RESULTS OF HEROIN HEROIN ADDICTS ON ADDICTS ON TRAIL MAKING MAKING TEST

<p>As a result of long-term heroin abuse we can see impairment of cerebral structures, that leads to specific deficits in cognitive and conative area. There is a positive correlation between intensity of mentioned deficits and duration of heroin abuse. Attention is a cognitive function highly sensitive to toxic effects of opioids. Attention disorders and concentration disorders in opiate addicts are frequently described as a part of frontal syndrome, in consideration of high neurons sensitivity of frontal and prefrontal cortex to heroin. The aim of this study was to evaluate results of heroin addicts on Trail making test, in order to estimate the effect of heroin abuse on attention and specific relation between attention deficit with the duration of abuse. Ninty heroin addicts, divided in tree groups, regarding to abuse duration, were included in study. Results showed that heroin abuse longer than one year is connected with attention disorders, like low flexibility of attention and low selectivity of attention. The intensity of mentioned effects is higher in addicts who use higher daily dosage of heroin</p>