title: Relapse among substance-abuse patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: al-Nahedh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data