Tehran University Medical Journal

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Background: In the year 2003, an earthquake in Bam led to death and injury of many of the inhabitants. The aim of this study was to the changes in opioid drug use in the survivers eight months after the earthquake in comparison with the month before the quake and its related factors.

Methods: An epidemiologic survey was carried out on 779 survivors, selected by desert sampling from the Bam citizens in the age of 15 and over. Bivariate and multivariate Logestic regression analysis were done for examining the relationship between an increase in opioid use and various factors.

Results: An increase in opioid use was reported in 18.3 percent of men and 2.3 percent of women. Odds Ratio (OR) for increase in opioid use was 9.4 times more in men than in women (95% CI=4.9-18.0). In men, increase in opioid use was related with the history of opioid use during the month before earthquake (OR=5.6, 95% CI=2.4-13.1), age (OR in age group 30 to 44 was 4.7 times more than age below 30, with 95% CI from 1.8 to12.1), and PTSD (OR=3.7, 95% CI=1.5-9.2). In women, it was only related to the history of opioid use during the month before earthquake (OR=43.8, 95% CI=12.5-154.0).

Conclusion: The findings show that following disasters, especially in the areas or groups that drug use is common, an increase in the drug use might occur. In these situations provision of preventive and treatment interventions particularly for at risk population is necessary.

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Background: Infertility is one of the most serious social problems. Illicit drug use can be an important cause of male factor infertility. Kerack which its use is rising up in Iran refers to a high purity street-level heroin (heroin Kerack). Heroin Kerack used in Iran is an opioid and has harmful effects on body organs. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Kerack used in Iran on fertility adult mice.
Methods: In this study, 25 male mice were divided into five groups (control, sham and three experimental). Experimental groups of Kerack-dependent mice (received ascend-ing dose of Kerack for seven days) were divided into three categories, experimental I, II and III. Experimental I was given Kerack at a dose of 5 mg/kg, experimental II 35 mg/kg and experimental III 70 mg/kg, intraperitoneally twice a day for a period of 35 days. The sham group received normal saline and lemon juice (2.6 µl/ml) whilst the control group just received water and food. Mice were then scarified and sperm removed from cauda epididymis were analyzed for sperm count, motility, morphology (normal/abnormal) and viability. Testes were also removed, weighed and processed for light microscopic studies.
Results: The results showed that fertility were significantly decreased in addicted mice compared with control groups (P≤0.05). Epididymal sperm parameters and thickness of seminiferous epithelium were significantly decreased in experimental groups (dose-dependent) compared with sham and control groups (P≤0.05). Gonadosomatic index was significantly reduced with high dose Kerack injected (70 mg/kg) in comparison with control testes (P≤0.05).
Conclusion: This study has shown the deleterious effects of Kerack used in addicted Iranian people on fertility for the first time. This effect is especially on epididymal sperm parameters in adult mice.