Aqsa Faiz-ul-Hassan, Javeria Ali Asghar, Rana Mozammil Shamsher Khan and Anum Rouf

ABSTRACT

Objective: The objective of the current study was to assess the pattern of substance abuse in patients coming to our hospital.  

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, AIMTH affiliated to KMSMC Sialkot, Pakistan from October to November 2017.

Materials and Methods: Adult patients coming in contact through OPD, indoor and emergency were approached.  Non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to get a sample size of 200 patients. Inclusion criteria were patients who were actively using and dependant on any type of substance of abuse according to the ICD-10 Criteria. Written informed consent was taken. Patients suffering from severe physical illness needing urgent and emergency care, unconscious or in delirium were excluded from the study. The data was collected on a sheet and analyzed by SPSS v 21.

Results: There were 188 males and only 12 females. 53.5% belonged to low economic status. 21.5% of the patients from rural areas while 58.5% from urban areas and 20% were homeless. 89.5% were jobless. 21% of the patients had family history of drug abuse. 40% were poly substances abusers. 27.5% abused opium and heroin, 18% cannabis, 7% injections, 6.5% benzodiazepines and 1% others.  

Conclusion: Most of the patients coming to our hospital were urban jobless males from lower economic status. One fifth of the patients had family history of drug abuse. 40% were poly substances abusers. 27.5% abused opium and heroin, 18% cannabis, 7% injections, 6.5% benzodiazepines and 1% others.

Key Words: Drug abuse, Pattern of substance abuse, Teaching Hospital, Health Services,

Citation of articles: Hassan AF, Asghar JA, Khan RMS, Rouf A. Pattern of Substance Abuse in Patients; A Cross Sectional Study at Khawaja Muhammad Safdar Medical College Sialkot, Pakistan. Med Forum