Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...

Initiated regular drug use at age 14;
Over 40 percent made a suicide attempt by hanging or stabbing;
First suicide attempt at age 14 (some had several attempts);
Precipitating cause <strong>of</strong> suicide: loss <strong>of</strong> partner, hopelessness,
depression;
Suicide attempt was not recognized or followed by psychological
help;
On average, two contacts made with the health care system (for
detoxification or suicide); and
Subjects had undergone a total <strong>of</strong> 281 arrests.
The investigator concluded that despite the nonrepresentativeness <strong>of</strong> the
sample, the study showed remarkable differences among the subgroups <strong>of</strong>
the drug abusers (Elekes 1991).
REGIONAL STUDIES
Data were gathered from four different sites: four counties and their
largest cities, including the capital <strong>of</strong> Hungary, Budapest. The four
different sites represent diverse trends and patterns <strong>of</strong> drug use even
though inhabitants’ psychosocial backgrounds are very similar.
However, since data were collected at different periods <strong>of</strong> time using
different indicators and different methodologies, it is difficult to make
comparisons. For this reason, only those data items that could be
compared will be presented.
BUDAPEST METROPOLITAN AREA
The first drug outpatient clinic in Budapest, with a catchment area <strong>of</strong>
3,000,000, was opened in 1987. The clinic provides data on inhalant
abusers from the period <strong>of</strong> 1991 to 1993. Of the 190 registered drug
abusers for this period, 23 were inhalant abusers: 20 males and
3 females.
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