Substance-dependent professional drivers in Iran: a descriptive study.

OBJECTIVE

To determine characteristics of a nationwide sample of Iranian dependent drug users whose main profession is driving.

METHODS

Data were derived from a larger study, which aimed to describe pattern of drug dependency in Iran. A "driver" was defined as a person whose main profession was driving a motor vehicle to earn a living. Nine hundred twenty individuals were interviewed by a trained drug abuse team in all provinces of Iran during a 5-month period, from April to August 2007. Socioeconomic characteristics, substance abused, and high-risk behaviors were collected by a checklist.

RESULTS

All drivers were male and their mean (+/- standard deviation) age was 35.1 (+/- 8.6) years. Opioids (434 cases, 46.8%) and kerack (256 cases, 27.6%) were the two most common drugs used. Except for buprenorphine, which was used via intravenous injection, inhalation was the dominant method of us in other substances including opioids (56%), heroin (51.4%), kerack (80.1%), methamphetamine (73.9%), and cannabis (77.8%). Extramarital sexual relationships (414 cases, 45%) and nonfatal intoxication (362 cases, 39.3%) were the two most frequent high-risk behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

There are people with drug dependencies who drive for living in Iran. Deterrence programs through screening and random drug testing at police stations and legislation regarding charges of drugged drivers and prohibition from driving for long time periods are essential priorities in traffic safety.