Stages of progression in drug abuse involvement across generations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the stages of progression in drug involvement among adolescents and adults in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS: One hundred and one consecutive male patients (91 adults and 10 adolescents), with substance abuse or dependence according to DSM-IV criteria, admitted to Al-Amal Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, during July and August 2002 for treatment, were included in the study. All participants answered a questionnaire, which included questions pertaining to the ages and stages of progression in drug abuse.

RESULTS: Adolescents started using tobacco and drugs at a younger age than adults. The difference is statistically significant for drugs (14.6 +/- 2.6 versus 22.0 +/- 8.3, t = 2.8; p = 0.006), but not for tobacco (14.7 +/- 1.8 versus 16.4 +/- 6.5, t = -0.8; p = 0.4). Adolescents and adults were different in the first (Chi 2 (3) = 13, p = 0.001) and the second (Chi 2 (3) = 14.5; p = 0.002) stages of progression, but similar in the third stage (Chi 2 (3) = 0.1; p = 1.0).

CONCLUSION: Adolescents were different from adults regarding the age of onset and sequence of progression in drug involvement. This sequence was different in Saudi Arabia from that in other cultures and this could have an implication in prevention programs.