Prevalence of drug use and its changes in Barn earthquake survivors eight months after the earthquake

The aim of this study was to examine changes in the prevalence of drug use in Sam earthquake survivors eight month after the event.

A survey was carried out on 779 survivors, selected through field sampling from the Barn citizens aged 15 and above. An instrument made by the researchers was used to assess life time and current use of opioids, alcohol and cannabis as well as changes in use compared to the period of I month preceding the earthquake.

In this survey, 27.4 percent of men and 4.5 percent of women reported lifetime use of opium. In the eighth month following the earthquake the prevalence of daily opium use was 16.9 percent in men and 2.7 percent in women. In men, alcohol and cannabis were the most common drugs of abuse after opium. Women denied use of any illicit drugs except opium. In general, 20.5 percent of men and 2.3 percent of women reported an increase in the use of at least one illicit drug. A few subjects, however, reported a decrease in drug use.

The findings show that in the wake of disasters, especially in areas or populations where drug use is already common, an increase in use might occur; provision of preventive and treatment interventions is therefore necessary.