A comparative study of the attitude of patients participating in narcotics anonymous program and undergoing methadone maintenance therapy towards substance abuse

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) program includes some meetings to extend the continuity of giving up addiction in patients after detoxification. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of patients undergoing methadone maintenance therapy in comparison with narcotics anonymous towards drug abuse.

In this comparative-analytical cross-sectional study which was accomplished in Semnan, Iran, 90 single males 20 to 40 years old participated in the study as three balanced groups including Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT), NA and a group without past-history of drug use as controls were studied. To measure attitude, the questionnaire "Drug Attitude Questionnaire" was used.

Findings showed that the difference between the three groups was significant in terms of attitude score in general and subscales of effects, risks and consumption, so that in the MMT group it was more and in the NA group it was less unfavorable than the other two groups (P<0.001).

Comparing to MMT, participation in the NA meetings may promote or improve the attitude of the patents towards drug abuse more.