Injectable Opioid use: An insight into the problem

Abstract

Background: The present study characterizes the socio-demographic variables of injection drug users (IDUs) attending Oral substitution therapy (OST) center. Aims & Objectives: To provide a comprehensive knowledge and better insight regarding the socio-demographic profile and pattern IDUs. Material & Methods: A total of 158 IDUs aged 18 to 60 years who attended the OST centre during one-year period at a government medical college are included in the study. Results: All the IDUs are male with median age of 33.13 years. More than half of the participants are homeless and earn their livelihood by rag picking and rickshaw driving. 35.4% of participants are married. Their mean monthly income is Rs 2823.4 ± 1811.8 and they spend a major amount of it on drug use. Conclusion: All the participants are using Pharmaceutical Opioid injections (POI), mostly as cocktail with benzodiazepines and antihistamines. Sharing of needle and paraphernalia is present in most of the participants especially among the illiterate and low income group IDUs.