Predictors of drug use among South African adolescents

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the association of frequency of illegal drug use with five groups of factors: environmental stressors; parental drug use; parental child rearing; peer drug use; and adolescent personal attributes.Methods: 1468 male (45%) and female (55%) adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years (mean=14.76, S.D.=1.51), were interviewed at home in Durban and Capetown, South Africa. Independent measures assessed environmental stressors, parental child rearing, parental drug use, peer drug use, and adolescent personal attributes. The dependent variable was the adolescents' frequency of illegal drug use.Results: Regression analyses showed that personal attributes and peer substance use explained the largest percentage of the variance in the adolescents' frequency of illegal drug use. In addition, both parental factors and environmental stressors contributed to the explained variance in adolescent drug use above and beyond the two more proximal domains at a statistically significant level. Conclusions:Knowing the contribution of more proximal versus more distal risk factors for illegal drug use is useful for prioritizing targets for interventions. Targeting changes in the more proximal predictors (e.g., adolescent personal attributes) may be more effective as well as more feasible than trying to produce change in the more distal factors such as environmental stressors.

Factors influencing psychoactive substance use among adolescents in public secondary schools in Uganda

“…Whereas a number of studies (e.g., Brook et al, 2006) pinpoint parental influence as a foremost factor towards PASU, such was not among major arguments for participants of the present study. However, research on neighborhood influences suggests that some ecological factors exert significant influences on adolescent substance use, and that social contact among neighbors may be one of the primary mechanisms through which transmission of substance use among students operates (Barnes et al, 2013).…”

“…In addition to media exposure, it is well-known that family environment influences adolescents to take psychoactive substances (Brook, Pahl, Morojere, & Brook, 2006). Stressful family situations and uncertainty due to family breakdown could lead to an increase in PASU behaviors among adolescents and children (Wood, 2009).…”

“…Similarly, a positive correlation exists between levels of alcohol use and abuse and the amount of daily stress and conflict within a family (Donovan, 2004;Wood, 2009). In the same way, several examples of family stressors such as single parenthood and parental drug addiction seem to exacerbate PASU among adolescents (Brook, Pahl, Morojere, & Brook, 2006;Wood, 2009). …”

The wrong type of decline: Fluctuations in price and value of illegal substances in Cape Town

“…36 They did, however, know of the substance, many had previously used it, and could still obtain it.…”

Extent and Influence of Recreational Drug Use on Men and Women Aged 15 Years and Older in South Africa

“…The availability and low cost of illicit substances such as glue, solvents and various forms of inhalants make them popular amongst adolescents. In the contrast, the type of substances used by adults is influenced by the financial status of the individual (Brook et al, 2006). We present an overview of the various illicit drugs used and their effect on health, social and economic factors associated with South African people.…”