Evaluation of balance by vhit and vestibulospinal tests in drug addicts

Drug use is known to cause harmful effects on the human body, in particular, affect the neurological system and cause clinical disorders. Substance and drug use can also cause vestibular system disorders. In this study, the effects of the substance and the type of substance on the vestibular system were evaluated by using the video head impulse test (vHIT) and vestibulospinal tests (romberg test, unterberger test and gait test). intended to be shown. In addition, pathologies that may occur in the vestibular system after treatment in detoxified addicts were tried to be determined. Sixty-five (61 male / 4 female) (mean age 25 ± 3.95 years) individuals with a history of substance addiction but not in the withdrawal phase participated in the study. In the control group, 22 subjects (mean age 25 ± 3.3 years) without any history of addiction were evaluated. The opioid users (n = 33) and the opioid and chemical agents (n = 32) were divided into two groups. All subjects underwent video head toss test (vHIT) and vestibulospinal tests (romberg, unterberger, gait). No significant difference was found between substance dependent groups and control groups in terms of gain values of each semicircular canal (p> 0.05). In the vestibulospinal tests, there were statistically significant differences in substance-dependent groups from the control group (p <0.05). No significant difference was found between opioid and opioid and chemical substance use history in terms of both vHIT values and all vestibulospinal test findings (p> 0.05). Although the results suggest that there is no VOR effect in the groups evaluated according to the vHIT results, the use of opioids and opioids with chemicals has a negative effect on balance and walking. Evaluations in the long-term follow-up will better demonstrate the VOR exposure. It is recommended that vestibular functions should be evaluated in the treatment of individuals with a history of substance abuse.