1. Int J Cur Biomed Phar Res. 2011; 1(3): 130 -133
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Publication
Short Report
Addiction in Adolescents ---- A Current Trend
Dr.Anil Batta
*Dep't of Medical Biochemistry, Baba Farid Univ. of Health Sciences, INDIA
ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT
Keywords:
Opium
Addiction is a condition that results when a person regularly consumes substances like
Abstinence alcohol, opioids or tranquilizers or engages in an activity like womanizing ,using internet,
Tranquilizers watching television & gambling which give him pleasure in increasingly high quantity so that
Alcohol finally it becomes an imperative compulsion and deviates him from carrying out normal duties
Relapse User is not aware of this fact that continuity in increasing amount is creating problem to
himself and to society. For all practical purposes it is uniinhibitng outcome of all these factors. .
Its consequences are social, emotional and psychological. Pattern of substances of use is
notorious as it can change from time to time. But this is for sure that the substances of abuse
whether legal or illegal can cause havoc at national and even international levels. The nature of
these though may be significant but the regional variation can vary from time to time.
Substance of use among adolescents & children are a cause of deep concern. Keeping in view
this thing in mind a study in northern belt was carried out.in 85 patients of age group of 14 to
19 years in age.Resuts were devastating and unimaginable. Important point is that this menace
has to be tackled at social level.
c Copyright 2011. CurrentSciDirect Publications. IJCBPR - All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
A lot many factors are available which contribute to this High Emotions: Emotional disorders such as anxiety,
avoidable adventure. Out of these few which are highly relevant depression, bipolar disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder
have been lineated as follows. often increase the risk of substance abuse. In them the insecurity
feeling flares up the urge to use to drugs.
Familial : This could be an important cause as individuals from
families with a history of any kind of addiction are more likely to Action of drug: Certain substances are more addictive than
develop addiction.. The family scenario is again a driving force e.g. others, and risk of full-blown addiction is higher for drugs such as
history of alcoholism in the parents may become an important opioids, alcohol & tranquilizer because of their ability to create
cause. dependence after just a quick time.
Surroundings: Again as the Children are brought up by Low Frustration Tolerance: One common factor found
alcoholic or drug addicted parents gets family environment amongst addicts of all types is a low frustration tolerance. Addicts
becomes a causative factor. Individuals from countries where use are highly susceptible to the negative effects of stress, having a low
of a certain substance is not imposed as an illegal sanction have threshold of facing the disturbances. They become easily upset
higher role to play as the causative factor. over everyday stress factors, creating a need for escape. They find
this escape in their addiction.
Exploitation: Individuals who experienced sexual,
psychological, emotional or physical exploitation are more likely to Absentism at school: Frequently missing classes or missing
become addicts. The addiction becomes a coping mechanism in school, a sudden disinterest in school or school activities, and a
them. drop in grades may be indicators of drug use.
* Corresponding Author : Dr.Anil BATTA Weak All of a Sudden : Lack of energy and motivation may
Dep't of Medical Biochemistry indicate that child is using certain drugs.
Baba Farid Univ. of Health Sciences
INDIA Listless appearance: Adolescents are generally concerned
E.mail: akbattafarid@yahoo.co.in
c Copyright 2011. CurrentSciDirect Publications. IJCBPR - All rights reserved.
about how they look. A lack of interest in clothing, grooming or
looks may be a warning sign of drug use.

2. Anil Batta / Int J Cur Biomed Phar Res. 2011; 1(3): 130 -133
131
Changes in behavior : Teenagers enjoy privacy, but substance intake. Lapses were defined as using the substance less
exaggerated efforts to bar family members from entering their than that for relapse. Relapse was defined as re-mergence of
rooms or knowing where they go with their friends might indicate substance dependence as per the ICD- 9 or 10. Duration of follow-
drug use. Also, drastic changes in behavior and in relationships up was calculated in number of months from first visit to the last
with family and friends may be linked to drug use. visit to the hospital.
