A STUDY ON SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DRUG ABUSE DETAINEES IN AL-NAJAF GOVERNORATE, IRAQ

Abstract

Abstract. Given the data suggesting ties abuse of drugs among people-particularly young- to a higher chance to develop drug use disorders and exacerbating health and social problems, with risky pattern of drug abuse involvement. We carried out an institutional-based, descriptive cross sectional research with non-probability sample in the Governorate of Al-Najaf. The goal was to investigate or explore the sociodemographic and environmental characteristics of the drug users that may have contributed to the development and the spread of behavior of abusing drugs. There were 91 drug users in all, 7(7.7%) of whom were female and 84(92.3%) of whom were male. 30.62 years was the mean age of the subjects. In comparison, the percentage of drug users among wage earners—those with variable incomes—was 55 (60.4%), while among idlers—those without jobs or work—it was 20 (21.9%). 53.9% of the participants were dropped out of elementary school before. The greatest percentage( 86.8%) of the subjects lived in metropolitan areas, do so in rented or unofficial housing and make insufficient money. Family challenges, including the loss of one parent exacerbated by the low life standards and inadequate education of the parents of the majority of the participants, may have prevented them from developing prosocial skills and acting as a buffer against the harmful influence of peers and readily available drugs. Early smoking and alcohol abuse was present among the highest percentage of the drug users. Most respondents agreed to using drugs as a coping mechanism, stress reliever, and productivity enhancer. Amphetamine Type Stimulants like "crystal" and captagon were common among them; their prevalence was about75%,44%respectively. Followed by prescription drugs with 57%, while hallucinogens, cannabis(hashish),cocaine and heroin by 19.8%,13.2%,3.3%,and 4.4%respectively. Poly drug use was 33% among drug abusers.