Methamphetamine use among Iranian heroin kerack-dependent women: implications for treatment

Zahra Alam Mehrjerdi; Zohreh Abarashi; Sahar Mansoori; Abbas Deylamizadeh; Javad Salehi Fadardi; Alireza Noroozi; Mehran Zarghami

doi:10.5812/ijhrba.10216

Methamphetamine use among Iranian heroin kerack-dependent women: implications for treatment

Int J High Risk Behav Addict. 2013 Jun;2(1):15-21. doi: 10.5812/ijhrba.10216. Epub 2013 Jun 26.

Authors

Zahra Alam Mehrjerdi¹, Zohreh Abarashi², Sahar Mansoori³, Abbas Deylamizadeh³, Javad Salehi Fadardi⁴, Alireza Noroozi⁵, Mehran Zarghami⁶

Affiliations

¹ Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
² Center of Psychological Counseling Services, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, IR Iran.
³ Division of Research on Drug Use and Dependence, Rebirth Society (NGO), Tehran, IR Iran.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, IR Iran.
⁵ School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine (SATM), Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, IR Iran ; Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, IR Iran.

Abstract

Background: Co-use of heroin kerack with methamphetamine (MA) is a new epidemic health concern among Iranian female drug users. Yet, little is known about this issue because of stigma.

Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the reasons associated with initial and continued co-use of heroin kerack with MA among two groups of regular and recreational female co-users, their motivations associated with treatment entry and to compare their general characteristics at a drop in center (DIC) in Tehran.

Materials and methods: 82 clients were randomly recruited. A researcher-designed questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analyzed by performing descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test and t-test.

Results: The mean age of the participants were 31 (SD = 8) years. Reducing negative affect (55%), addicted family and social networks (50%), curiosity (48%), and the lack of knowledge on addictive effects of co-use of heroin kerack with MA (32%) were the most frequently reported reasons at initiation. Drug dependence (71%) and drug availability (56%) were reasons of continued co-use. Restoring health (61%), fear from becoming MA abuser only (33%), and fear from making a transition from heroin kerack and MA smoking to injection (15%) were important motivations for treatment entry. Regular co-users were more likely to be single (41.7% vs. 14.7%, P < 0.001), jobless (45.8% vs. 38.2, P < 0.05), homemaker (50% vs. 35.3%, P < 0.01), recently incarcerated (16.7% vs. 11.7%, P < 0.01), and were less likely to be enrolled in opioid replacement programs (33.5% vs. 41%, P < 0.01). Regular co-users were younger (30.6 vs. 32.1 years, P < 0.05), less educated (9.6 vs. 10.8 years, P < 0.05) and had a longer duration of drug dependence (9.6 vs. 8 years, P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Reasons associated with initial and continued co-use of heroin kerack with MA, factors associated with treatment entry and the differences between regular and recreational co-users should be specifically considered in designing and tailoring drug use treatment programs for this group.

Keywords: Heroin kerack; Methamphetamine; Treatment; Women.