Consequences of adolescent drug use: Impact on the lives of young adults

Rising trend of substance abuse in Pakistan: a study of sociodemographic profiles of patients admitted to rehabilitation centres.

Opioid addiction is a public health concern. Opioid overdose death rates account for one third to a half of all global substance-related deaths. Opioid mortality rates increased nearly fivefold in the United States between 1999 and 2016. Recent research has found health care disparities in the United States among minority populations with opioid use disorder, particularly Hispanics. Current literature also suggests that a number of social and cultural factors, including the stigma linked to mental illness and treatment in the Hispanic culture, may further negatively contribute to the problem. This brief report pays close attention to the opioid epidemic in the United States and addresses issues related to the crisis among Hispanics. Recommendations for clinical practice, research, and health care policy are also discussed.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1540415319888437

Hispanics, Addictions, and the Opioid Epidemic: Brief Report.

“An undercover problem in the Muslim community”: A qualitative study of imams' perspectives on substance use

.. Objective: Drug abuse and drug addiction cases have been increased immensely in last few decades in Pakistan. This study was conducted to assess the frequency of cutaneous manifestations in drug abuse patients. Study Design: Cross Sectional study. Settings: Dermatology Department of a DHQ Teaching Hospital/Sahiwal Medical College, Sahiwal and Central Jail Hospital, Sahiwal. Period: November 2019 to June 2020. Material & Methods: 50 patients with drug abuse irrespective of age and gender were selected. Skin manifestations based on history and examination recorded on predesigned proforma. Laboratory investigations and skin biopsies were performed to confirm diagnoses in doubtful cases. Results: A total of 50 male patients with age above 16 years were enrolled. Single drug addiction was noticed in 62% (n=31) and polydrug abuse was observed in 38% (n=19). Regarding mode of drug intake, single and multiple modes of drug administration were seen in equal number 50% (n=25) each. Major bulk of skin manifestations were chronic including skin scars 66% (n=33), xerosis 60% (n=30), hyperpigmentation 58% (n=29), oral mucosal changes 94% (n=47) and facial skin changes 60% (n=30). Acute along with chronic skin changes were observed in 30% (n=15) mainly including injection marks 30% (n=15), vascular changes 12% (n=6) and infections 8% (n=4). Conclusion: Skin scars, xerosis, hyperpigmentation and oral mucosal changes are the common skin changes observed among drug abusers. Thus, physicians need to be aware of skin signs of drug abuse for timely recognition of substance abuse disorders and effective management.

/pdf/frequency-of-cutaneous-manifestations-in-drug-abuse-patients-11u2sls9bw.pdf

Frequency of cutaneous manifestations in drug abuse patients.

This study assessed the pattern of drug abuse and the reasons for relapse of addiction among male drug addicts seeking rehabilitative services in different centres in Lahore, Pakistan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on male drug abusers from April to December 2016. Nonprobability purposive sampling was done to collect a sample of 119 participants. A structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews were used for data collection. Out of 119 participants, 71.4% were in the age group 15-35 years. Educational levels were low in the majority, with 68.1% below secondary education. Unmarried (51.3%) and unemployed (44.5%) participants were at the greatest risk of using drugs. The age of addiction in 45% of patients was 5 years. Reasons for starting drug abuse were recreation (37%), curiosity (34.5%), and lifechanging events (14.3%). Reasons for relapse included association with former addicts, negative reactions from family, inability to manage the craving and work/social stress.

/pdf/pattern-of-addiction-and-its-relapse-among-habitual-drug-1c9rclo1cl.pdf

Maha Mahmood

Papers

Pattern of addiction and its relapse among habitual drug abusers in Lahore, Pakistan.