title: Alterations in brain-stem auditory evoked potentials among drug addicts. A cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the absolute latencies, the interpeak latencies, and amplitudes of different waveforms of brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) in different drug abusers and controls, and to identify early neurological damage in persons who abuse different drugs so that proper counseling and timely intervention can be undertaken.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, BAEP`s were assessed by a data acquisition and analysis system in 58 male drug abusers in the age group of 15-45 years as well as in 30 age matched healthy controls. The absolute peak latencies and the interpeak latencies of BAEP were analyzed by applying one way ANOVA and student t-test. The study was carried out at the GGS Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab, India between July 2012 and May 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference in the absolute peak latencies and interpeak latencies of BAEP in the 2 groups was found to be statistically significant in both the ears (p<0.05). However, the difference in the amplitude ratio in both the ears was found to be statistically insignificant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic intoxication by different drugs has been extensively associated with prolonged absolute peak latencies and interpeak latencies of BAEP in drug abusers reflecting an adverse effect of drug dependence on neural transmission in central auditory nerve pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, GGS Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab, India. E-mail: drsoniamittal@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Rajeev
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Shilekh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mittal
authors.forename: Satish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thapar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*