Editorial: Alcohol and drug use in low- and middle-income countries

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Editorial on the Research Topic Alcohol and drug use in low-and middle-income countriesRates of substance use disorders (SUDs) and their impact on physical and mental wellbeing have been rising in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs).Novel trends in the types and patterns of drug use are also emerging (1-4).Although a majority of consumers live in and purchase drugs from developed wealthy nations, production is conventionally linked to LMICs (1, 5).In that regard, knowledge and research on SUDs in LMICs, as well as national responses to prevent, treat, and decrease the harms of alcohol and drug use, remain limited.Common barriers to treatment include a perceived lack of problems and low motivation (6).Furthermore, gender inequality, poverty, illiteracy, disparities in access and receipt of primary prevention, treatment, and harm reduction services, and scarcity of resources and professionals working in addiction medicine in LMICs have negatively affected the effectiveness, establishment, longevity, and quality of services (7,8).In this Research Topic titled "Alcohol and Drug Use in Low-and Middle-Income Countries", we examine some of the latest data on alcohol and substance use in LMICs.The included studies mainly emanate from Ethiopia, Iran, Honduras, and Pakistan.The findings highlighted in this Research Topic represent merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the characteristics, impact, and treatment of SUDs in LMICs.Our Research Topic underscores the urgent need for further studies across LMICs to capture the magnitude of alcohol and drug use in these societies.In Ethiopia, Kassew et al. assessed the prevalence of substance use among teenagers and the individual-and community-level characteristics that might influence it.The survey included 10,594 individuals aged 15 to 24 years.Past-month prevalence of substance use reached 46.74%.Of the participants, 36.34%,12.56%, and 0.95% were drinking alcohol, chewing Khat, and smoking tobacco products, respectively.Factors significantly associated with alcohol or substance use included male sex, age 20 to 24 years, exposure to media, having an occupation, and living in an urban area.The authors suggested multiple interventions targeting this population, including banning mass-media alcohol advertising, restricting alcohol, Khat, and tobacco product marketing to minors, and prohibiting smoking in public places.On the other hand, Kassew et al. looked at psychotic

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