Patterns of Psychoactive Substance Use Among Hospitalized Psychiatric Patients in Western Mexico

Background The use of psychoactive substances in patients with mental illness is a major public health issue worldwide. Patients with psychiatric disorders have a higher incidence of substance use disorders compared to the general population. This study aimed to identify the most prevalent patterns of psychoactive substance abuse, estimate the severity of use, and determine the associated factors in hospitalized psychiatric patients in western Mexico. Methods This retrospective observational study reviewed the medical records of 268 patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital in 2018. Data was collected using the Psychoactive Substance Consumption Pattern (PCSPsi) form, which included the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) to assess substance use severity. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with alcohol, cannabis, and methamphetamine use. Results The most commonly abused substances in the last 3 months were tobacco (46.6%), alcohol (45.9%), cannabis (34.3%), and methamphetamines (32.8%). Severe substance use, defined as an ASSIST score ≥ 27, was highest for methamphetamines (48.9%) and cannabis (43.5%). Multivariate models showed that younger age, lower education level, psychotic disorder induced by substance use diagnosis, and concomitant use of other substances increased the risk of cannabis and methamphetamine abuse. Conclusions Psychoactive substance abuse, particularly cannabis and methamphetamines, is highly prevalent among hospitalized psychiatric patients in western Mexico. Specific sociodemographic and clinical factors are associated with increased risk of substance abuse in this population. Targeted interventions are needed to address this significant public health issue.