Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Substance abuse is one of the major public health issues throughout the world. The menace of substance abuse is a matter of great concern not only for its social & economic consequences but also for its association with psychiatric & physical morbidities. This was a cross sectional & descriptive study. It was conducted in a private psychiatric hospital in Sylhet, Bangladesh; duration was one year from 01/04/2014 to 31/03/2015. Study population is all substance abuser patients, admitted in that hospital who fulfilled the inclusion & exclusion criteria. After consecutive sampling, 155 substance abuser patients were interviewed in a peaceful & non-threatening environment. Patients have been interviewed using questionnaire. Psychiatric disorders were assessed by using DSM- V criteria. This study revealed that, out of 155 patients, 101(65.2%) was below age of 30 years. The mean age of the patients was 25.9 years (SD 7.61). Among all patients 147(94.8) were male and 8(5.2%) were female. Among all respondents 69.1% had history of initiation of abuse in between age of 11 to 20 years. Among them 34.2% patients had been suffering from medical disorders. 57.4% had been suffering from substance induced as well as co morbid psychiatric disorders. The commonest co morbid psychiatric disorder in our population was major depressive disorder (18.1%). Most of our cases came from urban localities (71.6%), which may be a reflection of the increase in urbanization in our country. The educational levels of major portion of respondents were at least up to higher secondary level. This study revealed that polysubstance abuse in young adults from urban residence belonging solvent families was quite common in this area. The high proportion of psychiatric disorders among these substance abused patients is also a matter of great concern.

Biography

Mohammed Zubayer Miah completed MBBS degree in 2009 from Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi, Bangladesh. He completed post-graduation degree M.Phil (psychiatry) in 2009 from Banga Bandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Bangladesh. He had been serving under Ministry of health & family welfare of Bangladesh Government since 2003. He worked as a consultant in Mental Hospital, Pabna, Bangladesh for about 5 years. His present position is assistant professor of psychiatry & serving for about 8 years in Pabna Medical College & Shaheed Taj Uddin Ahmad Medical College of Bangladesh. He delivers specialist consultation & clinical service to the mentally ill patients including women & children at both tertiary level & community level on inpatient & outpatient basis. He organises workshops, seminars & symposium on mental health issues in home & abroad. He involves in research programs especially on community mental health issues.

Email: zubayer_miah@yahoo.com