Prevalence and risk factors of pregabalin misuse among patients with substance use disorder

Abstract

Background Pregabalin use disorder is an alarming phenomenon demonstrated in many countries. Some countries classified it as a class C controlled substance in a schedule V controlled substance. Aim The aim was to assess pregabalin use disorder among substance abusers, recognize psychiatric co-morbidity, and identify risk factors to start pregabalin abuse. Participants and methods The study group included 400 Egyptian substance misusers. From addiction and psychiatric outpatient clinics in Al-Azhar University Hospitals in Cairo, Egypt, the participants were diagnosed using DSM V and interviewed using (SCID 1) and urine specimens screened for routine polysubstance and pregabalin by means of a mass spectrometer analysis. Results The prevalence of pregabalin misuse disorder among all patients with substance misuse disorder was 30%. However, first substance is cannabinoids (hashish), with 83.75%, and then tramadol, with 43.75%. The prevalence of co-morbid psychiatric disorders was 45%. We found the use of pregabalin for sleep purpose 32.5% and for anxiety self-treatment 19.2% as the strongest predictors and risk factors for pregabalin abuse. Conclusion Pregabalin misuse disorder is at the fourth rank among all substances misused in Egypt, with a percentage of 30%. The most common reason for pregabalin misuse is to have a good sleep, self-treatment of anxiety, peer pressure, and depression.

Keywords

• polysubstance
• pregabalin
• substance abuse