Epidemiology of Substance Abuse Among Iranian Adolescents (Yazd: 2014)

Abstract

Background: Substance abuse in adolescents and its outcomes is one of the important public health concerns. Objectives: The present study aimed at estimating the prevalence of substance abuse and evaluating some of its associated factors in Iranian adolescents. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 730 randomly selected students with a mean age of 17.6 ± 0.61 years during a cross sectional study in Yazd, a central province of Iran, during 2014. The aim of the questionnaire was to obtain information on substance abuse and socioeconomic information. Logistic regression model and Chi-square, or Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis using SPSS; and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The highest frequency of one time and more than one time drug usage among students pertained to hookah 41.1% and 31.1%, cigarette 17.5% and 8.1%, alcohol 10.8% and 7.5%, Opiates 4.1% and 0.8%, hashish, bang or marijuana 1.9% and 0.7%, stimulants and hallucinogens 3.4% and 0.8%, and glue and lighter gas 0.8% and 0.7%, respectively. Based on the results in logistic regression models, male gender (AOR:3.02), mathematical physics (AOR:1.8), hookah and alcohol experience (AOR:14.4 and 3.4) for regular smoking in Model 1; male gender(AOR:2.7), cigarette and hookah experience (AOR:3.2 and 7.6) for ever use of alcohol in Model 2; and male gender (AOR:2.5), mathematics course studding (AOR:1.6), poor educational condition (AOR:1.7), high level of father education (AOR:3.9), and tranquilizer experience (AOR:5.8) for ever use of illicit drugs in Model 3 were considered as predicting factors. For all the above- mentioned, p-values were less than 0.05. Conclusions: In the present study, it was found that drug abuse is at a warning rate. The findings pointed to the need for interventional plans to improve adolescents’ health with regards to substance abuse. Conducting more studies on this population is necessary to approve the observed results of the present study.