Substance use characteristics, treatment completion rates and related factors of patients in Gaziantep AMATEM in 2019; a retrospective study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective Substance use and addiction are an increasing problem worldwide. Knowledge of the frequency and features of substance use contribute to ascertaining the addiction trends in a country, region or city, taking precautions for drug use, establishing policies on treatment and rehabilitation, and determining patient needs. Methods The files of individuals who were hospitalized in the Gaziantep Alcohol and Substance Addictions Treatment Center (AMATEM) Clinic between 01.01.2019 and 31.12.2019 were examined retrospectively. The SPSS 22.0 program was used in statistical analyses of patient data. Results This study included 694 patients, where 670 of whom were male (96.5%) and 24 were female (3.5%). Considering the diagnoses of the patients, opioid use disorder and amphetamine/methamphetamine use disorder were the most common diagnoses at 47.1% and 13%, respectively. A statistically significant difference was found between the diagnostic groups in terms of age, educational status, occupation, whether there was any suicide attempts, and treatment outcomes (p value for all <0.05). Conclusions Our study is the first study conducted in the Gaziantep AMATEM Clinic, which is the only inpatient drug and alcohol center in the Southeastern Anatolia region. Our findings showed that alcohol/substance use is a dynamic problem that negatively affects many areas of life including work and education life, and family and social relationships.