Experiences and Perceived Social Support among Iranian Men on Methadone Maintenance Therapy: A Qualitative Study

The use of drugs predominantly among Iranian men leads to health and social problems. Iran has established methadone maintenance therapy centres but there is limited research exploring the experiences
of men who make use of this therapy. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of
men on methadone maintenance therapy in Urmia, Iran. Sixteen opioid-dependent males on methadone
syrup substitution therapy were interviewed. Transcribed data were subjected to thematic analysis. Three
themes emerged from the data: (1) the role of family in drug addiction; (2) the role of environment in drug
addiction; and (3) the support needed to overcome drug addiction. While drug rehabilitation programmes
in Iran can help the person, their family is seen as the most important support that they need together
with sociocultural acceptance to overcome stigmatisation.