DRUG ABUSE

CHANGING PATTERNS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Drug abuse is one of the major problems facing the world
today. Care providers and clinicians are faced with ever changing patterns of drug abuse and hence need to stay
abreast of the latest developments. Research in this area in Pakistan is direly needed. Aims: This study was
undertaken with an idea of collecting basic data to assess the extent and variety of drug abuse in patients presenting
to the researchers, and to assess the changes during a five-year interval. Design of study: Non-interventional
comparative study. Setting: Department of Psychiatry, District Headquarters Hospital, Faisalabad Period: From1996
to 2001. Materials & Methods: The sample consisted of patients admitted for treatment in the years 1996 & 2001.
Statistical analysis was carried out using the software package SSPS utilizing tests such as the chi square and
student’s t-test. Results: In this department, drug abuse is more frequently reported among urban, literate, married
males during young adulthood. Tobacco and cannabis are most frequently reported. Sex, curiosity and peer pressure
are the main motivations involved in starting drug abuse. Besides these stable findings, some changes have occurred
during five years; polydrug abuse has become more frequent and the socioeconomic status of this patient group is
deteriorating. Conclusions: The problem of drug abuse is still rampant, if not increasing with time. The patterns of drug
abuse are becoming more complicated, posing new challenges for health care planners and providers. More research
needs to be undertaken in this area.