Knowledge levels and attitudes of individuals regarding substance use disorder in Turkey


ERDOĞAN A., Kahya Y., YILMAZ Y., Edebali M. İ., Uğurlu M.

Journal of Substance Use, 2023 (SSCI) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2023
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/14659891.2023.2275010
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Substance Use
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, ASSIA, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, Educational research abstracts (ERA), Index Islamicus, Psycinfo
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: addiction, attitude, knowledge level, stigma, Substance use disorder
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Objective: To investigate the level of knowledge, and attitude of society toward substance use disorder (SUD). Method: In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire form created by the researchers was completed by individuals over the age of 18 between June and July 2022. A total of 1365 individuals (684 women, 681 men) participated in the study. Results: The mean age of the participants was 36.22 ± 10.47 years (min:18, max:75). A total of 19.2% did not consider addiction a medical disease, 37.4% thought that addiction was a moral failing, and 37.4% believed that addiction was a voluntary decision. 28.3% thought that only people with weak willpower will become addicted, 42.1% thought that trying substances would not lead to addiction, and 38.4% thought that substances can be quit without medical treatment. A total of 52.7% reported that they were afraid of people with addictions, 22.9% stated that they would not employ SUD patients in their workplace even if they had been treated. Only 36.8% of the participants had received any addiction-related training in their lifetime. Conclusion: Our findings display that the level of knowledge about addiction in society in Turkey is low, and there is substantial stigmatization and negative views on people with addictions.