Transcript Inpatients and Ambulatory patients at the Mental health Unit

Alcoholism Situation
in Lao PDR
Reported by:
Bouavanh SOUTHIVONG
1 – 5 November 2004
I. Drug Abuse situation in Lao PDR
• Drug problem and drug addiction throughout the
world, and in our country as well, have caused
several drawbacks by people’ life-style in the
society.
• In a developing country like Laos, main
constraints to the socio-economic development
are encountered, especially for ethnic groups
living scattered in remote areas who are opium
addicts.
I. Drug Abuse situation in Lao PDR (cont’d)
• Moreover, the quick rise of Amphetamine-typestimulant (ATS) throughout the country in these past
recent years, either in rural or urban communities
constitutes a big danger to all strata of Lao society,
especially to school children, students and youth
who will be responsible for the future of the nation,
and to the labor force which is the backbone of the
country.
• ATS, opium, cannabis and other substance are very
strict for consumption but not alcohol.
II. Alcoholism situation in Lao PDR
• Alcohol is one of the most substance of abuse but Lao legislation
regarding alcohol prohibition is not available.
• Easy accessibility to alcohol  People can buy it easily at shops,
markets etc...
• It is observed that Lao beer is very popular among youth, especially
students and employees.
• Traditional Lao Alcohol (Lao Lao) is very strong with high
concentration 40-50 degree. It is produced locally, not expensive and
considered as one of the most popular alcoholic type among workers
having low income.
• Alcohol is consumed by villagers during any ceremony with friends
and relatives (party, death, giving birth...).
• Alcohol consumption is highly related to road accident due to lack of
road safety respect (while drunk, people drive cars very fast and
provoke road accident...)
Table 1:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Causes of Road Accident related to
alcohol consumption
No Driving License
=
High Speed
=
High Beam
=
Pass by
=
Don’t keep Distance
=
Outside their rights
=
Violate traffic light
=
Incorrect crossing road =
Alcohol drinking
=
53 cases
20
10
16
25
41
01
02
54
Source: Road Accident Reduction project, Vientiane Municipality,
(24/12/03 - 23/01/04)
Table 2:
Year
Schizophrenia
Inpatients and Ambulatory patients
at Mental Health Unit, 2000 - 2003
2000
2001
2002
2003
157
70
105
176
Bipolar disorder
94
60
47
65
Infectious
psychosis
12
4
19
6
Postpartum
psychosis
7
0
3
5
Depression
81
54
32
77
117
79
69
242
Neurosis
Table 2: Inpatients and Ambulatory patients
at Mental Health Unit, 2000 – 2003 (cont’d)
Year
Dementia
Substance abuse
2000
2001
2002
2003
8
210
7
230
8
47
15
107
3
2
4
8
29
29
10
17
162
160
91
159
Organic cerebral lesion
26
17
5
21
Others
63
28
16
42
969
740
456
940
Mental retardation
Alcoholism
Epilepsy
Total
General Statistics of Drug and Alcohol Users
• There were some studies on substance addiction based mainly on
opium and ATS. Actually there are 28,000 opium addicts in the
northern area of the country, mostly among elderly people. While
ATS abusers are school population, labor force...
• Survey on drug abuse among youth, in Vientiane capital, in 2000
showed that lifetime prevalence of any drug use was 5.3%. The most
famous drug of choice among youth was ATS (Ya-Baa) with a ratio of
4.8%.
• However, the specific survey on alcohol has not yet been carried out.
• But there is a record of patients suffering from alcohol abuse,
seeking treatment, at the Mental Health Unit that is shown in Table 3
and 4.
Table 3:
The number of patients suffering from alcohol
abuse, at the Mental Health Unit, Mahosot Hospital,
2000 - 2003
Year
Male
Female
Total
2000
28
1
29
2001
28
1
29
2002
10
0
10
2003
16
1
17
Total
82
3
85
Table 4: Classification of Drug Users and Alcohol Users by
Age, Mental health Unit, Mahosot Hospital, 2003
Age group Drug Users Percentage Alcohol Users
(%)
Percentage
(%)
10-14
3
7.5
0
0
15-19
19
47.5
0
0
20-25
14
35
1
12.5
> 25
4
10
7
87.5
Total
40
100
8
100
Conclusion
Based on data in the Mental Health Unit
• There is a significant difference on age:
– Drug users are young people aged from
15 - 19.
– While alcohol users are adult, aged above 25.
• Male is more prone to drug or alcohol use
than Female.