Open AccessPrevalence of alcohol and drug dependence in rural and slum population of Chandigarh: A community survey
Author(s) -
BS Chavan,
Priti Arun,
Rachna Bhargava,
Gurvinder Singh
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
indian journal of psychiatry/indian journal of psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1998-3794
pISSN - 0019-5545
DOI - 10.4103/0019-5545.31517
Subject(s) - slum , population , epidemiology , medicine , environmental health , substance abuse , alcohol dependence , rural population , rural area , rural community , substance use , demography , geography , alcohol , psychiatry , sociology , biochemistry , chemistry , pathology
The present epidemiological survey was conducted by the department of psychiatry, Govt. Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh to estimate the pattern of alcohol and other substance dependence in rural and slum dwellers population of Chandigarh. In this survey 6.88% individuals of the total population surveyed (2992) fulfilled dependence criteria of ICD-10. Alcohol was the primary substance of dependence for majority of urban slum substance users and rural areas users. Age at first drug use was 20.89 +/- 5.31 years (mean +/- S.D) among rural population and 19.75 +/- 5.4 years (mean +/- SD) in urban slums. Majority of them reported having health related complications (85.71%) followed by family problems (77.31%) due to drug dependence. This survey reflects the need to intensify efforts at the community level to reach the unreached.