Socio-demographic characteristics and patterns of Substance Use Disorder in Montenegro

Background: Substance use is an increasing health problem in developing countries. There is no research related to socio-demographic profile and social support factors influencing the initiation of the use of psychoactive substances in Montenegro. Methods: To determine the relationship between socio-demographic and social support factors and the use of psychoactive substances in the population of former users of psychoactive substances in Montenegro. The survey was conducted using the face-to-face method in the Public Institution for accommodation, rehabilitation, and resocialisation of users of psychoactive substances located in Podgorica, from June 2015 to October 2017, with a prior approval of the institution in which the survey was conducted, as well as the consent of respondents. The survey covered 107 patients, former users of psychoactive substances. The sample included respondents who completed a one-year rehabilitation and resocialisation period. It covered 42.8% of the total number of patients in the institution for the survey period. Results: As regards the sociodemographic description of the sample, the study revealed the following: most former users of psychoactive substances have completed high school, were raised in a complete family, and now live with their parents or with their mother, and 45.8% of respondents are first-born children. In as many as 61.7% of the respondents, the father used alcohol during their childhood, while 13.1% of the mothers' used tranquillisers. The results of the research indicate the vulnerability of young age, as respondents mostly started using psychoactive substances in their early teens. The average age when respondents started to consume cigarettes was 13.7, alcohol 13.8, tranquillisers 16.6, and marijuana 16.6, and the average age for heroin was 18.4. Conclusions: Initiation of substance use occurs during the late teenage years and is mostly due to curiosity and peer pressure. Effective preventive health policies should include primary and secondary schools and be targeted specifically during the teenage years. Understanding the nature and magnitude of substance use and the factors that contribute to it should allow the design of effective intervention strategies in Montenegro.