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Introduction: Illicit drug use is a significant public health problem. Studies have shown a high prevalence of cocaine and cannabis use in transgender women (TGW)., Objective: To describe the consumption patterns of cannabis and cocaine/crack use and variables associated with their use in TGW in Central Brazil., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on TGW in Goiás, Brazil. Participants were recruited using a respondent-driven sampling method and were interviewed face-to-face about cannabis and crack-cocaine and the variables associated with them. The Alcohol Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test was used to assess substance use. Unweighted logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with cannabis and crack cocaine use. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant., Results: A total of 440 transgender women participated in the study. Their median age was 25 years (interquartile range: 20.5-29.5 years). Most participants were single (85.5%) and had engaged in sex work in their lifetime (58.6%). Cannabis was reported by 68.9% and 53.4% of participants in their lifetime and in the past three months, respectively, and cocaine/crack use was reported by 59.8% and 44.1% of participants in their lifetime and the past three months, respectively. Of the participants, 10.2% reported high-risk cannabis use, and 9.1% reported high-risk cocaine/crack use. Furthermore, 35% of participants reported using both drugs. Previous physical violence (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.37), inconsistent condom uses during anal sex (AOR: 2.17), and moderate-/high-risk cocaine/crack use (AOR: 3.14) were associated with high-risk cannabis use. Previous sexual violence (AOR: 2.84), previous STI (AOR: 2.90), moderate-/high-risk cannabis (AOR: 3.82), and binge drinking (AOR; 3.28) were associated with high-risk cocaine/crack use., Conclusion: Our study found a high frequency, significant overlap in the use of cannabis and cocaine/crack use and violence associated with these drugs consumption among TGW, highlighting the urgent need for health policies for drug disorders among this socially marginalized group., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Magalhães et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Scant studies have examined alcohol consumption among transgender women in Latin America. This cross-sectional study estimated the prevalence and associated factors of risky alcohol use among transgender women in Goiás, a state located in the center of Brazil., Methods: Participants were 440 transgender women (median age = 35 years, interquartile range = 9) recruited through respondent-driven sampling. All participants were interviewed about sociodemographic characteristics, violence, and risk behavior. Alcohol use was assessed using the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT). An AUDIT score greater than or equal to eight was considered as risky alcohol consumption. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine predictors of risky alcohol use, and p -values <0.05 were considered significant., Results: The majority were young, single, sex workers. Most transgender women had used alcohol in the previous year (85.7%), and more than half (56.6%) reported binge drinking and risky alcohol consumption (60.2%). There was a high overlap between sexual behavior, drugs, and alcohol use. Using alcohol during sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7-4.8), cocaine/crack use (aOR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.5-3.7) and having a drug user as a sexual partner (aOR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.5-5.9) were independently associated with risky alcohol consumption., Conclusion: Alcohol consumption was highly prevalent, and drugs seem to play an important role in risky alcohol consumption among transgender women Goiás. These findings support stakeholders to promote intervention strategies to reduce this pattern of alcohol consumption and reduce the burden of substance use disorders among transgender women., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Magalhães, dos Santos, Diniz e Silva, Filho, Vaddiparti, Gonzalez, Pillon, Carneiro, Caetano, Cook and Teles.)

Though pandemic-related suicides are a concern, little is known about factors potentially linking graduate student life and suicide risk. This study identified factors associated with suicide risk among Brazilian graduate students ( N  = 5,344) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, this study revealed that 31.5% of participants presented some risk for suicide: 16.6% "low risk," 4.7% "moderate risk," and 10.2% "high risk." Higher income and religious affiliation were identified as protective factors. Identified risk factors encompass non-heterosexual orientation, a history of depression or posttraumatic stress or common mental disorders diagnoses, the use of medications-both general and psychopharmaceuticals-without medical prescription, antipsychotics use, alcohol consumption, lack of health insurance, and dissatisfaction with life as a result of accessing social media networks. The high vulnerability of graduate students to suicide risk highlights the need for institutional suicide prevention initiatives.

