Descriptive Aspects of Injection Drug Users in Iran’s National Harm Reduction Program by Methadone Maintenance Treatment
Background: The Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education of Iran has recently announced an estimated figure of 200,000 injecting drug users (IDUs). The aim of this study was to pilot a national program using demographics, types of drug abuse and prevalence of blood-borne infections among...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Tehran University of Medical Sciences
2013-06-01
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| Series: | Iranian Journal of Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/IJPH/article/view/3484/2160 |
| _version_ | 1818727477133967360 |
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| author | Sharareh Eskandarieh Ali Nikfarjam Termeh Tarjoman Abassali Nasehi Firoozeh Jafari Mohammad-Bagher Saberi-Zafar Ghandi |
| author_facet | Sharareh Eskandarieh Ali Nikfarjam Termeh Tarjoman Abassali Nasehi Firoozeh Jafari Mohammad-Bagher Saberi-Zafar Ghandi |
| author_sort | Sharareh Eskandarieh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education of Iran has recently announced an estimated figure of 200,000 injecting drug users (IDUs). The aim of this study was to pilot a national program using demographics, types of drug abuse and prevalence of blood-borne infections among IDUs.Methods: In order to elicit data on demographics, types of drug abuse and prevalence of blood-borne infections among IDUs, a questionnaire was designed in the Bureau of Mental-Social Health and Addiction in collaboration with Iran’s Drug Control Headquarters of the Police Department. Therapeutical alliance of addiction in Shafagh Center was based on Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT).Results: Among 402 reported IDUs most of them were male, single and in age range of 20 to 39 years old with 72.7% history of imprisonment. Most of them had elementary and high school education and a history of addiction treatment. The majority were current users of opioid, heroin and crack. The prevalence of blood-borne infections was 65.9% and 18.8% for HCV and HIV/AIDS infections, respectively.Conclusion: Prevention programs about harm reduction, treatment and counseling should include young IDUs as a core focus of their intervention structure |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T22:14:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a8c10c79fc82421ea4d2706c292399d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2251-6085 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T22:14:43Z |
| publishDate | 2013-06-01 |
| publisher | Tehran University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Iranian Journal of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-a8c10c79fc82421ea4d2706c292399d52022-12-21T21:30:40ZengTehran University of Medical SciencesIranian Journal of Public Health2251-60852013-06-01426588593Descriptive Aspects of Injection Drug Users in Iran’s National Harm Reduction Program by Methadone Maintenance TreatmentSharareh EskandariehAli NikfarjamTermeh TarjomanAbassali NasehiFiroozeh JafariMohammad-Bagher Saberi-Zafar GhandiBackground: The Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education of Iran has recently announced an estimated figure of 200,000 injecting drug users (IDUs). The aim of this study was to pilot a national program using demographics, types of drug abuse and prevalence of blood-borne infections among IDUs.Methods: In order to elicit data on demographics, types of drug abuse and prevalence of blood-borne infections among IDUs, a questionnaire was designed in the Bureau of Mental-Social Health and Addiction in collaboration with Iran’s Drug Control Headquarters of the Police Department. Therapeutical alliance of addiction in Shafagh Center was based on Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT).Results: Among 402 reported IDUs most of them were male, single and in age range of 20 to 39 years old with 72.7% history of imprisonment. Most of them had elementary and high school education and a history of addiction treatment. The majority were current users of opioid, heroin and crack. The prevalence of blood-borne infections was 65.9% and 18.8% for HCV and HIV/AIDS infections, respectively.Conclusion: Prevention programs about harm reduction, treatment and counseling should include young IDUs as a core focus of their intervention structurehttp://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/IJPH/article/view/3484/2160IDUsHarm ReductionMethadone Maintenance TreatmentIran |
| spellingShingle | Sharareh Eskandarieh Ali Nikfarjam Termeh Tarjoman Abassali Nasehi Firoozeh Jafari Mohammad-Bagher Saberi-Zafar Ghandi Descriptive Aspects of Injection Drug Users in Iran’s National Harm Reduction Program by Methadone Maintenance Treatment Iranian Journal of Public Health IDUs Harm Reduction Methadone Maintenance Treatment Iran |
| title | Descriptive Aspects of Injection Drug Users in Iran’s National Harm Reduction Program by Methadone Maintenance Treatment |
| title_full | Descriptive Aspects of Injection Drug Users in Iran’s National Harm Reduction Program by Methadone Maintenance Treatment |
| title_fullStr | Descriptive Aspects of Injection Drug Users in Iran’s National Harm Reduction Program by Methadone Maintenance Treatment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Descriptive Aspects of Injection Drug Users in Iran’s National Harm Reduction Program by Methadone Maintenance Treatment |
| title_short | Descriptive Aspects of Injection Drug Users in Iran’s National Harm Reduction Program by Methadone Maintenance Treatment |
| title_sort | descriptive aspects of injection drug users in iran s national harm reduction program by methadone maintenance treatment |
| topic | IDUs Harm Reduction Methadone Maintenance Treatment Iran |
| url | http://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/IJPH/article/view/3484/2160 |
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