Intention to quit addiction to drugs, health literacy, mental health literacy, and motivations for receiving methadone, a cross-sectional study in Iran

Background Given the contradictory results of studies on health literacy among addicts the limited studies on treatment motivations and mental health literacy among addicts, and the existing gap regarding the impact of these on the intention to quit addiction, this study was aimed at determining the relationship between the intention to leave addiction and health literacy, mental health literacy, and motivations to receive methadone among addicts. Methods In a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study, 230 addicts referring to addiction treatment centers in Qaynat County, South Khorasan, Iran, were selected to participate in the survey through one-stage cluster sampling in 2023. The data were collected by demographic and background characteristics, the Iranian Adult Health Literacy (Helia), Mental Health Literacy (MHLQ), and the motivations to receive methadone and intention to quit addiction questionnaires. They were analyzed using SPSS version 23, descriptive statistics, and logistic regression. Results Only 43 percent (92 participants) of the addicts intended to quit. Health literacy, mental health literacy, and motivations to receive methadone were at limited, low, and moderate levels, respectively. The results of logistic regression showed that age, marital status, health literacy, mental health literacy, and motivations to receive methadone were effective factors in the intention to quit. Conclusion The intention to quit addiction was lower among older addicts, singles, addicts with limited health literacy, addicts with lower mental health literacy, and addicts with fewer motivations to receive methadone. Therefore, it is suggested that more attention should be paid to such addicts in designing educational programs to promote their intention to quit their addiction to drugs.