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.

Introduction: It seems that friendly relationships with the opposite sex among boys and girls have meanings, dimensions, effects, and different outcomes. This article aims to investigate the gender of this phenomenon with emphasis on perceptions and motives, consequences, and modeling. This phenomenon among boys and girls is studied on the students of Kharazmi University. Method: The research approach of present study was qualitative, and research method was based on phenomenology. The participants of the study consisted of two groups of male and female students at B.A. and M.A. levels from Kharazmi University. By applying a purposeful sampling method and snowballing strategy, a deep semi-structured interview was conducted with 15 female students and 15 male students, having theoretical saturation criterion in mind for reaching a sample size. Findings: Male and female students have different experiences and understanding of relationship with the opposite sex, and they enter the relationship with distinct motivations. The most noted characteristics in female students include displaying false self and immersion in romance. In male students, these characteristics include instability, and non-commitment in relationship, lack of real representation, preparation for instability of relationships, and awareness of the relations of absurdity. Discussion: The findings show that girls are more likely to seek emotional and long-term relationships and marriage, on the other hand, the male students are more after pleasurable and sexual relationships. Expended AbstractIntroduction :The friendship of college students with the opposite sex and its increasing growth at the level of the universities of the country has now emerged as a transpersonal phenomenon and has found a family and societal dimensions. It seems that friendly relationships with the opposite sex among boys and girls have different meanings, dimensions, effects, and outcomes. Girls and boys have relationships with one another with different motives -making choice for proper marriage, curiosity and other cognition, and temporary friendships that can be merely an emotional relationship or for meeting the sexual needs. Huge difference between social, religious and family norms with the values and attitudes of the modern world and the everyday experiences of young people have resulted in contradiction among them. On the one hand, instinctive pressures and tensions tend to turn young people toward the opposite sex, and on the other hand, sociocultural and moral considerations have acted as obstacles. This contradictory situation has always been a complicated issue for adolescents and young people, as well as families and authorities, and has created an uncertain status in terms of how to deal with this issue. Since the family is the first small community that a person experiences, his influence and support, up to the age of 15, and more during childhood, are direct and intense. In adolescents and young people who enter environments such as high school and university, t...

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