Original Article

Frequency of drug Addiction in youth: A case study from

Hyderabad region, Pakistan
Raheela Afzal, Sadaf Laghari, Shumail Hussain, Fahad Jibran Sial,
Muhammad Ali Ghoto, Mudassar Iqbal
Departments of Pharmacy, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro,University of
Sindh, Jamshoro and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Larkana Sindh, Pakistan
Objective: To assess the frequency of drug affected people were uneducated (38.3%) and
addiction amongst youth residing in Hyderabad, unmarried (76.6%). Most of the students (41.6%)
Pakistan and to explore the types and causes of were involved in drug addiction. Mostly, 73.34%
drug addiction in study population. participants were involved in different types of
Methodology: This descriptive observational drug addiction in which 25% used alcohol.
study was carried out from March 9, to August 20, Remaining 14.99% were involved in cigarette
2018 and included 120 young adults who were smoking and 11.66% were addicted to chewing
directly or indirectly involved in drug tobacco, gutka and niswar. Possible causes of
abuse/misuse. Random sampling method was drug addiction were drug dependence in 15% and
used. A modified questionnaire was used to collect 55% were not aware about drug addiction.
demographic information, types and frequency, Conclusion: It was concluded that drug
causes of drug abuse and awareness about drug dependence is the major factor that leads to drug
addiction harms. Data analysis was done by abuse. (Rawal Med J 202;45:318-322).
SPSS version 21. Keywords: Drug addiction, drug abuse, drug
Results: The participants between age 15-20 dependence, psychological dependence,
years were 70% harmed by drug abuse; most adolescence.

INTRODUCTION opium.5
In recent years, the significant issue of youth in our A study from Iran reported four factors that affected
society is the drug addiction/abuse. Any one in the tendency of drug abuse were the family factor,
1
age of 15 to 29 years is recognized as youth. The social factor, environmental factor and personal
survey based on Drug use in Pakistan showed that factor, environmental factor being the most
7.6 million peoples were drug addicts and every 6
significant. The factors responsible are the
year there is a addition of 40000 drug addicts.2 combination of the social and environmental
Increasing number of heroin addicts are under the influences, ignorance of the family members,
age of 24 and suffer from psychological stress and illiteracy, unemployed ignored by community and
3 7
low confidence level. failures. Age and gender are also influential factors
Cannabis is the top listed drug used in Pakistan, with on mental health and illness.8 The aim of present
4 million abusers. Afghanistan is responsible for 75 study was to identify the demographic parameters,
percent of the world's total supply and production of types and reasons of drug addiction among
2
heroin. Other drugs used are alcohol, cocaine, adolescents of Hyderabad, Pakistan.
stimulants, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD),
mescaline, tranquilizers, narcotics, pain killers, METHODOLOGY
4
phencyclidine (PCP), sniff gases or fumes. Drug The observational study was conducted by visiting
addiction starts from substances like gutka, niswar, Universities' hostels situated in Jamshoro, streets of
tobacco and then gradually moved to drugs that Hyderabad city and shrines situated in various areas
produce high physical/psychological dependence of Hyderabad. The study used random sampling
like heroin, cocaine, hypnotics, sedatives and method and was conducted from March 9, to August

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 Frequency of drug Addiction in youth

20, 2018. A pre-designed questionnaire collected Table 1. Demographic parameters (N=120).

demographic parameters, types and frequency of
drug abuse, causes of addiction and knowledge
about demerits of drug addiction.
All young adults between age 15-29 were included
in this study. Beyond the upper mentioned age limits
and who refused to participate were excluded in this
study. The questionnaires were filled by researchers
4
through the direct observation and interview. An
Informed consent was taken from each participant
and study was approved by university officials. The
data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.

RESULTS
Out of 120 young adults, 84(70%) were between age
15-20 years. The significant portions of participants
were uneducated 46(38.3%) and primary pass
36(30%), also 92 (76.6%) person were unmarried.
Majority were students 50(41.6%) followed by
42(35%) lived in their homes, in streets 18(15%)
and in shrines 10(8.3%) (Table 1).
Table 2. Types and frequency of drug addiction (N=120).

