Psychiatry Research EG

Background The prevalence of opioid dependence is increasing in the world and in Egypt among university students, which because of many false concepts being adopted. Objectives This study was conducted to detect the prevalence and the effects of opioid dependence among a sample of Mansoura University students. Participants and methods The study was carried out on 700 male students, aged 18–25 years. All students were assessed using semistructured interview and urine drug screening. Students were divided into three groups: the first group comprised 300 students who were not drug users, the second group comprised 300 polysubstance users, and the third group comprised 100 solitary opioid users. The first and third groups were subjected to psychometric assessment using Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview for substance dependence, Arabic version. Psychometric assessment was performed with the following tools: Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Hamilton rating scale for depression, and PANSS positive and negative symptom scale; laboratory investigations included liver function tests and kidney function test. Results We found that out of 100 students who were opioid users, 88 students used tramadol and 12 used heroin. Liver and renal functions were nearly normal in cases, with a high statistically significant difference between cases and controls regarding serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and creatinine. Higher scores for Hamilton scale for depression and trail A and B mean values were found in cases compared with controls. Conclusion The prevalence of tramadol dependence among Mansoura University students is higher than heroin dependence. In addition, opioid dependence has a negative biological and psychiatric sequelae, which is contrast to the false concepts of opioid dependence. Keywords: Cognitive function, creatinine, depression, false concepts, liver function, opioids