title: Stigma and its determinants among male drug dependents receiving methadone maintenance treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The stigma attached to substance use is considered as a barrier to treatment, resulting in continued dependence and harmful consequences for the health of drug abusers and society.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the current study, stigma and its relation with patient characteristics and secrecy was examined in people who were in treatment of drug dependency. Participants were 144 patients from two referral methadone treatment centers who completed a survey containing questionnaires about stigma, secrecy and other measures of drug use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients reported high levels of self-stigma and moderate levels of stigma-related rejection and perceived stigma as well as commonly using secrecy, as a way of coping. More experiencing of self -stigma was associated with unemployment, positive history of IV drug use, incarceration and heroin consumption, compared to opium use. IV drug users and unemployed persons also reported more contacts with stigma- related rejection. No association was found between stigma and previous history of treatment for substance abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate stigma in individuals who are in the treatment for substance dependence and highlight the need for more studies to clarify all aspects of drug use stigma.
authors: Department of psychiatry, Baharloo Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Farnaz
authors: F
authors: Etesam
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors: Fatemeh
authors: F
authors: Assarian
authors: Research Development Center, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Hamed
authors: H
authors: Hosseini
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors: Fatemeh Sadat
authors: FS
authors: Ghoreishi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000523:psychology*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000523:psychology*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009892:Opium; D012929:Psychological Distance; D057545:Social Stigma; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009892:Opium; D008691:Methadone