Self‐reported substance use in Iraq: findings from the Iraqi National Household Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use, 2014. (7th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Al‐Hemiery, Nesif; Dabbagh, Rufaidah; Hashim, Mushtaq T.; Al‐Hasnawi, Salih; Abutiheen, Ali; Abdulghani, Emad A.; Al‐Diwan, Jawad K.; Kak, Neeraj; Al Mossawi, Hala; Maxwell, Jane Carlisle; Brecht, Mary‐Lynn; Antonini, Valerie; Hasson, Albert; Rawson, Richard A.
• Is Part Of: Addiction. Volume 112:Number 8(2017)
• Page Start: 1470
• Page End: 1479
• Publication Date: 2017-04-07
• Subjects: Alcohol -- drug -- hookah -- illicit -- Iraq -- prescription -- prevalence -- smoking -- substance abuse -- tobacco; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Drug addiction -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1111/add.13800
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-2140

Abstract

Abstract: Aims: To estimate the prevalence of tobacco, alcohol and drug use in Iraq using data from the Iraqi National Household Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use (INHSAD). Design: A cross‐sectional survey was conducted using a multi‐stage cluster sampling method. Trained surveyors conducted face‐to‐face household interviews. Setting: Iraq, from April 2014 to December 2014. Participants: A total of 3200 adult, non‐institutionalized Iraqi citizens residing across all 18 governorates of Iraq. Measurements: We estimated weighted prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for life‐time, past‐year and past‐month use of a variety of substances (tobacco, alcohol, prescription drugs and illicit drugs). For each substance, we also estimated whether individuals knew people who currently use the substance. Findings: Self‐reported past‐month tobacco use was 23.2% (95% CI = 21.40, 25.19). Past‐month alcohol use was 3.2% (95% CI = 2.58, 3.93). Women reported significantly lower prevalence for both tobacco and alcohol use compared with men ( P ‐value < 0.01 for both). Only 1.4% (95% CI = 0.67, 3.02) reported past‐month non‐medical use of any prescription drugs. None of the women reported using any illicit drugs, and only 0.2% (95% CI = 0.07, 0.49) of men reported using any illicit drugs in the past month. Approximately 90.5% (95% CI = 88.58, 92.11) knew someone who uses tobacco, 42.4% (95% CI = 39.53, 45.24) knew someone who drinks alcohol, 27.9% (95% CI = 25.53, 30.45) knew someone who uses medication outside a doctor's instructions and 9.2% (95% CI = 7.87, 10.75) knew someone who uses an illicit drug. Conclusions: Psychoactive drug use is generally low in Iraq, tobacco being highest at an estimated 23.2%. Iraqi women report significantly less substance use than Iraqi men, which may be related to cultural gender norms. Discrepancy between self‐report and 'knowing someone who uses a substance' suggests under‐reporting in this population.