John. T. McDevitt
New York University College of Dentistry, USA
Title: Programmable Bio-Nano-Chips for Quantitation of Drugs of Abuse in Oral Fluids
Biography
Biography: John. T. McDevitt
Abstract
Use of illicit drugs and abuse of licit counterparts are associated with multiple physical health, emotional, and interpersonal problems. Cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS, anxiety, depression, and sleep problems, financial difficulties and legal complications, work, and family problems can all result from or be exacerbated by drug abuse. In 2013, 21.6 million Americans were dependent on drugs or were drug abusers, representing 8.2% of our population aged 12 and over. In the U.S. each year drug abuse and drug addiction cost employers over $122 billion in lost productivity time and another $15 billion in health insurance costs. Routine screening for substance use disorders could alter this statistic and get more people the help they need. Indeed, since the inception of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction, drug testing has provided both an objective measure of treatment efficacy and a tool to monitor patient progress.