The Association of Selected Sociodemographic Factors and Differences in Patterns of Substance Use: A Pilot Study in Selected Areas of Northeast India

Abstract

Emergence of new addictive substances and progressive increase of “drug abuse” has become a serious problem in many countries. Despite legal restriction and administrative control, the use of illicit drugs (like opium, heroin, proxyvan, etc.) has increased considerably in many parts of Northeast India. A sample of 1831 people (age 10 years and above) were interviewed during 1997–1998 about their drug use habits, if any, and types of substance used, in Meghalaya and upper Assam. Prevalence of substance use was 29.4% tobacco (20.5% chewers and 12.7% smokers), 12.5% alcohol, and 4.9% opium. In Meghalaya, prevalence of tobacco use was high (41.7%), which was mainly due to the large number of female chewers and male smokers. Opium and cannabis users were mainly confined in Assam close to the Arunachal Pradesh border, indicating a regional influence. Wide differences were observed in the prevalence pattern of tobacco and alcohol use across location, sex, age, education, and occupation. An association of sociodemographic factors with substance use was documented. Religion and ethnic group have significant association with tobacco use patterns but are insignificant with regard to alcohol use. Use of multiple substances and use of cannabis as a substitute for opium are the major problems indicating drug dependence. Mean ages for substance use initiation were: 18.5 years for tobacco, 21.8 years for alcohol, and 25.8 years for opium. Not with-standing the study's limitations, these findings are useful for planned prevention efforts and formulation of a specific program considering the importance of regional and sociodemographic factors.

• Prevalence
• Substance use
• Northeast India

Additional information

Notes on contributors

H. K. Chaturvedi

Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi, born on March 1, 1963, at Bhagalpur, Bihar (India), has completed B.Sc. (Honours) and M.Sc. in Statistics from Bhagalpur University, Bihar. He stood First Class First and declared Best Graduate in B.Sc. (H) Examination (1980). He was awarded a National Scholarship during M.Sc. and also secured First Class First in M.Sc. Exam (1982). Later, he did PGDCA from Mysore University securing First Class with Distinction in 1990 and Ph.D. on “A Statistical Study of Drug Addicts” from T. M. Bhagalpur University of Bihar in 1999. After receiving his postgraduate degree, he joined the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, India, as Air India Research Fellow in 1985. There, he studied the application of statistical methods and various statistical models applied in Environmental Science viz prediction of highest flood or highest water discharge cause flood etc. Later on, he shifted to Central Sericulture Research and training Institute (CSRTI), Mysore, India, in 1986, where he was involved in various research projects of the Institute as a Biostatistician and imparting statistical training on statistical methodology applied in Biological/Sericulture research to students and research personals. There, he developed an interest in computer programming and started using the computer for statistical analysis of data. His main contribution on determination of optimum plot size and shape for mulberry experiments has been a guideline for the field experimenters. In 1994, Dr. Chaturvedi joined the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as Sr. Research Officer in Biostatistics Division of Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR), Dibrugarh, Assam, and is presently serving as Assistant Director, Biostatistics Division In-charge. Initially, he learned the statistical techniques developed and being used to understand the cause of epidemic and manifestation of disease. He realized that high burden of disease was mainly due to abuse of various addictive substances, which can be prevented by creating awareness in the community. His studies on types of substance use (tobacco, alcohol, opium etc.) and its distribution pattern in the community have generated valuable information and important inputs for prevention and control. He has reported the use of Tuibu (a new addictive substance derived from tobacco) among Mizo tribes, Mizoram. Besides that he has also been engaged in many other research projects of this center. During his career, he attended several training programs and workshops to update his knowledge. In addition, he has participated in many national and international conferences and presented his research work. In his credit, there are about 15 research papers published in peer-reviewed national and international journals.

R. K. Phukan

Rup Kumar Phukan, Technical Officer, was born in 1963 at Jorhat, Assam, India. He completed a masters degree in Statistics in 1988 from Dibrugarh University, Assam, India. He was awarded a Ph.D. in 2000 by the Dibrugarh University on the epidemiological work of oesophageal cancer in Assam. Dr. Phukan joined Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR), N.E. Region, Dibrugarh as Statistical Assistant on February 1, 1989 and was promoted to Technical Officer in 1997. He is involved in various scientific work of the Regional Medical Research Centre, Dibrugarh. Dr. Phukan carried out a case-control study on oesophageal cancer in Assam. The main objective of this study was the role of habits and certain dietary practices on the aetiology of oesophageal cancer in this region. Apart from the usual risk factors like chewing, smoking, alcohol consumption and some of the dietary practices, which are common to many places and have been incriminated as potential factors by many others, a unique alkaline food item known as kalakhar (local name), which is widely used by the indigenous population along with the local variety of betel nut and tobacco, has emerged as a potential factor. At present he is involved in the epidemiological study of stomach cancer in Mizoram. He is studying “Coverage evaluation survey for immunization of children and pregnant women” in the six districts of Northeast India. Dr. R. K. Phukan was also associated with conducting the survey to study the prevalence and pattern of substance use in some selected districts of Northeast India. He has published more than 14 scientific papers both in national and international journals. He has also presented paper in various scientific seminars and abstracted in various proceedings of seminars and conferences. He has attended and completed successfully in various training programme organized by different institutes.

J. Mahanta

J. Mahanta, M.B.B.S., M.D., Designation: Director, (Please see Website http://www.icmr.nic.in for his detailed biodata). Educational Qualifications: He graduated from Guwahati Medical college in 1974. He joined Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, for post graduation in Medical Microbiology. Dr. Mahanta completed his post graduation in 1979. Research Experience: As a researcher he is a devoted worker in microbial diseases with special interest in bacterial and parasitic diseases. He has also special interest in epidemiology and control of communicable diseases and is taking special interest in North Eastern region of India. Foreign Visits: 1. Participation in the 10th International Congress of Parsitology. To Canada from 2002-08-04 to 2002-08-09. 2. Visits for 3 weeks under the International Collaboration/Exchange Programme of INSA During 2001-02 to France from 2001-09-03 to 2001-09-21. 3. The International Collaborational/Exchange Programme of INSA during 2001–2002 to United Kingdom from 2001-09-24 to 2001-09-30.