Exploration of the Factors Associated with Initiation of Methamphetamine Use in Khomein County, Iran

Abstract

Methamphetamine is one of the most addictive stimulants, and its consumption has increased in Iran over the last decade. There are different factors related to a user’s first trial of illegal drugs such as methamphet amine. This qualitative study aimed to explore factors associated with the initiation of methamphetamine consumption among 12 methamphetamine consumers who were invited to the study through purposeful sampling, using the snowball technique, in Khomein city, Iran, in 2019. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed through content analysis in MAXQDA Version 10 software. Four main categories were extracted from the qualitative data, including (i) Curiosity and encouragement by friends; (ii) Misconception that methamphetamine is not addictive, and its effect on quitting other substances; (iii) Forgetting sorrow and grief; and (iv) The effects of methamphetamine in warding off sleep. Designing public health interventions to increase awareness on the addictive nature and the negative side effects of metham phetamine is necessary. Besides, we suggest efforts to increase public awareness and knowledge regarding the health risks of methamphetamine and to modify the related misconceptions.