Characteristics of Heroin Addiction in Peshawar: A Pilot Study

Abstract

All 86 patients admitted to Government Mental Hospital, Peshawar between 1^st May 1988 and 31^st December 1988 were retrospectively studied. In addition to basic demography data, psychiatric diagnoses, if any, were derived using Research Diagnostic Criteria. All patients were young males, who predominantly sniffed/smoked heroin. The vast majority had no associated mental illness. Forty four patients (51%) were also abusing cannabis but did not seek treatment for it. Family support in 49 patients (56%) played an important role in convincing the patients of the need to seek treatment.