The Prevalence of Addiction to Narcotics and Alcohol among Traumatic Patients Referred to Two Main Trauma Centers in South-West Iran

Abstract Background Using alcohol and narcotics are recognized to be the important cause of accidents, specifically very severe driving accidents. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of addiction to the narcotics and alcohol among traumatic patients referred to two main trauma centers in South-West of Iran. Methods This research is a cross- sectional descriptive study on 781 traumatic patients referred to two main trauma centers (the trauma centers of Fars and Kohgiloyeh and Boirahmad states). The data collection tool was a questionnaire whose validity and reliability were determined by content validity and test-retest methods respectively; its reliability coefficient was 0.8. Collected data were analyzed in SPSS software using descriptive statistics, x² and independent t –test. Results The results showed that 118 (15.1%) of samples used narcotics like Opium, Heroin and Ecstasy; 190 subjects (24.3%) smoked Cigarette and Hookah and 15 (1.9%) used anti-depression drugs. In addition, 50 participants (6.4%) used Alcohol. Out of these figures, 136 persons (36.5%) reported the use of narcotics, cigarette, hookah, alcohol or anti-depression drugs before the accident, among which 75 persons (55.2%) have used these materials less than one hour before the accident. Conclusion Considering the use of addictive materials by some of samples and particularly that a high percentage of them reported the use of these materials before the accident, recognizing and screening such people, especially among drivers, is necessary.