Paradigmatic Model for Preventing Drug Use in Orzuiyeh County of Kerman

Background: Drug use is one of the most serious challenges in rural communities, and it is often accompanied by many economic and social problems. Orzuiyeh county is facing increased drug use because of the lack of job opportunities and changes in social values. The current study aimed to present a paradigmatic model for preventing drug use in the villages of this county. Methods: This is a qualitative study using Strauss and Corbin’s grounded theory. The research population included rural citizens, and data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Sampling continued until data saturation, which was achieved after ten interviews. Validity was confirmed through data stratification, and reliability was confirmed with an agreement coefficient of 0.72. Results: Data analysis produced 164 open codes divided into 21 contextual factors, 11 intervening factors, 21 strategies, and nine consequences. The central phenomenon of this study was drug use epidemy among rural youth. The essential contextual factors included economic conditions, unemployment, and changes in social values. The intervening factors included socialcultural conformity to using drugs and psychological effects. The most important consequences of prevention negligence are youth migration and broken homes. Major recommended strategies were youth empowerment, establishing a supportive environment, and fortifying social integrity. Conclusion: The addiction prevention model in rural areas can help to reduce the addiction rate by focusing on empowering the youth, assessing their needs, and establishing a supportive environment. Improving life skills and social integrity increases hope and self-confidence among the youth. Constantly monitoring the programs provides an opportunity to optimize them and facilitates the improvement of the quality of life in these communities.