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Abstract

ABSTRACT


To investigate the effects of illicit heroin abuse on the endocrine system a study was carried out in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) where heroin addiction is prevalent. Sixty-eight subjects were included in this study. Thirty-three were untreated heroin addicts visiting TM drug abuse treatment centres” in Peshawar and 35 age matched normal males. Urine samples of all addicts showed the presence of morphine. The serum concentrations of testosterone (T) in addicts was 228 ng/ml, leutinizing hormone (LH) 10.7 mlUfml and folical stimulating hormone (FSH) 4.9 mlU/ml whereas the corresponding values for control males were T 630 ng/ml, LH 14.3 mlU/ml and FSH mlU/ml, respectively. Heroin exerts a depletion effect on T and FSH levels in more or less all the groups studied irrespective of age, amount of heroin intake per day and period of contact with heroin. LH levels remain unaffected and are within clinically accepted normal range