Patterns and prevalence of opium use in rural Punjab (India)

A household survey of opium use was carried out in three district of Punjab. Of the 1,400 randomly selected households, 1,276 were covered by the study. All members above the age of 15 years were individually interviewed. The survey included 2,064 men and 1,536 women. The percentage prevalence rate of opium use was 5.76, much higher among men than women. Because of the small number of women involved in opium use (0.5 per cent), the data on socio-demographic variables were analysed only for men. The male opium users were classified as past, experimental, regular and seasonal users, with 3.4, 0.8, 3.6 and 1.8 percentage prevalence rates respectively. The relationships between opium use and variables such as age, occupation, religion, education, marital status and per capita income are discussed as well as their implication on drug abuse control policy.