Addiction & Health
Volume:3 Issue: 3, Summer-Autumn 2011

Cost effectiveness, the ratio of relative costs of a program to its desired outcomes, is one of the basic issues in various screening programs performed to detect opium abuse. This study aimed to find the cost-effectiveness of opiates abuse screening through urine analysis. A total number of 64698 individuals were selected and divided into to five distinct groups based on the reason for which they were tested. Cost-effectiveness of opiates abuse screening in each group was calculated by dividing the total cost, including personnel and overhead costs, to the number of detected cases. Finally, the results were compared. The total number of positive cases based on rapid screening assay (RSA) and thin layer chromatography (TLC) was 3460 (5.3%). According to incremental cost-effectiveness analysis, screening program of the group referred by the police was the most cost-effective program with the breakeven point at 2%. According to the obtained results, continuation of drug abuse screening programs is recommended.

The new phenomenon of Internet addiction among teenagers and young adults is one of the modern addictions in industrial and post-industrial societies. The purpose of this research was to predict the Internet addiction based on the personality characteristics of high school students in Kerman. This research was a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population included 538 male and female students in the second grade of high school in Kerman during 2010. The subjects were randomly selected by multistage clustering. Data was collected by two questionnaires including the five-factor Revised NEO Personality Inventory and the Internet dependency questionnaire. The data was analyzed using ANOVA test and multivariable regression analysis. The findings showed a significant relationship between the personality trait of emotional stability and academic fields, i.e. students with higher emotional stability experience less negative emotions when confronting with problems. Therefore, it is less likely for them to alleviate the negative emotions by the extreme and obsessed usage of the Internet. In addition, it appears that the students with high extroversion scores prefer social, face to face interactions with other people to interaction with the virtual world. Conversely, more introvert students avoid interactions with other people due to their shyness. Thus, they communicate with the virtual world more. Three personality traits of loyalty, emotional stability, and extroversion are the most significant predictors of Internet addiction in high school students.

Child maltreatment is a global phenomenon with possible serious long-term consequences. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between childhood maltreatment and opiate dependency in older age. In this study, 212 opiate dependent individuals and 216 control subjects were selected consecutively. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire which consisted of background variables, General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). The questionnaires were anonymously completed by both groups in a private environment after obtaining informed consents. The mean age in the addicts and non-addicts were 31.4 ± 6.7 and 30.8 ± 7.5, respectively (P = 0.367). Moreover, 84.4% of the opiate abusers and 76.9% percent of the control group were male (P = 0.051). The mean score of CTQ in the study and control groups were 47.2 ± 1.0 and 35.8 ± 0.6, respectively (P < 0.001). The frequency of all types of abuse and neglect were higher in the addicted group. While 70.3% of the study group reported at least one type of childhood maltreatment, this figure was as low as 33.8% in the control group (P < 0.001). After adjusting the two groups for differing background characteristics and the GHQ-12 score, emotional abuse (OR = 5.06), physical neglect (OR = 1.96), and sexual abuse (OR = 1.89) were proved to have significant relationships with addiction to opiates. The frequency of all types of childhood maltreatment in the group addicted to opiates was higher than the control group. Emotional abuse, physical neglect, and sexual abuse had significant effects after adjusting other variables.

One of social problem which has affected our society and resulted in problems for different groups of people is drug abuse. This issue indicates a serious psychological, physical and social problem in community. Social skills have positive and successful influences in prevention of substance abuse. This includes the ability to explain events correctly and then appropriate decision making. This study compares decision making styles and attributional styles between addicted and non addicted men to recognize their role in addiction. In this study, 200 addicted and non addicted men were randomly selected. Decision-making style and attributional style questionnaires were used. Data analysis was performed by independent Student’s t-test and Pearson correlation. The study population included 81 addicted and 90 non-addicted men. Addicted and non addicted men were significantly different in rational decision-making style (P < 0.05). Negative relationship was found between rational decision making and optimistic attribution style (r = -0.305, P < 0.01) and direct relationship was found between rational decision making and learned helplessness (r = 0.309, P < 0.01). Our study showed that addicts are less rational in decision making and addicts that developed learned helplessness were less rational and did not have optimistic attribution style. These issues show that addiction institutions and therapists have to pay attention to cognitive factors for addiction prevention.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of smoking behaviors among students in Tehran University, Iran. This is a cross-sectional study on 400 participants of Tehran University. A self-administrated, anonymous questionnaire was used for data gathering. The mean age of students was 21.70 ± 2.73 years, and 92% of them were single. The prevalence of smoking was 27.3% including 35.4% of men and 12.6% of women (p < 0.001). The mean duration of smoking was 4.22 ± 3.05 years. There was a significant association between smoking behaviors among students and their age, gender, type of accommodation, field of study, income status, duration of study, and existence of smoking habits among family members. The prevalence of cigarette smoking among university students is high. The lack of adequate information about smoking related diseases indicates the incapability and inefficiency of educational programs on this issue.

