Comparison of executive functions of designer drugs, natural (traditional) drug users and healthy people

Farzaneh Mikaeli Manee¹ Akram Fekri² Sheler Abkhiz³

1) Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Literature & Humanities, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
2) Masters gragute of General Psychology, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
3) Masters gragute of Educational Psychology, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

IOI Code : XDFF-FCEKZ
Publication : 3rd Natinal Conference on Social Pathology(asibuma.ir)
Abstract :
    Introduction:The purpose of this study was to compare the executive functions between consumers of designer drug and natural drugs and healthy people in the color-word Stroop test. Method: In this causal-comparative study, 13 consumers of designer drugs and 13 consumers of natural drugs matched by random sampling method were selected from those referred to addiction treatment centers and camps. Thirteen people were selected as the non-consuming group after matching with the other two groups. All three groups responded to the Color-Word Neuropsychology Stroop test. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey s post hoc test. Results: The results of analysis of variance showed significant difference in number of consistent reaction time (F=15.12, P<0.000) and inconsistent one (F=15.46, P<0.000) between the drug users and the healthy group and number of correct consistent reaction time(F=3.7, P<0.03). Also the results showed that consumers of designer drugs have longer consistent reaction time (P<0.05) and inconsistent one (P<0/05) comparing to consumers of natural drugs. Conclusion: Consumption of designer and natural drugs has caused damage to the frontal areas, which leads to poor executive function in consumers.

Keywords : executive function designer drugs natural drugs stroop test