A Survey on Reasons for Re-addiction to Metamphetamine amongAddicts Referred to Addiction Treatment Centers in Urmia, Iran

Addiction is such a widespread problem that requires a comprehensive action conducted by a range of researchers and specialists in different fields. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is sometimes accompanied with a record of quitting, but it is seen that addicts turn into addiction. Identifying its factors can help to prevent this problem. Since a detailed study about the onset of addiction based on cultural and economic factors in Urmia, was not carried out, the present study was performed.

A number of 400 addicts referred to addiction treatment centers in Urmia, were included in a descriptive-analylical study carried out using a demographic and researcher made questionnaire, by multistage cluster sampling metod, 46% of them had at least one record of quitting and the rest were referred for the first time. Scientific validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by using apparent validity and the content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by experts and the members of the scientific board and its reliability was confirmed by a test of internal compatibility.

The study showed that encouragement of friends, spending time with them and not being accepted by them after quitting drugs, were the most important causes of tendency to re-addiction in the subjects referred to addiction treatment centers in Urmia. A significant relationship between their tendency and the level of literacy and cigarette smoking of their father has been observed, but other demographic factors does not have significant effect on this issue (p>0.05).

On the basis of the results of this study, taking legal measures to increase awareness in this regard, reducing the factors enticing the youth to drug addiction and re-addiction and establishing and enhancing the role of advice giving centers, can be useful in reducing these problems.