Socio-demographics and types of polydrug used by patients undergoing methadone-assisted therapy

Abstract

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC] in 2018 reported that Polydrug are commonly used for both recreation and  regular drug use with majority of users being young adults. On the other hand, Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]  recommends Methadone-Assisted Therapy [MAT] as a low risk and effective therapy to help persons suffering from polydrug use  addiction with the intent to address withdrawal, craving, improve client, good grooming, appetite, and sleep patterns. This paper identifies some of the types of polydrug used by patients undergoing MAT with focus on the socio-demographic profiles of these  patients. The study entailed employed use of quasi-experimental research design and mixed method approach that incorporated both  quantitative and qualitative data in its findings. The study population consisted of 2121 MAT patients from which a sample of 120  respondents was obtained through random sampling technique. An assessment to determine the types of polydrug used and the  patients’ sociodemographic features was done using MAT patients’ clinical records and Timeline Follow back. The findings indicate that  Marijuana (90%; n=54) was the most popular used drug followed by Opioids (80%; n=48), Heroin (65%; n=39), Amphetamine- type  stimulants (50%; n=30) and benzodiazepines (50%; n=30. MAT patients through a self-report indicated that the combinations of polydrug  mostly used daily comprised; two or thrice or more, in both the treatment and control Benzodiazepines+ Heroin+ Cannabis /Marijuana+  Tobacco and Benzodiazepines+ Heroin+ Cannabis/ Marijuana. The mode of administration for heroin was injection, smoking and  snorting; for Benzodiazepines was swallowing and smoking; while cannabis/Marijuana was smoked with tobacco through smoking,  snorting, and sublingually. In conclusion, Most of the respondents 40% (n = 48) dropped out in primary, 25.83% (n = 31) dropped out in  secondary. 35.29% (n=42) have never been married and 32.77% (n=39) were separated. The most used combination of polydrug was  benzodiazepines, heroin, cannabis/ marijuana, tobacco and benzodiazepines, heroin and cannabis /marijuana.