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Abstract
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Background : Although drug abuse is a major public health problem worldwide, there is a dearth of epidemiological and clinical data in rapidly developing countries of the Arabian Gulf. This research aims to describe sociodemography, epidemiology and pattern of drug abuse in psychiatric population.
Method : The basic clinicoepidemiological information on 423 patients with drug abuse drawn from two mental health facilities in Al-Qassim region, Central Saudi Arabia.
Results : Most of the studied patients were unmarried, unemployed, young adult smokers with low level of education who at very young age abused alcohol first, followed by amphetamines. A proportion of patients were abusing multiple drugs while, on long term basis, alcohol was the most consistently abused drug. Peer influence followed by pleasure and curiosity were the most important factors in introducing, initiating and maintaining the drug abuse by the patients themselves. More than a quarter of patients had mood and anxiety disorders. Drug addiction affected adversely the life style of these patients as most of them showed episodes of violent behavior, neglected prayers, spent lots of money and adopted criminal ways for obtaining drugs and did not use leisure time positively. Patients also presented with multiple associated biopsychosocial problems and treatment difficulties including relapses, which were the major driving forces for seeking treatment in specialized hospitals.
Conclusion : It is concluded that the drug-abusers have certain epidemiological, clinical and drug patterns. There are several drug-associated problems that should be appreciated and addressed by the assessing clinicians. Likewise, it is also recommended that concerned authorities and planners must integrate their efforts for establishing comprehensive strategies on the preventive, therapeutic and rehabilitation aspects of drug addiction now considered a chronic, relapsing brain disease. |