Published Paper Details:

The World Health Organization (WHO) states Substance use as "Harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs". Objectives: Firstly to assess the socio-demographic characteristics and clinical profile of patients attending the drug de-addiction centre. Secondly to determine specific types of psychiatric disorder. Methodology: Study was designed in an exploratory descriptive survey approach. The investigator had selected 115 substance users who are being treated at Delhi's four de-addiction centers. Consecutive sampling was used. The information was gathered through an interview method using a self-structured questionnaire. Results: The drug users were reported to be from a wide range of educational backgrounds and nearly half of the drug users were currently married. The nuclear family accounts for the majority of drug users. Adolescents and young people are at a higher risk of drug misuse. The majority of people were alcoholics. 2/5th of cases were tobacco addicts, while 1/5th were heroin and opium addicts. The maximum of substance user were having pulmonary disorders along with HTN followed by DM. Schizophrenia, BPAD and personal disorder were the common type of psychiatric disorders found. Peptic ulcer disorder, HTN, DM and CAD were found to be significantly associated with age group. Pulmonary disorders and HTN were found to be significant associated with occupation. Conclusion: This study reveals that substance users are falling into a vicious cycle of drug usage at a teenage. To address this significant public health problem of drug use, community-based awareness programmes, and counseling and health camps were essential.