Study of the Demographic Characteristics and Locus of Control in Recovered Drug Dependents

Abstract One of the major problems in the treatment of drug dependence is high relapse. It is necessary for program designers to identify the factors affecting drug retention to prevent drug use and to understand its etiology. Therefore, this study aims at investigating the influential factors in retention in quitting drug abuse. The population in this study was recovered male drug dependents, who had quitted using drugs for more than one year in Tehran in summer of 2013. One hundred male participants were selected as the convenience sample of the study. Semi Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders (SCID) and a Demographic questionnaire and Rotter Locus of control inventory were used for collecting data. For analysis of the collected data one sample T -test and Chi square analysis were used. The results indicated that those drug dependents who had quitted drugs had external locus of control and They were participants between 30 and 49 years old, mixed method users, with life motivation for quitting, with diploma degree, married, with middle economic situation, opium users, drug dependents form one to five years, and those who had not changed their place for living. Locus of control is one of the most important factors in drug dependency and quitting it. Although the drug dependents managed to quit the drug but the received treatments did not have a significant effect on changing the external locus of control to the internal one.

locus of control, demographic characteristics, drug dependents, addiction.