A Truth or a Rumor: Effects of Addictive Substances ‎on Prevention of COVID-19; an Investigation of Homeless Drug Abusers in Southeastern Iran

Q4 Medicine

International Journal of High Risk Behaviors and Addiction Pub Date : 2024-02-12 DOI:10.5812/ijhrba-142986

Hassan Okati-Aliabad, Mahdi Mohammadi, Alireza Salimi Khorashad, Alireza Ansari-Moghaddam, Mohsen Hossein Bor, J. Nejati

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: In a crisis, rumors often get started, and societies use them to cope with ambiguous situations. Southeastern Iran, with its high rate of homeless addicts per population, is a suitable area to examine the accuracy of the rumor about the positive effect of addictive substances on preventing COVID-19. Objectives: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the abundance of COVID-19 infection among homeless drug abusers in this area. Methods: For each participant, the health experts completed a questionnaire form. For a definite diagnosis of COVID-19, a combined oropharyngeal/nasal sampling method was used in the laboratory under standard polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Data was analyzed with SPSS v. 19. The chi-square test was used to compare COVID-19 cases across substance types, abuse methods, and consumption frequencies. Results: In total, 295 homeless drug abusers participated, and positive COVID-19 was recorded for 21(7.1%). Most participants were waste pickers (60.5%), and 3.9% had COVID-19. The statistical analysis ‎showed no significant difference in the number of positive COVID-19 cases between narcotics, stimulants, and both combinations. Our study also did not prove the positive effect of drug abuse methods and the frequency of daily drug abuse on the incidence of this disease. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, unreliable, incorrect, and incomplete information on its prevention spread in societies. It is recommended that health-related rumors be ‎investigated and officials publicly announce the results.‎

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真相还是谣言？成瘾物质对预防 COVID-19 的影响；对伊朗东南部无家可归的吸毒者的调查

背景：在危机中，谣言往往会被制造出来，社会也会利用谣言来应对模棱两可的局面。伊朗东南部人口中无家可归的成瘾者比例较高，适合研究关于成瘾物质对预防 COVID-19 有积极作用的谣言的准确性。研究目的：本横断面研究旨在调查该地区无家可归的吸毒者中 COVID-19 感染率。研究方法健康专家为每位参与者填写一份问卷。为了确诊是否感染了 COVID-19，实验室在标准聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）下采用了口咽/鼻腔联合取样法。数据采用 SPSS v. 19 进行分析。采用卡方检验比较不同物质类型、滥用方式和消费频率的 COVID-19 病例。结果：共有 295 名无家可归的吸毒者参与，其中 21 人（7.1%）的 COVID-19 呈阳性。大多数参与者是拾荒者（60.5%），3.9%的人对 COVID-19 呈阳性反应。统计分析表明，麻醉剂、兴奋剂和这两种药物组合的 COVID-19 阳性病例数没有明显差异。我们的研究也没有证明吸毒方式和日常吸毒频率对该病的发病率有积极影响。结论在 COVID-19 大流行期间，有关其预防的不可靠、不正确和不完整的信息在社会上传播。建议对与健康有关的谣言进行调查，并由官方公布调查结果。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of High Risk Behaviors and Addiction Psychology-Clinical Psychology

CiteScore

0.70

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： International Journal of High Risk Behaviors and Addiction is a clinical journal which is informative to all fields related to the high risk behaviors, addiction, including smoking, alcohol consumption and substance abuse, unsafe sexual behavior, obesity and unhealthy eating habits, physical inactivity, and violence, suicidal behavior, and self-injurious behaviors. International Journal of High Risk Behaviors and Addiction is an authentic clinical journal which its content is devoted to the particular compilation of the latest worldwide and interdisciplinary approach and findings including original manuscripts, meta-analyses and reviews, health economic papers, debates, and consensus statements of the clinical relevance of Risky behaviors and addiction. In addition, consensus evidential reports not only highlight the new observations, original research and results accompanied by innovative treatments and all the other relevant topics but also include highlighting disease mechanisms or important clinical observations and letters on articles published in this journal.