How a sample of Iranian college students communicates resistance to offers of illegal drugs

Abstract

Aim Despite efforts made to prevent use of illegal drugs in Iran, such use continues. The aim of the current study is to investigate how a sample of Iranian students communicates resistance to offers of illegal drugs. Design Describing a personal, specific time when they were offered an illegal drug (alcohol, opium, heroin, hashish) including who offered it (offerer), what drug was offered, where the offer was made, how the offer was made (type of offer) and the dialogue between offerer and respondent.Participants Two hundred and forty-eight Shiraz University students were asked to complete a questionnaire. Finding Most offers were categorized as 'simple offer' (without persuasion) and most responses were 'no problem', without further pressure from the offerers. The most common resistance strategy was simply saying 'No'. Resistance was related to internal motivation for turning down or accepting the offer. Type of drug offered was related to the person who offered it. Conclusions There are some differences between the offer/resistance processes described in this study with similar work in the West, but many similarities. The most important factor in resistance to an offer of a drug for consumption is internal motivation. There was no significant association with age, type of offer, place of offer and type of drug.