Withdrawal Symptoms in Drug Dependents on Bam During the First Two Weeks after the Earthquake

Late on 2003, an earthquake on Bam in Iran, led to the death of more than 30,000 of 200,000 inhabitants. The rate of opium abuse, which had been high among the male population in this city, caused problems after the earthquake.The objectives of the following study were to determine the extent of withdrawal symptoms in drug dependents and low they dealt with their symptoms during the first two weeks after the earthquake.The study was carried out in Bam, one of its nearby villages and 8 hospitals in Tehran and Kerman, admitting earthquake victims. A group of 163 people were interviewed, including drug abusers, their family members, people living in Bam, and service providers.During the first two weeks after the earthquake about half of drug dependent interviewees suffered from withdrawal symptoms. About half reported their problems to health care providers and asked for morphine or other analgesics; but the withdrawal symptoms were controlled in on fourth using the medications. More than half used opium, the rest used both of these ways to minimize withdrawal symptoms.In our society with a considerable prevalence of druy abuse, this issue becomes a matter of utmost health care and social importance at times of disasters, and the necessary arrangements to deal with it should be present beforehand.