DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i06.032

Pages: 3000-3004

Over the centuries, opium has been the most frequent substance abused in the many parts of the world. In India opium dependence is widely prevalent in certain states of India, especially Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh (MP) etc. In rural areas of western Rajasthan crude opium is consumed with a social acceptance by adult male population. Later on they become addicted to it. There are many studies about the effects of opium on the various body systems but its chronic abuse effect on autonomic functions is still unclear, therefore this study is undertaken to explore the effect of chronic abuse of opium on autonomic functions in opium dependent patients of western Rajasthan and its comparison with normal non - addicted controlled subjects. In this study total 100 male subjects were included, which were further divided in two groups. 50 subjects were from opium addicted population and 50 were healthy subjects. Female patients were omitted from analysis due to the low numbers of female opium addicts. Subjects who fulfilled DSM- IV criteria were chosen as opium dependent patients (ODP).Various autonomic function test Valsalva Maneuver (VM), Deep Breathing Test (DBT), Lying To Standing Test (LST) were carried out for assessing parasympathetic reactivity and Hand Grip Test for sympathetic reactivity. Our study revealed significant changes in the autonomic functions in addicted population in comparison to normal controlled subjects. In valsalva maneuver, deep breathing test, lying to standing test result were highly significant (p < 0.001) and in hand grip test rise in SBP(p<0.05) and DBP(p<0.001) were significantly lower in addicted group as compared to the control.