No abstract

Naloxone hydrochloride eyedrops 1 mg/ml dilated the pupils of 36 out of 47 opiate addicts on methadone maintenance treatment, without precipitation of acute withdrawal effects, but not those of healthy unmedicated subjects. The response in addicts was attenuated by certain ancillary treatments and by withdrawal of methadone treatment. The size of the response suggests some potential clinical use for topical naloxone as a diagnostic test of current opioid influence and possibility of physical dependence. The local mydriatic response, which was restricted to the treated eye, indicates that the effect of opiates on the pupil in man is determined, at least in part, by a peripheral action.

A study of aggressive and violent behaviour among psychiatric patients in four acute or sub-acute wards of a large mental hospital over a nine month period is described. It was found that most aggressive and violent behaviour was of a minor nature and was perpetrated by a minority of patients who repeatedly behaved in this fashion. The relevance of these findings for future research is discussed.

No abstract

Self administered questionnaires completed by 69 out of 100 consecutive drug addicts attending two drug dependence clinics suggested that some private general practitioners were easily persuaded to prescribe controlled drugs. These drugs were usually methadone, dipipanone-cyclizine (Diconal), and methylphenidate (Ritalin