Drug addiction, a highly prevalent disorder affecting more than 10% of the world's population, is a major public health problem associated with increased mortality, morbidity, sociocultural problems, and healthcare costs [1]. Several factors may hinder maintaining drug abstinence over time. Among the most important of craving is a symptom of withdrawal and is caused by changes in neurochemicals induced by psychotropic substances; cravings may be triggered by exposure to internal or external environmental problems [2].
Many countries around the world have established national programs to regularly monitor drug use rates within their borders and study how these rates have changed over time. Egypt, for example, began monitoring in 1994, which revealed that 6.2% of the population had previously reported using the substance at least once [3]. The second report of the National Program for Addiction Research in Egypt in 2005 revealed that 12.6% of the population were regular users. These results highlight the growing severity of the drug abuse crisis in the country [4]. Despite these high levels of use of psychoactive substances, there were limitations in the treatment of drug abusers due to difficulties in recognizing the preventive aspects and risk factors affecting the unhealthy use of drugs [5].
Relapse and lack of control over substance abuse are major issues [6]. Post-treatment relapse of addiction is likely as the belief in craving perpetuates opioid addiction; In other words, the physiological state of craving is an indicator of drug abuse and relapse [7]. Craving for substance abuse is a strong and persistent desire to abuse drugs and produces a strong drive to pursue substance abuse and addiction [6].
Craving refers to a physical and mental state of craving for a specific psychoactive drug, which is manifested by the individual and directed to a drug previously taken [8]. Sometimes users themselves attribute their cravings to their inability to control their cravings to use drugs, which leads to burglary, theft, or fraud.
Self-compassion is a multifaceted concept that is made up of factors that promote empathy with oneself, including mindfulness, self-kindness, and common humanity. Mindfulness is the present-focused awareness of an individual’s reactions to life events. Self-kindness involves being understanding and providing self-care for yourself when faced with difficulty. Common humanity indicates that all human beings face difficulties, challenges, and negative or contradictory emotions [9].
Self-compassion is a positive and emotional attitude towards self. Previous research has shown that self-compassion is positively associated with positive effects and negatively associated with negative effects. In addition, self-compassion is an emotional adjustment technique that allows an individual to notice, tenderness, understand, and accept negative emotions with a shared sense of humanity. Therefore, during times of suffering and distress, self-sympathy helps turn negative emotions into more positive emotions [10].
Studies have shown that self-compassion is associated with much positive psychological strength. For example, people with a high level of self-compassion reported more happiness than those with a low level of self-compassion. More generally, higher levels of hope, gratitude, and positive impact are also shown. Self-compassion is often associated with emotional intelligence, wisdom, personal initiative, intellectual flexibility, curiosity, life satisfaction, and emotions of social connection—all are essential components of a fulfilling existence. In addition, self-compassion traits are associated with independence, abilities, relationships, and self-determination [11].
Various studies suggest that aspects that promote self-compassion may serve as protective factors for alcohol abuse. However, studies investigating these positive aspects of sympathy or self-compassion for alcohol use after treatment of substance use disorders are still needed and recommended by several studies [9].
We need to consider the different dimensions that make up humans. Spirituality and religiosity are powerful partners in people's lives and are partly responsible for helping prevent self-destructive behavior associated with substance use. Spirituality and religiosity are separate components because spirituality embraces the existential realm and human nature, provides meaning to life through feelings of hope and faith, and enhances human well-being. Religiosity, on the other hand, is an expression of spirituality characterized by the adoption of ritual values, beliefs, and customs [5].
Douaihy and Singh [12] described spiritual well-being as a special condition. It is linked to the positive emotions, behaviors, responses of perception, and powers associated with self and others. The individual in a state of spiritual well-being is content with identity, honesty, loyalty, pleasure, happiness, elegance, affection, respect, optimistic outlook, comfort, inner harmony, and spiritual well-being to achieve the goal. Mental health has two aspects: religious health and existential health. Religious health represents the relationship between the individual and God or eternal power, while existential well-being refers to the relationship between the individual and others surrounding him in this world, and his internal relationships [13]. In the context of drug addiction, one study found that both religiosity and spirituality are protective factors that prevent the abuse of alcohol and other drugs and are associated with improved human life skills and physical and mental health [14].
Craving is an important factor in continued alcohol and drug use, and their recurrence during abstinence [8]. Therefore, it is useful to know the factors that may cause cravings behavior in drug addicts. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between self-compassion, mental well-being, and craving among people with substance use disorders.