Investigation of drug use causes in young persons of Sanandaj using Respondent Driven Sampling

Introduction: Drug addiction is one of the most important health problems and social harms worldwide. Based on exist evidence primary prevention is main approach for addiction control in the society and treatment could not help to deal with this issue. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the causes of drug addiction for the first time in drug users of Sanandaj. Method: This was qualitative study that conducted in Sanandaj, 2015 using respondent driven sampling (RDS), as one of the sampling methods to access the hidden population. With this method until saturation of the data 410 addicts were recruited. Focus group discussions (FGD) and in-depth interview methods were used to determine the causes of drug abuse in drug users for first time. Data analysis was performed using Open code software. Results: Until saturation, 410 addicts were enrolled in the study with a mean age of 36.3 years. Mean age of these patients at first onset of drug use was 17.2 years. The results showed that hedonism (pleasure), curiosity, peer pressure (recommended friends), lack of enough knowledge, having addict person in the family, emotional failures and unemployment have been recognized as major causes of drug use for the first time. Great prosperity and propensity to the mind comfort were other un-prevalent causes for beginning the drug use that reported in some participants. Conclusion: Given the results, preventive interventions can be carried out for most causes of drug use identified in the study especially paying attention to the needs of these people in their teenage period besides the giving required information to them would be helpful.