[Psychoactive drug dependent patients in family doctor's practice in Gdańsk]

Abstract

Recently the number of drug addicts has increased considerably in the whole world as well as in Poland. Since this phenomenon's growing tendency, health service management would like general practitioners to take more active part in dealing with drug addicts. The aim of the study was to evaluate the preparedness of family doctors in Gdańsk to diagnose and treat drug addicts. Fifty family doctors from Gdańsk were included in the study. Forty five agreed to answer the anonymous questionnaire. Twenty one family doctors (46.7%) considered their knowledge about diagnosis and therapy of drug addicts as insufficient. There were only 8 family doctors (17.8%) routinely asked patients about drug abuse. The quick intervention was not used by any of general practitioners. It seems that there is an urgent need to provide further education for general practitioners concerning drug abusers.