Young Iranian women used cannabis to cope with family dysfunction and relational trauma

Thematic narrative analysis of 12 interviews generated 961 open codes organized into two themes. "Dysfunctional Interpersonal Relationships" (447 codes) showed how maladaptive family interactions, particularly parent-child conflict, contributed to cannabis initiation and persistence. "Positive and Negative Qualities of Interpersonal Relationships" (514 codes) revealed that emotional neglect, absence of secure attachment, and unresolved relational distress drove cannabis use as a coping mechanism, while some participants reported receiving emotional support from peers or family.

Thematic narrative analysis conducted in Karaj and Tehran (2022-2023). Twelve young women who use cannabis recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Semi-structured interviews conducted until data saturation. Open coding and thematic analysis.

In Iran, where cannabis is the second most commonly used illicit substance with rising use among women, understanding the relational drivers of use is critical for developing culturally appropriate prevention. The finding that family dysfunction is the primary driver suggests family-level interventions may be more effective than individual-focused approaches.

Across cultures and contexts, family relationships emerge as a consistent driver of substance use initiation in women. This Iranian study adds cross-cultural evidence that relational trauma and emotional neglect create vulnerability for cannabis use as a coping strategy.

Very small sample (12 participants) limits generalizability. Snowball sampling may recruit women with similar experiences. Cultural context of Iran may not generalize to other settings. Retrospective self-report of childhood experiences may be subject to recall bias.