Relationship between Emotional Disturbance, Family Conflict, Social Pressure and Drug Craving Among Former Drug Addicts

Abstract

Research on drug cravings among former drug addicts is an important issue to be addressed in order to provide input to the government in an effort to prevent relapse among former drug addicts. This article aims to identify the relationship between emotional disturbance, family conflict, social pressure and drug cravings among former drug addicts. A survey study was conducted by using a cross sectional design. A total of 380 former addicts, who completed the rehabilitation program at the Cure and Care Rehabilitation Center (CCRC) and were undergoing a period of supervision by the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), were selected to participate in the survey study. The data were analyzed using an inferential statistic, the Pearson Correlation test. The results showed a moderate and positive significant relationship between drug cravings and emotional disturbance (r = .703, p <0.01), family conflict (r = .540, p <0.01) and social pressure (r = .606, p <0.01) among former addicts. These findings indicated that emotional disturbance, family conflict and social pressure that experienced by former addicts should be tackled by the stakeholders as it has a significant relationship with cravings, which may lead to relapse among former addicts.