Abstract
A sample of 4,691 subjects aged 14 years and above were interviewed on a schedule based on WHO Questionnaire to collect information about prevalence & pattern of alcohol and substance abuse The study revealed a prevalence rate of 19 78%. 42.41% of users were in the age group of 25-34 years while 44.1 % were literate (up to matric). 45.04% among labourers were alcohol users. In terms of age of onset, 94.83% respondents had their first drink between the ages of 15-25 years. Most common type of alcohol consumed was country liquor by 69.07%. Majority (63.44%) of alcohol users said that they usually drink with some companion, only in the evening and night. 50.03% had arguments with family or friends after taking alcohol while 13.57% alcohol abusers confessed that they had neglected their family and work due to alcohol. In family history of 23.16% alcohol users, father was abusing alcohol. 26.61% alcohol users cited to be sociable as reason for their drinking. 16.81% users were smokers also while 6.89% had the habit of taking Pan Masala/Zarda. 2.04% of alcohol users were taking soolfa also along with alcohol while the frequency of opium and cannabis abuse was 1.51 and 1.18% respectively.
Keywords: Substance abuse, Prevalence, Pattern
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (217.3 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Lal B., Singh G. Drug abuse in Punjab. Br J Addict Alcohol Other Drugs. 1979 Dec;74(4):411–427. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1979.tb01370.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Murray C. J., Lopez A. D. Global mortality, disability, and the contribution of risk factors: Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet. 1997 May 17;349(9063):1436–1442. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(96)07495-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Neumark Y. D., Anthony J. C. Childhood misbehavior and the risk of injecting drug use. Drug Alcohol Depend. 1997 Dec 15;48(3):193–197. doi: 10.1016/s0376-8716(97)00125-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]