Pattern of substance dependence in a sample of Egyptian addicts

ABSTRACT

A sample of 128 addicts, fulfilling the criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Version IV [DSM IV], was selected for this study. Data were collected using a pre-designed questionnaire including sociodemographic data, pattern of drug abuse and history of previous treatment. Most of addicts came from urban residence. The mean age of the studied addicts was 25.36 years, 75% were single and 40.88% had a positive family history of addiction. The age of starting addiction ranged from 15 to 20 years among 42.19% of the studied group. The study showed the predominance of nicotine, pharmaceutical drugs and bangoherbal cannabis] as the main drugs of dependence among the studied group compared with heroin, which predominated in the 1980s and the early 1990s. The main source of drugs was friends [64.06%] and 75% of the addicts used drugs secretly outside home. Among the 64.06%, there was no previous history of treatment and the majority of the cases were referred for treatment by their relatives [68.75%]