Psycho-social Factors that Lead to Heroin Addiction among Young Males in Turkey
Alptekin, Kamil and Mutlu, Ercan and Paltun, Salih Cihat and Goka, Erol
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Abstract
Heroin has become a subject of growing concern in Turkey due to the
rapid increase among young adults using and becoming addicted to it.
Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study is to identify the
psycho-social factors that lead to heroin addiction in young males based
on their life experiences. The sample consists of 18 young males (aged
18-24) who have been diagnosed with heroin addiction and are currently
receiving inpatient treatment for substance use disorder. Based on the
semi-structureed face-to-face interviews, the findings reveal that heroin
addiction develops gradually over time as an outcome of various
preliminary factors. Such factors include: lack of interest in school
and family relationships, growing up in the street culture, a tendency
toward addiction, and negative role models/peers. Moreover, the
progression of addiction results in physical, mental, social, and
economic losses, all of which trigger the desire to quit heroin and seek
treatment. The implication of the findings is that, because heroin
addiction is an outcome of various factors, multi-dimensional and
multi-disciplinary studies on heroin addiction that include the life
experiences of heroin addicts are necessary.... Show more Show less