Volume 2

Number 1 January 2018

Sociodemographic Characteristics of Drug Abusers in a Selected Hospital of Dhaka City

DOI: https://doi.org/10.70357/jdamc.2018.v0201.02

Kabir S M H1 , Begum M2 , Ahmed J3 , Kayum4 , Mazumder A H5 , Islam S S6 , Sabbir A S M7

Abstract

Drug addiction is a social curse involving all classes of people for ages. Not only it increases individual's morbidity and mortalitybut also creates social unrest and reduces the national productivity frequent assessment surveys have provided insights into patternand required responses. Respondents were interviewed to find out their various socio-demographic characteristics, reasons andpatterns of drug abuse. This cross sectional descriptive study carried out on 158 admitted patients in “Thikana Hospital” of Dhakacity for de-addiction between the period of October 2015 - September 2016. A pretested and predesigned questionnaire was used inevaluating the patients by two or more sittings. Amongst 158 patients, studied 94.30% were male. Majority (62.02%) of patientswere in the age group of 21-30 years with a mean age of 28.31 + 8.45 year. 62.12% patients were married and 48.10% had educationup to higher secondary level.

Most of the patients were either unemployed (29.11%) or student (27.21%). 36.70% were spending 101-500 Tk/day .Moreovertheir (38.60%) family income was 15001 - 30,000 Tk/month. 62.82% were dependent of self to arrange money for purchasingdrugs. The reason behind starting drug abuse were mainly peer pressure (49.37%) followed by curiosity (26.58%). The mean age ofstarting drug was 19.42 + 7.68 years and majority (68.35%) were addicted to drug for the period between 1-5 years. Only 4.43% hadpositive family history of drug abuse. Regarding route of drug abuse ingestion was most popular (54.43%). 10.76% patients wereusing injectable route. Amongst abused drugs tablet Yaba was most popular equal to multiple drug abusers (21.52%) followed byheroin inhalation (14.56%) and phensidyl intake (13.92%).

As revealed in this study younger generation are vulnerable to abuse drug because of personal familial social reasons complicated by factors like poor law enforcement and national economy. Apart from strict anti-drug trafficking policy government should promote and support the public and private de-addiction centres so that patients of all classes can afford the modern management and return to normal social life.

Keywords: Socio-demographic Profile, Drugs Abusers


  1. Assistant Director of Health and Pathology Medical Directorate

    Army Headquarters, Bangladesh Army

  2. Associate Professor and Head, Department of Oral Anatomy and Physiology

    Marks Medical College (Dental Unit), Mirpur-14, Dhaka

  3. Assistant Director Medical Services

    Sylhet Cantonment

  4. Classified Specialist, Department of Psychiatry

    Combined Military Hospital, Comilla, Bangladesh Army

  5. Assistant Professor

    National Institute of Mental Health, Bangladesh

  6. Commandent

    CMH Savar, Savar Cantonment

  7. Medical Officer

    Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka

Download PDF File Cite

Volume 2, Number 1 January 2018
Page: 11-14