Sudden Expenditure: Sudden requests for money without a 3.Results
reasonable explanation for its use may be a sign of drug use. You
may also discover money stolen from previously safe places at Adolescents from nuclear families were 63.8%.out of these
home. Items may disappear from your home all of a sudden. Most 76.9& were from urban population. School absentees comprised >
of these are costly items which are not of frequent daily use but 50%. In general they presented or were forced to present by
disappear suddenly. parents at the age of 15—18 years. Opioids were used by > 75%
and the commonest used opioid was morphine. Nicotine was also
2.Material and Methods found to be common by more than 52.9%. More than 76% used
these for curiosity for the first time. More than 20% were found to
Keeping all the things in mind a study was conducted in
be indulged in all types of multiple sex users. Nearly half of the
adolescent subjects presenting to a Drug de-addiction OPD of
subjects had positive family history of either drug dependence
Dep't of Psychiatry PGIMER, CHD. Data on demographic and
(40.2%) or psychiatric disorder (5.5%). Alcohol, tobacco and
clinical features were made available in adolescent patients who
tranquillizers along with analgesics are the common substances of
presented to the centre during 1978-1992.
abuse.
The study was conducted at the Drug De-addiction and
The mean age at first use of the primary substance was 14
Treatment Centre of PGIMER CHD, with incident area in north
years (range 5-17.5 yr), while the mean age at clinic presentation
India. Most patients either came of their own or were referred by
was 17 years . Almost all the subjects were single (96.4%) at
big Hospitals The De addiction services include outpatient,
presentation; majority of them belonged to Hindu nuclear families
inpatient, laboratory, aftercare, various agencies and self-help
(63.5%).Out of these 83.5% were from urban background (More
groups. The cohort for this study consisted of all child and
than half of the subjects were school dropouts and nearly one third
adolescent patients (age less than or equal to 18 yr at the time of
(35%) of the subjects were going irregularly to school at the time
registration) registered at the DDTC between September 1978
of presentation. Most of the subjects, who were not studying, were
and December 1992. Substance dependence was diagnosed as per
unemployed (32.9%). An interesting finding was that nearly
ICD-9. by a consultant psychiatrist after direct interview with the
three-fourth (72%) of the subjects who presented to our clinic had
patient and her relatives. Following detailed evaluation, the
studied, or had been studying, in government schools. It was also
treatment consisted of detoxification, symptomatic treatment,
observed that, two third (65.9%) of subjects were brought to the
treatment of medical complications, if any, and psychotherapy of
OPD by a relative and only one fifth (21.2%) sought help on their
patients and their families. Monthly follow-ups were done by a
own and rest were referred by physician/surgeons. Most of the
psychiatrist when patient's drug use profile, social and
subjects (97.6%) had good social support.
occupational functioning and physical and psychological
problems were monitored. The study was therefore limited to 3.1.Clinical profile
these 85 subjects as that number was available.
The mean duration of dependence on the primary substance
2.1.Socio-demographic profile till clinic attendance was 20 years. The average duration to
develop dependence (from first use) was 6 month. Almost all
A semi-structured proforma was used to record sex, age,
(97.6%) the subjects were dependent on at least one substance at
marital status, educational level, occupation, income, family type,
the time of presentation.
religion and locality.
The commonest used primary class of substance was opioids
2.2.Clinical and substance use profile (76.2%) and the commonest used opioid was morphine (36.5%).
