Personality study of alcohol, heroin, and polydrug abusers in an Arabian Gulf population.

Three male groups of heroin, alcohol, and polydrug abusers (n = 120) from an Arabian Gulf population were given Lanyon's Psychological Screening Inventory; their scores were compared with those of a group of 48 nonabusers. Only the polydrug-abusing group of 43 scored significantly higher than the nonabusers on the Alienation and Discomfort subscales. Perhaps only polydrug abuse can be explained in terms of attempts towards self-medication by distressed and inadequate individuals. A drug-accepting-generational age group in contrast to an alcohol-accepting-generational age group was suggested.