A Study Of Social And Cultural Aspects Of Heroin Use In Jammu Region, India

Background: drug dependence can be a result of or can cause a number of socio-cultural issues. Our study aims to find socio-cultural issues of heroin addiction in a city in northern India. Objective: 1) To discuss socio-cultural issues associated with heroin dependence. 2) To study the socio-demographic variables associated with Heroin dependence. Methods: 244 patients visiting an outpatient psychiatric clinic for heroin detoxification were assessed for their socio-cultural and socio-demographic profile using a semi-structured questionnaire. Percentages were calculated and results analysed. Results: More males visited the treatment facility. A majority of patients were of the age group 18-30 years (158 patients, 64.75%). About half of the patients were those who are either doing or dropped out from graduation (127 patients, 52.05%). A very high number of patients were from nuclear family (203 patients, 83.2%). Peer pressure and experimentation were major reasons for initiating heroin dependence. A large majority of patients had family disharmony and financial troubles due to heroin dependence. Conclusions: This study has hence bought forward important socio-cultural anomalies associated with drug abuse in a small city and its periphery.