Setting the policy agenda for the treatment of substance use disorders in Iran

Harm Reduction Journal

Nouzar Nakhaee¹  Vahid Yazdi-Feyzabadi¹  Mohammad Hossein Mehrolhassani²  Nadia Oroomiei³  Saeid Mirzaei³ 

[1]Health Services Management Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences

[2]Medical Informatics Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences

[3]Non Communicable Diseases Research Center, Bam University of Medical Sciences

关键词: Agenda-setting;    Harm reduction;    Policy analysis;    Policymaking;    Substance use disorder;    Iran;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12954-022-00612-w

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Drug use is one of the most common public health problems globally. This study was done to analyze the agenda-setting of policies related to substance use disorder treatment in Iran since 1979. Methods The current qualitative study was done through document review and interviews with policymakers and executives. Purposive sampling with snowball strategy was considered for sampling. Semi-structured interviews were done. A total of 22 documents were examined, and the data were saturated with 32 interviews. Kingdon's Multiple Streams Framework was used to analyze the data. Results The results indicated the intersection of problem stream, policy stream, political stream, and opening the opportunity window. In the problem stream, the rapid growth of AIDS among people who inject drugs (PWID), the decrease in the average age of first drug use, the increase in the prevalence of substance use disorder in women, the ineffectiveness of compulsive treatment, and criminological perspectives played key roles. The policy stream included criminological perspective and war on drugs, and harm reduction. The political stream included announcing general anti-narcotics policies by the Supreme Leader of Iran and understanding the need for treatment, rehabilitation, harm reduction, and social support for substance use disorder by officials and policymakers. Conclusions For a long time in Iran, policies based on the war on drugs were the dominant approach, and then, policies based on harm reduction and patient-centeredness were considered. The ideology and political parties influenced the executive apparatus's policy stream in this area. In countries with an ideological approach, the political stream plays a critical role in setting issues on the agenda. Therefore, policy entrepreneurs can put the points on the agenda by attracting the attention of political forces to the issue.

【 授权许可】

Unknown