Research paper: Amphetamine Type Stimulants Use in the Adult Population of Tehran: Implications for Long TermRehabilitation Journal Article

Objectives: Dependence on Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS) is a current health concern in Iran. The present study aimed to investigate the most needed treatment and rehabilitation services that a group of ATS-dependent patients in Tehran reported. Methods: The current study is part of the first cross-sectional survey of the prevalence of ATS dependence in Tehran. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data. Overall, 6027 men and women in the general adult population of Tehran were interviewed. Overall, 261 participants were ATS-dependent. Of them, 35 participants were interviewed in this qualitative study. Atlas-ti software was used for qualitative data analysis in compliance with the Grounded Theory of Strauss and Corbin. Results: The mean age of the participants was 32 (SD=11) years (age range: 18-60 years). The mean year of the schooling was 8 (SD=9). The content analysis of interviews showed a series of needs including rehabilitation not only treatment, brief psychosocial treatments, family education and engagement in treatment and rehabilitation as well as after treatment services such as case management to help them to re-integrate into society respectively. Discussion: The study results indicated that ATS dependence demands a combination of treatment and rehabilitation services. This concern demands long-term planning, designing and training, which should be considered by health service providers. Further studies are needed to determine which treatment or rehabilitation programme may work best for this group of drug-dependent people.

Research paper: Amphetamine Type Stimulants Use in the Adult Population of Tehran: Implications for Long Term Rehabilitation CrossMark Hassan Rafiey1, Salahedin Ghaderi2, Burzoo Morovat3, Roya Noori4, 5, Mohammad Effatpanah6, Alireza Mahjoub7, Omid Massah4* 1. 4. 303 Article info: Received: 10 Mar. 2017 Accepted: 03 Jul. 2017 Keywords: Drug, Methamphetamine, Rehabilitation, Treatment A B S T R A C T Objectives: Dependence on Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS) is a current health concern in Iran. The present study aimed to investigate the most needed treatment and rehabilitation services that a group of ATS-dependent patients in Tehran reported. Further studies are needed to determine which treatment or rehabilitation programme may work best for this group of drug-dependent people. A 33-year old woman with ATS dependence reported: We need brief psychosocial interventions in drug treat- ment services. A medical doctor with eight years of job experience reported: Brief psychosocial interventions can be very accessible in drug treatment services for ATS-dependent patients. Interviews frequently reported that families of ATS-dependent patients should be engaged in the treat- ment and rehabilitation procedures. The study indicated that patients with ATS dependence needed long-term rehabilitation. I ranian Rehabilitation Journal Brief psychosocial treatments were other suggested interventions for patients with ATS dependence. Further studies are needed in Iran to evaluate the relationship between family education and engagement in treatment and rehabilitation and long-term recovery from ATS dependence. 5. Conclusion The results of this study highlight the importance of providing both treatment and long-term rehabilitation services for ATS dependence in Iran.