Introduction: A cognitive theory of culture as socially distributed cultural models has proven useful in research. Cultural models exist in two forms: the model shared by individuals in a social group, and individual versions of that model modified by personal experience. In previous research we documented a shared cultural model of substance use risk among a general population sample in urban Brazil. Here we examine how this model is distributed among persons under treatment for substance use/misuse and the implications for perceived and self-stigma., Methods: A convenience sample of 133 persons under treatment rated the influence of risk factors for substance use/misuse. The configuration of those ratings and the cultural distance of persons under treatment from the general population model were calculated. Degree of stigma perceived in the wider society and degree of self-stigma were also assessed., Results: Persons under treatment aggregate risk factors to a greater extent than the general population. Using a cultural distance metric, the more distant persons under treatment are from the general population model, the lower their self-stigma regarding substance use., Discussion: Some individuals under treatment separate their understanding of substance use/misuse from shared perspectives in the wider society, which in turn reduces self-stigma. These findings add an additional perspective on the relationship of culture and the individual., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Henderson, Dressler, Pegoraro, Falcão and Pillon.)

Objective: to analyze sleep quality of nurses who worked coping with COVID-19 in scientific evidence., Methods: an integrative review, carried out in seven databases, including studies between December 2021 and June 2022, without language restrictions. The sample consisted of 15 primary studies., Results: nurses working in hospital, intensive care, outpatient care and teaching institutions constitute a vulnerable group for sleep disorders: latency, duration, efficiency and quality. The disorders identified involved insomnia at varying levels of severity: daytime dysfunction and morning sleepiness. Night work and low capacity for self-care were determinants of impaired sleep patterns., Final Considerations: the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to greater vulnerability of nurses to changes in sleep, requiring strategies for risk management and well-being promotion.

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of increased psychoactive substance use (PSU) and associated factors among health care professionals. A cross-sectional and analytical study with 12,086 Brazilian health professionals was undertaken. An online questionnaire was used to gather data concerning sociodemographic factors, increased consumption of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and hypnotics or sedatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and hypnotic or sedative consumption were 17.8 %, 69.0 % and 17.1 %, respectively. Regression analyses indicated that having no religion and social isolation were associated with increased PASU during the pandemic. COVID-19 pandemic stressors may increase PASU, and increased PASU may increase the risk of substance use disorders and substance use-related chronic diseases, such as cancer., Competing Interests: Declarations of interest None., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The present study aimed to identify the predictors of job stress and alcohol consumption amongst 253 professors at a public university. Previous history of psychotropic drug use, as well as the Scale of Work Stress, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, and the Self-Report Questionnaire were used. Being female, younger than 40 years of age; of homosexual orientation; a workload of weekly classes of >10 h in total; and being positive for common mental disorders were identified as predictors of moderate or high work stress. The predictors of risky drinking or probable alcohol dependence were: male; younger than 40 years of age; tobacco use; health problems; teaching applied social sciences; and use of hypnotic medications. The findings could be used to develop strategies for the prevention or reduction of work stress and alcohol consumption amongst university professors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Identify the predictors of common mental disorders (CMD) and psychiatric medication use by faculty members in different teaching units of a public university., Design and Methods: A cross-sectional study on 253 faculty., Findings: Being single, not having children, and not practicing physical activity were identified as predictors of CMD. Relative to psychiatric medication use, the predictors were the following: being homosexual, teaching classes in the biological sciences field, using medication for the urinary tract and sexual hormones, presenting mental disorder/sleep disorder diagnoses, and being positive for CMD., Practice Implications: The findings of this study may subsidize more effective interventions aimed toward protecting the health and preventing aggravation in these professionals, as well as measures for promoting changes in the university work context., Design and Methods: A cross-sectional study on 253 faculty., Findings: Being single, not having children, and not practicing physical activity were identified as predictors of CMD. Relative to psychiatric medication use, the predictors were the following: being homosexual, teaching classes in the biological sciences field, using medication for the urinary tract and sexual hormones, presenting mental disorder/sleep disorder diagnoses, and being positive for CMD., Practice Implications: The findings of this study may subsidize more effective interventions aimed toward protecting the health and preventing aggravation in these professionals, as well as measures for promoting changes in the university work context., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