Various studies have been conducted to determine the causes of drug abuse from a psychological perspective. Mental health has also been among the studied factors. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between mental health and general self-efficacy beliefs, coping strategies and locus of control in male drug abusers. This was a correlational descriptive study involving all male drug abusers (4,493 cases) at self-introducing detoxification centers in Kerman during 2010-11. A total number of 354 patients were selected randomly with cluster sampling. Measurement tools were included Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE-10), Coping Responses Inventory (CSI), and Internal–External Locus of Control Scale (I-E). The survey data were analyzed by SPSS using Pearson correlation and stepwise regression. The results of data analyses showed significant correlations between mental health and self-efficacy beliefs (r = -0.626), problem-oriented coping strategy (r = -0.535), emotion-oriented coping strategy (r = 0.573), external locus of control (r = -0.298), and internal locus of control (r = -0.525) (P < 0.01 for all). The results of the regression analysis showed that 58.7 percent of total variance of mental health can be estimated by general self-efficacy beliefs, coping strategies and locus of control. In general, the results showed that increased levels of general self-efficacy, problem-oriented coping strategy and internal locus of control will improve mental health. In contrast, decreased general self-efficacy, emotion-oriented coping strategy and external locus of control would lead to decreased mental health.

Addiction, theft and Prostitution are of the most important problems of contemporary society. On the other hand, self-esteem is one of the most important variables and concepts that might have a meaningful influence on these problems. This study aims to investigate the role of self-esteem in the individuals’ tendency to addiction, theft and prostitution in Kerman city. The statistical population of this study is those individuals who had a record of addiction, theft and prostitution in Kerman prison, and the ordinary individuals. The research sample consisted of 300 individuals, 200 of whom were those with record of addiction, theft and prostitution in the central prison of Kerman city, and 100 ordinary people. Because some of the research questionnaires were not returned, only 283 questionnaires were analyzed. The instrument for determining the respondents’ self-esteem was Eysenck Self-esteem Inventory. The results of the research showed that self-esteem had a meaningful role in the individual’s tendency to addiction, theft and prostitution. on the basis of the research results, it can be concluded that those who are involved in addiction, theft and prostitution have a lower self-esteem compared with the ordinary person. Thus, it is necessary to increase an individual’s self-esteem in order to decrease their tendency to addiction, theft and prostitution.

The rising trend of smoking cigarettes, especially among the youth, has become a great concern in Iranian society. Not only does smoking cigarettes harm one financially, but also it will cause immense damage to the smoker as well as the society. This paper investigated the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and the factors affecting it in young smokers. The research has been conducted on 400 men smokers aged 18-30 studying at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Data was collected through a questionnaire containing information about age, history and amount of smoking, existence of pain and its severity according to the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The subjects were randomly selected while making sure the proportion of subjects from each department was appropriate. The subjects were smokers for more than two years and smoked more than five cigarettes a day. Data was analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the least significant difference (LSD) test. Among all studied subjects, 129 (32.25%) suffered from musculoskeletal pain. Most of the subjects (31.25 %) had pain in their backs. The relationship between the duration of smoking and musculoskeletal pain, as well as that between the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the pain, was direct and significant. However, no significant relationship was found between age and pain. The occurrence of musculoskeletal pain in male students was relatively high. This fact can bring irrecoverable damages to the society and would put its health at risk. It also decreases the socioeconomic improvements.

Substance dependence has recently turned into one of the most important social problems. Clinical findings have shown personality traits, social relations, attitudes and values, along with emotional intelligence factors such as emotions, feelings, emotions management, challenging with problems, problem solving, tolerating psychological pressure, impulse control, self esteem and interpersonal relations, to affect substance dependence. Consequently, understanding the meaning and developing tools for assessment of emotional intelligence are significantly vital in human psychological health. This study aimed to investigate the relation between emotional intelligence and instable personality in substance abusers. The present correlational study selected 80 male addicts through available sampling. The subjects referred to the Therapeutic Community Center, and Kimia, Yas, and Aban Clinics in Yazd, Iran. Their emotional intelligence and personality were evaluated by BarOn questionnaire and Eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ) for adults, respectively. Pearson''s correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlations between different factors in SPSS. There was a negative significant correlation (P = 0.05) between emotional intelligence and instable personality in substance abusers. Problem solving and optimism (P = 0.001), interpersonal relation (P = 0.01), self esteem (P = 0.013), and realities (P = 0.017) had significant effects on instable personality. Based on our findings, emotional intelligence was significantly correlated with instable personality in substance abusers. However, using more accurate tools in order to assess all aspects of personality can give better results.

Catha edulis (khat) is a plant grown commonly in the horn of Africa. The leaves of khat are chewed by the people for its stimulant action. Its young buds and tender leaves are chewed to attain a state of euphoria and stimulation. Khat is an evergreen shrub, which is cultivated as a bush or small tree. The leaves have an aromatic odor. The taste is astringent and slightly sweet. The plant is seedless and hardy, growing in a variety of climates and soils.Many different compounds are found in khat including alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, sterols, glycosides, tannins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. The phenylalkylamines and the cathedulins are the major alkaloids which are structurally related to amphetamine.The major effects of khat include those on the gastro-intestinal system and on the nervous system. Constipation, urine retention and acute cardiovascular effects may be regarded as autonomic (peripheral) nervous system effects; increased alertness, dependence, tolerance and psychiatric symptoms as effects on the central nervous system. The main toxic effects include increased blood pressure, tachycardia, insomnia, anorexia, constipation, general malaise, irritability, migraine and impaired sexual potency in men.Databases such as Pubmed, Medline, Hinary, Google search, Cochrane and Embase were systematically searched for literature on the different aspects of khat to summarize chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology of khat (Catha edulis Forsk).