[Addicts' perspectives about factors associated with substance abuse relapse]

ABSTRACT

It has been known for many years that there is a high risk of relapse after treatment of drug abuse. This has made addiction more complicated. Knowledge of related factors allows the health care professionals to initiate much broader, client - centered, relapse prevention strategies. This study had a descriptive design. The sample comprised 200 addicts who all were male and had at least one relapse episode after treatment. Data were collected by structured face-to-face interviews. The related factors to relapse are divided in two groups as individual and environmental factors. The intensity of related factors was asked as "not any", "a little", "medium" and "very much". The results showed that 33.5% of the subjects had 1 relapse, 38% 2-3 relapse and 28.5% more than 3 relapse. Also, 53% of them relapse in less than 3 month after treatment. Only 12% could avoid drug use for more than 1 year. The mean time of abstinence was 6.3 +/- 3 month. According to Friedman test, insomnia and temptation were the most important individual factors [P<0.000], and simple access to drugs, family conflicts and noncompliance with treatment were the most important environmental factors [P<0.000]. With respect to results, since psychological factors were the most important [mean= 1.6 +/- 0.5], mere detoxification is not efficient enough and may end in client's relapse. Treatment services should be developed further and strengthen relapse prevention and relapse coping skills among drug misuser's and pschological health is the first thing that should be notified by them