Application of Fuzzy DEMATEL technique to design a causal-disability decision-making model of the factors influencing youth's tendency to drugs

Fuzzy DEMATEL technique is used to identify and reduce complexity in modeling. The current research was conducted with the aim of designing the fuzzy DEMATEL technique in R software to increase the accuracy and ease of use of this method for future researchers using a practical example.

The research method is descriptive-survey in terms of applied purpose and in terms of data collection. Six effective factors were identified by Delphi method and a special fuzzy DEMATEL questionnaire was used to compare these factors. Using snowball sampling method, 8 experts were selected to evaluate the effective factors.

After extracting the final results of the fuzzy DEMATEL model, six influential factors in the tendency of young people to drugs were separated into cause and effect factors. Two factors of education and place of residence were selected as causal factors and four factors of family environment, communication with addicted friends and acquaintances, mental health problems and loneliness were selected as factors of disability.

In order to reduce the tendency of young people to use drugs, it is suggested that the necessary guidelines and policies be considered in accordance with the causes and effects.