentration, poor performance, desire to drop out of school, feeling bored at school, ignoring homework, missing/ arriving late at school, and academic impairments resulting from the use of drugs. The combination of alcohol and tobacco was associated with more problems in school than those found in exclusive users of alcohol. The problems associated with this combination were similar to those observed in illicit drug users. Enjoying the school was a protective factor against substance use. The results show the importance of paying attention to the combined consumption of licit drugs.The relationship between school problems and the use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs in 965 adolescents in the towns of Jacarei and Diadema (SP) was assessed by us through the self-administered questionnaire DUSI - Drug Use Screening Inventory. This instrument helps assess drug use and related problems. Substance use was associated with , lack of concentration, poor performance, desire to drop out of school, feeling bored at school, ignoring homework, missing/ arriving late at school, and academic impairments resulting from the use of drugs. The combination of alcohol and tobacco was associated with more problems in school than those found in exclusive users of alcohol. The problems associated with this combination were similar to those observed in illicit drug users. Enjoying the school was a protective factor against substance use. The results show the importance of paying attention to the combined consumption of licit drugs.

Who is not using condoms among HIV-positive patients in treatment in the largest city in Brazil?

Data on risky sexual behaviors in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is still scarce in some populations around the world. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors associated with the use of condoms in a representative sample of PLWHA in outpatient treatment in the city of São Paulo. Six hundred and sixty-seven HIV-positive patients (383 men and 284 women) who were being treated at eight centers participated in this study. Data were collected using a sociodemographic survey, the Beck depression and anxiety inventories, a survey of alcohol and other drugs use, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, a sexual behavior survey, and the Sexual Risk Behavior Assessment Schedule. The majority of study participants were sexually active (almost 62% of the sample had at least one sexual partner in the last three months), and at least one-fourth engaged in unsafe sex (25.3% did not use condoms during at least one instance of anal and/or vaginal intercourse in the past three months). Multivariate logistic regression showed that engaging in unprotected sex was more likely among females (p < .001), persons with an HIV-positive partner (p < .001), and people using cannabis before sex (p = .002). These findings should stimulate health-care workers to create specific groups for women, seroconcordant couples, and cannabis users to discuss condom use, as they seem to be vulnerable groups.

The influence of depressive symptoms and substance use on adherence to antiretroviral therapy. A cross-sectional prevalence study

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) is not a stable condition, but is dynamic, like mental conditions. The aim of this study was to examine whether non-adherence to ART is related to demographic and immunological variables, substance use and presence of depressive symptoms. DESIGN AND SETTING This was a cross-sectional prevalence study carried out at a public AIDS treatment center in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, between July 2006 and January 2007. METHODS 438 patients on regular ART schedules with recent laboratory tests answered a demographic questionnaire, questions about substance use, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire (SMAQ). RESULTS The prevalence of non-adherence over the past three months (a pattern of treatment interruption) was 46.3%, and 27.2% also reported this in the past week (a pattern of missed doses). ART interruption was significantly related to older age, lower CD4+ cell count and homosexual/bisexual transmission. The pattern of missed doses was significantly related to younger age, higher HDRS scores and higher viral load of RNA HIV. CONCLUSION ART interruption may reflect recall errors and changes to the Brazilian demographic characteristics of HIV infection. The missed doses may reflect lifestyle characteristics of younger individuals. Attendance for HIV-positive individuals, particularly younger patients, should involve interventions and counseling in relation to the presence of depressive symptoms.

A influência dos amigos no consumo de drogas entre adolescentes

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the variables associated with friends and alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use in 965 adolescents from 50 public schools in Jacarei and Diadema, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Drug Use Screening Inventory was used for data collection. Having friends who use substances, who are in trouble with the law, who have stolen/damaged something, who sell drugs, who take drugs to parties, and who get bored when they do not drink at parties progressively increased the risk of adolescents using alcohol, tobacco, both of them, and illicit drugs. This result shows the importance of evaluating the consumption of these substances separately, as the consumption of alcohol and tobacco together seems to be more hazardous than consuming them individually.

Monitoring Drug Use Among HIV/AIDS Patients in Brazil: Should we Combine Self-Report and Urinalysis?

Illicit drug use in HIV-infected patients can be linked to impairment of physical and mental health, low health related quality of life, and suboptimal adherence to HIV treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation of self report illicit drug use, urinalysis for cocaine and cannabis metabolites, and severity of dependence among HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a treatment center in Brazil. Four hundred and thirty-eight outpatients of an HIV referral center were interviewed and assessed for drug use (lifetime, last year and last month). Urinalysis was performed to detect the presence of cocaine and cannabis metabolites in urine samples. Overall agreement between self report and urinalysis was almost 68% for cannabis and higher than 85% for cocaine. Positive urinalysis was significantly associated with more than once a week cannabis (p< .0001) and cocaine (p< .0001) use during the last-month. Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) properly predicted positive cocaine urinalysis results (area under the curve [AUC] = .81, p = .0001). Frequency of cannabis and cocaine use, SDS score degree and positive urinalysis for both drugs were correlated. Our findings suggest that positive self-report is a reliable predictor of positive urine sample both for cannabis and cocaine, but since the agreement was not perfect, there is a role for urine drug screening in the care of patients with HIV-related conditions.

Problemas escolares y el consumo de alcohol y otras drogas entre adolescentes

The relationship between school problems and the use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs in 965 adolescents in the towns of Jacareí and Diadema (SP) was assessed by us through the self-administered questionnaire DUSI Drug Use Screening Inventory. This instrument helps assess drug use and related problems. Substance use was associated with , lack of concentration, poor performance, desire to drop out of school, feeling bored at school, ignoring homework, missing/ arriving late at school, and academic impairments resulting from the use of drugs. The combination of alcohol and tobacco was associated with more problems in school than those found in exclusive users of alcohol. The problems associated with this combination were similar to those observed in illicit drug users. Enjoying the school was a protective factor against substance use. The results show the importance of paying attention to the combined consumption of licit drugs.The relationship between school problems and the use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs in 965 adolescents in the towns of Jacarei and Diadema (SP) was assessed by us through the self-administered questionnaire DUSI - Drug Use Screening Inventory. This instrument helps assess drug use and related problems. Substance use was associated with , lack of concentration, poor performance, desire to drop out of school, feeling bored at school, ignoring homework, missing/ arriving late at school, and academic impairments resulting from the use of drugs. The combination of alcohol and tobacco was associated with more problems in school than those found in exclusive users of alcohol. The problems associated with this combination were similar to those observed in illicit drug users. Enjoying the school was a protective factor against substance use. The results show the importance of paying attention to the combined consumption of licit drugs.