DRUG USE IN A RURAL COMMUNITY IN BIHAR : SOME PSYCHOSOCIAL CORRELATES

Drug use has been an integral part of any culture. The use depends on many factors including the availability. In the present study the drug use in a rural community of Chotanagpur Plateau in the Ranchi district of Bihar is focussed. The sample consisted of 157 inhabitants above the age of 15 yrs of the village Boreya in Kanke block. A sample of drug users was compared with nondrug users of the same community on the measures of stressful life events and locus of control. The results indicate that besides tobacco alcohol in the form of locally brewed ‘handia’ (rice beer) and ‘mahua’ (made from mahua flowers) was used by 334 (28.87%) individuals. Cannabis was frequently used (25.15%) Harder drugs were not used at all. There was an increase in stressful life events in the year prior to the use of drugs. The increase in life events was especially seen in the elderly age group (35-50yrs). There was no difference in the locus of control scores between the users and the nonusers. The results indicate the role of significant life events in the current use of drugs.