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Indian Journal of Medical Sciences
Medknow Publications on behalf of Indian Journal of Medical Sciences Trust
ISSN: 0019-5359
EISSN: 0019-5359
Vol. 59, No. 7, 2005, pp. 283-291
Bioline Code: ms05044
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge

Indian Journal of Medical Sciences, Vol. 59, No. 7, 2005, pp. 283-291

 en Substance-dependent women attending a de-addiction center in North India: Sociodemographic and clinical profile
Grover S., Irpati A.S., Saluja B.S., Mattoo S.K., Basu D.

Abstract

Background: Treatment-seeking is limited in women substance abusers. Studying the sociodemographic and clinical profile of treatment-seeking substance-dependent women can help us to understand the problem better and respond appropriately in terms of primary and secondary prevention strategies.
Aim: To study the sociodemographic and clinical profile of women attending a de-addiction centre in North India.
Design and Methodology: Retrospective structured chart review of 35 women substance abusers.
Results: The results indicated that a typical subject was urban (86%), married (63%), nuclear family (60%), based housewife (57%), educated up to school completion (54%), and having poor social support (57%). The common substances were opioids (60%), followed by alcohol (17%), and tobacco and benzodiazepines (11.5% each). The mean age at onset of substance use was 30.5 years, the mean duration of use was 9 years and mean duration to develop dependence was 5.5 years. The common reasons for initiating use were medical (63%) and curiosity (34%). Comorbidity profile was: physical illness (34%), psychiatric illness (23%) and dependence on another substance (14%). Only 20% had a family history of substance dependence. The social impairment ranged from 77% for social to 40% for financial and none for legal aspects. A typical subject had followed up 4.2 times in 8.4 months, while 54% were abstaining, 40% were continuing their substance dependence at the last follow up.
Conclusions: The results suggest that the development of substance dependence in women is a combination of genetic, personal, and social vulnerability factors, including the drug culture of the social milieu and the poor social support. Comorbidity and impairment are common features.

Keywords
substance dependence; women

 
© Copyright 2005 Indian Journal of Medical Sciences.
Alternative site location: http://www.indianjmedsci.org/

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