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This study tested societal effects on caregiver/teacher ratings of behavioral/emotional problems for 10,521 preschoolers from 15 societies. Many societies had problem scale scores within a relatively narrow range, despite differences in language, culture, and other characteristics. The small age and gender effects were quite similar across societies. The rank orders of mean item ratings were similar across diverse societies. For 7,380 children from 13 societies, ratings were also obtained from a parent. In all 13 societies, mean Total Problems scores derived from parent ratings were significantly higher than mean Total Problems scores derived from caregiver/teacher ratings, although the size of the difference varied somewhat across societies. Mean cross-informant agreement for problem scale scores varied across societies. Societies were very similar with respect to which problem items, on average, received high versus low ratings from parents and caregivers/teachers. Within every society, cross-informant agreement for item ratings varied widely across children. In most respects, results were quite similar across 15 very diverse societies. (Contains 5 tables and 1 figure.)

Background/aims: Methylphenidate (MPH) has been the most commonly used intravenous (i.v.) substance in Iceland in recent years. In Iceland, MPH is available in 3 forms: immediate-release (IR) tablets (MPH IR, short-acting), sustainable-release (SR) capsules (MPH SR, long-acting) and osmotic-release (OROS) tablets (MPH OROS, long-acting). The aims of the study were to compare the pattern and subjective effects of i.v. MPH use to other i.v. psychostimulants and examine whether the pattern of use differs among MPH preparations.Methods: This is a nationwide descriptive study. Information was collected from 95 i.v. substance users undergoing inpatient detoxification and reporting i.v. MPH use in the last 30 days using a semi-structured interview.Results: MPH SR was both the most commonly used (96%) and preferred i.v. psychostimulant (57%). The intensity and duration of 'euphoria' did not differ between cocaine and MPH SR. No participant reported MPH OROS as their preferred substance even though a third had used it in the past month.Conclusions: The pattern of i.v. MPH use is similar to other psychostimulants among treatment seeking patients. MPH OROS was the least preferred i.v. psychostimulant, despite having the largest market share in Iceland. The results indicate that MPH OROS has less abuse potential than other MPH preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Drug abuse is a significant contributor to premature disease and mortality. Drug users are less likely to attend traditional Primary Health Care and more likely to present to Emergency Departments with their problems. Drug users often present late for treatment and find difficult ot engage and follow through treatment in standard models of health services., Materials and Methods: The study is retrospective. 108 intravenous drug users were identified upon admission to one of three intpatient addiction treatment centres in Iceland in the years 2012-2013. Case notes for the two years leading to admission were examined., Results: The study group had significantyl more contacts with Emergency Departments than a matched sample from the community (p<0.001). Mean number of visits for the study group per year was 4.8 (median 3.5) and 43% had four or more visits in a year. Majority of visits were for pshychiatric symptoms with a third considered serious. The two main medical reasons were infections from injecting and accidents/violence. There was no significant difference in study parameters between those who mainly use methylphenidate vs other substances. Mortality rate for the study group compared to the general population of same age was 26.4 (CI 16.7-41.5, (p<0.01))., Conclusion: Intravenous drug users are a vulnerable group with high level of psychiatric and medical problems and high mortality. It is important that this group has good access to evicence based addiction treatment, but also to medical and psychiatric services that are adapted to their needs.

Loperamide is a μ-opioid receptor agonist with antidiarrhoeal effects. It is considered to have a low abuse potential because of substantial first-pass metabolism and P-glycoprotein-mediated efflux at the level of the blood-brain barrier. Previous case reports have described that high dosage of loperamide can induce an opioid-like effect on the central nervous system. The most common presentation of loperamide intoxication is syncope which is caused by serious cardiac dysrhythmia and can lead to death. Therefore, it was decided to analyze whether drug prescriptions in the prescription drug database from The Directorate of Health would indicate loperamide misuse in Iceland from 2006-2017. In total 94 individuals used more than one DDD (10 mg) and 17 individuals used more than two DDD (20 mg), if taken daily over one year. These results indicate that loperamide is being used excessively but the reason for each prescription and the total amount sold over the counter is unknown. Increased surveillance and decreased availability of prescription opioids might possibly boost the usage of drugs with similar function such as loperamide. Loperamide overdose can result in serious adverse effects and thus, it is important to inform healthcare employees about such severe consequences.

Objectives: Prescription rates of methylphenidate (MPH) are sharply rising in most Western countries. Although it has been reported that MPH has abuse potential, little is known about the prevalence of intravenous (IV) abuse of MPH. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of IV MPH abuse among treatment-seeking IV substance abusers in Iceland., Methods: This is a descriptive population-based study using a semistructured interview assessing sociodemographics, substance abuse history, and the method of administration of 108 IV substance abusers. During 1 year, consecutively admitted adult inpatients with substance use disorder at any detoxification center in Iceland that reported any IV substance abuse in the past 30 days were invited to participate. Abuse was defined as nontherapeutic use of a substance to gain psychological or physiological effect., Results: Prevalence of any IV MPH abuse among participants was 88% in the last 30 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82-0.94) and MPH was the most commonly abused substance (65%) and the preferred substance (63%). Around one third (30%) reported MPH as the first IV substance ever abused. However, among those reporting a shorter history than 10 years of IV abuse, 42% reported MPH as the first IV substance ever abused., Conclusions: This first nationwide study on IV abuse of MPH shows that it is common among treatment-seeking IV abusers in Iceland and suggests that MPH has high abuse potential. Therefore, both the use and possible abuse of MPH in those with high abuse potential should be monitored, especially in countries where MPH prescriptions rates are on the rise.