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Objectives: To understand the pattern of use of opioid-substitution therapy (OST) and opioid abuse among patients on buprenorphine maintenance using urinalysis., Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at a tertiary care de-addiction center. We reviewed the laboratory record of all consecutive urine samples sent for drug analysis over a period of 1 year. In all, 179 consecutive urine samples were included in the analysis. The chi-square test was used to compare opioid abuse among those testing positive and negative for buprenorphine on urinalysis. Additionally, in order to assess the potential impact of the prescribed induction and maximum dose of buprenorphine on the findings, we carried out the independent-samples t test. Level of statistical significance was kept at P<0.05 for all the tests., Results: Urinalysis failed to detect buprenorphine in 44.7% of the samples. Rate of detection of dextropropoxyphene was significantly higher among buprenorphine-negative samples (P<0.005). The prescribed induction dose of buprenorphine was significantly lower among those testing positive for heroin. This was found for both buprenorphine-positive (P<0.005) as well as buprenorphine-negative samples (P<0.005)., Conclusions: These findings support the routine use of urine drug screening among individuals on OST.

Objective: To compare the use and reliability of self-reported tobacco use (both smoked and smokeless) among patients with bipolar disorder and somatoform disorders., Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at psychiatry out-patient department of a tertiary care hospital. A total of 50 consecutive patients were recruited. The subjects were asked about the use of tobacco products (smoked as well as smokeless) over the past one week. Those reporting affirmatively in response to the question were assessed using Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) scales. Quantitative urinary cotinine levels were assessed using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)., Results: Calculation of Cohen's kappa using cross tabulation revealed discordance between the self-reported use of smoked as well as smokeless tobacco products in both the groups. Analysis using the lower cut off of 50 ng/ ml also revealed discordance between the self-reported tobacco use (smoked as well as smokeless) for both the groups., Conclusions: The reliability of self-report is questionable among both these groups for smoking as well as smokeless tobacco products.