Socio-demographic profile of a sample of drug dependent patients who visit the psychiatric unit at Al Dewanyea teaching hospital, Iraq

Abstract

Like many other subjects, not enough data is present about drug addiction in Iraq. So, it is needed to be researched especially for the social and economic impact it has on the society in general. To identify different sociodemographic characteristics of patients with drug abuse and to know what types of drugs that have been abused, and to know the settings that introduced these patients to drugs. A sample of 150 patients was selected from those who attended the psychiatric unit at Al Dewaniya teaching hospital along 6 months' period and were interviewed and diagnosed according to DSM 5 criteria for substance dependence disorders. The mean age of patients was 36.94 ± 11.93 and men formed 88% of the sample. The sample most common sociodemographic characteristics were primary school education (46.7 %), unemployment (45.3 %) and mostly married (44 %). The most commonly abused drug was procyclidine 52.7% followed by diazepam 45.3%, then alprazolam 24.7%. of the sample only (48 %) had psychiatric comorbidity and 70% of them were introduced to drugs via a non-medical source. Procyclidine, benzodiazepines and tramadol are the most commonly used drugs, and patients with mental illness are at risk of developing drug dependence introduced to them via a doctor prescription.