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Evaluation of Drug and Alcohol Abuse in People Aged 15 Years and Older in Iran



Noorbala AA1 ; Saljoughian A2 ; Bagheri Yazdi SA3 ; Faghihzadeh E4 ; Farahzadi MH5 ; Kamali K6 ; Faghihzadeh S7 ; Hajebi A8 ; Akhondzadeh S9 ; Mousavi MT10
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Psychosomatic Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Psychosomatic Fellowship, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Biostatistics, Paramedical School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Research Center of Addiction and Behavioral Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
  7. 7. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
  8. 8. Research Center for Addiction and Risky Behaviors (ReCARB), Psychiatric Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  9. 9. Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  10. 10. Department of Sociology, University of Welfare, Tehran, Iran

Source: Iranian Journal of Public Health Published:2020

Abstract

Background: Drug addiction is known as one of the health, medical and social problems of the present cen-tury. Beyond the harmful physical and mental consequences for addicts, drug abuse can cause serious social problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate drug and alcohol abuse in individuals aged 15 yr and over in Iran in 2015. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was done on individuals aged 15 yr and older who lived in urban and rural areas of Iran. Overall, 36,600 individuals were selected by systematic and cluster random sampling. The postal code was used to access the samples in 31 provinces of Iran. In each province 1200 individuals (50% men, 50% women) were evaluated. The used instrument was the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), and data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: The results showed 4.6% of individuals used Opium and its derivatives, 0.4% used Cannabis, 0.4% used Amphetamine stimulants, 6.1% used Sedative drugs, and 2.6% used Alcoholic beverages on a regular basis. Within the last 12 months, 3.9% of individuals used Opium and its derivatives, 0.4% used Cannabis, 0.3% used Amphetamine stimulants, 5.8% used Sedative drugs, and 1.9% used Alcoholic beverages. With the exception of Sedatives drugs men used more drugs than women and residents of rural areas used more opium and its derivatives than other groups of drugs. Based on the provincial distribution, Kerman and Qom used the highest and lowest prevalence percentage of Opium and its derivatives respectively. Conclusion: Overall, 2340000 individuals were addicts used Opium and its derivatives in 2015, therefore, medical and health officials should take all necessary measures to deal with these serious social problems. © 2020, Iranian Journal of Public Health. All rights reserved.
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