title: Effectiveness of Coping Skills Education Program to Reduce Craving Beliefs among Addicts Referred To Addiction Centers in Hamadan: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the most important factors affecting relapse of addiction is craving beliefs of substance use. The goal of the present study was assessment of the effectiveness of coping skills education program to reduce craving beliefs among opium addicts.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized controlled trial, during September 2011 to August 2012, 70 opium addicted men referred to the Behavioral Disorders and Substance Abuse Research Center in Hamadan, western Iran were assigned to intervention group (receiving coping skills education program) and control groups. The study information was analyzed using SPSS software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regarding craving beliefs for continuing drug use, the two groups had similar scales at the beginning of interventional program, while the level of these beliefs was significantly reduced in the intervention group (P= 0.002), but not in the control group (P= 0.105). Also, a significant correlation was also revealed between taking advantage of the educational program and increase awareness of the signs of relapse in the intervention group (P=0.003) that was not revealed in the control (P= 0.174). On the other hand, executing coping skills education program led to reducecraving beliefs and improve knowledge towards signs of relapse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrate positive impact of coping skills education program after detoxification process on decrease of craving beliefs among opium addicts.
authors.affiliation: 1. Research Center for Behavioral Disorders and Substance Abuse, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences , Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmadpanah
authors.affiliation: 2. Dept. of Health Education, Faculty of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences , Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirzaei Alavijeh
authors.affiliation: 3. Dept. of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Allahverdipour
authors.affiliation: 4. Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences , Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jalilian
authors.affiliation: 1. Research Center for Behavioral Disorders and Substance Abuse, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences , Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haghighi
authors.affiliation: 1. Research Center for Behavioral Disorders and Substance Abuse, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences , Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Afsar
authors.affiliation: 5. Dept. of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Tehran University of Medical Science , Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gharibnavaz
keywords: Addiction; Belief; Coping; Iran; Substance abuse