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Opium use: an emerging risk factor for cancer?
Farin Kamangar1, Ramin Shakeri2, Reza Malekzadeh2
1Department of Public Health Analysis, School of Community Health and Policy, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Digestive Oncology Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
The Lancet. Oncology
|February 1, 2014
Summary
Opium use is linked to a higher risk of several cancers, including esophageal, stomach, and lung cancer. Further research is needed to confirm these associations and understand the causal relationship.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Opiate illicit use affects 16.5 million globally.
- Raw opium is used by 4 million individuals worldwide.
- Understanding the health impacts of opium use is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between opium use and cancer incidence.
- To examine the link between opium use and cancer mortality.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing studies.
- Analysis of cancer incidence and mortality data in relation to opium use.
Main Results:
- Opium use is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer.
- Opium use is linked to higher rates of stomach, larynx, lung, and urinary bladder cancers.
Conclusions:
- Evidence suggests a possible causal link between opium use and specific cancers.
- Further prospective epidemiological studies are recommended to confirm findings and control for confounders.
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