Compulsory Maintenance Treatment Program Amongst Iranian Injection Drug Users and Its Side Effects

BACKGROUND: Psychoactive substance use can cause a broad variety of mental health disorders and social health problems for the drug users, their family and society. OBJECTIVES: The Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education of Iran has recently proclaimed an estimated number of 2 million drug abusers and 200,000 injecting drug users (IDUs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: For data collection, the directory of mental, social health, and Addiction designed a questionnaire in cooperation with Drug Control Headquarters of Iran. RESULTS: Among 402 IDUs patients, a large amount of them were male, single, and younger than 39 years. Regarding psychotic and somatic symptoms caused by methadone therapy, most of the participants had no problem with methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to train health staff, and the community, concerning preventive measures, treatment, and reducing harm for substance drug users.