Patterns of Substance Use among Patients in Addiction Rehabilitation in Jordan.

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to identify pattern of substance use among patients at two public addiction rehabilitation centers in Amman. It provided a description of substance use career and assessment of addiction severity, quality of life and quality of sleep among participants.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study using a structured data collection form consisting of 4 parts: 1. General data including the demographic characteristics, medical history and career of drug abuse. 2. Severity of addiction using the severity of dependence scale (SDS). 3. Quality of life measured by the EQ-5D and 4. Quality of sleep measured by the insomnia severity index (ISI) scale.

Results: A total of 93 patients from 2 treatment settings were recruited over 5 months. The total number of actively used substances was 196, with an average of 2 substances per patient. Alcohol and synthetic cannabinoids were the two most commonly used substances (39.8% and 38.7% respectively) followed by benzodiazepines (33.4%). A notable drop in heroin use was observed (5.4%, 5 out of 23 opioid user) compared to the years 2007-2009. The mean SDS score among patients was 11.43 (SD ± 3.48) indicating high dependence. Sleep problems were reported by 45% of patients. Data showed a significant role of community pharmacies in supplying drugs of abuse for users.

Conclusion: Pattern of substance use changed significantly in Jordan with synthetic cannabinoids being of the top substances used and heroin use dropping. Actions should be taken to reframe the legalization of dispensing certain drugs by pharmacists without a prescription.

Keywords:

• substance use disorder
• pattern
• trends
• synthetic cannabinoids
• Jordan

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank staff of NCRA and who provided insight and expertise that greatly assisted this research. Special thanks to Dr. Jamal Al-Anani, the head of NCRA for his great support and cooperation. We also deeply thank Dr. Rana Abu-Farha for assistance with statistics.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

Supported by Deanship of Scientific Research, The University of Jordan.