Research Paper: Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Adolescent and Youth Addiction to Synthetic Drugs

Background: The present study was conducted to investigate the social status of addicts in Birjand City, Iran. This research was carried out by using the survey method. The research population included all adolescents and young people who were addicted to narcotics since the beginning or have turned to synthetic drugs before the age of 30. Methods: The samples were selected using the available sampling method. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to study the social status of adolescents and youths of drug addicts. This questionnaire examines the family status as well as the individual characteristics of the samples. Results: The results showed that most drug addicts belong to the social-ecological community of northern Birjand. Also, there is a significant relationship between the age of the person with the duration of addiction and the age of the onset of addiction, between education and the age of the onset of addiction, between the age of addiction and the frequency of use per day, and between the addicts in the family and the addiction to synthetic drugs. Conclusion: The results showed that most drug addicts live in the social-ecological community of northern Birjand. Also, there is a significant relationship between the age of the person with the duration of addiction and the age of the onset of addiction, between education and the age of the onset of addiction, between the age of addiction and the frequency of use per day and between the addicts in the family and the addiction to synthetic drugs.