Objective: The role of needle and syringe sharing behavior of injection drug users (IDUs) in spreading of blood-borne infections -specially HIV/AIDS -is well known. However, very little is known in this regard from Iran. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence and associates of needle and syringe sharing among Iranian IDUs. Methods:In a secondary analysis of a sample of drug dependents who were sampled from medical centers, prisons and streets of the capitals of 29 provinces in the Iran in 2007, 2091 male IDUs entered. Socio-demographic data, drug use data and high risk behaviors entered to a logistic regression to determine independent predictors of lifetime needle and syringe sharing.Results: 749(35.8%) reported lifetime experience of needle and syringe sharing. The likelihood of lifetime needle and syringe sharing was increased by female gender, being jobless, having illegal income, drug use by family members, pleasure/enjoyment as causes of first injection, first injection in roofless and roofed public places, usual injection at groin, usual injection at scrotum, lifetime experience of nonfatal overdose, and history of arrest in past year and was decreased by being alone at most injections. Conclusion:However this data has been extracted from cross-sectional design and we can not conclude causation, some of the introduced variables with association with needle and syringe sharing may be used in HIV prevention programs which target reducing syringe sharing among IDUs.

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Given the large number of HIV-positive cases among IDUs and considering that injection drug use is the main spreading factor for HIV, MMT would play a major role in controlling the HIV epidemic through reduction of heroin injection and the risk behaviors related to it. High inflation rate, lack of interorganization coordination, budget limitation, and no follow-up were the most important limitations of this study.

Objectives: Dependence on Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS) is a current health concern in Iran. The present study aimed to investigate the most needed treatment and rehabilitation services that a group of ATS-dependent patients in Tehran reported. Methods:The current study is part of the first cross-sectional survey of the prevalence of ATS dependence in Tehran. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data. Overall, 6027 men and women in the general adult population of Tehran were interviewed. Overall, 261 participants were ATS-dependent. Of them, 35 participants were interviewed in this qualitative study. Atlas-ti software was used for qualitative data analysis in compliance with the Grounded Theory of Strauss and Corbin. Results:The mean age of the participants was 32 (SD=11) years (age range: 18-60 years). The mean year of the schooling was 8 (SD=9). The content analysis of interviews showed a series of needs including rehabilitation not only treatment, brief psychosocial treatments, family education and engagement in treatment and rehabilitation as well as after treatment services such as case management to help them to re-integrate into society respectively. Discussion:The study results indicated that ATS dependence demands a combination of treatment and rehabilitation services. This concern demands long-term planning, designing and training, which should be considered by health service providers. Further studies are needed to determine which treatment or rehabilitation programme may work best for this group of drug-dependent people.

Background: Dependence on amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) is a health concern in Iran (i.e. the most populated Persian Gulf country). However, there are no literature reports on ATS dependence in the community. Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of ATS-dependence, the reasons associated with this problem and the treatment barriers among a group of adults in 22 districts of Tehran. Materials and Methods: A rapid situation assessment was conducted. A mixed quantitative-qualitative methodology was applied. The study was conducted between September 2009 and January 2010. A researcher-made checklist was designed to collect data. The SPSS version 23 and Atlas-ti qualitative software were used for data analyses. Results: In total, 6027 individuals were randomly recruited and interviewed. Among them, 261 participants were ATS-dependent. A desire to increase performance and reduce psychiatric problems, beauty-related issues and a desire to stop opiate use were the main reasons for the illegal use of ATS. Poor knowledge of ATS treatment services in the community, poor knowledge of the side effects of the illegal use of ATS and stigma were the main current treatment barriers. Amphetamine-Type Stimulants dependence was associated with unemployment (adjusted OR = 3.1 CI 95% 1.0 -4.6), lack of leisure activities (OR = 2.9 CI 95% 1.0 -5.3), curiosity (OR = 3.2 CI 95% 2.1 -5.6) and increasing sexual performance (OR = 2.6 CI 95% 2.3 -5.4). Conclusions:The study results indicated that ATS-dependence was present among the study participants. This issue necessitates treatment, which should be considered by health policy makers. Prevention programs should be provided on the large scale in the Persian community to prevent ATS use and dependence.