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Objective: Probation system is an alternative punishment method that involves all kinds of services, programs and resources needed to control and rehabilitate a sentenced person without isolation from the community. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate sociodemographic and clinic features of the substance abuse patients that were referred by probation system.
Method: Records of the patients, who were referred to Erenkoy Mental Health and Neurology Training and Research Hospital probation system polyclinics in between 2013 January and 2014 January are evaluated in this study. Each patient’s first referral is taken into consideration. Data marked as “unknown” are excluded from the study.
Results: In the pre-assessment of the data, it was found that there was 4006 patients referred to our probation system polyclinics in one year. 3948 of these patients were male (98.5%), 58 patients were female (1.4%). Median age was 27 and the range was between 14-80. 67% of these patients were single (n=1736), 29% married (n=766) and 4% divorced (n=96). 1881 patients (75%) had a regular or irregular job, 620 patients (25%) have been jobless. 63% of the patients (n=1449) have had social insurance. 41% of the patients’ (n=1660) choice was marihuana (n=1660; 41%), a percentage of 33% (n=1301) have been using other substances including synthetic cannabinoids (n=1301, 33%) and 2% of the patients (n=65) have been using heroin. The rate of person who said to be substance free at the time of referral was 24% (n=980). 1325 patients were daily smokers (91%) and mean age of starting smoking was found to be 15 (range=9-25). 1222 of the patients (92%) have had no family history of substance abuse. The rate of patients who have had substance abuse history in their first degree relatives were 6%(n=79) and second degree relatives were 2% (n=21). 89% of the patients (n=1193) have had a prior treatment attempt; 7% (n=89) have tried outpatient treatment programs; 4% (n=53) have had an inpatient treatment history. With regard to the clinical and laboratory assessments, it is concluded that 1631 referrer (60%) does not need any treatment. 1085 patients (40%) were taken to the addiction program which have six sessions. At the end of the addiction program 296 patients (53%) discontinued the treatment program, 244 patients (44%) completed the program successfully, 17 patients (3%) was admitted to the hospital.
Conclusion: We could not find any study in this subject done in Istanbul, which has the biggest population of the probation system associated patients. Erenkoy Mental Health and Neurology Training and Research Hospital is the second biggest center in Istanbul that practice in this field; and evaluation of the sociodemographic and clinic characteristics of these patients should contribute to the available data.