SECRECY IN DRUG ABUSERS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY IN IRAN
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Abstract
Objective: To explore the ways of concealment and secrecy that are adopted by drug users.
Methodology: This qualitative study was conducted in Ahwaz, Iran, using purposively sampling among people who used drugs during their adolescence. Semi-structured, individual, in-depth interviews were performed. The interviews were analyzed by the constant comparative method of analysis.
Results: The findings revealed that participants' ways of secrecy at the start of drug use can be classified into seven subsets of secrecy, namely abusing family's unawareness and trust, working, using medicine, rapid changes of puberty, making excuses for aggression, changing the place, method of use and role-playing.
Conclusion: The findings of the study indicated that as much as drug concealment and easier avaialability would be, the more difficult the identification of the abusers by family and society will be. Therefore, understanding the ways of secrecy is important and may increase parental responsibilities while supervising their children especially during their teens.
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