Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 2 , Pages 63-71, February 2008

Factors Related to Abstinence from Drug Use and Seeking Help from Medical Services in Taiwanese Heroin and Methamphetamine Users

  • Chia-Nan Yen

      Affiliations

    • Tainan Hospital Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Graduate Institute of Behavioral Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Tze-Chun Tang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Shu-Chun Liu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • By-Yu Liu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Hsiu-Tao Chang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Cheng-Fang Yen

      Affiliations

    • Graduate Institute of Behavioral Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence and reprint requests to: Dr Cheng-Fang Yen, Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan

Received 31 May 2007; accepted 19 October 2007.

Article Outline

The aim of this study was to examine the factors related to abstinence from heroin and methamphetamine (MAMP) use and to seeking help from medical services in Taiwanese drug users. Atotal of 196 heroin users and 226 MAMP users were recruited in this study. Their experience of previous abstinence from drug use and the routes taken to seek help for abstinence were determined at interview. Demographic data, characteristics of drug use and reasons to abstain from drug use were compared between subjects who had and those who had never tried to abstain from drug use before, as well as between the subjects who had previously sought help from medical services and those who had tried to abstain from drug use by themselves. Those who had previously tried to abstain from heroin use had longer durations of heroin use, spent more money on getting heroin, were more likely to have a criminal record of illicit drug use and had longer durations of being detained due to illicit drug use compared with those who had never tried to abstain from heroin use. Those who had sought help from medical services for abstinence were more likely to be heroin users and to spend more money on getting illicit drugs, and tried to abstain due to concerns about relationships with family. Demographic data, characteristics of drug use and reasons to abstain from drug use were different between drug users who had different experiences of abstinence.

Key Words:  abstinence , heroin , methamphetamine , seek help

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PII: S1607-551X(08)70099-8

doi:10.1016/S1607-551X(08)70099-8

Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 2 , Pages 63-71, February 2008

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