Nasar Ahmad Shayan - Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
Abdul Malik Hooshmand - Clinical Research Coordinator Organization, DermEffects, London, Ontario, Canada
Ali Rahimi - Scientific Research Center, Jami University, Herat, Afghanistan
Sharareh Shayan - Faculty of Stomatology, Ghalib University, Herat, Afghanistan
Hilal Ozcebe - Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

Background: Addiction is a global public health problem, with over ۳۶ million people suffering from drug-use disorders. Afghanistan, the world’s leading opium producer, has high rates of drug use owing to the easy access to drugs in this country. This study aimed to investigate drug users’ quality of life in Herat, Afghanistan, and identify the factors affecting it.Methods: This cross-sectional study examined health-related quality of life at six rehabilitation camps in Herat, Afghanistan, from March to July ۲۰۱۹, using the short form-۳۶ questionnaire (SF-۳۶). Data collected through interviews were analyzed using SPSS software (version ۲۵).Findings: A total of ۲۴۰ participants from six rehabilitation camps in Herat, Afghanistan participated in this study. The majority of participants (۸۰%) rated their overall health as “good” or “very good”. Men had higher average scores for mental health and vitality than women and those aged ۳۰-۳۹ had the highest quality of life. Statistically significant differences were found in bodily pain (P=۰.۰۳۸), vitality (P=۰.۰۴۲), and social functioning (P=۰.۰۴۶) among users of different types of drugs. Opium abusers had the highest scores for the physical and mental components, followed by heroin, methamphetamine, hashish, and crack abusers.Conclusion: This study explored the relationship between drug addiction and quality of life in Herat, Afghanistan. The findings showed that young adults were more vulnerable to drug use and male addicts and opium users had the highest quality of life. This study can inform the development of effective rehabilitation programs but more research is needed for addiction treatment strategies.

Drug Addiction, Quality of Life, Rehabilitation, mental health, Afghanistan