A Preliminary Study on the Typology of Substance Abusers

Kim, Hyun Soo; Cho, Sun Mi; Lee, Yong Suk; Lim, Ko Young; Lee, Ho Young

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This preliminary study was performed to typify a group of substance abusers by their demographic data, developmental history, substance use patterns, and personality profiles. METHOD: Forty-two substance abusers were assessed with Minnessota Multiphasic Personality Inventory(MMPI), Ehwa-Defense Mechanism Test, Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory(BAI), etc. They also participated in semi-structured interview by psychiatrists and social workers.
RESULTS
1) This group consisted of 14 cannabis users, 26 methamphetamine users, and 2 inhalant users. Twenty-seven(64.35%) of this group abused drugs over one year. Thirty-two(76.5%) of the subjects were in their twenties or thirties. Many of them were less than low in their economic status. Their academic careers and occupations were various. Fifteen abusers had past criminal histories. 2) Among their developmental history, parental alcohol problem, poor relationship with parent, and criminal history were significantly correlated with one another(p<.05). 3) In the cluster analysis upon their MMPI profiles, two clusters emerged; one cluster presented low profiles, and the other showed high profiles. We named the former 'simple drug user group', and the latter 'sociopathic drug abuser group'(p<.05). 4) There differences in MMPI profiles according to the kind of drugs and developmental problems. Methamphetamine group was higher in Mf and Si. The group with poor developmental history was higher in Pd profiles(p<.05).
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that, for typology of substance abusers, more investigation should be made on developemental history and drug use patterns. This study presented two clusters of simple abuse group and sociopathic abuse group.