Adolescent substance abuse, the importance of family, school and peers: data from the health behaviour in school children

Abstract

To determine the possible factors associated with adolescent substance use in a country having recently experienced war. The survey applied the World Health Organization research protocol for cross-national survey--HBSC: a cross-sectional study among 1540 15-year old adolescents in Belgrade was conducted. The research instrument was a self-administered questionnaire. Substance abuse is associated with living in a single parent family, living in a family without support, having a poor commitment to school, displaying aggressive behaviour, and spending a lot of time with friends. Factors associated with adolescent substance use include social background, family, school and peers. Such associations could help to focus on better measures to eliminate or reduce the risk of substance use.