This article aims to analyze the factors associated with suicidal ideation in the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional home-based survey, with three-stage cluster sampling, was conducted with 4,203 adults from ten municipalities in the Mato Grosso, Brazil. The data collection was carried households to assessment of sociodemographic characteristics, substance use and behavior in the pandemic. The Level 1 Symptom Cross Scale was used to identify suicidal ideation and aspects of mental health (somatic symptoms, sleep disturbances, dissociation, depression, anger, mania, anxiety, thoughts, substance use and memory). Chemiluminescence was used to detect IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 19.2%, and the associated with increased consumption of alcohol (RP=1.16), smoking (RP=1.30), COVID-19 symptoms (RP=1.03), having one's life affected (RP=1.04), mental illness (RP=1.09) somatic symptoms (RP=1.15), sleep disturbance (RP=1.30), dissociation (RP=1.24), depression (RP=1.24), anger (RP=1.11), anxiety (RP=1.26), substance use (RP=1.19), drug prescription use (RP=1.18) and memory (RP=1.87). Highlights the high prevalence of suicidal ideation related to COVID-19 symptoms, changes in behavior post-pandemic and mental health factors.

(1) Background: Tuberculosis presents an epidemiological trend toward inequality, especially among people in social exclusion and situations of vulnerability. This study aimed to analyze territories with a concentration of people diagnosed with tuberculosis in a street situation and who partake in chronic use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. We also analyzed trends in this health condition in southern Brazil. (2) Methods: Ecological study, developed in the 399 municipalities of Paraná, southern Brazil, with all tuberculosis cases in the homeless population registered in the Information System of Notifiable Diseases between 2014 and 2018. For data analysis, we used descriptive statistics, the Prais-Winsten autoregression method for the time series, and the Getis-Ord Gi technique* for spatial analysis. (3) Results: in total, 560 cases were reported. We found a predominance of alcohol, smoking, and illicit drug users, with an increasing trend in the state and clusters of spatial risk in the East health macro-region. (4) Conclusions: We observed territories with critical levels of highly vulnerable people who use psychoactive substances and are in a street situation. The results highlight the importance of incorporating public policies of social protection for these individuals and resolutive health services that receive these cases and assist in eradicating TB.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between crack/cocaine use and domestic violence perpetration from the perspective of substance users' families. A secondary retrospective cross-sectional study, with 3162 family members of crack/cocaine users seeking treatment in the Recomeço Família Programme in São Paulo/Brazil was undertaken. Family members of crack/cocaine users reported that their relatives were more involved in domestic violence such as stealing (money and objects) at home [Odds Ratio Adjusted ORA = 2.17 (CI 95% 1.87; 2.53)], the family gave money to the user to buy drugs [ORA = 1.27 (1.08; 1.48)], and having problems with the judiciary [ORA = 1.48 (CI 95% 1.28; 1.71)]. Relatives of snorted cocaine users reported that there was physical and interpersonal violence, such as fathers being assaulted [ORA = 2.50 (CI 95% 1.08; 5.82)], assaulted someone else [ORA = 1.86 (CI 95% 1.32; 2.60)], threats of violence fights, arguments when the family talk about problematic drug use [ORA = 1.50 (CI 95% 1.13; 1.96)] and threatened some family members [ORA = 1.52 (CI 95% 1.14; 2.04)]. In this sample, there was a connection between crack/cocaine use and the perpetuation of domestic violence, corroborating with important implications for public policies, substance use treatment and prevention of domestic violence interventions.

Objective: To assess factors associated with depression among higher education students and professionals during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic., Method: quantitative study with a cross-sectional design. 550 students and professionals participated. The data were collected by means of a digital questionnaire that included Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess depressive symptoms., Results: The factors related to depression and social isolation outcomes were significantly associated with the female gender (n= 149; 37,8%; Odds Ratio OR=2,0), white (n=127; 37,2%; OR=1,60), young people (n=130; 39,4%; OR=2,0), without religion (n=70; 40,2%; OR=1,64), with financial problems (n=80; 53,0%; OR=2,40) and family problems (n=98; 47,3%; OR=1,77); who suffered violence during the quarantine (n=28; 58,3%; OR=2,33), increased the use of illicit drugs (n=16; 59,3%; OR=2,69), used sedatives without a medical prescription (n=75; 54,0%; OR=2,94), lived in conflicting relationships (n=33; 54,1%;OR=2,14), lost their job during the pandemic (n=32; 59,3%; OR=1,99) and presented symptoms of anxiety related to COVID-19 (n=155; 45,2%; OR=3,91)., Conclusion: there is a meaningful relationship between vulnerability and adopting risk behaviors during the pandemic-imposed social isolation with depressive symptoms. We suggest that health professionals be attentive to the need to adjust their psychosocial interventions when promoting strategies when promoting strategies to mitigate the effects and risks to mental health.

