Illicit drug use, cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking behaviour among a sample of high school adolescents in the Pietersburg area of the Northern Province, South Africa

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of illicit drug use, cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking behaviour among a sample of high-school adolescents in the Pietersburg area (Central Region) of the Northern Province, South Africa. Participants: Participants in this study were 435 secondary-school adolescent students around the Pietersburg area (Central Region), in the Northern Province. Two hundred and forty-three (56%) participants were female and 192 (44%) were male. They were aged between 15 and 19 years, with the mean age of 17.25 years ( s.d.=1.34). Their educational level ranged between standards 7 and 10 (Grades 9–12). Instruments: Participants’ demographic variables were determined by use of a questionnaire which covered participants personal characteristics such as age and gender, as well as educational level. Illicit drug use, cigarette smoking, and alcohol drinking behaviour were also measured using the questionnaire. Results: Findings of this study indicate the prevalence rate of 19.8% for illicit drug use, 10.6% for cigarette smoking and 39.1% for alcohol consumption among the participants. Both drug use, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption are associated more with males than with females. The majority of the drug users and cigarette smokers indicated that they do so when they are bored, tired or stressed up, or at parties; and most of those who drink alcohol indicated that they do so at parties, weekends, or any other time. The mean age for first drug use is 14.9 years ( s.d.=1.77); 14.54 years ( s.d.=1.80) for first cigarette smoking and 15.33 years ( s.d.=1.91) for first alcohol consumption. Among those who drink alcohol, 24.1% and 14.1% experience unplanned drunkenness and irritability, respectively. Unplanned drunkenness is associated with males, while unplanned irritability (after drinking alcohol) is not associated with any gender. Conclusion: Mental health workers and the law-enforcement agencies should take note of the above findings while planning preventive and therapeutic strategies for the reduction of drug use, cigarette smoking and alcohol use and abuse among adolescents in the area.