Knowledge, attitude and practices of medical residents towards patients with substance use disorder in Jammu and Kashmir

Background: Substance use disorder (SUD) has emerged as a major public health concern in Jammu and Kashmir. With increasing clinical encounters, medical residents play a vital role in early recognition and management of SUDs. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in January 2021 among medical residents across tertiary care hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir. The pretested questionnaire comprised four sections: sociodemographic profile, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to SUD. Data were collected over three days using social media platforms and analysed using Microsoft Excel 2016. Results: A total of 162 residents participated, with 65.4% aged 20-30 years and 56.2% females. Most (86.4%) were from clinical specialties. While 92.6% agreed that addiction is a mental illness, only 50.6% were aware of opioid substitution therapy (OST). Notably, 51.8% admitted to avoiding patients with SUD, and 75% reported needing psychiatric assistance for such cases. While 69.1% routinely assessed toxicology history, 58.4% could interpret drug screen results. Most (89.5%) felt the need for further training in managing SUDs. Conclusions: Medical residents demonstrated good baseline knowledge and awareness of SUDs. However, gaps in training, especially in OST and emergency management, highlight the need for targeted educational interventions.