A Comparison of Abstinent and Relapsed Opioid Dependents on Perceived Social Support

The present study was a comparison between abstinent and relapsed opioid dependents on perceived social support. The sample of the study consisted of 200 males, out of which 100 were abstinent and 100 were relapsed male opioid dependents. Sample was selected randomly from the Govt. and Private Rehabilitation Centres of Punjab. Muliti-dimentional scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet et al., 1988) was administered to the study sample. Means, Standard Deviations and t-ratios were calculated to determine the differences between two groups. The findings of the study reveal that relapsed opioid dependents are lower on perceived social support as compared to abstinent opioid dependents. In order to help the drug dependents, one must work towards enhancing their social support, so that their struggle against drugs can be beneficially mediated by the facilitating role of social support.