The pattern of psychoactive drugs abuse among outpatients in a psychiatric clinic and in a selected group of normal individuals in Basrah

Other Title(s)

نمط سوء استعمال الأدوية ذات التأثير العقلي بين المرضى الذين يراجعون العيادة الاستشارية للأمراض النفسية و في مجموعة مختارة من الأشخاص الأصحاء في البصرة

Dissertant

Luty, Raid Sad

Thesis advisor

Salih, Aqil Ibrahim
Ali, Nabil A. J.

Comitee Members

Ahmad, Jawad H.
Sad, Abd al-Zahra M.
Jawad, Abd Allah M.

University

University of Basrah

Faculty

Medicine College

Department

Department of Pharmacology

University Country

Iraq

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2013

English Abstract

Background The abuse of psychoactive drugs for their psychological effects such as euphoria, stimulation or hallucination is common worldwide.

This abuse results in health, social, economic, and security problems.

The WHO and different countries in the world have plans to halt the problems.

In order to be effective, such plans need basic information of the pattern of abuse.

The information on such problem in Iraq is scanty, apart from few reports based on observations Objectives To study the pattern of drug abuse in Basrah as regarded to types of drugs involved and characteristics of subjects abusing drugs such as age, gender, social and economic status, and to elucidate the risk factors for drug abuse and its relation to various psychiatric illnesses.

Our study also aims to evaluate the accuracy of immunoassay card as a simple, and fast, and accurate mean for qualitative assay of multiple drugs in urine.

Method This is an observational study on drug abusers attending the psychiatric clinic in Basrha General Hospital, and also in a selected and uniform group of individuals, and the medical staff.

For patients and medical staff, interview, questionnaire form, and collection of urine samples for screening for drugs of abuse by immunoassay cards, were performed.

Twenty four volunteers were recruited for immunoassay card validation by a double-blind study design, also 27 volunteers were recruited for urine integrity testing by measurement of urine specific gravity, creatinine concentration, and pH of both integral and diluted urine sample.

Results Tow hundreds and six subjects were included in this study (59 patients, 96 health workers, and 51 normal volunteers).

The 59 patients were all males with only one female; 66% of patients were between 20-40 years age.

Forty four percent of our patients were manual workers and 20% were unemployed, and eighty eight percent of them were smokers.

About half of the patients have pure drug-related disorders, while the other half has co-occurring psychiatric disorders associated with drug abuse.

Personality disorders was the most commonly associated psychiatric disorders with drug abuse.

The abuse of more than one drug was reported by 66% of patients.

The benzodiazepines abuse was reported by 78% of patients followed by opioids reported by 56% of patients and centrally acting anticholinergic abused by 48% of patients.

About 14% of patients denied the abuse of drugs, which was detected by urine test.

About 64% of patients had moderate to substantial level on drug abuse screening test (DAST) score.

Of the total 96 health workers who were screened by questionnaire and drug test, 12(12.5%) subjects were found positive mainly for benzodiazepines followed by tramadol.

Conclusions The problem of drug abuse, which is present in our society, affecting mainly younger age group and psychiatric patients; it is severe enough to cause psychiatric consultation.

Main Subjects

Pharmacology

No. of Pages

89

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-746499