نشریه بررسی مسائل اجتماعی ایران
سال یکم شماره 4 (زمستان 1389)

Homelessness is a relatively new phenomenon in Iran and has attracted public attention only in recent years. This article benefits from a so-called “pathway to homelessness” approach to study the relationship between drug abuse and social exclusion in Tehran. For the purpose of the study, 32 homeless men were interviewed. The whole process of investigation was organized utilizing grounded theory; categories were achieved using the constant comparison method. Three important risk factors for homelessness were identified and the connection between homelessness and different types of social exclusion experienced by the respondents was analyzed. At the end, Some suggestions has been made to improve the situation in the country.

Despite major shifts of thinking about addiction among scholars and public managers, a considerable part of the society still preceives addiction as a crime rather than a sickness. Utilizing the medicalization of deviance theory, this article assesses public opinions about addiction and its treatment. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 323 Tehran residents. Findings indicate that 25 percent of respondents are in complete agreement with a patient-oriented attitude toward addiction. The rise of this attitude is generally attributed to socioeconomic development, growth of modern ways of thinking, enhancement of knowledge and education, and positive approaches toward civil society organizations working with addicts.

This article examies norms faciliating drug abuse among 5 ethnic subcultures across 10 Iranian provinces. Qualitative methodologies, including interviews, observation, and examination of docuemnts and oral literature, are utilized. Three areas of focus are considered: 1) medical and treatment suggestions, 2) folk beliefs and sayings, and 3) special rites. All studied subcultures are found to exhibit facilitating nomrs in the these three areas. This article examies norms faciliating drug abuse among 5 ethnic subcultures across 10 Iranian provinces. Qualitative methodologies, including interviews, observation, and examination of docuemnts and oral literature, are utilized. Three areas of focus are considered: 1) medical and treatment suggestions, 2) folk beliefs and sayings, and 3) special rites. All studied subcultures are found to exhibit facilitating nomrs in the these three areas.

This study compares women whose husbands are addicted with women whose husbands are not addicted in terms of personality characteristics, emotional feelings, and relationship with spouse. A total of 400 women (200 addicted-husband and 200 non-addicted-husband women) were studied. Women with addicted husbands gained significantly lower scores in responsibility and emotional stability than the control group. However, the difference between the two groups in extraversion, consistency, and openness to experience was not significant. Mistrust, humiliation and failure, embarrassment and shame, fear and anxiety, insecurity, hopelessness and aggression were more prevalent among women with addicted husbands than women with non-addicted husbands.

This article focuses on the social causes of smoking among women and girls over 13 years of age in Tehran. A survey questionnaire was administered to 347 women and girls in the city. Results indicate that six independent variables – social reaction, agency, norm-breaking, freedom from stress, smoking of husband and risk – simultaneously affect hidden consumption of cigarettes. The number of cigarettes consumed is related to shameful reaction and traditionalism.A survey questionnaire was administered to 347 women and girls in the city. Results indicate that six independent variables – social reaction, agency, norm-breaking, freedom from stress, smoking of husband and risk – simultaneously affect hidden consumption of cigarettes. The number of cigarettes consumed is related to shameful reaction and traditionalism.

The social structure of addiction has changed in Iran in the past decades. This article focuses on how and in what ways this change has occurred. It utilizes analytical realism and the voluntaristic theory of action advanced by Parsons in his earlier work. A secondary analysis of macro-national research results is preformed to describe the scale, patterns, and structure of addiction in Iran. Subjective aspects are also probed.The social structure of addiction has changed in Iran in the past decades. This article focuses on how and in what ways this change has occurred. It utilizes analytical realism and the voluntaristic theory of action advanced by Parsons in his earlier work. A secondary analysis of macro-national research results is preformed to describe the scale, patterns, and structure of addiction in Iran. Subjective aspects are also probed.

This article discusses indirect methods of estimating the number of drug users. A major characteristic of the drug users is that they are hard-to-access and hard-to-identify populations. Prevalence estimates arising from surveys are usually based on sampling and self-reporting of drug-taking behavior. Because of selection and measurement biases, they are considered inadequate and inappropriate for estimating the number of drug users. An alternative approach is to use indirect techniques to estimate the number of drug users. Indirect methods use the specific drug user lists and lists of drug-related behaviors that are available and begin by recognizing the inadequacies of registries and other existing data sources. multiplier-benchmark and capture-recapture are two indirect methods which are used in estimation of the size of drug user populations.

This article examines the effects of environmental disadvantage, family control and integration, family concern about children using drugs, and deviant friends on drug abuse. The study’s theoretical framework is built upon social control, social learning and human ecology literature. A sample of 4000 teenagers and youths drawn in the Markazi’s Province was targeted in a questionnaire survey. Collected data were analyzed using Lisrel software. Results show that the effect of deviant friends on drug abuse is more important than that of other factors. The variable of control has an indirect effect on drug abuse through friends. Family integration has a direct effect on drug abuse while environmental disadvantage has both direct and indirect (through friends) effects.

A few organizations have tried to estimate the costs of illicit drugs in Iran and DHCQ has published some information on this issue. Yet these studies have not been conducted in a systematic way with a rigorous methodology. A few organizations have tried to estimate the costs of illicit drugs in Iran and DHCQ has published some information on this issue. Yet these studies have not been conducted in a systematic way with a rigorous methodology. Subsequent to reviewing earlier estimations, this article uses cost-paying social groups at the macro level and LEWIN’s method at the micro level to estimated the costs illicit drugs incurred to different groups of users and non-users (the society) and the government. Costs are divided in three parts (direct costs, indirect costs and peripheral costs), each of which is classified.