Age of Onset of Methamphetamine Consumption among the Iranian Youth Aged 19-29: A Cross-sectional Study

Around the world, one of the main concerns and risky behaviors among youths ismethamphetamine consumption. Since the age of onset of methamphetamine use is decreasing, therefore, itis important to identify the effective factors on the age of onset of methamphetamine consumption. In thepresent study, factors affecting the age of onset of methamphetamine consumption was studied in Iranianyouths aged 19-29 years.

In this cross-sectional nationwide study, individuals aged 19-29 years were selected throughmultistage cluster sampling and convenience sampling method from 13 provinces in Iran. People completedthe questionnaire pertaining to knowledge, attitude, and history of methamphetamine consumption. In orderto investigate the factors effective on the age of onset of methamphetamine consumption, we used theWeibull parametric model for data with doubly censored characteristic.

3246 people participated in this study, half of whom were men and mostly single (60.4%),university student or graduate (50.2%), and unemployed (58.1%). Nearly 6% of participants have ever usedmethamphetamine. Mean and standard deviation (SD) of age of onset of methamphetamine use was20.3 ± 3.3 years. Data analysis indicated that the variables of gender, marital status, education, knowing amethamphetamine consumer, knowing an ecstasy consumer, ecstasy consumption, illegitimate sex,attitude towards methamphetamine, and age group were the factors affecting the age of onset ofmethamphetamine consumption.

The results can contribute to the policy-makers to take the necessary interventions on the factorsaffecting the age of onset of methamphetamine consumption to reduce the methamphetamine consumption,especially in the critical young ages.