This article analyzes the scientific evidence on the measures adopted by psychiatric hospitals to prevent COVID-19 contamination among hospitalized people. It refers to a literature review in the MEDLINE/PUBMED, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases. There was the incorporation of studies describing measures used to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among patients admitted to psychiatric institutions. The research articles that evaluated patients in partial follow-up at health facilities were excluded. Between 13 selected studies, two thematic categories were established: Measures adopted to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in the admission of psychiatric patients; Measures adopted to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 during hospitalization of psychiatric patients. There are similarities and differences in the measures adopted by psychiatric hospitals. It was noted that admission and isolation policy for 14 days was a consensus. However, the testing method for screening Sars-CoV-2 differs between the realities. Concerning hospitalization, there is a similarity in the use of technologies in the care of psychiatric patients. In contrast, there is no standardization in the measures taken since, due to their structure; psychiatric hospitals have restrictions on the adoption of distance rules., (© 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of self-reported rape and its associations with other forms of violence and mental health outcomes. The Brazilian National Alcohol and Drugs Survey is a probabilistic household survey that collected data from 4,283 Brazilians aged 14 years and older in 2012. The prevalence of rape was 2.3% ( n = 107) and the majority ( n = 81) of rapes were reported by women. Female gender increased the chances of rape (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.7, 4.3]). Adults aged 35 to 46 years (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI = [1.2, 4.4]) and being without religion (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI = [1.3, 3.8]) were also associated with increased chances of rape. Participants with a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) were 16.5 times (95% CI = [10.1, 26.7]) more likely to report having been raped. Other outcomes related to been raped were history of child prostitution (AOR = 5.1, 95% CI = [2.1, 13.4]) and witnesses of violence during childhood (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI = [1.5, 3.8]). People without social support (AOR≅3, 95% CI = [1.8, 4.3]), victims of multiple recent negative events (AOR = 3.7, 95% CI = [2.4, 5.8]), people with depression (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI = [1.7, 3.9]), history of suicidal ideation (AOR = 3.8, 95% CI = [2.0, 7.1]), and history of suicide attempts (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI = [1.1, 4.3]) are other outcomes related to having been raped. In this sample, rape was related to gender and to other forms of violence and victimization. Self-reports of rape appear to underestimate the true prevalence as the figures obtained from the survey were low. Other methods should be used to investigate this issue.

This study examined the prevalence, and associated factors, of violence against women by an intimate partner amongst 369 women who attended nursing consultations at primary care centres in Northeast Brazil. Socio-demographic variables, substance use, mental health and the forms of violence were analysed. IPV was a reality for 65.4% of the women of reproductive age seen in the centres. IPV, including psychological violence, is associated with age, education and religion, particularly amongst female cannabis users whose partners were also substance users. Primary care providers are in a position to detect, screen, counsel and treat women who experience IPV., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, consequences and factors associated with drug use among individuals over 50 years of age, from the perspective of their families, with particularly reference to cocaine use., Methods: Cross-sectional study based on secondary data with 624 family members of substance users who sought family support in 14 units of the Recomeço Família Program in São Paulo, Brazil., Results: The participants were predominately men, aged 50 to 59 years (68%); cocaine users (inhaled and/ or smoked); living alone; with a low level of education and were unemployed. They were likely to use family money to pay for their substance use, with a history of theft and aggression against strangers, and were not in treatment. Unlike other participants [≥ 60 years (31.1%)]; who were better educated and retired. In this latter group, 32.8% are alcohol users, 14.8% cocaine users (inhaled and smoked), 32.6% has physically assaulted their family, 39.7% had assaulted someone else and 18.3% had stolen objects or money from home., Conclusions: The population has peculiar characteristics of vulnerability (cocaine use and violence) that remain under investigated; not only do routes into treatment for older adults (≥ 60) but appropriate treatment packages need to be developed too.

The main goal of this study was to identify the prevalence of alcohol use and associations with selected variables among clients in a primary healthcare setting. A quantitative, cross-sectional study was carried out using structured questionnaires to measure the pattern of alcohol consumption, quality of life and common mental disorders. The results showed that men, people between 18 and 40 years old, with income between $300.00 and 1200.00 and smokers were at a higher risk of problematic alcohol use. Healthcare professionals should include alcohol screening questions to identify the hazardous consumption of alcohol at an early stage and prevent negative consequences., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)