THE EFFECTS OF METHAMPHETAMINE ON THE PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTERS IN TEHRAN, 1391

This study investigated the effects of methamphetamine (MA) on the patients
admitted to addiction treatment centers in Tehran. The study tries to determine the situation of MA
use on the patients, and its effects on their family and community.
Materials &Methods: The population of the study was the patients who were being treated for
substance abuse in Tehran. Multi-stage cluster sampling was conducted to collect the data. 100
questionnaires were equally distributed between the two drug treatment centers, and then the collected
data from the questionnaires were analyzed.
Result: Majority of MA consumers (including women) were very young. The educational status of
most patients admitted to addiction treatment centers was low. Concerning their education, sixty four
percent of them were under high school, and 24% were high school graduates. All of the participants
had a concomitant use of at least an opiate substance. The results showed an increase of drug abuse
among the married subjects, so that 54 % of MA abusers were married. The divorce rate was
increasing among the subjects, and most of them has severe family dispute.
Conclusion: The age of starting to substance abuse was decreasing, while the amount and type of MA
abuse was increasing among the subjects. Incidence of violence, family disputes, and divorce has
interactive effects on MA abuse, and /or it can be the result of MA abuse. The effects of available
activities concerning MA abuse are very weak.