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Drug abuse among Resident doctors
Author(s) -
Sethi B. B.,
Manchanda R.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1980.tb00633.x
Subject(s) - drug , medicine , minor (academic) , medical prescription , substance abuse , psychiatry , drugs of abuse , alcohol abuse , family medicine , pharmacology , political science , law
240 young doctors undergoing a residency programme in a medical school in India were individually interviewed for pattern and extent of drug abuse. Drug abuse was operationally defined as “Indulgence in a drug with a frequency of at least once a month without medical prescription”. Of the doctors 30.4% were categorised as drug abusers currently, 14.2% had used one or the other drug in the past, and 17.9% had never used any drug. A significantly higher level of abuse was observed among male doctors (37.1%) than female doctors (2.2%). Alcohol was most commonly abused (17.9%). Minor tranquilizers were abused by 17.5%. None of the doctors was abusing any substances on a daily basis. No hard drugs were abused. Common reasons for alcohol intake were for the sake of company and curiosity. Minor tranquilizers and amphetamines were taken for their pharmacological effects.