This included type of predominantly used substance, More than half of the subjects (54.2%) were also tranquilizers
duration of dependence, relapses, treatments and hospitalizations dependent at the time of presentation.
in the past (before the index treatment episode), detailed physical Most of the subjects started using the substance either out of
and psychiatric co morbidity, and other substances being used. curiosity (78.8%) or under peer pressure (16.5%). Nearly half of
The information about the physical and psychiatric co morbidity the subjects had positive family history of either drug dependence
was inferred from the history, and clinical and laboratory (40.2%) or psychiatric disorder (5.5%). About one-fifth (21.2%)
evaluation and monitoring of the patient throughout the contact of the subjects indulged in high-risk behavior such as having
period. Abstinence, lapse, or relapse was considered as the sexual intercourse with multiple sexual partners. Only a few
primary outcome measures. Abstinence was defined as no subjects (9%) reported physical co morbidity in the form of

3. Anil Batta / Int J Cur Biomed Phar Res. 2011; 1(3): 130 -133
132
seizure disorder (4.7%), thyrotoxicosis (1.2%) and pancreatitis reported starting of substance on experimental basis and later on
(2.4%). A substantial minority (25.6%) of the subjects had co becoming dependent on it. Co morbidity was reported in very few
morbid psychiatric disorder, most common being conduct disorder. subjects and could be attributable to the selection procedure.
More than half (57.6%) of the subjects were treated on outpatient Nearly half of the subjects had positive family history of either drug
basis and about one third of the subjects (32.9%) were admitted dependence or psychiatric disorder, which is in similar lines with
once only, during the period of contact. At the time of first contact, other studies, which have implicated environmental and genetic
more than two-third (68.2%) of the subjects had poor to superficial factors in development of drug dependence.
motivation for treatment (0-1 as rated on a 0-4 scale), most being
Within the limits of generalizability, this study provides a
brought by parents (65.9%).
glimpse into the profile of clinic-attending adolescent substance
After the initial detoxification, 37.6% agreed to take abusers. The major strength of the study derives from the fact that it
pharmacoprophylaxis with naltrexone. Only one fifth of the has collected data from clinic-attending patients over a span of a
subjects, however, continued to take pharmacoprophylaxis beyond quarter of a century. Patients came from nuclear urban set-up and
one month, with mean duration of prophylaxis being 156 month were predominantly opioid-dependent. There was evidence for
(range 2-730; SD 181.14). Among the 28 subjects who were both genetic as well as socio-environmental factors as correlates of
prescribed naltrexone, 20 were noted to be abstinent at the last drug use. Efforts should be made to collect similar data from other
follow-up. addiction clinics in the country so that a more composite picture of
The mean duration of follow-up was 11.2 month (SD 21.90, the clinical situation can emerge nationwide.
range 0-122). The mean number of follow-up at hospital visits was
5. Conclusion
6.62 (SD 5.42, range 1-31). While 51.8% subjects reported
abstinence at the last follow up, 36 subjects (42.4%) were noted to The results suggest that the development of substance
be continuing substance use or had relapsed after an initial period dependence in children and adolescents is a combination of familial
of abstinence. and social vulnerability factors, including the drug culture of the
social milieu. A rise in opiate use was reported in school children.
4. Discussion Indian data on the profile of young population with substance abuse
The current study was a retrospective chart review with the in organized form is lacking. For planning effectively and to provide
aim of studying the sociodemographic and clinical profile of efficient services catering to the special needs of this sensitive and
adolescents presenting to a de-addiction centre of a tertiary care vulnerable population, there is a need to understand the substance
hospital. The profile of treatment seekers can help the treatment use profile, associated problems, as well as the special needs of
agencies to prepare themselves in managing such cases. More than adolescents. Hence, the current study was designed to be familiar
half of the subjects were school dropouts and nearly one third of the with the socio-demographic and clinical profile of the adolescent
subjects were going irregularly to school at the time of presentation. population seeking treatment for de-addiction.. All the probable
This probably reflects the effect of drug use on the educational causes of the abuse should be nullified to bring a feeling of
functioning of the subjects. Mean age at first use of the primary responsibility in the young ones who will decide the future of the
substance was nearly 15 year, which suggests that various drugs are country. If adolescents are themselves the victims then any
easily available. The mean duration required to develop unpleasant thing is on cards. Multiple addiction is the ultimate that
dependence was nearly 6 months. This was probably highly can be expected.
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