The prevalence of substance use among adolescents and its correlation with social and demographic factors

Abstract

Backround/Aim. Adolescence is the period of greatest risk of starting to use substances: cigarette smoking, alcohol and illicit drugs. In the first decade of this millennium substance use among adolescents has increased. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of substances use among adolescents and its correlation with social and demographic factors. Methods. The study was conducted among adolescents in Novi Sad during 2010-2011 and included 594 conveniently selected adolescents (275 male and 319 female), aged 15-19 years. A special questionnaire was used and statistical analysis performed in SPSS17. The correlation between parameters was evaluated by the Pearson correlation method and frequency differences were analysed using ?2 test and starting level was p < 0.05. Results. The prevalence of substance use was statistically higher in males. Cigarettes were smoked daily by 21.45% males and 15.67% females (p < 0.01), alcohol was consumed by 81.6% males and 69.11% females (p < 0.001) and illicit drugs were used by 13.65% males and 8.30% females (p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between smoking cigarettes and alcohol consumption, but negative between smoking cigarettes and the use of illicit drugs (p < 0.01). The prevalence of substance use was statistically higher among adolescents with poor achievement in school (p < 0.01), who lived in a broken home (illicit drugs p < 0.01) and who had more pocket money (cigarette smoking p < 0.01, and alcohol consumption p < 0.5). Conclusion. Stable family, lower amount of pocket money weekly and good school performance are protective factors in prevention of substances use among adolescents.Uvod/Cilj. Adolescencija je period najveceg rizika za pocetak upotrebe psihoaktivnih supstanci: pusenje cigareta, konzumacije alkohola i nezakonitih droga. U prvoj deceniji novog milenijuma zapazen je porast upotrebe psihoaktivnih supstanci kod adolescenata. Cilj rada bio je utvrdjivanje prevalencije upotrebe psihoaktivnih supstanci kod adolescenata i povezanost sa sociodemografskim faktorima. Metode. Istrazivanje je sprovedeno medju adolescentima u Novom Sadu, tokom 2010-2011. godine, i ukljucilo je 594 adolescenta (275 muskih i 319 zenskih), uzrasta 15-19 godina. Koriscen je anketni upitnik, specijalno sastavljen za ovo istrazivanje. Statisticka obrada radjena je u SPSS17. Povezanost parametara procenjivana je metodama korelacije po Pirsonu, a razlike frekvencija ispitane su pomocu ?2-testa. Pocetni stepen statisticke znacajnosti bio je p < 0,05. Rezultati. Rasprostranjenost upotrebe psihoaktivnih supstanci bila je statisticki veca kod muskog pola. Cigarete je pusilo 21,45% muskih i 15,67% zenskih (p < 0,01), alkohol konzumiralo 81,6% muskih i 69,11% zenskih (p < 0,001) i nezakonite droge koristilo 13,65% muskih i 8,30% zenskih ispitanika (p < 0,05). Postojala je pozitivna korelacija izmedju pusenja cigareta i konzumiranja alkohola, a negativna kod koriscenja nezakonitih droga (p < 0,01). Ucestalost upotrebe psihoaktivnih supstanci bila je statisticki veca kod adolescenata koji imaju losiji uspeh u skoli (p < 0,01), zive u poremecenim porodicama (pusenje cigareta p < 0,5, nezakonite droge p < 0,01) i imaju veci nedeljni dzeparac (pusenje cigareta p < 0,5; konzumiranja alkohola p < 0,01). Zakljucak. Stabilna porodica, mali nedeljni dzeparac i odlican uspeh u skoli su protektivni faktori u prevenciji upotrebe psihoaktivnih supstanci kod adolescenata.