Comparison of Personality Types and Alexithymia between Opiates Dependents, Concurrent Opiates and Methamphetamine Users and Control Group Referred to Drug Abuse Treatment Centers in Kerman City in 2020

This study was conducted to compare the personality type and alexithymia between opiates dependents, concurrent opiates and methamphetamine users and control groups presenting to drug abuse treatment centers in Kerman in 2020.

In this cross-sectional analytical study, three groups with a sample size of 130 participants were recruited through convenience sampling from six drug abuse treatment centers (two governmental and four private centers) in Kerman, 2020. The first group comprised opiates-only users. The second group included concurrent opiates and methamphetamine users. The third group included never-drug users. The data were collected using three questionnaires including a demographic questionnaire, the Friedman and Rosenman personality types questionnaire and Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Comparison of variables between the three groups was done using multivariable multinomial logistic regression.

The research outcomes indicated a higher chance of type A personality in the opiates with methamphetamine dependents (adjusted odds ratio (AOR):1.97; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 3.64, 1.06) compared to the control group. The chance of severe alexithymia was higher among opiates dependents (AOR: 1.86; 95% CI: 3.27, 1.06) and concurrent opiates and methamphetamine users (AOR: 2.7; 95% CI: 4.83, 1.51) compared to the control group. The concurrent opiates and methamphetamine users were more likely to be male (AOR: 3.1; 95% CI: 6.25, 1.53), single (AOR: 2.6; 95% CI: 4.72, 1.43) and unemployed (AOR: 4.01; 95% CI: 9.09, 1.77) compared to the control group. Compared to the control group, the opiates dependents (AOR: 4.14; 95% CI: 7.71, 2.22) and the opiates with methamphetamine dependents (AOR: 1.95; 95% CI: 3.69, 1.03) were more likely to have education levels lower than secondary school diploma.

Considering the relationship between the personality type and alexithymia with opiates and methamphetamine use, early screening, continuous care, and necessary trainings are required to prevent drug dependency in high-risk people, especially at younger ages.