Use of delphi technique in determining certain factors related to drug dependence among youth

ABSTRACT

The drug dependency problem in Egypt is currently one of the major issues of concern to the public as well as professionals. Lack of comprehensive, reliable date concerning the problem led the researchers to resort to the Delphi technique in gathering the required information from experts involved in the problem. The aim was to reveal expert involved in the problem. The aim was to reveal experts' opinion regarding certain factors responsible for the causation and perpetuation of the drug dependency problem among youth, both currently and in the future [the next 10 years]. Experts were required to rank their answers in order of importance. Because of the multidisciplinary feature of drug dependence, 3 groups of experts were solicited from both Cairo and Alexandria, i.e. Psychiatrists, N.D.C. officers and social workers. Results of the study demonstrated that 72.2% of experts considered the current age of onset of drug intake among youth to be 18 to less than 21 years. In the future, 55.6% expected it to decline to 12 to less than 18 years. Skilled workers' were ranked the most common category of drug users with complete intergroup consensus of opinion, followed by drivers and artists. Cannabis, heroin and synthetic pills were respectively ranked the three most common drugs used currently. In the future, heroin is expected to occupy 1st rank followed by cannabis and synthetic pills. Regarding future use of drugs by youth, 79% of experts expected it to increase