The Process of Substance Abuse Onset in Women: A Cross-Sectional Study in Hamadan, Western Iran

Background: Drug addiction is a drastic problem in women’s life which is growing rapidly and has attracted a lot of attention in Iran’s academic community who investigate addiction. Process of addiction in women highly differs with men; moreover, individual, familial and social consequences of addiction for women are much more intense than that of the men. Objectives: This study aimed at achieve a holistic view on the onset of drug addiction and factors related to the continuation of drug abuse in female drug addicts in Hamadan province, Iran. Patients and Methods: Fifty nine addicted women who were admitted to the only rehabilitation and treatment center for addicted women in Hamadan and volunteered to participate in this cross-sectional survey were chosen. Following clinical interviewing and completing the health questionnaire, they were asked to fill up a standard questionnaire to obtain demographic information including complete and comprehensive questions about sociodemographic and familial states which were effective in onset, continuation and cession of drug abuse. Results: The most common drug used by 48 women (81.35%) was th eopium, followed by crack (8.47%), heroin (1.69%), methadone (1.69%) and cannabis (1.69%). Mean age of the first time experience of cigarette smoking was 17.11 ± 9.22 years. Also, the mean age of the first time drug substance use was 27.62 ± 10.46 years and the mean duration of drug use was 5.2 ± 12.0 years. Among studied women, 74.57% used drugs on a regular basis. General Health Questionnaire results indicated that 74.6% of the studied women had suboptimal general health. Twenty six women (44.6%) were referred to a psychologist or psychiatrist. The main reason for referring to a psychologist or psychiatrist was addiction withdrawal in 19.35%, depression and anxiety in 5.06%, and familial problems in 12.9% and headache in 9.68%. Among the examined individuals, 50.8% had once decided to quit, 23.7% for two times, 11.9% for three times, 8.5% for four times and 1.7% for sixteen times. Conclusions: Significant differences are expected regarding the various patterns of onset, continuation and cession of drug abuse between the women and men. There are also different incentives for participation of women in the treatment processes which is dependent on the country's social and cultural features.