Meta-analysis of the reasons for the increase in the tendency of adolescents and young people to designer and traditional drugs (case study: Urmia city)

This research aims to identify the factors contributing to the increased inclination of teenagers and young people toward designer and traditional drugs through a meta-analytical approach. The study is descriptive in purpose, applied in terms of its practical focus, and quantitative in data type. The research population includes studies published in scientific journals and prestigious conferences over the past 10 years (2011–2022) related to the causes of increased drug use among teenagers and young people, with adequate sample sizes. Nineteen studies meeting methodological criteria were selected for analysis. A meta-analysis checklist was used as the research tool. After summarizing the findings from the selected studies, effect sizes were calculated manually and interpreted based on a combined meta-analysis approach and Cohen’s effect size scale. The key studies were categorized into sociological and psychological approaches. Among the psychological factors, "temptation to consume" and "pleasure-seeking" were prominent, while sociological factors such as "drug availability," "influence of friends and peers," "membership in delinquent subcultures," and "unemployment and economic challenges" showed the highest effect sizes. The results indicate that the average effect size (Cohen's d) of psychological and sociological factors on drug use inclination is 0.40 and 0.69, respectively. These findings demonstrate that sociological factors have a particularly strong influence on drug use tendencies. This suggests that any program aimed at combating drug use should emphasize these environmental and social variables, integrating them into its framework.