The association between social characteristics and patterns of substance use disorder; a cross-sectional study on sudanese patients

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between different social factors and patterns of substance use disorder in Sudan. Methods: Data were collected using a structured interviewer-rated questionnaire designed by the researchers, and distributed to the patients who have drug use disorder at the two main psychiatry teaching hospitals in Khartoum state, Sudan. Results: The total number of participants was 124 and the majority (95.2%) were males, and 54.8% were single. The onset is mostly before the age of 25 years. The most common substance was cannabis followed by alcohol. Only 61 participants (49.1%) had come to the hospital seeking treatment of their own free will, and 41.9% of participants had a family history of substance use which was significantly associated with early-onset. The majority of participants (69.4%) started using psychoactive substances at the age of 15–25 years. Half of the participants use drugs only in a group of friends. Bad relations between parents, and between participants and parents were perceived by participants to have a role in starting drug use. Conclusion: Substance use is more common among males with an early onset. A family history of substance use associates with an earlier onset. The study shed the light on the social aspects of substance use in Sudan and recommended more efforts to restrict the availability of illicit drugs in the country.