Substance Use Disorder in People with Intellectual Disabilities: Current Challenges in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

• Main Authors: Ram Lakhan, Hari Krishna Raju Sagiraju, Olúgbémiga Ekúndayó, Manoj Sharma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2019-04-01
• Series: Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice
• Subjects: intellectual disability; low-and middle-income countries; substance use disorder
• Online Access: http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/jnrp.jnrp_393_18
• ISSN: 0976-3147; 0976-3155

Use of illegal and prescription drugs has significantly increased in recent years all over the world in most populations. Greater worldwide awareness in this regard has substantially improved the epidemiological understanding of substance use, its risk factors, and impact on life. People with intellectual disabilities constitute 0.5%–1.5% of the world’s population. It can be conjectured that they might be experiencing similar or even a greater burden of substance use in their lives. This article highlights some important aspects of substance use among this population in low- and middle-income countries that need urgent attention.