Patterns of Drug Use and Related Factors Among Prisoners in Iran: Results from the National Survey in 2015

Drug use by prisoners is one of the world's most important problems. We sought to determine the pattern of drug use behavior and related factors among prisoners of Iran in 2015. This cross-sectional study was part of the bio-behavioral surveillance survey conducted among 6200 prisoners in 26 prison sites in Iran who were selected through multi-stage sampling. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews which inquired about participants' demographics and drug use behaviors. We analyzed study data using descriptive statistics, and crude and adjusted logistic regressions, in STATA-12. Of all prisoners, 74.0% had a history of lifetime drug use, and 16.6% of drug users had a history of lifetime injection drug use (IDU). According to the results of a multivariate logistic regression, male sex, being between the ages of 24 and 45, having a history of imprisonment, and having a history of lifetime high-risk sexual behavior were significant risk factors for lifetime drug use. Also, male sex, single status, and a history of previous imprisonment were significant risk factors for lifetime IDU. The prevalence of drug use in Iran's prison population is high and alarming. There is a continuing need for harm reduction programs, including the methadone maintenance treatment, among imprisoned drug users and IDUs.