فصلنامه اعتیاد پژوهی
پیاپی 36 (زمستان 1394)

This study aimed to investigate the relationship of irrational beliefs and academic procrastination with attitudes towards drug abuse in students.
This was a correlational that was carried out on a sample of 254 senior high school students in Kermanshah. Students were selected via random cluster sampling and filled in Jones Irrational Beliefs Test (1968), Solomon & Rothblum's Academic Procrastination (1984) and Rahmati’s Attitude to Drug Use (2001).
The results showed that irrational beliefs and procrastination were positively correlated with attitudes towards drug use. In addition, regression analysis showed that irrational beliefs and academic procrastination could account for the total of 38.9 percent of variance pertaining to attitudes towards drug use.
It can be argued that academic procrastination and irrational beliefs underlie addiction; therefore, they should be considered in the treatment and prevention of addiction.

Methadone maintenance treatment is one of the most common methods of substance abuse treatment. There is conflicting evidence of the effect of methadone on behavior and cognition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of methadone maintenance treatment on executive functions.
A quasi-experimental research design along with pretest and posttest stages was used for the conduct of this study. A variety of neurological tests, such as Stroop Test, Wisconsin Test, Continuous Performance Test, Verbal Fluency Test, Digit Span Test, and Go/No-Go Test were used to evaluate executive functions.
The results showed that methadone maintenance treatment did not lead to a significant difference in Wisconsin test, Continuous Performance Test, Verbal Fluency Test, Digit Span Test, and Go/No-Go Test (P>.05). However, it brought about a significant difference in the indexes of Stroop test (PDiscussion and Although methadone treatment does not lead to the improvement of cognitive functions, it exerts no detrimental effect on cognitive functions, as well. Methadone treatment can be used when it is not aimed to improve substance users’ cognitive functions.

This paper is an attempt to explain the relationship between social factors and tendency to addiction and determine the relationship of this tendency with social insecurity. In addition, the contribution of each of the social factors that lead to social insecurity is determined.
The current research method is descriptive. At first the relationship between the research indices (family, neighborhood, unemployment, etc.) and tendency to addiction was described. Then, the relation of this tendency with social insecurity has been expressed. In the following, the contribution of each of these factors in the estimation of social insecurity has been determined.
The results showed that the indices under study are significantly correlated with tendency towards addiction and social insecurity. The most important predictors of social insecurity were respectively as follows: other factors (extent of border with Pakistan and Afghanistan, international and regional trafficking activities, the booming market of drugs, etc.), anomic situation, industrialization, family, friends and peers, access to drugs, unemployment, and finally neighborhood.
Such variables as family, neighborhood, friends and peers, anomic situation, access to drugs, industrialization, and unemployment play a significant role in social security.

This study aimed to examine the effect of drug use on the length of hospitalization, impaired consciousness, levels of motor and cognitive independence in patients with traumatic brain injury.
A total of 185 patients with traumatic brain injury in the emergency, neurosurgery ward and ICU of Poursina Hospital was selected via purposive sampling. These participants who were within the age group 37.46 ± 17.42 years were divided into two groups, i.e. drug users (n = 35) and non-users (n = 150). Then, Demographic and Hospital Inventory and Functional Independence Measure were used for data collection purposes.
The results showed that the two groups of patients with or without drug use were significantly different from each other in terms of length of hospitalization in neurosurgery ward, total duration of hospital stay, and rates of cognitive independence (P .05). The results also showed that drug using patients experience higher states of impaired consciousness compared to the other group (P This study indicated the effect of drug use on the increased length of hospitalization, the intensification of impaired consciousness, and disturbance of cognitive independence in traumatic brain injury patients. The clinical implications of this study are discussed.

