To assess the gender differences in frequency of some epidemiological characteristics amongst heroin dependant psychiatric patients in area of north-eastern post war Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We analyzed sixty heroin addicts (47 males) aged 26.6 ± 5.6 years who were treated in the Department of Psychiatry Tuzla, during the period 1st July 2007- 30th Jun 2008, and were interviewed using Pompidou questionnaire.

The average age of the first intake of heroin was 20.5 ± 4.5 year and average duration of heroin addiction was 5.2 ± 4.4 years. Parents did not know about addiction of their children for 2.8 ± 1.2 years. 23/60 used intravenous application of heroin and 36/60 snuffled it. Males significantly more often used marijuana and benzodiazepines than females. 34/60 owned driver's licenses, males significantly more frequently (31/47) than females (3/13). Material status of parents was below average for 16/60, and average for 42/60. Two thirds had judicial proceedings, and 32/60 was punished, males significantly more often. Hepatitis “C” virus infections were reported from 20/60 heroin addicts.

Majority of heroin addicts who were treated in Psychiatry Clinic in Tuzla were males, from towns, unemployed, not married, with finished secondary schools, owners of driver licenses, had average parents’ material status. Majority of them had judicial proceedings with imprisonment. Hepatitis ”C” infection was highly presented. Male patients lived more often in primary families; they used more often marijuana and benzodiazepines as secondary drug; they were more often licensed drivers and they were punished more often because of criminality than female patients.