Majority of drug addicts are unemployed men

Unemployed people including students and retired men are most addicted to drugs, according to a latest study.

Amal Abdul Rahman Al Fagai, who conducted the research, said people with financial difficulties are prone to turn to drugs. Hashish and narcotic pills are more commonly used among addicts, followed by heroin.

There are more interesting facts about drug addicts.
About 50 per cent are divorced and addiction was found to be the main reason for end of their marriage, according to the study conducted among people between 21 and 40 years of age. The monthly income of 50 per cent of the surveyed group was at least Dh1,000, and 12 per cent of them ranged from Dh1,000 to Dh3,000, while 7.14 per cent of them were unemployed with no source of income. As for the reminder, their income did not meet their daily needs. National men comprised 94.27 per cent of respondents.

The study showed 62.31 per cent of drug users opted the easy way out because of difficult situations such as divorce, death of a parent, financial insecurities or presence of a foreign wife or mother.

The study showed a disturbing statistics as 51.49 per cent of respondents were former military staff and 23.52 per cent were students.

Similarly, most drug addicts were either school drop-outs or ones who did not bother completing their higher studies. About 72.71 per cent of addicts spent only between one and nine years in schools, and 27.31 per cent spent between 10 and 12 years in schools. About 75.71 per cent did not earn a certificate (be it GSSC or diplomas).

Again, debtors constituted 44.28 per cent of drug users and 70.96 per cent of them defaulted on payments, the study revealed.

Unmarried men formed 61.42 per cent of addicts and 50 per cent of those divorced turned to drugs.

About 37.14 per cent of addicts used hashish, 27.14 per cent heroin, 24.2 per cent used psychotropic drugs. About 84.2 per cent are from the UAE.

Similarly, about 44.28 per cent addicts used pharmaceutical drugs that have high sedative effects such as Rouge, used by 19.35 per cent and Valium tablets used by 16.12 per cent.

Most of these addicts have neither been treated nor are they willing to be taken to a hospital or psychiatric clinics. And 90.56 per cent have constant access to drugs. About 85 per cent of those surveyed feel guilty and would want to get rid of the addiction and 25 per cent were willing to participate in awareness campaigns.

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