Profile of First 100 in-Patients in De-Addiction Ward T.U. Teaching Hospital, Nepal

Abstract

Men and women suffering from the problems of various psychoactive substance abuse were helped to comeout of the problem by the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health since it’s establishment in 1986.Since the De-addiction ward started functioning under the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health,T.U. Teaching Hospital (TUTH) from February, 2000 A.D., people suffering from various drugs relatedproblems have received in-patient care. This study describes the profile of first 100 psychoactive substanceabusers admitted in this ward. The first hundred patients were admitted in a period of 5 months and 2weeks, in an average of 18 patients per month. Eighty eight males, the average age being 33.3+10.98 years.Seventy were married. The average years of education was 8.56+4.94 years. Alcohol (n=58) was the commonestinitial substance, followed by cannabis (n=19) and cigarette (n=11). Currently 60 were predominantly alcoholusers and 36 predominantly opiate users. The majority were multiple substance users: 79 used alcohol, 37used opiates, 25 used cannabis and 18 used benzodiazepines. Age at first use was 19.57+5.54 years andduration of continuous use was 5.88+4.47 years. Eleven (8 males) were HIV ELISA reactive, all of whomwere parenteral opiate abusers. Thirty-nine (35 males) had fatty changes in liver and 6 (all males) hadcirrhotic changes in liver. Those 45 persons with liver abnormality were all alcohol users.Key Words: psychoactive substance, alcohol, opiates, HIV, liver changes.

Profile of Alcohol-Dependent Patients Admitted in De-addiction Ward of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Kathmandu

“…4,10,12 However, one study had different findings where more than half of the sample population had received their education under high school level. 13 Talking about their permanent residence, majority (58.1%) were from within Kathmandu valley. This finding is also replicated in other studies.…”

Indigenous institutions as adaptive measures to environmental dynamics: an ethnographic study of Loba Community of Upper Mustang, Nepal

“…For example, Chhetri ( 2008 ) studied irrigation and highlighted the ghemba ’s role; Craig ( 2011 ) highlighted the Loba migration to the USA; Darnal ( 2001 ) focused on tangible heritages while Dhungel (2002 ) focused on the history of Lo Kingdom. Similarly, Ojha ( 1986 ) highlighted economic life; Pissel ( 1965 ) presented the general description of Loba from a Tibeto-centric perspective; Sharma & Gurung ( 2056 BS: 2000 AD) documented religious sites; and Tulachan ( 2003 ) focused on tourism. However, existing literature grossly ignored the value of indigenous institutions as the adaptation mechanism to socio-cultural, techno-economic, politico-institutional, and geo-environmental dynamics.…”

Cannabis Use and Abuse in Nepal: A Review of Studies

“…Cannabis use is a highly comorbid condition with other substance use. 29 Among in-patients with alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) in BPKIHS, 6/60 (10%) reported using cannabis. 30 A study conducted in seizure patients visiting a psychiatry out-patient clinic in BPKIHS found 4/100 patients reported to abuse cannabis (4%).…”