Effect of a Family-Centered Problem Solving Education Method on Self-Esteem in Drug-Users

Drug addiction is amongst c urrent crisis of the world including nuclear crisis, environmental degradation, poverty, and social crisis. Drug addiction is a major health problem in many countries worldwide. One of the most common characteristics of addicted individuals is low self-esteem. Self-esteem increases flexibility and reinforces progression of positive attitudes toward self-sufficiency. There are limited studies on non-medical treatment strategies for drug-users. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of a family-centered problem solving education on self-esteem of drug-users. This study had a pretest-post test experimental design. First, validity and reliability (r=0.85) of the self-esteem Cooper-Smith questionnaire was confirmed. After completing the consent forms by the participant (n=60), they were randomly assigned into two equal experimental and control groups. At baseline, questionnaires were completed. The education was performed using family-centered problem solving teaching method in a two months period within eight 45-minute sessions in the intervention group. The Cooper smith self-esteem questionnaire was completed at the follow up. The paired t-test showed that family-centered problem solving education method led to a significant increase (p=0.001) on the self-esteem scores in the intervention group. Although self-esteem scores of the control group increased significantly either after two months, the increase was 4.5 times more in the intervention group. To sum up, using the family-centered problem solving education method with family centered approach could improve the process of addiction treatment in addiction clinics.