Open AccessRelapse among substance-abuse patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Author(s) -
N. Al Nahedh
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/1999.5.2.241
Subject(s) - substance abuse , peer pressure , unemployment , medicine , psychiatry , demography , clinical psychology , psychology , social psychology , sociology , economics , economic growth
Substance abuse is a recently acknowledged problem in Saudi Arabia. Sociodemographic correlates of substance abuse and relapse rates of a sample of inpatients at Al-Amal Hospital in Riyadh in 1998 were studied. The mean age of patients was 29.5 years with a mean duration of abuse of 9.5 years. Age, unemployment, peer pressure and family and social stresses were factors that showed statistically significant associations with repeat admissions. The most significant predictors of a patient’s relapse were unemployment and social stresses. More nation-wide studies are needed to document factors leading to the initiation and continuation of substance abuse and to help treatment and rehabilitative measures