Self-reported substance use in Iraq: findings from the Iraqi National Household Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use, 2014

Al-Hemiery, Nesif; Dabbagh, Rufaidah; Hashim, Mushtaq T.; Al-Hasnawi, Salih M.; Abutiheen, Ali Abdulridha Kadhim; Abdulghani, Emad A.; Al-Diwan, Jawad K.; Kak, Neeraj; Mossawi, Hala Al; Maxwell, Jane Carlisle; Brecht, Mary‐Lynn; Antonini, Valerie P.; Hasson, Albert; Rawson, Richard A.

doi:10.1111/add.13800

Cited by 29 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(38 reference statements)

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“…Studies from Egypt showed a high rate of 8.8 to 12.3% of tramadol use among high school and university students [106,109]. Self‐reported prevalence of knowing someone who currently uses tramadol was 2.4% in the Iraqi general population [110]. In the United States, due to a significant increase in tramadol abuse and overdose, tramadol was added to scheduled medications in 2014 [111].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tramadol use and public health consequences in Iran: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

et al. 2020

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Background and Aims Misuse of tramadol, an opioid prescription analgesic, is known as a public health challenge globally. We aimed to systematically review studies on the prevalence of non‐prescribed use, regular tramadol use and dependence, tramadol‐induced poisoning and mortality in Iran. Methods Consistent with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, international (Medline, Scopus, Web of Science) and Persian (SID) databases were systematically searched up to June 2019. Other relevant data were collected through personal contacts and review of reference lists. Pooled estimates of prevalence of tramadol use in subgroups of males and females, percentage of tramadol poisoning among admitted poisoning cases, tramadol‐associated seizures and mortality among tramadol poisonings and percentage of tramadol as a cause of death among fatal drug‐poisoning records were estimated through a random‐effects model. Results A total of 84 records were included. Pooled estimates of last 12‐month use of tramadol in the Iranian general population were 4.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.1–5.9] and 0.8% (95% CI = 0.2–1.8) among males and females, respectively. The estimates for last 12‐month use among Iranian male and female university students were 4.8% (95% CI = 1.9–8.9) and 0.7% (95% CI = 0.3–1.1), respectively. Six heterogeneous reports indicated the existence of regular use of tramadol and dependence in Iran. Sixty‐two studies provided data on tramadol‐induced poisoning, seizures and mortality. The pooled estimate of the percentage of tramadol poisoning among all drug‐poisoning patients was 13.1% (95% CI = 5.7–22.9). The overall estimates of seizures and mortality among tramadol‐poisoning patients were 34.6% (95% CI = 29.6–39.8) and 0.7% (95% CI = 0.0–1.9), respectively. The pooled percentage of tramadol‐related fatalities among drug‐poisoned cases was 5.7% (95% CI = 0.5–15.4). Conclusion Despite control policies, tramadol use is as prevalent as the use of illicit opioids in Iran. Numerous cases of tramadol abuse, dependence, poisonings, seizures and hundreds of tramadol‐related deaths have been reported in recent years.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tramadol use and public health consequences in Iran: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

et al. 2020

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“…This represents an increase of 0.4% since 2006 (4). In Iraq (including Kurdistan Region), according to the final report of the Iraq National Household Survey on Alcohol and Drug Use (INHSAD), the lifetime prevalence rates of tobacco use, alcohol consumption, nonmedical use of prescription drugs, and use of illicit drugs were 28.8%, 8.1%, 2.9%, and 0.7%, respectively (5). Another report, from the Iraqi Community Epidemiology Work Group, suggests that there has been increased use of alcohol and prescription and illicit drugs in Iraq since 2009, especially among adolescents (6).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Substance use among high school students in Erbil City, Iraq: prevalence and potential contributing factors

Mahmood¹,

Othman²,

Al-Tawil³

et al. 2019

East Mediterr Health J

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Background: Substance use among adolescents, especially smoking and alcohol consumption, has become a public health concern in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, in the past 10 years. Aims: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of substance use and certain associated factors among high school students in Erbil City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a multistage cluster sampling technique to collect a sample of 3000 students. A modified version of the School Survey on Drug Use from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime was used for data collection. Binary logistic regression models were used to identify risk factors for substance use. Results: The lifetime prevalence rates of cigarettes smoking, waterpipe smoking and alcohol consumption were 27.6%, 23.6% and 3.7%, respectively. Male gender, age 17-19 years, smoker in the family, and easy accessibility of cigarettes were significantly associated with cigarette smoking. Factors significantly associated with waterpipe smoking were male gender, age 17-19 years, waterpipe smoker in the family, waterpipe smoker friend, and easy accessibility. Male gender, alcohol dependent in the family, alcohol-dependent friend, easy accessibility of alcohol, and low family income were significant predictors of alcohol consumption. Conclusions: The prevalence of cigarette smoking and waterpipe use was high in the studied sample. Possible explanations for this finding might be the use of flavoured tobacco associated with aromatic smell, and the misconception that waterpipe smoking is less toxic and addictive than cigarette smoking.

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“…In addition, the geographic location of Iraq is another factor that makes Iraq vulnerable to substance use, this is because of the long and porous border between Iraq and Iran, as Iran faces an increasing and very serious problem in substance use [ 6 ]. According to the more recent report, the prevalence of lifetime uses of (Alcohol, Licit or Illicit Drugs) in Iraq (Including Kurdistan region) was approximately 10.3% [ 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of an education intervention on knowledge of high school students concerning substance use in Kurdistan Region-Iraq: A quasi-experimental study

et al. 2018

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Background and aimsSubstance use among adolescents especially smoking, is becoming a public health problem in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. School-based health education is an appropriate approach for improving students’ knowledge regarding substance use in an attempt to prevent or reduce such problem The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of an educational intervention for high school students to improve their knowledge for substance use and its negative consequences, which will, in turn, motivate students to take protective measures against substance use.MethodsThis quasi-experimental (one group; pre, and post-test) design was carried out in Erbil city from January 2017 to June 2017. A random sampling technique was employed to collect a sample of 280 students amongst four high schools in Erbil city which is the capital of Kurdistan Region-Iraq. A self- administered questionnaire on knowledge assessment regarding substance use was developed and validated by the experts regarding the relevance of the items. A structured teaching program for imparting knowledge on various aspects of substance use was developed based on extensive review of literature and experts’ opinion. The intervention program consisted of a series of 4 education modules. These modules were mainly taught by “Rabers” over a period of four weeks (one session per week). SPSS version 21 was used for data entry and analysis. Data was analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics (McNemar tests, paired t-test, and Chi-square test).ResultsOut of 280 students, a total of 270 students completed a pre and post-intervention survey. Of the 270 students, 124 (45.9%) were males and 146 (54.1%) were females. The mean age ± SD of the participants was 16.59 ± 0.784 years, ranging from 15–18 years. The study reveals a statistically significant improvement in the mean score of knowledge of students following the implementation of a health education program from 15.959 ± 3.25 to 20.633 ± 3.26 (p < 0.001). Moreover, no one of the students remained with poor knowledge, and relatively more than half (50.2%) of the students have upgraded to good knowledge level.ConclusionImplementing a health education program about substance use on high school students in Erbil city had improved the knowledge of students about this topic.

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Self-reported substance use in Iraq: findings from the Iraqi National Household Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use, 2014

Cited by 29 publications

References 23 publications

Tramadol use and public health consequences in Iran: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Tramadol use and public health consequences in Iran: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Substance use among high school students in Erbil City, Iraq: prevalence and potential contributing factors

Impact of an education intervention on knowledge of high school students concerning substance use in Kurdistan Region-Iraq: A quasi-experimental study

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