Estimation of the Population of Drug Abusers Using the Network Expansion Method for Assessment of the Community in the Golhesar Village, Tehran

Nowadays, prioritizing problems and distribution of resources is determined according to the basic needs of the individuals in the population. Based on the study done by researchers in Tehran University of Medical Sciences School of Public Health in Golhesar Village, Tehran, taking action about "drug abuse" was ranked by the community as the first priority. Therefore, the present study aimed to estimate the size of the population of drug abusers using the network expansion method.
This cross-sectional study was conducted on a purposive sample of 320 persons 15-65 years old. The study included two parts: 1. estimation of the social network based on 32 population subgroups using the frequency of network expansion approach; 2. estimation of the size of the hidden population. The relevant correction coefficients were used for adjusting errors usually observed in this method.
The mean of the social network was 160.79±16.68) 95% CIs: 128.78-194.30.(The frequencies of cigarette smoking, hookah smoking, alcohol consumption, opium use, meth use, crack use, heroin use, injecting drugs and ecstasy were 103.43, 88.25, 96.9, 76.46, 69.37, 30.03, 20.48, 7.36, and 4.23 per 1000; respectively. The percentage of drug abusers was higher among men.
As compared to results of previous reports, the size of drug abuser population in Golhesar Village is currently higher. In order to solve this problem an appropriate action plan should be implemented by the planners and policy-makers in partnership with community members.