Study of Factors Influencing Drug Use Among Commercial Drivers in Suburban Public Transport

AbstractBackground and aims: This study was conducted to determine the economic, social, and culturalfactors influencing the consumption of drugs by drivers of public vehicles in ۲۰۱۳.Materials and Methods: The capture-recapture method was employed to determine drug use, its type,and the time of consumption among drivers of public transport. At the capture stage, ۳۸۴ of the sampleswere surveyed and then (۱۵ days later) at the recapture stage, ۱۱۷۶ drivers were randomly selected.All drivers who crossed the boundaries of Hormozgan, Khuzestan, Khorasan Razavi, West and EastAzarbaijan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Gilan during the defined time were randomly selected. Thesample size was ۱۹۶ drivers for each boundary based on the traffic volume of each boundary and typeof vehicle.Results: The mean age of the addicted and non-addicted subjects was ۴۱.۶۵ ± ۳.۴۱ years and۳۹.۶۳ ± ۲.۱۱ years, respectively, with a significant difference (P = ۰.۰۱). There were significantdifferences between addicted and non-addicted subjects with respect to some of the socioeconomicvariables such as monthly income (P = ۰.۰۰۱), owning home (P = ۰.۰۰۱), owning car (P = ۰.۰۰۱),ethnicity (P = ۰.۰۱۶), and education (P = ۰.۰۱). There were significant differences in the economic andcultural factors affecting addictive drug use between non-addicted and addicted subjects (P = ۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: A significant difference in economic and cultural factors, ethnicity, and levels of educationwas observed between non-addicted and addicted subjects.

Keywords:

Drug use , commercial drivers , capture-recapture