Drug-related community issues and the required interventions in open drug scenes in Tehran, Iran: a qualitative study protocol

Background and objectives Many low-income and middle-income countries experience problems with open drug scenes and drug-related community issues (DRCIs). These experiences occur in settings with varying levels of health and law enforcement initiatives, and accordingly a range of approaches are impl...

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Main Authors: Mohammad Bagher Saberi Zafarghandi, Sahar Eshrati, Meroe Vameghi, Hadi Ranjbar, Reza Arezoomandan, Thomas Clausen, Helge Waal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2019-10-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/10/e030488.full
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author Mohammad Bagher Saberi Zafarghandi
Sahar Eshrati
Meroe Vameghi
Hadi Ranjbar
Reza Arezoomandan
Thomas Clausen
Helge Waal
author_facet Mohammad Bagher Saberi Zafarghandi
Sahar Eshrati
Meroe Vameghi
Hadi Ranjbar
Reza Arezoomandan
Thomas Clausen
Helge Waal
author_sort Mohammad Bagher Saberi Zafarghandi
collection DOAJ
description Background and objectives Many low-income and middle-income countries experience problems with open drug scenes and drug-related community issues (DRCIs). These experiences occur in settings with varying levels of health and law enforcement initiatives, and accordingly a range of approaches are implemented to curb the problem. Most of the published literature stems from Western and high-income societies. With this concern, the present study aims to describe a planned project to explore DRCIs in the open drug scenes of Tehran, including its typology, and predisposing and reinforcing factors. In addition, the study attempts to investigate the perceptions with respect to the required interventions and barriers to their accessibility.Methods To this end, the current study focuses on the Farahzad drug scene due to its structure and the difficult access to the scene by harm reduction providers. Data collection techniques encompass field observation, indepth interview and focus group discussion. Further, semistructured interviews are conducted with people who use drugs and other key informants who are engaged at this drug scene, including business, community, voluntary and statutory stakeholders, for an average of 90 min (average of 45 min for each part of the study). Furthermore, as a complementary method, field observation is performed regarding the themes of DRCIs at this scene. Then, focus group discussions are held to further describe the themes of DRCIs as well as to explore the required interventions, for an average of 90 min. Finally, the results are evaluated using qualitative content analysis.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Additionally, participants are to provide written informed consent. The findings of the study are expected to play a role in promoting the current intervention.
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spelling doaj-art-66b3f71f10b64fdb9136e7804d6b486e2025-08-20T01:55:31ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552019-10-0191010.1136/bmjopen-2019-030488Drug-related community issues and the required interventions in open drug scenes in Tehran, Iran: a qualitative study protocolMohammad Bagher Saberi Zafarghandi0Sahar Eshrati1Meroe Vameghi2Hadi Ranjbar3Reza Arezoomandan4Thomas Clausen5Helge Waal6Addiction Department, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranAddiction Department, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranSocial Welfare Management Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IranMental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (the Islamic Republic of)Addiction Department, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranNorwegian Centre for Addiction Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayNorwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayBackground and objectives Many low-income and middle-income countries experience problems with open drug scenes and drug-related community issues (DRCIs). These experiences occur in settings with varying levels of health and law enforcement initiatives, and accordingly a range of approaches are implemented to curb the problem. Most of the published literature stems from Western and high-income societies. With this concern, the present study aims to describe a planned project to explore DRCIs in the open drug scenes of Tehran, including its typology, and predisposing and reinforcing factors. In addition, the study attempts to investigate the perceptions with respect to the required interventions and barriers to their accessibility.Methods To this end, the current study focuses on the Farahzad drug scene due to its structure and the difficult access to the scene by harm reduction providers. Data collection techniques encompass field observation, indepth interview and focus group discussion. Further, semistructured interviews are conducted with people who use drugs and other key informants who are engaged at this drug scene, including business, community, voluntary and statutory stakeholders, for an average of 90 min (average of 45 min for each part of the study). Furthermore, as a complementary method, field observation is performed regarding the themes of DRCIs at this scene. Then, focus group discussions are held to further describe the themes of DRCIs as well as to explore the required interventions, for an average of 90 min. Finally, the results are evaluated using qualitative content analysis.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Additionally, participants are to provide written informed consent. The findings of the study are expected to play a role in promoting the current intervention.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/10/e030488.full
spellingShingle Mohammad Bagher Saberi Zafarghandi
Sahar Eshrati
Meroe Vameghi
Hadi Ranjbar
Reza Arezoomandan
Thomas Clausen
Helge Waal
Drug-related community issues and the required interventions in open drug scenes in Tehran, Iran: a qualitative study protocol
BMJ Open
title Drug-related community issues and the required interventions in open drug scenes in Tehran, Iran: a qualitative study protocol
title_full Drug-related community issues and the required interventions in open drug scenes in Tehran, Iran: a qualitative study protocol
title_fullStr Drug-related community issues and the required interventions in open drug scenes in Tehran, Iran: a qualitative study protocol
title_full_unstemmed Drug-related community issues and the required interventions in open drug scenes in Tehran, Iran: a qualitative study protocol
title_short Drug-related community issues and the required interventions in open drug scenes in Tehran, Iran: a qualitative study protocol
title_sort drug related community issues and the required interventions in open drug scenes in tehran iran a qualitative study protocol
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/10/e030488.full
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