Background Habit of consuming tobacco and areca-nut containing substances is in vogue in Lucknow as a part of the Nawabi culture. Hence, this study was planned with an aim to generate evidence for the prevalence of habits of substance abuse by the population of Lucknow and know their socio-demographic profile. Methodology Population based cross-sectional study was conducted by organizing oral health check-up camps in randomly selected rural and urban parts of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, which is the most populated state of India. Patients were enrolled after obtaining informed consent. A structured and validated questionnaire based tool was administered by a team of trained dental surgeons for collecting the desired information through interview and their oral cavity examination. Results A total of 3437 subjects were enrolled in the study, out of which 82.9% were male and 17.1% were female. Among them, 64.6% subjects belonged to rural domiciliary status, by religion, 80.6% and 18.5% of the subjects were Hindu and Muslims respectively. The most prevalent habit was consumption of smokeless tobacco substances, of which pan masala with tobacco ( gutkha ) was the most prevalent substance of abuse. Conclusion Smokeless tobacco consumption was highly prevalent in the population surveyed. It is recommended to formulate and implement strong preventive strategies. Also, steps should be taken to increase the awareness of the harmful consequences of these habits.

Epidemiology of substance abuse in the population of Lucknow.

Lifestyles are learnt through social interaction with parents, peer groups, friends and siblings and through school and mass media. Health is both a consequence of an individual's lifestyle and a factor in determining it. A community based cross sectional study was conducted in urban slum areas of UHTC, dept. of community medicine, NKP Salve institute of medical sciences & research centre, Nagpur. A minimum sample size of 400 geriatric people (≥60 yrs) were selected for study by house to house visits and worked out assuming 'p' of 50% and precision of 10%. Physical examination was performed. Elderly with using bidi / cigarettes were as smokers, using alcohol as alcoholics and those with Body Mass Index (BMI) >25 as overweight. Majority of the study subjects had no addictions (57.75%), mixed diet (54.75%), no exercise (52.25%) and sedentary type physical activity (51.00%). The exercise was more prevalent in males (58.18%) than females (40.43%) and association of exercise with gender was found to be highly significant. From the study it can be concluded that health requires the promotion of healthy lifestyle.

Research Article Geriatric Life Style Profile in an Urban Slum, Central India

Background: Psychoactive substance abuse in India continues to be a substantive problem for the individual as well as for the society. However, its consumption trends are liable to change from time to time which seems challenging to traditional treatment interventions. It has negative impact on physical and mental health, interpersonal relationship, financial status and occupation of substance users and their family.Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the recent trends of drug abuse by drug users in Punjab. Methods: Quantitative, descriptive research approach with cross-sectional survey design was used to assess the pattern of drug abuse in 200 conveniently selected drug users visiting tertiary care level hospital of Punjab by using socio-demographic sheet and pattern of substance use sheet. Results: Majority (54.5%) of drug users were using opioids. Mean age of initiation of all drug use was 20 years. More than half (62.5%) of subjects were indulged in drug use due to suggestion of friends. Heroin was reported most expensive drug by users. Majority (86.5%) of subjects were using drugs at agricultural fields, river banks, old buildings and lonely places etc. Maximum (42.5%) of subjects were admitted to de-addiction ward due to financial problems. Conclusion: Study concluded that pattern of drug use changed from natural to synthetic/medical substances. Appropriate interventional strategies need to be used to address with changed drug use pattern during the care of patients.

Trends and patterns of drug abuse in select population of Punjab in year 2016-201

Background: The urban Lucknow community was studied during a project A study to evolve material for prevention of drug/alcohol/tobacco (substance) abuse through social marketing funded by Council of Science & Technology, Lucknow. The paper presents pattern and frequency of substance abuse in urban population of Lucknow based upon it. Method: Two mohallas of a ward from Lucknow Municipal Corporation were selected randomly. A total of 842 heads of the households (out of 5420 members) were studied using Semi Structured Socio demographic data-sheet and Proforma from WHO-ICMR a collaborative study on narcotics and psychotropic drugs. Data was analyzed using percentage, mean and S.D. Results: Out of 5420 subjects 34.31% (30.22% males & 4.09% females) were found to be substance abusers. Majority of subjects used tobacco (68.17% smoking, 65.17% eating). Conclusion : Majority of subjects were regular users constituted 73.65% tobacco smokers and 74.38% eaters/chewers, 62.38% alcoholics were experimenters and amongst those who were psychotropic drug abusers, 64.28% were dependant.

P Kumar

Papers

Pattern and frequency of substance abuse in urban population of Lucknow