ABSTRACT
Although various medical and psychological interventions have been used to treat addiction, addiction particularly methamphetamine addiction as a social, health and medical issues is still jeopardizing the human community. This study is aimed at determining the impact of teaching life skills and changing behavior on the emotional well-being of the individuals addicted to crystal methamphetamine. This study was carried out using before-after plan with participation of 28 crystal methamphetamine addicts. In addition to receiving medical treatment, the intervention group patients obtained necessary trainings required for developing life skill and changing behavior during 15 sessions, whilst the control group received only the routine pharmacotherapy treatments and primary interventions. Then pretest and posttest scores of the two groups were compared. The mean score on emotional well-being by the intervention group is lower than that in control group after treatment [10.71<18.78] which was statistically significant. The history of dependence on methamphetamine, age, education, the times of quits, and the marital status had no impact on the extent of the influence of teaching life skills and behavior changes on the individuals' emotional well-being. Notwithstanding that addiction could influence various aspects of mental and emotional health of dependent people, teaching life skills and behavioral changes may lead to enhancement in their emotional well-being. Hence it is necessary to encourage these individuals to participate in group sessions of changing behavior and teaching life skills
ABSTRACT
Regarding the high prevalence of drug abuse in the society, the study aims at analyzing the effect of the group therapy on the social adjustment of the crack addicted patients who are under the maintenance treatment. The semi-experimental study was conducted on 24 crack addicted patients who had been selected using random sampling method. They were divided into two 12-member groups of control and case. The general Health Questionnaire [GHQ-28] [as pretest and post-test] was used to homogenizing the two groups. Bell Adjustment Inventory was used to examine the impact of group therapy on subject's social adjustment. p<0.05 was considered significant. The control and case groups enjoy a similar condition before starting treatment process. The results showed that after the treatment the average scores of the case group in social adjustment and general health dimensions became less than that before treatment [p=0.0001]. No significant relationship was found among history of crack abuse, times the patient had quitted the drug, education level, age, marital status and the social adjustment. The group therapy as a psychological treatment is effective to improve crack addicted people social adjustment and also their general health condition
ABSTRACT
Drug addiction is a lifestyle disease. An assessment of the nutritional state of addicts is often done in parallel to their medical treatment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the nutritional status of drug addicts. This study was conducted among 54 drug addicts [47 men and 7 women] who sought detoxification treatment at the Central Drug Addiction Treatment Hospital in center of drug dependency treatment [Baharan Hospital] in Zahedan, Iran. Age, body weight, and height were measured. Body mass index [BMI] was calculated by dividing body weight [kg] by the square of the height [m[2]]. The percentile of the BMI indicator dictated the nutritional status in the subjects. The amount of food consumed was determined according to the number of servings consumed in the different food groups and was compared to the recommended allowances given by the Food Guide Pyramid. The mean age, body weight, height, and BMI were 34.4 +/- 9.7 years, 63.1 +/- 10.1 kg, 171.1 +/- 11.6 cm, and 21.8 +/- 4.4 kg/m[2], respectively. According to the percentile status of the BMIs, the results showed that 35.2%, 20.4%, 37%, and 7.4% of subjects were wasting, at risk of wasting, normal, or overweight, respectively. When their intake was compared to the Food Guide Pyramid, 72.2% of the subjects showed a deficiency in the bread and cereal group, 67.2% in vegetables, 57.4% in fruits, 40.7% in milk and dairy products, and 24.1% in the meat group. The present study revealed different degrees of malnutrition among drug addicts with multiple deficiencies in both macro- and micronutrients