Study of substance use in teenage students in Miraj Town: a cross sectional descriptive study

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is recognized as the period for onset of behaviors and conditions that not only affect health limited to that time but also lead to adulthood disorders. Unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and illicit drug use often begin during adolescence. Behavior patterns that influence health in adulthood have their origin in adolescence. The habit of substance use comes either from the peer groups or it may be generated within the family because the elders are resorting to one or the other form of substance use. Considering such factors, the present study had been undertaken with the objectives to study socio-economic class wise prevalence of substance use in study population; to study knowledge, attitude and practices of study population regarding substance use; to study various determinants that affect substance use.Methods: Cross sectional, descriptive study was being conducted in selected High schools and Junior Colleges in the Miraj Town. The method of data collection was the pre-designed, pre-tested proforma.Results: Various forms of tobacco, alcohol and pan masala were used by 58.9% of the family members/friends/peer groups of the study participants. Overall use [ever use + regular use] of tobacco products was observed in 9.0%, alcohol in 4.6% and pan masala in 33.3% of the study participants.Conclusions: Several factors can enhance the risk for initiating or continuing substance use including socioeconomic status, substance use by family members or friends and peer group influence.

Substance use and its determinants among students of industrial training institute in tribal area of Thane district, Maharashtra

“…14 The habit of substance use comes either from the peer groups or it may be generated within the family because the elders are resorting to one or the other form of substance use. 15 In present study, it was revealed that most common factor determining substance use was addiction in family members (83.3%) followed by peer pressure (75%). A study done by Jasani et al described that most common reason for initiation of substance abuse was peer pressure, followed by pleasure, tension of study or grades.…”

“…A study done by Lokhande et al revealed that awareness regarding hazards of tobacco and alcohol use increased with advancing age and health education was one of the common measures suggested for controlling tobacco by study participants. 15 This study has a limitation that the findings cannot be generalized to the entire population, as it was specific to the male students enrolled for various courses of ITI. Prevalence of substance use in these students is a tip of iceberg; so future studies can be planned where actual situational analysis will be done at large scale to identify and address the factors affecting it.…”