Amphetamine Type Stimulants Use in the Adult Population of Tehran: Implications for Long Term Rehabilitation

Abstract

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.

Women and Methamphetamine in Iran: A Report From the Most Populous Persian Gulf Country

“…ersian women constitute 10% of the illicit drug users in Iran, but few published studies are available about this population [1]. Although women in Iran use opiates such as opium as traditional drugs, in recent years, Methamphetamine (MA) use disorder has become a common drug problem [2].…”

“…The increased MA availability and its stimulant effects are the reasons for the prevalence of its regular use among female methadone patients. The other reason is primarily related to self-treatment because of depression and or internal and external stressors such as financial problems [1][2][3].…”

“…Recent studies indicate that the high prevalence of MA use disorder remains a health problem among Iranian female methadone patients [10]. MA first appeared in 2005, when illegally imported from Southeast Asia, and recently, MA has been largely manufactured in the Persian context [1]. A study was conducted on female methadone patients in Tehran and reported that all participants are dependent on MA.…”

The Prevalence of Substance Use Disorders Among University Students, a Cross-Sectional Study

“…Substance use disorders (SUD) is a condition in which the use of one or more substances leads to a clinical disorder (1). Nowadays, SUD has become a global problem and most countries in the world are involved with this problem (2).…”

Auricular Acupuncture for Suicidal Ideation in Methadone Patients

“…Illicit drug use remains a health concern in Iran which is accompanied with a number of serious problems such as suicide and mortality (1)(2)(3). In addition to methadone, a number of psychological interventions have been introduced to treat this problem which are not necessarily effective for every patient (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9).…”