Factors Responsible for Heroin Addiction in Azad Kashmir and Islamabad

Abstract

Heroin abuse causes significant mortality in the world and appears to be the most difficult addiction to treat and recover from. The aim of this investigation is to provide knowledge about causes of heroin addiction at individual, familial and societal level in Azad Kashmir and Islamabad. A qualitative research design was employed to achieve the objective of the present study. Participants were selected using purposive sampling technique. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews from 20 heroin addicts aged between 15 to 20 years. 10 informants were selected from ‘Drug Rehabilitation Center Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir’ while other 10 were selected from ‘Hosla Medical Center Islamabad’. Thematic analysis was applied to analyze data.. Stress, curiosity, peer group pressure, parental separation or divorce, lack of supervision of family and easy availability of heroin were identified as major contributing factors of heroin. In order to contextualize the causes of heroin addiction present study is supported by family process theory, availability theory and social learning theory.

Keywords:Heroin, Causes of heroin addiction, Azad Kashmir, Islamabad.