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

Ram Lakhan; Hari Krishna Raju Sagiraju; Olúgbémiga Ekúndayò; Manoj Sharma

doi:10.4103/jnrp.jnrp_393_18

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

J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2019 Apr-Jun;10(2):301-305. doi: 10.4103/jnrp.jnrp_393_18.

Authors

Ram Lakhan¹, Hari Krishna Raju Sagiraju², Olúgbémiga Ekúndayò³, Manoj Sharma^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health and Human Performance, Berea College, Berea, USA.
² Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake, Utah, USA.
³ Department of Allied Health, College of Health Science, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY, USA.
⁴ Behavioral and Environment Health, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA.
⁵ College of Health Sciences, Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Intellectual disability; low-and middle-income countries; substance use disorder.

Publication types

Review