Knowledge, attitude and practice of dental professionals towards substance use

INTRODUCTION: The dentist must be aware of this drug use in their individual patients to: (1) avoid possible contraindications during dental treatment, (2) be aware of the many oral and craniofacial manifestations of such drug use, (3) be able to provide necessary dental treatment to combat the dental/oral ravages of drug use, and (4) be able to refer such patients, if so desired by the patient. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is (1) To determine the knowledge of abusive drugs among dentists and (2) To determine the attitude and role of dentists in identifying patients with abusive drugs. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A modified 27-item questionnaire was formulated and distributed among the study. The participants were to return the filled questionnaire to the investigators within a week. A total of 203 validated entries were collected. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel 2007 and analyzed in SPSS V20. Associations between categorical variables were determined using Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Irrespective of the educational qualification drugs are perceived harmful with definite oral manifestations, and dentists should be concerned with identifying individuals with drugs. It is believed that trying drugs once could lead to possible addiction and that dental practitioners should have their skills developed to handle cases and referred to deaddiction centers with modification of treatment plans. CONCLUSIONS: Educating dental graduates and postgraduates about the oral implications of drugs intake and making it a part of the dental curriculum may help us dealing with the global issues of drugs. Even making dental students a part in counseling and part of the behavioral therapies advocated in treating drug addicts.