This study was designed to investigate the various factors which were thought to be pertaining to narcotic addicts in Seoul, Korea.
The subjects for the study were a total of 123 narcotic patients who were admittedto Seoul Municipal Mental Hospital for one year between January I st 1969 and December 31th 1969.
The large proportion of them was crowded around the smuggling dens located in Dongdaemun-ku and Joong-ku, SeouI. While the age group between 31 and 50 makes up about two third of the entire cases studied (78. 87%), the teens group consists of only 2. 67 percent. The educational level of female subjects was viewed only as lower in comparison with that of the controls in Seoul. Twenty four cases (19.51%) in both sexes revealed that they were either divorced or separated. This was viewed as significantly higher compared with the controls (1. 5%). Those who maintained illegitimate marriage life in both sexes were reveavled to be 11 cases (8. 94%). The incidence of criminal occupation was increased from 34. 96 percent to 42. 28 percent after they became addicted.
One hundred and four cases (84. 60%) out of the entire cases studied claimed to have begun to use narcotics because of their physical illness. Most of their illness were chronic in nature. The pure narctic abusers consisted of 11. 38 percent, the pure non-narcotic abusers 54.48 percent, and the combined or alternative usage of narcotics with non-narcotics 12. 19 percent. Heroin was the choice among narcotic while Propon (Ethylhexabita.1 calcium+Meprobamate)was the one among non-narcotics. Twenty two cases (42. 31%) out of the entire Propon abusers (52 cases) were revealed generalized convulsions one more than durit:g admission period. Sixteen cases (11.76%) out of the entire cases had begun to use Talwin (Pentazocine).
The psychopathology of the narcotic addicts in Seoul, Korea, may be different from that of Western societies. It seemed to be a predominant tendency in Korea that they became habituated from drugs in a way of selftreatment for chronic physical illness which they had been sufferring from previously rather than as a pathological manifestation among delinquent youth group.
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