Substance Use among Iranian Nephrologic Patients

Abstract

Aims: This study assessed the prevalence of substance use among Iranian patients with nephrologic disease (chronic renal failure) who were admitted in different nephrologic wards at Shiraz general hospitals. Design: Cross-sectional survey using structured interview and also using DSM-IV criteria for substance dependency. Setting: General hospitals in Shiraz city (patients with nephrologic disease admitted in different nephrologic wards). Participants: 64 (32 men and 32 women) patients selected randomly. Findings: Data were gathered by a structured interview from 64 patients admitted in nephrologic wards of general hospitals in 2001. The mean age was 49.39 years (SD = 19.62) ranging from 18 to 80 years. 26 (40.6%) of the subjects (65.6% of the men and 15.6% of the women) reported the use of substance(s) once or more in their lives. The majority, 23 (35.9%) used tobacco, 9 (14.1%) used opium and 2 (3.1%) used alcohol. None had used cannabis, heroin, cocaine or LSD. 20 (31.3%) of the subjects (50% of the men and 12.5% of the women) were currently substance dependent, using DSM-IV criteria. The majority, 18 (28.1%) were nicotine dependent, and 6 (9.4%) were opium dependent. There was a nonsignificant relationship between income or occupation or education and prevalence of substance use. The reported reasons for initial use of substance(s), in order of frequency, were enjoyment, modeling and release of tension, and also for current users were, habit, enjoyment and need. Conclusions: Substance use especially cigarettes, opium and alcohol was found to be high among patients. There was no report of cannabis, heroin, cocaine or LSD use. Cultural attitudes toward substance use were found to affect the type and amount of use. These findings can be considered when planning preventive or therapeutic programs.

Prevalence of Substance Abuse/Alcohol Consumption and their Predictors among Patients Admitted in Operating Rooms of a General Educational Hospital, Tehran, Iran

“…However, the number of women in this study was more than twice that of men. In line with this study, several surveys in Iran and the world documented this pattern of gender differences among different study populations over the years 2,6,18,20 . This represents a significant prevalence of substance abuse, alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking among the studied men.…”

“…However, male sex was a significant predictor of substance abuse/alcohol consumption. This situation was the same in most research conducted on the subject of addiction in Iran and the world 18,20,29,30 . Cultural constructs, including gender socialization (i.e., the learning of and conformity to appropriate masculine and feminine traits) and stratification (e.g., unequal economic, educational, and social opportunities) can explain genderspecific etiological differences in substance and alcohol consumption 31 .…”

“…While this is the case, general hospitals are appropriate places for diagnosis and treatment of substances/alcohol abuse as well as necessary interventions to manage related complications 17 . A study of the patients suffering from chronic kidney failure who were admitted in Shiraz (a city in Iran) General Hospitals demonstrated a 14.1% opium abuse followed by tobacco (25.9%) and alcohol (3.1%) 18 . Another study of patients with heart diseases reported a 36.5% tobacco, 9% opium and 8% alcohol abuse 19 .…”

“…A study of the patients suffering from chronic kidney failure who were admitted in Shiraz (a city in Iran) General Hospitals demonstrated a 14.1% opium abuse followed by tobacco (25.9%) and alcohol (3.1%) 18 . Another study of patients with heart diseases reported a 36.5% tobacco, 9% opium and 8% alcohol abuse 19 . In addition, in a cross-sectional study in Urmia University of Medical Sciences, 2.5% Iranian orthopedic inpatients were opium/opioid users 20 .…”

“…In addition, in a cross-sectional study in Urmia University of Medical Sciences, 2.5% Iranian orthopedic inpatients were opium/opioid users 20 . Another study among 64 Iranian nephrologic patients who were admitted at Shiraz general hospitals reported that 31.3% of the subjects were substance, 28.1% nicotine and, 9.4% opium dependent 18 . It is not sufficient up to date research on the prevalence of substance abuse and alcohol drinking in Iranian general hospitals and few research were done, only focused on patients with a particular disease or patients hospitalized in a special ward of a hospital.…”