مستخدمو الهيروين من الانحراف المبكر إلى إدمان المخدر : دراسة ميدانية لبعض نزلاء مستشفى الأمل بجدة

Abstract EN

The object of this empirical study is to determine the main social and environmental factors accountable for heroin use in Saudi Arabia.

The study also auempt s to examine, in relation to the nature of hemin.

it self, some reasons for its preference.

by its users.

The principal findings of the study are based on in-depth interviews with (70) heroin addicts in treatment at Al-Amal Hospital in Jeddah.

The field study was carried out from the first June to midSeptember 1995.

The results reveul that the vast majority of the respondents show similar socioeconomic and family churacterisrics, such as broken family.

low income backgrounds.

low educational levels.

irregular religious practices.

and previous delinquencies.

The findings also indicate that the majority of the respondents had a long history of substance abuse (i.e..

alcohol.

cannabis.

and a whole range of amphetamines and tranquilizers).

before turning to heroin use.

Several main reasons arc given by the interviewees for their involvement in heroin abuse.

fi rstly.

the prevalence of heroin use amongst many of their friends who also previously abused other kinds of drugs.

Secondly.

the availability of large supplies of heroin in the illegal drug market.

Thirdly.

their ignorance of the negalive effects of heroin abuse.

Finally.

the scarcity.

in the region.

of drugs they were familiar with.