RESEARCH ON ADDICTION
Year:2016 | Volume:10 | Issue:38|Papers Count:19

Objective: This research was conducted to study the relationship between time perspective and tendency to substance abuse in adolescents.Method: The number of 405 adolescent female students in Tehran high schools was selected by multistage random sampling method. These participants were then tested by Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory and Addiction Potential Scale.Results: Pearson correlation results showed that tendency to substance abuse has a significant positive correlation with past negative, present hedonistic, and present fatalistic while it is negatively correlated with future time perspective. The results of regression analysis also showed that the four dimensions of past negative, present hedonistic, future, and present fatalistic aspects were the predictor variables that had met the conditions of entry to the final regression equation to explain tendency to substance abuse.Conclusion: Time perspective is an important and key factor in tendency to substance use. The results of this study suggest that training one person to move towards future time perspective, to delay immediate enjoyment, and to consider the consequences of present actions can be effective in having a balanced time perspective and preventing substance abuse in adolescents.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of optimistic attributional styles in reducing addiction potential and change into attributional styles in female students.Method: A quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest control group research design was used in this study. The number of 40 students was selected by random cluster sampling from the statistical population of female students in Pakdasht high schools. Then, they were randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. The experimental group received nine training sessions of optimistic attributional styles. Attributional Style Questionnaire and Iranian Scale of Addiction Potential were used for data collection purposes.Results: The results showed that the training of optimistic attributional styles leads to the significant reduction of addiction potential. In addition, this will converts pessimistic attributional styles to optimistic attributional styles among students.Conclusion: Training optimistic attributional styles can play an important role in the prevention of addiction.

Objective: The present study aimed to compare lay theories regarding drug addiction causes between Iranian and British people.Method: This was a study of causal and comparative method. The statistical population of this study included 100 Iranian people from Isfahan and 100 British people from London. The participants were selected and matched based on convenient sampling. The research instruments included Furnham`s Questionnaire of Demographic Features and Thompsons Questionnaire of Lay Theories regarding addiction in both Persian and English versions.Results: The results indicated that there was a significant difference in lay beliefs about addiction causes between Iranian people and British people in three factors (out of 6 ones), namely familial, psychological, and biological reasons.Conclusion: It can be argued that a great difference exists between British and Iranian people regarding in three factors of familial, psychological, and biological domains.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral coping skills training and mindfulness-based relapse prevention program in the improvement of treatment motivation among drug dependent individuals.Method: An experimental research design along with pretest-posttest control group was used in this study. The drug dependent individuals who referred to drug addiction centers in Ardabil in the first half of 2015 constituted the statistical population of this study. from among this population, the number of 60 subjects was selected via ransom cluster sampling method and participated in this study. In the next stage, the sample units were palced into three groups, namely cognitive-behavioral coping skills (n=20), mindfulness-based relapse prevention (n=20), and control group (n=20). Then, Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) was administered to the tehree groups as the pre-test. Thaerafter, therapeutic interventions were performed on the experimental groups and, eventually, all the three groups responded to this questionnaire as the post-test.Results: The results showed that there is a difference between the three groups in the post-test mean scores of Taking Steps, Recognition. The results Bonferroni post-hoc test showed that both treatment methods were equally effective in the increase of Recognition; however, mindfulness-based relapse prevention program was more effective in improving Taking Steps.Conclusion: The results of this study emphasize the need for using training methods of cognitive-behavioral coping skills and mindfulness-basrelapse prevention program as complementary methods to medical treatment in drug dependent patients under treatment.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of reducing drug abuse and risky behavior counseling (BDRC) in the improvement of craving and lapsing among the heroin crack addicts under methadone maintenance treatment.Method: In a quasi-experimental study, 30 heroin crack addicts were elected from among all the addicts who received health care in one of the maintenance treatment centers in Tehran, Iran. Then, they randomly divided into an experimental group (15 subjects) and a control group (15 subjects). The experimental group underwent received twenty-five 90-minute counseling sessions on reducing drug abuse and risky behavior and the control group received only methadone. All the participants completed the Narcotic Drug Abuse and Risky Behaviors Inventory at the beginning of the study and six months following the treatment. Urine test was also conducted to examine morphine and stimulants.Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of craving for drug use in the post-test stage (P<0.01). In addition, the results showed that there was a significant difference in the lapse rates between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: Counseling on reducing drug abuse and risky behavior is effective in the improvement of craving and lapse in heroin crack abusers.

Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate the conceptual model of substance abuse among the adolescents at risk of substance abuse and to provide a comprehensive model to predict and explain the behavior of substance abuse.Method: A sample of 413 high school students (199 boys and 214 girls) was selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. The sample units studied in Kerman in the academic year of 2015-2016. They were evaluated through "Risky Behavior Questionnaire" and "Risk and Protective Factors Questionnaire".Results: The results of structural equation modeling predicted the familial, social, and school factors directly and indirectly via self-control skills and social skills (personal and social skills) regarding substance use. In addition, self-esteem and attitude to drugs were influenced by adolescents' emotional bond with family and school. These variables were evaluated within the realm of individual factors and the results indicated that they have no direct relationship with drug use. However, they indirectly influence drug use through self-control skills and social skills.Conclusion: The evaluated model enjoys an acceptable fitness and is an important step in learning about different aspects of individual, family, community, and school domains related to substance use in the adolescents at risk of drug use. Furthermore, this model is very useful as an ideal model for the design and development of comprehensive programs towards the prevention of risky behaviors.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of curriculums based on cognitive-behavioral therapy in the increase of self-efficacy and resilience among the addicts under methadone maintenance treatment.Method: For this purpose, 60 patients under methadone treatment whose records were available at the private addiction treatment center, named Zirkouh city and Zirkouh Tavakol addiction treatment center were selected using random sampling. Then, they were assigned to two groups, i.e. experimental group (30 patients) and control group (30 patients). The experimental group received 12 sessions of Carol's cognitive-behavioral therapy while the control group only received methadone. Self-efficacy and resilience scales were administered to both groups before and after the treatment.Results: The results showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy had a positive effect on self-efficacy in patients under methadone treatment (P<0.05). In addition, the results showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy had no significant effect on resiliency.Conclusion: The results of this research has clinical and applied implications.

Objective: Dependence and drug abuse are among the most important problems of the present age that have found global expansion. The consequences of these problems including mental, psychological, familial, cultural, economic, and social disorders have prevailed all social and cultural boundaries and threaten human health. Due to the effectiveness of social factors in the process of addiction withdrawal, this study aims to examine addicts' experiences of social and family supports as facilitators to addiction abstinence.Method: This qualitative study was conducted on 17 addicts under drug abstinence in Tabriz using in-depth interviews. The results of these interviews were analyzed by using a phenomenological approach and Colaizzi's method.Results: The results indicated that the following were involved in addiction relapse: three major themes, namely expectations of society, the expectations of family, and social causes; and nine sub-themes including the need for employment, attitudes towards addicts, emotional support, lack of trust in the community, community awareness, emotional support from family, negative attitudes of family towards addiction, family problems, and bad friends.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that addicts need financial, emotional, and social support from family and society an, thereby, the attitude of people in society towards addiction and addicts should be changed.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of group reality therapy and medication in mood symptoms in addicted patients.Method: This research was conducted on the addict population of Mahabad city. From among this statistical population, the number of 30 patients was selected via voluntary sampling method and they were randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. For the comparison of the two approaches, the groups were treated with group reality therapy and medication. Anxiety, Stress, Depression Scale DASS-21 was administered to the participants as the pre-test and post-test.Results: The results showed that mood symptoms in the experimental group under reality therapy have witnessed significant improvement compared to the group under medication.Conclusion: Accordingly, reality therapy can be considered as an appropriate therapeutic approach for the treatment of mood symptoms in drug addicts.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of music therapy on reducing the recurrence of depression and stress among drug addicts in Hamedan city.Method: In this quasi-experimental design, the number of 60 drug addicts referring to the welfare drug rehabilitation center in Hamedan was selected by convenience sampling method. Then, these participants were randomly assigned to two 30-participant groups, control and experimental groups. The experimental group was exposed to music therapy for 8 months, three days a week, and for 5 hours per session. Both groups were evaluated anxiety scale, depression scale, stress scale, and methadone test before and after music therapy.Results: The results showed that music therapy can reduce depression and stress.Conclusion: According to the findings, it can be argued that music therapy is a useful method in reducing the recurrence of depression and stress in drug addicts. Thus, it can be used as one of the efficient treatment methods of addiction consequences.

