Substance Use and Mental Well-Being: A Correlational Study Among Rehabilitation Patients in Northeast India

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between substance use and mental well-being among 150 individuals undergoing treatment in rehabilitation settings in Northeast India. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling from three centers in Aizawl and Shillong. Substance use was measured using the AUDIT and DUDIT scales, and mental well-being was assessed with the WEMWBS. AUDIT and DUDIT scores were standardized and averaged to create a combined substance use variable. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a weak negative relationship between substance use and well-being, suggesting that higher substance use was modestly associated with lower well-being. However, participants’ average well-being scores remained within the normative range. This may reflect psychological stability among individuals in treatment, possibly due to the support provided in rehabilitation settings. Cultural or regional resilience factors in Northeast India may also contribute to buffering the negative impact of substance use. These findings highlight the importance of addressing mental well-being in substance use recovery and suggest that emotional improvement may occur even in early stages of treatment.