Pattern of Substance Abuse among Drug Users at Deaddiction Center of Amritsar, Punjab

Abstract

Introduction: Drug abuse and drug abuse have become a global crisis. Illegal drug use, especially among young people, has become a global problem in both developed and developing countries. Aim: This study aims to determine the demographic characteristics and drug use patterns of drug addicts admitted to the deaddiction center in Amritsar, Punjab. Methods: A quantitative descriptive study using a cross-sectional research design was used to assess drug use patterns. There are a total of 250 patients admitted to the de-addiction wards or drug addicts reporting to the OPD base. Data were collected from patient records, interviews, and OPD. Results: In this study, 97.2% of drug users are male, 44% are between the ages of 21 and 30, 60% are married, and 68% live in rural areas. Substance use is equally common among those who are illiterate or primary school graduates (36%) and those who are high school or graduate graduates (36%). Research shows that heroin is the worst drug, coming in first, followed by alcohol (ranked 2nd) and tranquilizers (ranked 3rd). Conclusion: Many heroin addicts show a high degree of resistance. The majority of drug users (44%) are in the 21–30 age group. Increasing heroin addiction among the population is disastrous for the youth of Punjab.