Abstract

Background: Addiction is a serious threat to the health of a community, such that treatment costs and the likelihood of its high recurrence necessitate a turning point in the areas of prevention. Considering the role of public places in shaping the motives and beliefs of individuals, this research was conducted with the aim of studying the role of these places in creating a tendency toward addiction in Yazd. Methods: Cross-sectional method was employed in this research and the statistical population consisted of citizens aged 15 - 50 years old in Yazd of which, 400 samples were selected by multistage cluster sampling and they were studied using a self-made questionnaire. Results: The findings unveiled that there is a direct and significant relationship between the use of public places and the tendency to addiction and the highest percentage of drug distribution in parks was observed by 35.8% of respondents. Similarly, 19% in cafes, 9.3% in coffee shops, 6.5% in gyms and 4.1% in hairdressers observed drug distribution. Locations with less damage were government-licensed and located on main streets. Also, there was a significant relationship between the family's supervision of the children's travel and the unreliable trust of visitors to these places with tendency toward drug use. Conclusion: Identification of unlicensed personal service centers and outlying sites, monitoring smoking and drug use in parks and cafes and applying age restrictions and regulations in entry to these places, while paying attention to the companionship of families with their offspring are effective strategies to reduce the tendency toward addiction.

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