Motivations for use of opiates among addicts seeking treatment in Shiraz.
This study assessed the characteristics and motivation for substance use among addicts referred to the Shiraz Self-identified Center, an out-patient treatment facility. Data were gathered by a semistructured interview from 306 consecutive addicts seeking treatment and referred from July to September, 1998. Their mean age was 37 yr., and the majority (73.9%) were married. Of these addicts, 28.4% were workers, 13.4% drivers, and 11.4% were unemployed. Modeling or social pressure (43.1%) was identified as the first and enjoyment (fun) was the second most common reason given for opiate use. The majority (97.1%) used opium and 71.9% used alcohol; however, only 2.6% reported current use of alcohol. Other subjects were current users of cigarettes (72.2%), opium (67%), heroin (35%), hashish (2%), hallucinogens (0.3%), and cocaine (0.3%). The most common reason given for currently using opiates was habit (56.5%). About 36% of the subjects reported that they had frequently used opiates for more than a decade. These findings are quite different from those carried out in the West, although there is some overlap. Cultural attitudes toward drug use likely affect the types and amount of use.
P.O. Box 71345-1416, Department of Psychiatry, Hafez Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. aghanizadeh@hotmail.com
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation