THE EFFECTS OF METHAMPHETAMINE ON THE PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTERS IN TEHRAN, 1391 Print

This study investigated the effects of methamphetamine (MA) on the patients admitted to addiction treatment centers in Tehran. The study tries to determine the situation of MA use on the patients، and its effects on their family and community. The population of the study was the patients who were being treated for substance abuse in Tehran. Multi-stage cluster sampling was conducted to collect the data. 100 questionnaires were equally distributed between the two drug treatment centers، and then the collected data from the questionnaires were analyzed. Majority of MA consumers (including women) were very young. The educational status of most patients admitted to addiction treatment centers was low. Concerning their education، sixty four percent of them were under high school، and 24% were high school graduates. All of the participants had a concomitant use of at least an opiate substance. The results showed an increase of drug abuse among the married subjects، so that 54 % of MA abusers were married. The divorce rate was increasing among the subjects، and most of them has severe family dispute. The age of starting to substance abuse was decreasing، while the amount and type of MA abuse was increasing among the subjects. Incidence of violence، family disputes، and divorce has interactive effects on MA abuse، and /or it can be the result of MA abuse. The effects of available activities concerning MA abuse are very weak.