Factors associated with immediate relapse among Bahraini heroin abusers

Demographic characteristics and factors associated with immediate relapse to heroin use among 40 male Bahraini heroin abusers were studied 1 week after discharge from the Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Unit in Bahrain. The mean age of the patients was 32.7 years, the age at which drug abuse began ranged from 12 years to 31 years, and the age range of regular use was 15-37 years. More than half the patients were single, unemployed, unskilled labourers with secondary-school education. The vast majority used heroin intravenously. Negative emotional states and drug-related cues were seen by the majority of the subjects as influential in their immediate relapse after discharge. Findings suggest that the treatment and rehabilitation unit in Bahrain should look into the issues of after-care.