Allameh Tabataba’i University Strategic Recommendations for  Administrative Bodies

Allameh Tabataba’i University Strategic Recommendations for Administrative Bodies

Psycho-Social Harms with an Emphasis on Addiction

Author
Department of Clinical Psychology, Allameh Tabataba'i University
Abstract
Drug addiction, as one of the most complex psycho-social harms in Iran, is the result of the interaction of structural, cultural, economic, and institutional factors, and due to its proximity to major drug production centers and its location along regional transit routes, it has also acquired security and policy dimensions. Problem analysis indicates that fragmented management and the absence of a single custodian at the national level, a lack of procedural unity among engaged institutions, theoretical ambiguity in defining addiction (as a crime or a disease), and weak functional communication among responsible organizations are among the primary obstacles to effectively confronting this crisis. Furthermore, the insufficient role of the media in fulfilling scientific and educational functions, inattentiveness to identity crises among youth, the high unemployment rate of educated youth, and the weakness of the educational system—particularly schools—in prevention are identified as exacerbating backgrounds of addiction. Proposed strategies emphasize the necessity of conducting empirical research and national meta-analyses to determine policy priorities, formulating unified theoretical foundations and coordinated policymaking among related agencies, officially mandating universities to solve the addiction problem, developing education and information dissemination centered on self-care in adolescents, implementing the "Health-Promoting School" plan focusing on addiction, and organizing university theses and dissertations through structured memoranda of understanding between universities and executive institutions.
Keywords