Is hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination achievable among people who inject drugs in Tijuana, Mexico? A modeling analysis.
In 2019, Mexico became the first Latin American country committed to hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination, but the amount of intervention scale-up required is unclear. In Tijuana, HCV among people who inject drugs (PWID) is high; yet there is minimal and intermittent harm reduction, and involuntary exposure to compulsory abstinence programs (CAP) occurs which is associated with increased HCV risk. We determined what combination intervention scale-up can achieve HCV elimination among current and former PWID in Tijuana.
Association of MGAT4C with major neurocognitive disorder in the Mexican population
Neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) are characterized by cognitive decline. Most genetic studies of NCDs have been focused on single-nucleotide polymorphism; other genetic variations, such as copy number variants (CNV), have been less explored. The aim of the present study was to explore CNVs associated with NCDs in a small sample of Mexican individuals and search for the frequency in a larger replication sample of individuals at high-risk for or diagnosed with NCDs.
A population study on perinatal psychological distress in Mexican fathers
Introduction. The transition to parenthood can be a source of stress for fathers and, in some cases, it can be accompanied by emotional distress. This aspect has been neglected in Mexican research. Objective. To estimate the prevalence of emotional distress and the sociodemographic factors associated with it in Mexican fathers. Method. Cross-sectional study. A subsample of 997 fathers, over 18 years of age, was taken from the data of a national survey, whose partners were pregnant or had given birth in the last six months. The Kessler Emotional Distress Scale (K6) was used.
Prevalence of 12-month mental and substance use disorders in sexual minority college students in Mexico
Mental health disparities have been documented among sexual minority college students, but there is a dearth of evidence from developing countries. The aim is to estimate the prevalence of 12-month mental and substance use disorders across a range of sexual identities among first-year college students in Mexican universities, and test whether there is an association between sexual identity and disorders and whether the association is moderated by gender.
Keepin’ It REAL—Mantente REAL in Mexico: a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Culturally Adapted Substance Use Prevention Curriculum for Early Adolescents
This study assesses the efficacy of a version of the keepin’ it REAL (kiREAL) substance use prevention curriculum for middle school students that was culturally adapted for Mexico, renamed Mantente REAL (MREAL), and tested in a cluster randomized controlled trial in Mexico’s three largest cities. Student participants were in 7th grade in public middle schools (N = 5523, 49% female, mean age = 11.9). A representative sample of 12 schools from each city, stratified by whether they held morning or afternoon sessions, was randomized to three conditions: culturally adapted MREAL, original kiREAL translated into Spanish, or a treatment-as-usual control group. Regular classroom teachers were trained to deliver the adapted MREAL or the kiREAL manualized curricula. Students with active parental consent completed pretest and post-test questionnaires, 7–8 months apart, at the beginning and end of the 2017–2018 academic year. We assessed the MREAL intervention, relative to kiREAL and controls, with general linear models adjusted for baseline, attrition (24%), non-normal distributions, stratification by city, and school-level clustering.
Genome-wide association study of psychiatric and substance use comorbidity in Mexican individuals
The combination of substance use and psychiatric disorders is one of the most common comorbidities. The objective of this study was to perform a genome-wide association study of this comorbidity (Com), substance use alone (Subs), and psychiatric symptomatology alone (Psych) in the Mexican population. The study included 3914 individuals of Mexican descent. Genotyping was carried out using the PsychArray microarray and genome-wide correlations were calculated.
Cannabis Use in People With Obsessive-Compulsive Symptomatology: Results From a Mexican Epidemiological Sample
Recent studies suggest that the endocannabinoid system could play an important role in the physiopathology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). There are reports of effective treatment with derivatives of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The study of the genetic factor associated with psychiatric disorders has made possible an exploration of its contribution to the pharmacological response. However, very little is known about the genetic factor or the prevalence of cannabis use in the Mexican population with OCD.
Drogas y Salud Mental ¿Qué aprender de una pandemia
A poco más de 12 meses de iniciar el confinamiento por covid-19, nuestra vida ha cambiado sustancialmente. La incertidumbre de los efectos específicos de la enfermedad en cada uno de nosotros, el alto número de contagios y muertos de conocidos, amigos y familiares, la pérdida del empleo o de una parte del salario, entre otros, han sido detonantes importantes de estrés, ansiedad, depresión y violencia en las personas. Así mismo, esta situación es aún más difícil para las mamás, de manera particular si tienen niñas o niños en edad escolar básica y si son mamás solteras; al juntárseles la necesidad de obtener un ingreso y el cuidado adicional de sus hijos e hijas en casa y con la necesidad de continuar sus clases vía remota.
Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines (LRCUG) for reducing health harms from non-medical cannabis use: A comprehensive evidence and recommendations update
Cannabis use is common, especially among young people, and is associated with risks for various health harms. Some jurisdictions have recently moved to legalization/regulation pursuing public health goals. Evidence-based ‘Lower Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines’ (LRCUG) and recommendations were previously developed to reduce modifiable risk factors of cannabis-related adverse health outcomes; related evidence has evolved substantially since. We aimed to review new scientific evidence and to develop comprehensively up-to-date LRCUG, including their recommendations, on this evidence basis.
"I would rather do it myself": injection initiation and current injection patterns among women who inject drugs in Tijuana, Mexico
Women who inject drugs (WWID) experience unique risks and adverse health outcomes related to injection initiation and patterns of injection drug use. However, there is limited information on injection initiation experiences and injection patterns among women and the protective strategies employed to limit injection-related harms, especially in low- and middle-income settings. Therefore, this study sought to explore injection initiation and current injection patterns (e.g., relying on someone else to inject) among women who inject drugs and engage in sex work in Tijuana, Mexico.
Risk of non-fatal overdose and polysubstance use in a longitudinal study with people who inject drugs in Tijuana, Mexico
Among people who inject drugs (PWID), polysubstance use has been associated with fatal and non-fatal overdose (NFOD). However, the risk of overdose due to the cumulative number of various recently used drug types remains unexplored. We estimated the risk of NFOD for different polysubstance use categories among PWID in Tijuana, Mexico.
Examining the gender composition of drug injecting initiation events: A mixed methods investigation of three North American contexts
Gender influences the health and social risks faced by individuals initiating drug injecting. Using mixed methods across three settings in North America, we investigated the gender composition of injection initiation events and the gendered risk environments in which they occurred.
The last two decades on preclinical and clinical research on inhalant effects
This paper reviews the scientific evidence generated in the last two decades on the effects and mechanisms of action of most commonly misused inhalants. In the first section, we define what inhalants are, how they are used, and their prevalence worldwide. The second section presents specific characteristics that define the main groups of inhalants: (a) organic solvents; (b) aerosols, gases, and volatile anesthetics; and (c) alkyl nitrites. We include a table with the molecular formula, structure, synonyms, uses, physicochemical properties and exposure limits of representative compounds within each group.
Sodium chloride injection to treat opioid overdose; Does it work? A preclinical study
Opioid overdoses (ODs) are increasing in Mexico's northern border. Because naloxone is usually not available, witnesses inject common salt (NaCl) into a vein of OD victims in an attempt to help them regain consciousness. Despite this widespread practice, no preclinical studies have addressed the efficacy of NaCl as an opioid antidote. Here we tested saline solutions at different concentrations. Because the highest (31.6 %) caused tail necrosis, we selected 17.7 % as a hypertonic saline solution (HSS) to determine if it could prevent the lethal effect of morphine (Mor), fentanyl (Fen), or Mor + Fen in adult Wistar male rats. We also evaluated if NaCl could modify the opioid antagonist effect of naloxone. Our results show that HSS
Geographical and socioeconomic disparities in opioid access in Mexico, 2015–19: a retrospective analysis of surveillance data
In 2015, Mexico implemented regulatory changes and an electronic system to improve access to prescription opioids. We aimed to investigate trends in opioid dispensing after the implementation of these changes and assess how opioid dispensing varied geographically and by socioeconomic status.
Cost-effectiveness of hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination strategies among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Tijuana, Mexico
In Latin America, Mexico was first to launch a hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination strategy, where people who inject drugs (PWID) are a main risk group for transmission. In Tijuana, HCV seroprevalence among PWID is > 90%, with minimal harm reduction (HR). We evaluated cost-effectiveness of strategies to achieve the incidence elimination target among PWID in Tijuana.
Influence of Prevalence of Psychoactive Substance Use in Mexican Municipalities on Early Childhood Development
Children’s early development is influenced by characteristics of the child, family, and environment, including exposure to substance abuse. The aim was to examine the association of early childhood development (ECD) with the prevalence of psychoactive substance use in Mexican municipalities. We obtained ECD data from the 2015 Survey of Boys, Girls, and Women (ENIM, for its Spanish acronym), measured with the ECD Index. The prevalence of psychoactive substance use was estimated at the municipal level, using the 2016 National Survey of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use (ENCODAT, for its Spanish acronym).