Exploring the Antecedents and Consequences of Community-Based Drug Fight: A Mixed Approach

The aim of this study was to explore the antecedents and consequences of community-based drug fight through a mixed approach.

The present study was deductive-inductive (mixed) of applied-exploratory type. The statistical population of the study included all activists in the field of community-based drug fight. 22 of them were selected using purposive sampling. A semi-structured interview was used to collect data in the research qualitative part and a questionnaire was used in the quantitative part. In the qualitative part, the data obtained from the interview were analyzed using Atlas.ti software and content analysis method. Also, in the research quantitative part, the extracted antecedents and consequences were confirmed and prioritized using fuzzy Delphi technique.

The results showed the extraction of 10 antecedents and 11 consequences. Among the antecedents, the effective performance of facilitators in attracting community participation to fight drugs, attracting elites to accompany community-based struggles, and developing the concepts of community-based counter-narcotics fight at the community level had the highest priorities, respectively. Also, among the consequences, community supportive action, participatory identification of drug problems, and community support in understanding drug problems had the highest priorities.

According to the research findings, it can be said that paying attention to effective antecedents, especially the most important ones, can play an essential role in the community-based drug fight.