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Drug abuse in Nepal: a rapid assessment study
A Chatterjee1, L Uprety, M Chapagain
1University of California at Los Angeles, Fogarty International Training Program, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, USA.
Bulletin on Narcotics
|January 1, 1996
Summary
This study assessed drug abuse in Nepal, finding a young male population primarily using cannabis, codeine, and buprenorphine. Urgent needs for effective drug treatment and HIV prevention programs for injecting drug users (IDUs) were identified.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Substance Abuse Research
Background:
- Drug abuse poses a significant public health challenge in Nepal.
- Limited data exists on the demographics, patterns, and consequences of drug abuse within the country.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a rapid assessment of drug abuse across Nepal.
- To identify key populations, substances used, sources of drugs and funding, and associated risks.
- To inform the development of targeted interventions and policies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized semi-structured interviews, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions.
- Employed snowball and judgmental sampling strategies across eight municipalities.
- Included data from treatment centers, prisons, and community-based key informants.
Main Results:
- The sample of drug abusers had a mean age of 23.8 years, predominantly male, and often unemployed or students.
- Major substances included cannabis, codeine cough syrup, nitrazepam, buprenorphine injections, and heroin; common sources were friends, cross-border, and medicine shops.
- A trend towards injecting buprenorphine was observed due to cost and availability, with significant sharing of injecting equipment among injecting drug users (IDUs); HIV appears low but surveillance is absent.
Conclusions:
- Drug abuse in Nepal affects a young demographic, with a shift towards injectable drugs and associated risks.
- Existing treatment facilities are insufficient, and there is a critical need for accessible, cost-effective drug treatment and HIV prevention programs, especially for IDUs.
- The findings underscore the urgency for comprehensive national strategies to address drug abuse and its public health implications.