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Treatment nonseeking in alcohol users: a community-based study from North India
Hem Raj Pal1, Seema Yadav, Parijat S Joy
1National Drug Dependence Treatment Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
Objective:
This study examined the reasons given for not seeking treatment by problem alcohol users who live close to a community outreach de-addiction center.
Method:
Consecutive households in the community were contacted, and inquiry identified 495 male family members who were using alcohol, 163 of whom reported use of alcohol in the previous year. Of these 163 subjects, the 79 who scored above the cut-off of > or = 8 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test were further evaluated using a semistructured interview schedule to determine their reasons for not seeking treatment.
Results:
The majority (n = 40) considered alcohol use a "social" problem. Among the reasons for not seeking treatment, the two most commonly cited were "ashamed to admit problems" and "treatment does not help" in 26.5% (n = 21) and 22.8% (n = 18), respectively.
Conclusions:
The reasons for not seeking treatment for alcohol problems in this sample of Indian men resemble those cited in the literature. The data highlight the need for action to improve outreach to problem alcohol users.