Patterns of pregabalin use, misuse, and dependence: Insights from an addiction treatment center

Pregabalin misuse is increasingly reported among individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs), but Indian data are scarce. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and patterns of pregabalin use among treatment-seeking individuals with SUDs and examine their clinical and demographic characteristics. We conducted a cross-sectional study at a specialized addiction treatment facility in Northern India (July–December 2024). Treatment-seeking patients were screened, and data were collected through structured clinical interviews covering demographics, substance use, reasons for pregabalin use, withdrawal symptoms, and adverse effects. Among 2031 consecutively screened, treatment-seeking patients aged ≥15 years, 165 (8.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.9–9.4) reported pregabalin use within the past three months. Users were predominantly male (98.2%) with a mean age of 28.4 years. Opioid use was highly prevalent (98.2%), and 33.3% reported intravenous opioid use. Pregabalin was obtained mainly via chemists (45.5%) and friends/peers (38.7%). Dependence was identified in 61.8% patients. The mean daily dose was 1176 mg, indicating frequent supratherapeutic use. Common motivations included euphoria (25.5%), opioid substitution (23%), and withdrawal relief (21.2%). Withdrawal symptoms were reported by 74.5%. These findings highlight clinically significant pregabalin misuse, particularly among opioid-dependent patients, underscoring the need for improved screening and regulatory vigilance.