Nutritional Status and Dietary Intake Pattern of Male Drug Addicts Undergoing Rehabilitation

Abstract

1.1. Background: Drug addiction is now prevalent everywhere in Bangladesh; in the house, streets, in the workplace, parks, slums, markets and even in educational institutions both in rural and urban areas. Although there is no precise figure of the drug dependant people, it is estimated that around 4.0million people, mostly youth are dependant to some form of drugs, and increased trend among all kinds of people is alarming. 1.2. Objective: This study was conducted to explore nutritional status and dietary intake pattern of male drug addicts undergoing rehabilitation. 1.3. Methodology: This was a cross sectional descriptive study carried out among male drug addicts who were admitted for detoxification and rehabilitation therapy, counseling and motivation. A total of 100 samples were collected randomly with face to face interview by using pre-tested semi structured questionnaire. 1.4. Result: Mean age of respondents was 34.02±7.12years. The prevalence of malnutrition among the respondents was assessed by body mass index. Fifty four percent of the drug addicts were suffering from varying degrees of Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) of which 16%, 09%, and 29% were in CED-111, CED-11 and CED-1 respectively whereas 46% of the addicts were normal. It was observed that more than half of the respondents (56%) were irregular to take three meals in a day and 44% were taking their meal regularly. Mean energy intake of below 30years of age was 2179 kilocalorie and it met 78.9% of recommended dietary allowances. Mean energy intake of 30 and above years of age was 2420 kilocalorie and it met 86.19% of recommended dietary allowances. 1.5. Conclusion: Nutritional status of drug addicts was not satisfactory. Further large scale study may be recommended.