University Clinic for Toxicology, Clinical Campus “Mother Theresa” Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
Heroin ,Abuse ,Macedonia ,

The number of heroin abusers in Macedonia have tendency of relative and absolute increase in last two decades. Social, economic disturbances and crime actions are connected with this modern epidemic situation. Aim of this study was to establish the average prototype of Macedonian heroin abuser. Patients and methods: We analyzed a group of 104 heroin abusers, hospitably treated at the University Clinic for Toxicology. Results and discussion: Average age of the analyzed group was 26,6 (± 7,8) years. 22 patients (20.25%) were female. Only 5 patients came from rural settlements, and more than 85% were from the biggest four cities of the country. Only six patients said that they are living alone and other 26 (25%), with their partners. Ten patients (9.7%) have graduated, and other 44 (42.30%), finished only elementary school. 21 patients were full time employed, and other 26 had part time job. Intravenous route of application is preferred among half of the abusers. According to our laboratory findings 65 patients (62, 5%) were Hepatitis B positive and 53 (50.96%) were Hepatitis C positive. Only two patients were HIV positive, without clinical manifestation of AIDS. Conclusions: Main characteristics of average Macedonian heroin abuser are: younger than 27 years, male predomination, live in bigger cities with his/her family, lower level of education, unmarried and unemployed, frequent abuse of benzodiazepines, often involved in crime delicts, with high frequency of drug related diseases.

5 , 12 , 2015