Iranian drug use survey in workplaces: A study protocol

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Workplace addiction poses significant risks including accidents, absenteeism, and reduced productivity.
• A national survey was initiated to investigate the prevalence and patterns of substance abuse within industrial workforces in Iran.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and patterns of drug use among employees in Iranian industrial settings.
• To compare self-reported drug use with objective measures like urine tests.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional national survey utilizing multistage cluster sampling was conducted from November 2013 to November 2014.
• Data collection involved trained interviewers, structured questionnaires, and urine drug testing for participants.
• A sample size of 13,489 was targeted, with 13,286 questionnaires completed and 13,128 undergoing urine drug tests.

Main Results:

• The response rate for questionnaires was high at 98.4%.
• Urine drug tests indicated a higher prevalence of drug use compared to self-reported data.
• Discrepancies between positive urine tests and participant disclosure were noted, suggesting underreporting.

Conclusions:

• The study outlines a robust protocol for a national survey on workplace drug use, encompassing sampling, instruments, and fieldwork.
• Results underscore the reliability of objective measures (urine tests) over self-reporting for estimating drug use prevalence.
• The findings provide valuable data for policymakers to develop and implement effective strategies for managing workplace addiction.