Sociodemographic Profile and Pattern of Tramadol Abuse among Patients Presenting to AL-idrissi Hospital(cobar) and Hayat Center for Mental Illness2015
امير الصادق, نورة عابدين احمد الطاهر
كلية التقنية والعلوم الصحية-جامعة الرباط الوطني · السودان
Tramadol (marketed as Ultram, and as generics) is a type of opioid pain killer used to treat moderate to severe types of pain. Their lower price and availability with and/or without prescription make them very popular. As a consequence, numerous reports of abuse and dependence have been reported.Objective:-The aim of the study was to assess the effect of socio demographic factors (age, sex, economic status, level of education) on Tramadol abuse.Methods :-The study is descriptive, analytical, cross sectional study and it was carried out in the two psychiatric clinics in Khartoum city. The study population of the work is all males and females who were recorded and treated as Tramadol abusers in the two psychiatric clinics in Khartoum city, from 1october 2015 to 30november2015. Data through a questionnaire and 50 responses were received. Results :-The majority of the participants 52% were of the fairly young age group (20-30 years), 86.0% of the sample are male, undergraduates 40%, employed 72%, unmarried 86%, and urban of residence 88%. The Age at time of starting use of Tramadol was 20-30yr 48%, and the Duration of use of Tramadol was <1year. The major route of drug administration was oral rout 94%. Enjoyment as the reason for substance initiation was reported by 50% of patients, 66% of the patients get Tramadol from their friends, 6% of patients started abusing Tramadol because they were prescribed to them by medical person .Of the patients, 76% would not get Tramadol from pharmacies/ hospitals easily. Regarding the knowledge of the patients about the Tramadol, 80% of them know that Tramadol is pain reliver and 58% of them were aware that misuse of Tramadol cause addiction. Of the 50 patients only 2% were on Tramadol alone and 98% on poly drugs ,of the respondents 80%were smokers, and 60% of them were reporting increasing the number of cigarettes and change the euphoria of smoking. The main reasons given by nearly half 48% of the patients seeking treatment were family pressures.Conclusions :-The findings of the study showed that a relatively young age group is involved in opioid addiction and, therefore, many years of their productive life are lost in substance abuse. Also The Tramadol abuse is prevalent in any segment of population irrespective of educational and marital status. This shows that a significant amount of time and money is spent on drug abuse in addicts. Therefore, all authorities including political, social, academic and religious authorities should be engaged in stopping the spread of this practice. In addition to dissemination of legal awareness and prohibition of Tramadol use and marketing.