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  3. 30. The Elephant in the Room: Demographic Trends of Substance Abuse, Treatment, Admissions in South Punjab, Pakistan
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30. The Elephant in the Room: Demographic Trends of Substance Abuse, Treatment, Admissions in South Punjab, Pakistan

Yusra Hanif Khan1, Muhammad Asif1, Nouman Amjad3, Qurrat-ul-Ain Fatima2, Mehwish Liaqat2 and Hani Saeed2

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine pattern of demographic trends of substance abuse treatment admission in southern Punjab.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Multan Medical & Dental College, Multan, from October 2020 to December 2020.

Materials and Methods: After taking informed written consent from the participants and approval from the institutions, a self-formulated questionnaire was filled by health care professionals [physician or staff nurses] while interviewing the participants. This questionnaire included various parts related to the demographic details as well as potential risk factors. Participants were ensured confidentiality and ethical approval from relevant institution was taken. Data was entered and analyzed via SPSS version 23.0.

Results: We recruited 163 patients with substance abuse, 98.2 % (n=160) were male and 1.8 % (n=3) were females having 29.57 ± 7.33 years mean age, ranging from 18 – 60 years and 58.3% (n=95) had ages less than 30 years. Substance used for addiction was Heroine in 15.3 % (n=25), cannabis 10.4 % (n=17), Opioids 8.0 % (n=13), alcohol in 8.6 % (n=14) and 57.7% (n=94) used combination of these substances and mean frequency of daily use was 3.83 ± 1.25 (range; 1 – 6 daily). Route of administration was 3.1 % (n=5) inhalation, ingestion in 12.3 % (n=20), injection in 3.7 % (n=6), sniffing in 8.0 % (n=13) and 73.0% (n=119) had multiple routes. Mean age at 1st time was 20.13 ± 4.94 years (14 years to 32 years maximum). Peer pressure was the main cause in 76.7 % (n=125), relationship issues in 1.8 5 (n=3), family conflicts in 12.3 % (n=20), health issues in 7.4 % (n=12) and stress in 1.8 % (n=3). Dependence among family members was 31.3 % (n=51) and in friends was 80.4 % (n=131). Current admission was done by patient itself by will in 57.7 % (n=94), family by will 17.2 % (n=28) and 25.2 % (n=41) were admitted by family against the will.

Conclusion: The results of our study indicate that addiction is more common in young male adults living in poverty in joint family system having basic education. Peer pressure and dependence of close friends on drug addiction were the main causes of addiction. Heroin, Cannabis and Alcohol consumption were noted to be main substances used for addiction.

Key Words: Drug abuse, Socio-demographic, Distribution, Cannabis. Citation of article: Khan YH, Asif M, Amjad N, Fatima Q, Liaqat M, Saeed H. The Elephant in the Room: Demographic Trends of Substance Abuse, Treatment, Admissions in South Punjab, Pakistan. Med Forum


2021;32(2):128-132.