Observational studyBulletin of the World Health Organization2018
Lead poisoning outbreak among opium users in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2016-2017.
Observational study in Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
36 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis on Blood Lead Level in Opium Addicts: an Emerging Health Threat.Biological trace element research · 2021Pooled it
- Intravenous calcium Gluconate alleviates Lead-induced abdominal pain, a randomized clinical trial.BMC pharmacology & toxicology · 2020Trial
- Molecular and Environmental Determinants of Addictive Substances.Biomolecules · 2024Review
- Trace element levels: How Substance Use Disorder (SUD) contributes to the alteration of urinary essential and toxic element levels.PloS one · 2024Article
- Thyroid function and opium use disorder: a cross-sectional study on the Fasa adults cohort study (FACS), 2017.BMC endocrine disorders · 2023Article
- Relationship between lead concentration in maternal and umbilical cord blood and some neonatal outcomes in primiparous opium-dependent mothers in Zahedan, Southeast of Iran in 2022.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2023Article
- A comparative study of religious beliefs, spiritual intelligence and spiritual well-being in two therapies based on education (anonymous drug user) and methadone in drug user in Iran.BMC research notes · 2023Article
- Evaluation of the Negative Effects of Opium Tincture on Memory and Hippocampal Neurons in the Presence of Chicory Extract.Advanced biomedical research · 2023Article
- Comparison of the Effect of Intravenous Fentanyl with Low-Dose Ketamine on Pain Relief in Patients Taking Methadone and Suffering from Limb Fractures.Advanced biomedical research · 2023Article
- Article
- Developing a novel prediction model in opioid overdose using machine learning; a pilot analytical study.Health science reports · 2022Article
- Lead poisoning among asymptomatic individuals with a long-term history of opiate use in Golestan Cohort Study.The International journal on drug policy · 2022Article
- Multivariate statistical evaluation of heavy metals in the urine of opium individuals in comparison with healthy people in Western Iran.Environmental science and pollution research international · 2022Article
- Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of 907 Cases with Naltrexone Intoxication; a 14-Year Cross-Sectional Study.Archives of academic emergency medicine · 2022Article
- Comparison of Lapse Rate in Drug Dependent Patients in 2 Methods of Methadone Maintenance Treatment and Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment.Substance abuse : research and treatment · 2022Article
- Blood lead concentrations among pediatric patients with abdominal pain: a prospective cross-sectional study.BMC gastroenterology · 2021Article
- Efficacy and expenses of succimer vs. d-penicillamine plus garlic in the treatment of lead poisoning: a retrospective cross-sectional study.Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences · 2021Article
- Lead encephalopathy in an adult opioid abuser.BMJ case reports · 2021Article
- Long-term opiate use and risk of cardiovascular mortality: results from the Golestan Cohort Study.European journal of preventive cardiology · 2021Article
- Investigating the CYP2B6 rs3745274 and rs3211371 polymorphisms in Methadone-Responder and Non-Responder Addicts in Iran.Iranian biomedical journal · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo describe an outbreak of lead poisoning among opium users in the Islamic Republic of Iran and estimate the number of affected people in the country.
methodsWe used data from the country's largest poison treatment centre to illustrate the epidemiology of an outbreak of lead poisoning in oral opium users. We describe the government's referral and treatment guidelines in response to the outbreak. Based on the number of individuals treated and previous studies on the prevalence of oral opium use we estimated the total number of people at risk of lead-contaminated opium nationwide.
findingsIn February 2016, we noticed a steep increase in the numbers of oral opium users referred to our poison treatment centre with abdominal pain, anaemia and constipation. Numbers peaked in June 2016 but the outbreak was ongoing in August 2017. The mean blood lead level in a sample of 80 patients was 140.3 µg/dL (standard deviation: 122.6). Analysis of an illegal opium sample showed 3.55 mg lead in 1 g opium. Treatment was exposure reduction with opioid substitutes and laxatives, or chelation therapy if indicated. Over 7 months, 4294 poison cases were seen at main referral hospitals in Tehran out of an estimated 31 914 oral opium users in the city. We estimate more than 260 000 out of 773 800 users nationwide remain untreated and at risk of poisoning.
conclusionLead-contaminated opium and heroin that has transited through the Iranian markets is a global risk and highlights a need for better monitoring of illegal drug supplies.
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