The psychosocial background and pattern of substance abuse in a sample of inpatient addicts in Assiut

Abstract EN

Substance abuse has become a priority health problem, and a serious threat to the social stability and welfare in many countries.

This study aimed to identify the psychosocial, pattern, and complications of substance abuse.

It was conducted on a sample of 50 inpatient substance abusers in the department of Psychiatry of Assiut University Hospitals, compared with 50 matched healthy individuals.

They were evaluated by a psychometric battery measuring the psychosocial profile, pattern of substance abuse, psychiatric symptoms, personality traits, and associated social and health problems.

The sociodemographic structure and the pattern offamily relations of substance abusers were significantly different from those of controls.

Peer influence and experimentation were the main motivating factors for initiating abuse.

Substance abusers were more extroverted and suffered more psychiatric symptoms than controls.

Narcotics were the most frequently drugs, followed by hashish and opium.

No cases of heroin or cocaine were detected.

Multiple social, family, and health problems were detected in abusers and nearly half of them were engaged in illegal activities.

It was concluded that substance abuse is a multifactorial problem involving the individual family, and society.