title: Profile of drug users in Karachi City, Pakistan.
abstract: Drug use has been identified as a major public issue in Pakistan. A descriptive questionnaire survey in Karachi city was made to identify the socioeconomic profile and beliefs and practices of 500 drug users The most commonly used drugs were cocaine (19.0%) and crack-cocaine (15.0%), followed by amphetamine, (11.0%), alcohol, caffeine, barbiturates and benzodiazepines (10.0% each). Key psychological factors leading tc drug use were problems with parental or marital relations or break-up of a relationship (45.0%). Drugs were seer as an escape from stressful life events (28.0%) or feelings of failure (18.2%). Many drug users blamed the origin of their drug use on bad social influences (47.0%) or socioeconomic problems (23.4%). Preventive measures are needed to decrease the rate of drug addiction in Karachi.
authors: Ziauddin College of Pharmacy, Ziauddin University, Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Ali
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Bushra
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Aslam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055030:Drug Users / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult