An observational study assessing the pathways to care among treatment seeking users of natural opiates. (3rd May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Parmar, Arpit; Gupta, Prashant; Panda, Udit; Bhad, Roshan
• Is Part Of: Drugs. Volume 27:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: 199
• Page End: 204
• Publication Date: 2020-05-03
• Subjects: Natural opiates -- pathways to care -- WHO encounter form -- opium -- poppy husk; Health education -- Periodicals; Medical policy -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Éducation sanitaire -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Polytoxicomanie -- Périodiques; 362.291705
• DOI: 10.1080/09687637.2019.1649363
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0968-7637

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Natural opiate users constitute a large proportion of opioid dependent individuals in India, and enjoy socio-cultural sanction in certain parts of the country. However, no study has assessed the pathways to care among this population in India. Objective: To assess the pathways to care among treatment-seeking natural opiate dependent individuals. Method: This cross sectional, explorative study was conducted at a tertiary care drug treatment centre located in North India. A total of 125 male participants aged >18 years, seeking treatment for natural opiate dependence from our outpatient clinic were included. A semi-structured proforma and WHO mental health encounter form was applied to assess socio-demographic, treatment details and pathways to care. Results: The mean age was 46.17 (±11.98) years. Poppy husk ( phukki/doda/posht ) was the most common primary natural opiate used (84%). First point of treatment contact was addiction psychiatrist ( n = 90; 72%) in majority. First time treatment seeking was either by self-referral (60.8%) or referral by relatives and friends (24.8%) with mean time lag of 18.63 years after the onset. Conclusion: Natural opiates dependent patients seek treatment late in the course of their illness, often directly from a tertiary addiction treatment centre. Barriers to seek treatment needs to be addressed.