Characteristics of heroin addicts in government mental hospital, Peshawar

One hundred consecutive admissions for heroin addiction to Government Mental Hospital Peshawar, between June 1989 and December 1989, were studied. Patients were offered a ten day detoxification period. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews. All patients were male, from lower social class, who inhaled the drug. The majority [72%] were unemployed and perceived their families as supportive [62%]. Most patients [7.4%] had previously abused cannabis and had been involved in drug related offences [60%]. The average length of stay in Hospital was 7.7 days