This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of the use of tobacco and tobacco products among public employees in Konya province and support for the tobacco control law. This cross-sectional, analytical study was carried out on 4,874 public employees. The participants were surveyed about the use of tobacco and tobacco products, the tobacco control law, and smoking ban in closed areas. Of the participants, 59.7% were current and/or occasional users of various tobacco products. Specifically, 36.5% of the participants were current smokers. Men smoked 2,272 times more than women (p<0.001) (Odds ratio 2.272, confidence interval 2.003-2.576). The highest frequency of smoking (54.4%) was found among the provincial police department personnel. Of the participants, 93.0% supported the ban on smoking in closed areas, and 28.3% supported increasing its coverage. The frequency of smoking among the personnel working in public institutions in our province was found to be higher than the national average. Despite this, almost all the personnel supported and implemented the smoking ban in closed areas. In-service training on smoking and its harmful effects should be increased, and those who plan to quit smoking should be supported.
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This study aimed to evaluate the success and factors that affected the success of smoking cessation treatments adopted in the Gulhane Smoking Cessation Polyclinic (SCP). The smokers admitted to SCP from January 1, 2018, to July 15, 2019, were included in the study. The participants were treated with varenicline or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The number of all participants was 598, and 196 (32.8%) of them quitted smoking successfully. The varenicline group (n=264) had significantly higher number and percentage of participants who successfully quit smoking than the NRT group (n=334), which accounted for 113 (42.8%) and 83 (24.9%), respectively (p<0.001). The highest smoking cessation rate was detected in the group with low Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) at 79.5% (p<0.001). Participants without comorbidity had higher smoking cessation rates than others (p=0.002). The mean numbers of follow-up visits were higher in the successfully quit group with a mean number of 4.2 (p<0.001). CBT combined with varenicline was found to be more successful than CBT combined with NRT in smoking cessation. The reliability of varenicline, low FTND level, absence of comorbidity, and increased numbers follow-up visits were found to be contributing factors to this success.
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Synthetic cannabinoids are accepted as new-design substances with strong addictive properties. The development of addiction in users is linked to craving. Persistent craving, which is defined as a strong subjective urge to use drugs, is a key clinical symptom criterion for addiction-related disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5. This study explores the craving experiences of synthetic cannabinoid users. Therefore, elaboration of craving experiences of synthetic cannabinoid users will contribute to a better understanding of it and to the development of new treatment strategies. The research was designed as an interpretive phenomenological analysis to investigate the craving phenomenon in depth. Face-to-face interviews were carried out using semi-structured interview forms developed by the researcher. The data were collected from 11 participants who were users of the synthetic cannabinoids known as Bonsai and Jamaica in Turkey. The findings revealed that craving is an experience that has emotional, behavioral, and cognitive dimensions for synthetic cannabinoid users. The results also showed that craving is expressed as “want.” This want is uncontrollable and has the purpose of obtaining pleasure. The act of smoking the substance can continue automatically. Its addictive effects such as relaxation, pleasure, happiness, and relieving troubles can be imagined and experienced visually by the users.
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The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of drug use, sociodemographic characteristics, and risk factors among high school students and yield a grounding for further studies. The data of the present cross-sectional study were collected through the questionnaires filled out by the students under the supervision of the staff of a Public Health Directorate. Among a total of 12,935 high school students in Burdur city, 2,112 students were selected using the stratified random sampling method with the prevalence 50%, margin of error 2%, and type 1 error 5%. 2011 students responded to the survey questions. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 15.0 package program. The students tried tobacco (45.3%), alcohol (33.0%), and drugs (3.7%) at least once in their lifetime. Previous employment or current employment (OR: 14.905 CI: [5.140-43.229]), low income (OR: 2.545 CI: [1.338-4.843]), tobacco use (OR: 5.575 CI: [1.640-18.952]), alcohol use (OR: 14.905 CI: [5.140-43.229]), and drug user in the family (OR:10.242 CI: [3.281-31.975]) were identified as factors increasing the risk of drug use. The rate of drug use experience among high school students is similar to the related data of Turkey. Tobacco and alcohol use come before drug use.
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This study aims to investigate the prevalence of risk for substance-related and behavioral addictions among university students in Turkey. In total, 612 students were included in this study, and they completed an online questionnaire consisting of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, the Drug Abuse Screening Test, the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, the Young’s Internet Addiction Test-Short Form, the South Oaks Gambling Screen, and the Burden of Behavioral Addiction Form. Results revealed that the rates of potential alcohol dependence, pathological internet use, and potential smartphone addiction were 2.0%, 11.4%, and 24.7%, respectively. Approximately 0.3% of students reported severe problems related to substance use. The rates of high risk of compulsive shopping, problematic social media use, food addiction, gaming addiction, and sex/pornography addiction were 2.0%, 3.6%, 3.4%, 4.9%, and 5.6%, respectively. The rates of potential alcohol dependence, pathological gambling, gaming addiction, and sex/pornography addiction were found to be higher in men. Mild nicotine addiction, problematic internet use and possible smartphone addiction, food addiction, and gaming addiction rates were higher in the age group of 18 to 24 years. In conclusion, screening for addiction risk among youth is important for effective prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment.
