title: Predictors of initiation, continuation and transition of drug use in south-eastern Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify factors associated with the initiation continuation, transition and cessation of substance abuse in Zahedan, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective study reviewed the profile of 536 addicts admitted to both public and private outpatient treatment centres in the study area. For each individual, data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics, initiation and patterns of drug abuse and any changes in the patterns. To analyze the data, Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square, Log-rank test, Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of the first drug abuse was 20 (95% CI: 19.7 - 20.3) years with significant heterogeneity by gender and marital status (p < 0.001). The age of the first drug use and maritaI status were significant factors for the continuation of drug use (p < 0.001). The study also indicated that male gender, single life, low level of education, early onset of substance use and type of first used drug act as facilitators for transition to new drugs (p < 0.05). Besides, the present study revealed the significant effect of marital status, education and type of first used drug on personal decisions towards drug use cessation (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A number of predictive factors of substance abuse identified in the study are of utmost important for any preventive effort.
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ansari-Moghaddam
authors.forename: Rahele Hashemi
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Habybabady
authors.forename: Mansoor
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shakiba
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mirzaei
authors.forename: Farkhondeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shahriyari
authors.forename: Saideh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aghaei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012847:Single Person; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*