Journal of Multiple Sclerosis

The Prevalence of Substance Abuse among Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Masoud Etemadifar, Mehri Salari, Narges Mahdizadeh, Sevim Soleimani* and Robab Maghsoudi

Introduction

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that results in myelin destruction in the brain and spinal cord. Substance abuse disorder is a chronic disorder characterized by compulsive drug use. Alcohol and nicotine are considered substances that can cause addiction as well.

Method

This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of narcotic and psychedelic drugs, alcohol, and tobacco use among MS patients. It is a census descriptive-analytical study that was conducted on 435 patients. The research data was collected from the medical records of all patients referred to the Isfahan Multiple Sclerosis clinic in 2022. The gathered data were analyzed using SPSS software and descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Kendall Tau B correlation coefficient, and partial correlation coefficient.

Results

The results show that almost 8% of MS patients abuse narcotic or psychedelic drugs, 15% drink alcohol, and approximately 25% smoke cigarettes. Moreover, men are significantly more likely to abuse drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Regarding alcohol and cigarettes, most of the patients have started consuming before the diagnosis of their disease; however, they have started drug abuse after the symptoms of the disease initiated. In terms of The Expanded Disability Status Scale index and the number of attacks, duration of MS, treatment follow-up, and personal belief in the positive effect of drug treatment, no statistically significant difference was observed between patients with substance abuse and other patients.

Conclusion

These results emphasize the need for targeted interventions and support services tailored to address substance abuse issues within the MS patient population, recognizing the complexities of these coexisting conditions and the potential impact on the overall well-being of individuals with MS.