Drug abuse among resident doctors.
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.
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D010820:Physicians; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*