Abstract:
Few studies have examined the relationship between childhood
maltreatment and substance use in later life considering household dysfunction
variables especially in Eastern Mediterranean countries. The study was
conducted to explore the relationship between adverse childhoodexperiences
and substance misuse during later life in an Iranian sample. A case control
study was conducted in Kerman, a city located in southern Iran in 2005.
Cases were 200 men and women referred to outpatient clinics of the city
seeking treatment for substance use disorder. Controls (n = 200) were
selected from the general population. With emphasizing the confidentiality
and obtaining oral consent the subjects were asked to fill out a questionnaire
including demographic variables and 27 questions concerning all types
of child abuse/neglect and household dysfunction. Using multivariate logistic
regression the associations between baseline characteristics, childhood
maltreatment and household dysfunction variables and substance use disorder
were analyzed. The mean age of case group was 32.5±8.3 and in control
group was 28±9.3 (p<0.01). Most of subjects in both groups were
male. The prevalence of sexual abuse, household substance use and household
criminality were higher in substance dependent patients comparing to control
group. The highest odds of substance use disorder was associated with
household substance abuse (OR: 2.50, 95% CI: 1.53-4.10) and sexual abuse
was the only type of childhood maltreatment which showed significant association
with substance use disorder in later life (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.03-2.92).
The related factors uncovered by the study conduct us to early interventions
among dysfunctional families to decrease the maladaptive lives and stressful
household environments.
Hassan Ziaaddini, Qasem Dastjerdi and Nouzar Nakhaee, 2007. The Relationship of Childhood Maltreatment and Household Dysfunction
and Drug Use in Later Life in Iran. Journal of Applied Sciences, 7: 1067-1070.
Subscribe Today 
