Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Center for Community Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
Int J Drug Policy. 2013 Nov;24(6):545-9. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.06.007. Epub 2013 Aug 1.
This article explores the association of people who inject drugs and their family members in terms of mental health and family relations. The objective was to understand the family context and its impact on people who inject drugs in a family-oriented culture in Vietnam.
Cross-sectional assessment data were gathered from 83 people who inject drugs and 83 of their family members recruited from four communes in Phú Thọ province, Vietnam. Depressive symptoms and family relations were measured for both people who inject drugs and family members. Internalized shame and drug-using behavior were reported by people who inject drugs, and caregiver burden was reported by family members.
We found that higher level of drug using behavior of people who inject drugs was significantly associated with higher depressive symptoms and lower family relations reported by themselves as well as their family members. Family relations reported by people who inject drugs and their family members were positively correlated.
The findings highlight the need for interventions that address psychological distress and the related challenges faced by family members of people who inject drugs. The article has policy implication which concludes with an argument for developing strategies that enhance the role of families in supporting behavioral change among people who inject drugs.
本文探讨了吸毒者及其家庭成员在心理健康和家庭关系方面的关联。目的是了解在越南这种以家庭为导向的文化背景下，家庭环境对吸毒者的影响。
横断面评估数据来自越南富寿省四个公社的 83 名吸毒者和 83 名吸毒者家属。对吸毒者及其家属的抑郁症状和家庭关系进行了测量。吸毒者报告了内化羞耻感和吸毒行为，而家属报告了照顾者负担。
我们发现，吸毒者的用药行为水平越高，他们自己和家属报告的抑郁症状越严重，家庭关系越差。吸毒者及其家属报告的家庭关系呈正相关。
研究结果强调需要采取干预措施，解决吸毒者及其家属所面临的心理困扰和相关挑战。本文具有政策意义，最后提出了制定策略的论点，以增强家庭在支持吸毒者行为改变方面的作用。