Objective: The current study was an attempt to investigate the role of assertive behavior in ego-resiliency and self-control in addicted women in Zahedan city.Method: The present study took a correlation-descriptive research design. The population of this research included all the addicted women in Zahedan city, among whom 200 participants were selected through convinience sampling method. These participants completed Rathus (1984) Assertiveness Schedule, Ego-Resiliency Scale (Klohnen, 1996), and Self-Control Scale (Tangney, Baumeister, & Boone, 2004).Results: The obtained results revealed that assertive behavior had a significant positive correlation with self-control and ego-resiliency. In addition, assertiveness behavior was revealed to have a predictive role in self-control and ego-resiliency. The results also demonstrated that there was a significant difference on the scores of ego-resiliency and assertive behavior in terms of age and education level.Conclusion: The results illustrated that assertive behavior has a determinant role in ego-resiliency and self-control in addicted women.

Objective: The aim of current study was to compare the visual memory functions among heroin dependents and normal individuals.Method: The method of current research was causative-comparative carried out on two groups of heroin dependents and normal individuals. Statistical population of the research was people with heroin dependents that from March 2013 to September 2013 that referred to Drug Addiction Treatment Centers of Gonabad city. Finally, 30 patients with heroin dependents selected with convenience sampling. The comparison group consisted of 30 normal individuals who were selected from among the relatives of patients with heroin dependents and were matched in terms of age, gender and education with group of patients with heroin dependence. To collect data was used from Rey-Sterrieth Complex Figure. Data analyzed through SPSS v.16 software using multivariate analysis.Results: The results of the current study showed individuals with heroin dependents had more difficulties in visual memory and gained lower scores in all three stages performances compared to the normal group.Conclusion: Chronic use of heroin is associated with cognitive defects and damage on visual memory. Therefore, rehabilitation programs that are considered to improve the conditions and treatment of addicts, it is necessary to be noted to these types of deficits and to formulate programs for reduce it.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of alpha-theta neurofeedback in craving for drug use among methamphetamine-dependent (crystal) patients.Method: For this purpose, 20 crystal-dependent patients who were kept in a therapeutic community center in Mashhad were selected by convenience sampling method based on the diagnostic criteria of DSM-V and results of Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). A quasi-experimental research design along with pretest-posttest was used in this study. At the beginning and end of the period, the two groups were evaluated through Self-Rating Scale of Craving for Methamphetamine. The patients in the experimental group received 4 weeks neurofeedback training (5 sessions per week) in addition to group psychotherapy whereas the control group only received group psychotherapy sessions.Results: The experimental group showed improvement compared to the control group in terms of desire and intention to substance abuse, negative reinforcement, and the total mean score of craving intensity.Conclusion: Therefore, this study showed that methamphetamine-dependent patients can improve their craving under the influence of neurofeedback.

Objective: The present study aimed at validating partners' checklist among the family members of drug abusers.Method: A descriptive research design was used in this study. The number of 397 participants of the families referring to addiction clinics in Semnan Province was randomly selected as the sample units.Results: Reliability in the frequency range was variable from.57 (healthy) to.81 (financial) and, in intensity dimension, ranged from.53 (Social/Emotional) to.81 (conflict with legal authorities/government), respectively. The validity evidence showed that functioning was significantly different between families with and without receiving financial assistance from support organizations; and between families with and without a case in the courts in terms of the subscales of the instrument. Scores of financial and social/emotional subscales; association with financial and emotional expression subscales; and relations between Marriage Performance Questionnaire were statistically significant. The subscale physical abuse had a statistically significant association with Aggression Questionnaire. Different models of frequency and intensity of experienced problems depending on the type of life partner were observed. The most common problem of life partners (parent/spouse) was observed in frequency dimension and lifestyle, communication and social/emotional subscales; and in intensity dimension and social/emotional subscale.Conclusion: The Life Partners Checklist is a valid and reliable instrument in identifying the frequency and intensity of drug abusers' family problems and some subscales are sensitive to the effects of interventions.

Objective: Due to the growing trend of recidivism in drug-related crimes and the notable contribution of these crimes among the committed crimes, the aim of study was to investigate crime dimensions, especially the economic dimension of crimes in the field of macro-economic and criminal policy making.Method: The relationship of inflation and unemployment with recidivism in drug-related crimes was investigated using inferential and descriptive statistics and ordinary least squares of regression technique during 1979-2006.Results: Unemployment and inflation were found to hold a positive relationship with the dependent variable. Unemployment and inflation could explain 16% and 74% of the criterion variable, respectively.Conclusion: Therefore, inflation and unemployment are among the economic indicators that can account for 85% of the changes into the recidivism in economic crimes while Gini coefficient, education, and urbanization had no effect on recidivism in economic crimes.