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The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria has included internet gamingdisorder (IGD) as a condition, but it needs further research. Little is known about who is at risk of developingIGD. Efforts at prevention and early intervention are very important in childhood and adolescence whenthe first signs of IGD appear, especially in susceptible groups. However, in the results of studies investigating the relationship between psychopathologies and IGD, there are contradictions that may be the result ofheterogeneity in the evaluation processes. Therefore, it is critical to use DSM-5 criteria or questionnairesregarding IGD. Ninety-two children were included in this study, which is a cross-sectional study evaluatingthe correlation between IGD and other possible comorbid conditions (inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity,oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, anxiety, depression, suicidality, and family dysfunction). IGDscores were significantly correlated with the scores of anxiety, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and suicidal ideation.However, we did not find a significant correlation between IGD and depression or family dysfunction. Themean time between the first internet gaming experience and the parents’ recognition of the disorder was about2 years. Children suffering from anxiety or hyperactivity/impulsivity should be evaluated for their screen time.Children with problematic gaming behavior are at risk for developing suicidal tendencies.
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In this study, we aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the Smartphone Addiction Inventory-ShortForm (SPAI-SF) developed by Lin et al. for Turkish high school students. We analyzed the construct validityby conducting a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with the data collected from 578 participants who usedsmartphones in the past 3 months. Young’s Internet Addiction Test-Short Form was used for criterion validity.We calculated the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the internal consistency of the scale. We conducted thetest-retest reliability of the scale with 109 students. We used item analysis based on the correlations method.As a result of CFA, x2/df=2.25, root mean square error of approximation=0.047, comparative fit index =0.98,normed fit index=0.96, and incremental fit index=0.98. We found a highly positive and significant relationshipbetween total scores of the two scales (r=0.57, p<0.001). The Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.85 in the internalconsistency analysis. First and retest total scores were highly positively correlated (r=0.68, p<0.001). In the itemanalysis based on correlations, the Spearman correlation coefficients calculated for each item ranged from 0.47to 0.70 (p<0.001). SPAI-SF can be used as a measurement tool to evaluate the risk of smartphone addiction inTurkish high school students.
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In this study, we aimed to examine the status of internet addiction in children and the stress factors causing it during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study was a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The study sample included 154 parents of 7- to 10-year-old students. Participant information form and the Family-Child Internet Addiction Scale were used as data collection tools. The data of the study were collected with a questionnaire (via Google Forms) between July 15 and December 15, 2020. Of the children participating in the study, 90.3% (n=139) showed no symptoms and 9.7% (n=15) showed limited symptoms in terms of internet addiction. The total mean score that the children obtained from the scale was found to be 24.6±16.9. It was observed that the frequency of a child playing games with parents, the parents watching news about COVID-19 with the child, and the child being frequently warned about the COVID-19 precautions increased the children’s internet addiction scores (p<0.05). This study demonstrated that if the pandemic process was prolonged, internet addiction in children could be further triggered.
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Although selfie behavior, which has become popular with smartphones, initially starts as a leisure activity, itcan turn into an addiction with time. This condition has been defined as a mental disorder by the AmericanPsychiatric Association and named as selfitis. Recently, interest in studies on the concept of selfie has increasedand a measurement tool called "Selfitis Disease Behavior" has been developed on this subject. In this study,we aimed to perform the validity and reliability analysis of the Turkish version of Selfitis Disease BehaviorScale (SDBS). As a result of the confirmatory factor analysis, it was found that the goodness of fit values ofthe Turkish version of the scale were acceptable and a good fit. It was also determined that the internal consistency coefficients of the scale were between 0.834 and 0.956. In addition, as a result of the correlation analysisperformed within the context validity, it was concluded that the SDBS had a positive relationship with socialmedia addiction and body perception scales. Therefore, the SDBS adapted into Turkish was demonstrated tobe a valid and reliable measurement tool for use in Turkish culture.
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Addiction is a chronic and recurrent disease, and many people return to substance abuse shortly after treatment. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of drug abuse relapse and to investigate its related factors among addicted women. This cross-sectional study was performed in 2020 on 200 women who used drugs, and who were seeking treatment in the outpatient addiction treatment centers in Sanandaj. The participants were selected by the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire through face-to-face interviews, and analyzed by independent t-test, chi-square, and logistic regression procedures. The mean age of the respondents was 37.75 ± 10.49, and the mean age at the first drug use was 24.21 ± 8.96 years. Age at first use, family history of addiction, type of drug used, attendance at the meetings of the Narcotics Anonymous Association (NA), history of childhood sexual abuse, and experience of physical violence were among the factors influencing the relapse of substance abuse in women (p < .05). The results show that contextual, behavioral, and demographic factors affect the relapse of drug use in women. Therefore, designing and implementing interventions based on the results of the present study can be effective in preventing relapse in women.
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