Volume 6 Issue 5 (September -October), 2020

Original Articles

A study of family burden in patients of substance dependence at Swami Vivekanand Deaddiction and Treatment Centre, Amritsar
Dr. Sumanjeet Kaur, Dr. Rajiv Arora, Dr. Gurinderbir Singh

Background: Substance abuse impacts the society, the family concerned along with ailing the person himself. It has major influences on the emotional, social, financial states. Objectives: This is a study to find out family burden in patients of substance dependence. Materials and Methods: A study of family burden in family members of three groups of 20 patients each (alcoholic use, opioid use, alcohol +opioid use) diagnosed as substance dependence as per ICD-10 criteria were studied using family burden interview schedule. Results: The study demonstrates that there is an existent family burden in caregivers of substance dependence. The family members affected were mainly the parents and wives. It was found that most of the patients were of age group 30 -45years, employed and earning more than 5000 rupees per month. Majority of them are from urban background (60%) with family history of substance abuse in 25percerent of the patients. The highest burden found in those living with alcohol + opioid dependant patients followed by opioid dependence and alcohol dependence respectively. Conclusion: Burden of substance abuse whether alcohol, opioid or alcohol + opioid has been found to be moderate to severe in the family living and dealing with the substance abusers along with posing burden on physical, mental, financial health. Keywords: Substance abuse, alcoholic use, opioid use.

 
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