319 Rawal Medical Journal: Vol. 45. No. 2, April-June 2020

 Frequency of drug Addiction in youth

Table 3. Possible causes of drug addiction (N=120). single parent. A report reported that parents' divorce
badly affects the children mental and emotional
health.11
In our study, 25% participants used alcohol 10%
used marijuana/pot. This is much less than a study
from Karachi which reported 37.9% and 7.8%
12
abused alcohol and marijuana. The use of
cocaine/crack was in 6.66%. Deaths from cocaine in
2008 were 1022 followed by 169 in 2013 and 247 in
2014 in U.K.13 Stimulant/upper were used by 5%,
14
similar to another study. revealed LSD was used by
1.66%, lesser than reported 4.2% reported from
15
Europe.
Tranquilizers were used by 3.33%, which much is
16
less than US where 1 in 5 teenager abused them.
Table 4. Cognizance about merits and demerits of drug Painkillers abuse was 3.33%, compared with 50% of
17
addiction (N=120). heroin users misusing them in US. Our study found
that 5% participants used heroin, that is lesser than
18
reported by another study. Phencyclidine use was
seen in 5% compared to a US study showing 2.4%
19
people aged >12 years used it.
Sniff gases or fumes of petroleum or gasoline were
used by 6.7% participants.. That is slightly less than
We have found 88(73.34%) participants were 10% of total population and 25% children 5-15
involved in drug addiction. Alcohol was used by years using them a report.20 Around 8.33% smoked
30(25%), followed by marijuana/pot, cocaine/crack more than 5 cigarettes/day. Smoking cigarette can
and sniff gases or fumes (Table 2). Possible causes lead to ischemic heart disease and lung cancer,21 and
for addiction were drug dependence, followed by smokeless tobacco can cause oral cancer, as it
emotional distress and drug withdrawal symptoms, contains about 28 carcinogenic agents.22
anger control problem and low self-esteem (Table The common cause of addiction was drug
3). Majority (55%) were not aware about drug dependence in 15%, followed by emotional distress
addiction followed by 26.6% who had some idea in 13.3% and drug withdrawal in 11.6%. There is
about demerits of drug addiction (Table 4). relationship between childhood socioeconomic
23
status and drug abuse in life. Another study repored
DISCUSSION that 80% poly-substance abusers started due to
24
A study reported 26% drug users between ages 14- company of peers and curiosity. That was found
9
25 years. Significant portion (39%) drug addicts higher number in our study. It was found that 55%
were uneducated and 53.8% who injected drug were participants were unaware about the demerits of
uneducated. This shows considerably high drug addiction as compared to a study which
difference from our findings.10 In our study, 77% identified 48% participants were unaware about
participants were unmarried as compared to a study drug addiction.9
wher 52% drug users were unmarried.9 Our 8%
participants lived on mazaar, however, another CONCLUSION
study from Hyderabad and Sukkur reported that Young students were mostly affected to the drug
41.5% of IDU's lived on mazaar.9 That was quite addiction. The most common causes were drug
higher from our findings. 46% of addicted persons' dependence and emotional distress. Majority of the
parents were divorced followed by 32% living as participants were unaware about the demerits of

320 Rawal Medical Journal: Vol. 45. No. 2, April-June 2020

 Frequency of drug Addiction in youth

drug addiction. Special training and awareness 8. Wani MA, Sankar R. Impact of Drug addiction on mental
program should be organized to educate masses health. J Ment Disord Treat 2016;2:1.
9. Chanda M. Mujahida S. Drug addiction among females
about hazards of drug addiction. Government policy
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Author Contributions: 2009;59:136-40.
Conception and design: Raheela Saleem. 11. Jann G. Divorce hurts children, even grown ones. 2011.
Collection and assembly of data: Raheela Saleem, Shumail
Hussain Website:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/ blog/
Analysis and interpretation of the data: Raheela Saleem, Sadaf the-teenage-mind/201110/divorce-hurts-children-even-
Laghari grown-ones. [Posted on 31 October2011]
Drafting of the article: Sadaf Laghari
Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: 12. Niaz U, Siddiqui S, Hassan H. A survey of psychological
Fahad Jibral Sial correlates of drug abuse in young adults aged 16-20, in
Statistical expertise: Mudassar Iqbal Karachi: Identifying high risk population to Target
Final approval and guarantor of the article: Muhammad Ali Ghoto
Corresponding author email: [email protected]
Interventional Strategies. Pak J Med Sci 2005;21:271-7.
Conflict of Interest: None declared 13. Bwletin Y. Deaths related to drug poisoning in England
Rec. Date: Jul 15, 2019 Revision Rec. Date: Feb 17, 2020 Accept and Wales, 2014 registrations; Office for National
Date: Mar 16, 2020 Statistics. 2015. Website:https://webarchive. national-
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