Risk Factors for Drug Abuse in Pakistan

A Replication

Bibliographic Data

ID13670905
AuthorsJohn S Gillis (0000-0002-4106-8808, Oregon State University, corresponding author), Malik H Mubbashar (Rawalpindi Medical University)
Year1995
Volume76
Issue1
Pages99-108
Publication date1995-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychological Reports (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-2941 • E-ISSN: 1558-691X
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2466/pr0.1995.76.1.99
PMID7770599
OpenAlexW2089299460
LanguageEN
References cited10

While a number of risk factors have been identified for drug abuse in the United States, little evidence is available about such factors in some other counties. Among these latter is Pakistan, a nation in which heroin addiction is a major problem. The present study was done to examine those psychosocial characteristics which differentiated 60 heroin addicts from 60 nondrug-using controls in Pakistan. Most of the drug-abuse factors identified earlier were significant in Pakistan as well. Applying cut-off scores previously established for each of 9 variables, the relationship between drug status and number of factors at risk was also examined. Over 98% of the addicts were at risk for five or more factors; only 15% of controls were at risk for 5 variables and none exceeded 5. Precursors for abuse appear to cut across cultural lines. The high-risk individual in Pakistan, as in the United States, is one with ready access to drugs and the social inducements to use them while lacking bonds with societal institutions or value systems which might mitigate against drug use. Because several of the risk factors represent deep and long-standing aspects of the addict's personality, both prevention and treatment confront formidable difficulties

Drug · Psychiatry · Replication (statistics · Substance abuse · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Psychological Testing and Assessment · Psychology · Virology

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