Opium is a widely abused substance throughout the Middle East and Asia. In this Perspectives article, Dr Masoudkabir and colleagues dispel the commonly held misconception in these regions that opium has beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, and summarize the available evidence showing that, conversely, opium use is a risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases.
- Farzad Masoudkabir
- Nizal Sarrafzadegan
- Mark J. Eisenberg
