A Comparative Psychiatric Study on the Narcotic Addicts in Seoul, Korea

Summary Psychiatric and socio‐psychiatric problems of 1,388 narcotic addicts discharged during a 4 year period (January 1, 1966‐December 31, 1969) from Seoul Municipal Mental Hospital are investigated and discussed.1)  The number of narcotic addicts is decreasing year by year. Admission rates are thus decreasing rapidly. On the contrary, there is a prominent tendency of transition from narcotic addicts to non‐narcotic, habit‐forming drug users. 2)  Only 0.73% are teenagers and average ages of the addicts are 42.88 in males and 35.73 in females. There is a preponderance in the middle age group. New addicts are few and repetitively readmitted cases are usual. 3)  Pure narcotic addicts are 28.94%, non‐narcotic, habit‐forming drug users are 26.94%, and mixed users are 31.56%. In 1969, narcotic addicts and mixed users decreased to 11.38% and 12.19% respectively. Non‐narcotic drug users increased to 54.48%. Among the narcotic drugs, heroin is the most frequently used, while barbiturates and meprobamate are most frequent among the non‐narcotic drugs. Narcotic drugs are mostly purchased in smuggling dens and non‐narcotic drugs are easily bought at drugstores. Abstinence syndromes were mild. 4)  Characteristic findings in addicts were irregular and distorted marital life, poor economic status and criminal occupations. 5)  Psychological conflicts were 68.90% of various motives of the first episodes. Among them interpersonal conflicts were most important. 72.98% became addicted during the course of self‐treatment of physical illness. In such cases, narcotic drugs were used as omnipotent drugs. 6)  A characteristic psychopathological feature of Korean narcotic addicts was that they became addicted during the course of treatment of physical illness or psychological instability, rather than as a manifestation of antisocial behavior.