ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Minerva Psichiatrica 2017 December;58(4):209-15

DOI: 10.23736/S0391-1772.17.01942-2

Copyright © 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Evaluation of consumption pattern of methamphetamine addicts in addiction treatment centers in Southwest Iran

Farkhondeh JAMSHIDI ¹, Elham MOHAMMADI ², Hannaneh DAVOODZADEH ³ ✉

¹ Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology and Social Determinant of Health Research Center, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; ² Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; ³ Department of Toxicology, Islamic Azad University, Shahreza Branch, Shahreza, Isfahan, Iran

BACKGROUND: An important aspect of addiction specified during preventive efforts has been relapsing to drug abuse after release from prison or correctional facility. The aim of this study was to evaluate meta-amphetamine consumption patterns and causes of treatment failure in patients admitted to addiction treatment centers in Ahvaz City in 2016.
METHODS: This study is a descriptive study. 358 cases of addicts were selected from addiction treatment centers in Ahwaz using random sampling and 45 cases consumed methamphetamine. In order to collect data, a check list prepared by Deputy of Treatment in Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences was distributed in these centers and data were recorded. This checklist is generally composed of two parts. The first part contains the user’s demographic information and the second part contains information about the pattern of drug use. All statistical operations were performed using SPSS 22 software.
RESULTS: The average age of patients was 37.24±10.63 years, 97.8% were male, 91.1% of them live in urban area, 66.7% of patients were married, 40% of patients lived at their home, 40% of addicts were employed, 73/3% of patients were not covered by insurance. The mean duration of methamphetamine for everyone was 144/38 months, 91.1% of subjects had smoked the drug, 55.6% of patients used the drug for pleasure, 42.2% had family and psychological problems; 33.3% for curiosity, 28.9% of them had health problems, 66.7% sought a treatment for mental effects, 62.2% had physical effects of substance abuse, 44.4% had financial problems, 33.3% felt the pressure from the people, 28.9% were tired of the substance, 7.6% had legal problems related to their marriage.
CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that one of the most back to substance use after a period of leave has been a temptation for consumers. The results of this study indicate lower age of first use, the spread of methamphetamine use and relapse among consumers.

KEY WORDS: Methamphetamine - Behavior, addictive - Substance-related disorders