Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37752457›Full record

ArticleBMC psychiatry2023

Alarmingly high prevalence of high-risk drug use among palestinian males: a cross-sectional study.

Salwa Massad, Hadil Dalloul, Lina Adwan, Khalid Abu Saman, Rawan Kafri, Walaa Abu Alia, Marina Tucktuck, Lisa G Johnston

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychiatry, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 21% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 4 institutions in 4 countries.

Salwa MassadPalestinian National Institute of Public Health, Ramallah, Palestine. salwamassad@gmail.com.
Hadil DalloulPalestinian National Institute of Public Health, Ramallah, Palestine.
Lina AdwanBirzeit University, Birzeit, Palestine.
Khalid Abu SamanPalestinian National Institute of Public Health, Ramallah, Palestine.
Rawan KafriPalestinian National Institute of Public Health, Ramallah, Palestine.
Walaa Abu AliaPrimary Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Ramallah, Palestine.
Marina TucktuckSchool of Medicine, St. George's University, St. George's, Grenada.
Lisa G JohnstonSchool of International Health and Tropical Medicine, LGJ Consultants, Tulane University, Louisiana, USA.
National Institute of Public Health · SIBirzeit University · PSSt. George's University · GDTulane University · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe unique socioeconomic context in Palestine, characterized by political and economic tensions, creates conditions that facilitate the spread of illicit drug use among Palestinians. This paper presents findings from a 2017 survey of high-risk drug use (HRDU) among males in four regions in Palestine: the West Bank (north, middle, and south) and the Gaza Strip. These findings are essential for developing effective policies to respond to the increasing use of drugs among Palestinians.

methodsEligible participants were males aged 15 years and above who used at least one drug other than non-synthetic hashish or marijuana during the previous week. Participants underwent a face-to-face interview and had their drug use verified by urinalysis. Data were collected using respondent-driven sampling and data were analyzed using the successive sampling estimator. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to examine factors associated with ever seeking rehabilitation services for illicit drug use in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

resultsA total of 400 males who use drugs were sampled in Gaza, plus 299 in the south, 300 in the north, and 299 in the middle region of the West Bank. It is estimated that there are 26,500 male HRDUs in Palestine comprising 1.8% of the male population aged 15 and above. Findings indicate that polydrug use is a serious issue in Palestine, especially in the West Bank, and that synthetic marijuana is prevalent among teenagers and young adults.

conclusionsPalestine must strengthen its national efforts to scale up harm reduction and treatment and care options for people suffering from drug use disorders, especially those involved in polydrug use. Additional measures are needed to prevent substance use among children and youth, support the families of people who use drugs, and ensure the continuity of HRDU services during emergencies.

Indexed as

Illicit DrugsSubstance-Related DisordersAdolescentArabsChildCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMalePrevalenceYoung AdultIllicit DrugsHigh-risk drug usePalestineRespondent-driven samplingSynthetic marijuanaTramadol

Identifiers

PMID37752457
PMCPMC10521504
OpenAlexW4387052461

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.