Social Capital as a Predictor of Substance Misuse Relapse: Findings from a Case-Control Study

Background: Relapse during substance misuse treatment is common and poses a significant public health challenge. A variety of personal, social, and psychological factors influence it. This study explored the relationship between patients’ social capital, individual traits, and the risk of relapse.Me...

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Main Authors: Ali Solaimani, Abdolvahab Baghbanian, Mohammad Amin Behmanesh, Aziz Kassani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Health Sciences and Surveillance System
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Online Access:https://jhsss.sums.ac.ir/article_51087_ca0fb44e3d3fe3a0b6bb3b037a1ca900.pdf
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author Ali Solaimani
Abdolvahab Baghbanian
Mohammad Amin Behmanesh
Aziz Kassani
author_facet Ali Solaimani
Abdolvahab Baghbanian
Mohammad Amin Behmanesh
Aziz Kassani
author_sort Ali Solaimani
collection DOAJ
description Background: Relapse during substance misuse treatment is common and poses a significant public health challenge. A variety of personal, social, and psychological factors influence it. This study explored the relationship between patients’ social capital, individual traits, and the risk of relapse.Methods: In this case-control study, 218 relapsed patients (case group, n=109) were compared with 109 abstentious patients (control group, n=109) in the four voluntary outpatient addiction treatment centers and one maintenance addiction treatment center using random cluster sampling in Dezful City, Iran, 2020. The data were obtained from structured interviews to determine personal traits, including age, marital status, familysize, education level, job status, type of substance, smoking, and addiction history in the family. A standard social capital questionnaire was used to assess the participants’ personality. Chi-square test, t-test, and logistic regression were used for data analysis.Results: All patients were male, aged between 16 and 68 years, with a mean age of 36.84±6.76 years. The three dimensions of social capital —individual trust (OR=0.33, CI=0.11-0.51), cohesion/social support (OR=0.27, CI=0.07-0.48), and social trust/ associative relations (OR=0.65, CI=0.32-0.92) —are significantly associated with substance misuse relapse. In addition, age (OR=0.85, CI=0.65-0.91), educational level of illiterate/ academic (OR=2.87, CI=1.05-4.18), job status, unemployed/employed (OR=1.39, CI=1.11-1.80), and type of drugs (OR=2.71, CI=1.70- 3.73) had a direct association with substance misuse relapse.Conclusion: The association between social elements and the recurrence of substance misuse in patients receiving Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) is of importance. This study showed that reduced levels of social capital were associated with a higher chance of relapse. To address this issue, it is suggested to introduce inclusive social assistance initiatives that focus on nurturing the community and promoting inclusion among MMT patients.
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spelling doaj-art-ac57eba4e1b041fa961f0ee3466c76602025-08-20T03:02:32ZengShiraz University of Medical SciencesJournal of Health Sciences and Surveillance System2345-22182345-38932025-07-0113330130710.30476/jhsss.2024.102672.191151087Social Capital as a Predictor of Substance Misuse Relapse: Findings from a Case-Control StudyAli Solaimani0Abdolvahab Baghbanian1Mohammad Amin Behmanesh2Aziz Kassani3Depatement of Public Health, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, IranAdelaide Health Technology Assessment (AHTA), School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, AustraliaDepartment of Histology, School of Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, IranDepartment of Community Medicine. School of Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, IranBackground: Relapse during substance misuse treatment is common and poses a significant public health challenge. A variety of personal, social, and psychological factors influence it. This study explored the relationship between patients’ social capital, individual traits, and the risk of relapse.Methods: In this case-control study, 218 relapsed patients (case group, n=109) were compared with 109 abstentious patients (control group, n=109) in the four voluntary outpatient addiction treatment centers and one maintenance addiction treatment center using random cluster sampling in Dezful City, Iran, 2020. The data were obtained from structured interviews to determine personal traits, including age, marital status, familysize, education level, job status, type of substance, smoking, and addiction history in the family. A standard social capital questionnaire was used to assess the participants’ personality. Chi-square test, t-test, and logistic regression were used for data analysis.Results: All patients were male, aged between 16 and 68 years, with a mean age of 36.84±6.76 years. The three dimensions of social capital —individual trust (OR=0.33, CI=0.11-0.51), cohesion/social support (OR=0.27, CI=0.07-0.48), and social trust/ associative relations (OR=0.65, CI=0.32-0.92) —are significantly associated with substance misuse relapse. In addition, age (OR=0.85, CI=0.65-0.91), educational level of illiterate/ academic (OR=2.87, CI=1.05-4.18), job status, unemployed/employed (OR=1.39, CI=1.11-1.80), and type of drugs (OR=2.71, CI=1.70- 3.73) had a direct association with substance misuse relapse.Conclusion: The association between social elements and the recurrence of substance misuse in patients receiving Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) is of importance. This study showed that reduced levels of social capital were associated with a higher chance of relapse. To address this issue, it is suggested to introduce inclusive social assistance initiatives that focus on nurturing the community and promoting inclusion among MMT patients.https://jhsss.sums.ac.ir/article_51087_ca0fb44e3d3fe3a0b6bb3b037a1ca900.pdfsocial capitalsubstance-related disorderssocial supportrelapse
spellingShingle Ali Solaimani
Abdolvahab Baghbanian
Mohammad Amin Behmanesh
Aziz Kassani
Social Capital as a Predictor of Substance Misuse Relapse: Findings from a Case-Control Study
Journal of Health Sciences and Surveillance System
social capital
substance-related disorders
social support
relapse
title Social Capital as a Predictor of Substance Misuse Relapse: Findings from a Case-Control Study
title_full Social Capital as a Predictor of Substance Misuse Relapse: Findings from a Case-Control Study
title_fullStr Social Capital as a Predictor of Substance Misuse Relapse: Findings from a Case-Control Study
title_full_unstemmed Social Capital as a Predictor of Substance Misuse Relapse: Findings from a Case-Control Study
title_short Social Capital as a Predictor of Substance Misuse Relapse: Findings from a Case-Control Study
title_sort social capital as a predictor of substance misuse relapse findings from a case control study
topic social capital
substance-related disorders
social support
relapse
url https://jhsss.sums.ac.ir/article_51087_ca0fb44e3d3fe3a0b6bb3b037a1ca900.pdf
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