This study was an attempt to compare the effectiveness of group cognitive-behavioral therapy and logotherapy therapy in Reducing Depression and Increasing Life Expectancy in Drug Addicts.
This was an experimental study along with pretest/posttest and control group. All the addicts referring to one of the methadone addiction treatment centers in Qorveh City (Naikoo Salamat Center) in 2013 constituted the population of the study. Initially, 60 students were selected by simple random sampling. Then, 30 participants were randomly divided into two experimental groups and one control group based on their scores on Beck Depression Inventory and Snyder’s Life Expectancy Test. One of the experimental groups received 10 logotherapy sessions and the second experimental group received 13 sessions of group cognitive-behavioral therapy. This is so while the control group received no intervention.
The results showed that there was not any significant difference between group cognitive behavioral therapy and logotherapy in reducing depression. However, group cognitive behavioral therapy was found to be more effective in increased life expectancy than logotherapy.
The results contain practical implications.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of group cognitive-behavioral therapy on aggression among addicts.
A quasi-experimental design along with pre-posttest stages, control group, and follow-up was employed for the conduct of this study. The number of 24 addicts referring to rehabilitation clinics in Tehran was selected as the sample size of this study via convenience sampling method in accordance with the inclusion criteria. These participants were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. In this study, Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire was used for data collection purposes.
Data analysis showed that group cognitive-behavioral therapy reduces verbal and physical aggression, anger, and hostility in addicted people. However, this therapy only led to the reduction of verbal aggression, anger, and hostility in addicted people.
Since aggression has a high comorbidity with substance abuse, this factor can be as an obstacle to withdrawal. Therefore, it must be considered in addiction treatment.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship of cognitive emotion regulation, self-efficacy, impulsiveness, and social skills with substance abuse among students.
This study was a correlational one falling into the category of descriptive designs. A total of 400 senior high school students of Shiraz (first and second grades) in the academic year 2011-12 were selected by cluster sampling method as the participants of the study. These participants responded to the scales pertaining to cognitive-emotion regulation, self-efficacy, impulsiveness, social skills, and substance abuse list (researcher made).
The results showed that impulsiveness and low levels social skills play a significant role in predicting substance abuse.
The results indicated that behavioral impulsiveness, low levels of self-efficacy, lack of cognitive emotion regulation, absence of thinking and planning in responsibilities, and low levels of social skills are effective in leading students to substance abuse.

Addiction to narcotic drugs is associated with cardiovascular diseases; and increased levels of biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein and fibrinogen are independently correlated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of 8 weeks of resistance training on C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels in drug addicted men.
In this quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest, the number of 30 male addicts was randomly divided into resistance training group (n = 15) and non-sports control group (n = 15). Then, resistance training was conducted within two months, four days a week, and 50 to 60 minutes a day. The serum levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, body compositions, and metabolic parameters were evaluated before and after the training period.
After the passage of 8 weeks of resistance training, skeletal muscle strength significantly increased (P Short-term resistance training program improves muscle mass and strength in the male addicts after drug abstinence and this improvement is associated with reduced levels of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen.

This study examines the social and cultural structure of drug offenses in Ahwaz municipal areas using GIS.
The population of the study consisted of drug offenders in Correction and Rehabilitation Center of Ahwaz in 2013. Statistical tests and graphs, including Mean Center test, Standard Deviation Ellipse, Kernel Density Estimation were used in this study.
The most important centers of drug crime are in the same border with informal settlement areas, such as Kut Abdullah, Lashkar Abad, and Khashayar (urban areas 5 and 6 of Ahwaz city). In addition, there is a direct relationship between illiteracy rate & population density and crime rate.
Discussion and Spatial analysis of geographic crime and punishment can act as a means for security and safety policy making in the fight against drugs.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of group dialectical behavior therapy in the improvement of distress tolerance and emotion regulation among substance abusers.
A quasi-experimental study along with pretest-posttest and control group was used for the conduct of this study. The population of the study consisted of all addicts referring to addiction treatment center of Zahedshahr (Omid Center) in summer 2012. From among this population, the number of 28 addicts was selected via convenience sampling as the participants of the study and was randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. The participants responded to Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and Distress Tolerance Scale as pretest, posttest, and follow-up test. The experimental group received group dialectical behavior therapy for 20 one-hour sessions whereas the control group received only Naltrexone drug.
The results showed that dialectical behavior therapy was effective in increasing distress tolerance and emotion regulation in substance abusers.
Dialectical behavior therapy training can improve distress tolerance and emotion regulation, which could be the main reason for the continued use of drugs.