Drug Type and Personality Traits in Drug Dependents: A Comparative Analysis of Opium, Alcohol, and Nicotine Users

Description

Page: 558-562

Anita Moral (Department of Psychology, Meerut College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh)

This study investigates the effects of drug type (opium, alcohol, nicotine) and time duration of drug intake (2 vs. 5 years) and personality traits among drug dependents, using a 3×2 factorial design. A sample of 120 subjects, selected via stratified randomization from rehabilitation centers in Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Noida, completed the Big Five Inventory (BFI) to assess extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience. Two-way ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of drug type on personality traits, F = 17.73, p < .01. Alcohol users scored higher on conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness, opium users on agreeableness, and nicotine users on extroversion. Time duration significantly impacted conscientiousness, F= 11.04, p < .01, and neuroticism, F= 17.57, p < .01, with 5-year users showing lower conscientiousness and higher neuroticism compared to 2-year users. A significant interaction effect was observed for extroversion, F= 6.025, p < .01, indicating drug-specific patterns over time. No significant effects of time duration were found for extroversion, agreeableness, or openness, and most interaction effects were non-significant, suggesting independence between drug type and duration for most traits. The results suggest a bidirectional relationship where personality traits predispose individuals to addiction, and drug use further modifies these traits. Limitations include the cross-sectional design, limiting causality inferences. Future longitudinal studies should explore biological mechanisms, such as genetic markers, to inform targeted interventions for substance use disorders.