ArticleBMC public health2025
The epidemiology of substance use disorders in Saudi Arabia: findings from the Saudi national mental health survey.
Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Psychiatric Symptoms and Impulsivity in Patients with Substance Use Disorders: Associations with an Aggregate ASI Interviewer Severity Score.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Article
- Affiliate stigma, perceived social support, and caregiver burden among caregivers of people with substance use disorders in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.BMC psychiatry · 2026Article
- The Prevalence and Comorbidities of Self-Reported Mental Health Disorders Among Primary Healthcare Attendees in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- School-based drug prevention in Saudi Arabia: are physical education teachers prepared to act?Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Screening of Substance Abuse Among the General Population in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.Cureus · 2025Article
- Associations Between Coping Strategies, Perceived Social Support, and Substance Use Among Individuals in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financingArticle
- Association of Substance Use Pattern and Family Factors With Use-Related Problems According to Arabic Drug Abuse Screening Test-10: A Cross-Sectional Study.Substance use : research and treatmentArticle
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8 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundSubstance use disorders (SUDs), encompassing alcohol (AUDs) and drug use disorders (DUDs), are significant global public health concerns. While SUDs are well-documented worldwide, data on their prevalence and impact in Saudi Arabia remain scarce. This study investigates the epidemiology and burden of SUDs in Saudi Arabia using data from the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS).
methodsThe SNMHS is a nationally representative cross-sectional epidemiological household survey, consisting of a sample of 4,004 participants aged 15-65. The survey employed a stratified multistage clustered sampling design and used the WHO CIDI 3.0 to determine diagnoses. Descriptive statistics and multivariate binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data.
resultsThe lifetime, 12-month, and 30-day prevalence of any SUD were 4.03%, 1.88%, and 0.78% (p < 0.05), respectively. DUDs were more prevalent than AUDs overall. SUDs were significantly associated with younger age, lower education, low income, exposure to traumatic events, family burden, and childhood adversities. High psychiatric comorbidity and role impairment were observed. Treatment seeking was moderate, with only 44.9% of those with lifetime SUDs seeking any form of treatment.
conclusionsSUDs in Saudi Arabia are more prevalent than previously thought, associated with significant psychiatric comorbidities and role impairment. Despite this, treatment seeking remains inadequate. These findings underscore the need for targeted prevention and intervention programs tailored to the demographic and cultural context of Saudi Arabia.
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