AN INSIGHT INTO THE FROZEN WORLD: EXPLORING PATTERNS OF USE OF ICE/CRYSTAL METH IN PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

Authors

  • Baber Awan Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan
  • Naheed Mahsood Department of Medical Education, Khyber Girls Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan
  • Saima Abid Department of Community Medicine, Pak International Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan
  • Kashif ur Rehman Khalil Department of Community Medicine, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan
  • Hafiza Mariam Nasarullah Department of Internal Medicine, Avicenna Medical College and Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Farhan Ullah Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, The MetroHealth Center, Cleveland, OH, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33279/jkcd.v12i1.80

Keywords:

patterns, explore, Ice or crystal meth, qualitative.

Abstract

Objective: To explore the patterns of use of Ice (or Crystal Meth) in the males and females of district Peshawar, Pakistan.
Materials and Methods: This qualitative study uses a phenomenology approach to develop an understanding of processes and themes, which explains the perceptions of active methamphetamine users. Total thirty individual in-depth interviews (IDI) were conducted from March 2019 till August 2019 in district Peshawar, including both male and female participants recruited through purposive sampling.
Results: Four themes that emerged from the responses of research participants were:
Beginning of the end - from recreation to habituation; indicating the factors associated with the initiation of use of Ice
Dynamics of Ice or crystal meth - lost into the fog; indicating both positive and negative health dynamics due to Ice use
Ice or crystal meth - a contagious social virus; indicating epidemic of Ice or crystal meth in society and its effect on social life
Breaking through the wall; indicating both facilitators and barriers to the cessation of use of Ice or crystal meth and need for intervention.
Conclusion: Ice or Crystal Meth has multiple factors associated with the initiation of its use; social and financial aspects, mental and physical health effects, facilitators, and barriers to the cessation of use. There is a need for collaboration between the government, anti-narcotics department, public health professionals, and health care providers to design and effectively utilize
new strategies to combat drug dealing and drug-using social networks.

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Published

2022-03-31

How to Cite

Baber Awan, Naheed Mahsood, Saima Abid, Kashif ur Rehman Khalil, Hafiza Mariam Nasarullah, & Farhan Ullah. (2022). AN INSIGHT INTO THE FROZEN WORLD: EXPLORING PATTERNS OF USE OF ICE/CRYSTAL METH IN PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN. JOURNAL OF KHYBER COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY, 12(1), 18–24. https://doi.org/10.33279/jkcd.v12i1.80

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2022): Journal of Khyber College of Dentistry

Section

Original Article

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Copyright (c) 2022 Baber Awan, Naheed Mahsood, Saima Abid, Kashif ur Rehman Khalil, Hafiza Mariam Nasarullah, Farhan Ullah

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