Pustaka Ilmiah Universitas Padjadjaran

Abstrak

The Psychological Problems Among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia

Background: Until recently, the most common view was that drug addicts are weak and/ or bad people, unwilling to control their behavior and gratifications. However, the addictive drugs affect the brain circuitry controlling the motivated and learned behavior. Some of drug users start using drug to “cure” their psychological problems. This make psychiatric disorders and addiction are often dubbed ‘dual disorders’. This present study was conducted to explore the common psychological problems among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional, non-experimental study using respondent driven sampling was conducted from June to September 2008 at a primary health centre in Bandung, Indonesia. A total of 197 IDUs were interviewed using EuropASI to screen their psychological problems. Results: The psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety, trouble in remembering, hallucination, and/or controlling violent, which were not a direct result of their drug use, were experienced by 50% of IDUs in the last 30 days and by 80% of IDUs in the life time. The psychological problems with the highest percentage in the last 30 days and also in the life time are trouble in remembering and anxiety. Thirty seven percent of all IDUs have ever had serious thought of committing suicide and more than 50% of them have attempted suicide. However, only 26 IDUs (13%) have ever sought for help for their psychological problems. Conclusion: This study suggests that providing information about psychological problems and their treatment is needed by IDUs. Furthermore, addressing psychological problems in the general community can reduce the chance to become a drug user. Last, those who deliver addiction care also have to be aware about the psychiatric comorbidity in order to have a better outcome.