NCJ Number
154154
Journal
International Journal of the Addictions Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: (1994) Pages: 215-223
Date Published
1994
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Sixty males who had sought drug treatment in Lahore, Pakistan in 1988-89 and 60 of their brothers or friends completed a 123-item questionnaire designed to determine risk factors for drug abuse in Pakistan.
Abstract
Results revealed that 10 of 11 sociodemographic variables previously identified as predictors of drug abuse in the United States successfully differentiated the groups of addicts and controls in Pakistan. About 97 percent of the 60 addicts were at risk on four or more factors; 100 percent of the controls were at risk on four or fewer factors. The high- risk individual is one to whom drugs are easily accessible, whose friends are using drugs, and who has failed to establish a bond with any of the institutions (family, religion, or occupation) whose members and value systems would oppose drug use. Findings indicated that the precursors for drug abuse cut across cultural lines. Tables, author photographs and biographies, and 15 references