Swedish high-school pupils’ attitudes towards drugs in relation to drug usage, impulsiveness and other risk factors

Abstract

PrePrintsSwedish high-school pupils' attitudes towards drugs in relation to drug usage, impulsiveness and other risk factors Characteristic were positively related to impulsiveness among drug users. Moreover, although males reported using drugs to a greater extent, but female expressed more positive attitude towards drugs and even reported more impulsiveness than male students. Conclusion:This study reinforces the idea that research must focus on gender differences relative to pro-drug attitudes along with testing for differences in the predictors of girls' and boys' delinquency and impulsiveness. Positive attitudes towards drugs among adolescents seem to be part of a vicious circle including risk factors, such as friendly drug environments (e.g., friends who use drugs) and unsupportive family environments, individual characteristics, and impulsiveness.

Attitudes towards substance addiction: A study of Turkish University students

“…An international comparison between the rates of substance use would show that the students' participated our study had lower liability to substance use as well. In the study carried out by Mousavi et al (2014) in the USA, 4.80% of the pupils indicated using drugs and almost 2.80% of them said that they used drugs regularly (like weekly, monthly, every two months or sometimes). Martin et al (2007) stated that of the young people between the ages of 12 to18 surveyed in Australia, 54% used drugs.…”

“…There are findings of the studies suggesting gender as one of the important factors affecting attitudes towards drugs and drug addicts (e.g., Martin et al, 2007;Tekten, 2006;Çırakoğlu and Işın, 2005;Herken et al, 1997). Mousavi et al (2014) counted gender, family, friends and individual characteristics as the factors related with drug use. The results of the study by Tansel (2006) also indicated significant differences between attitudes of students with drug abuse problems depending on students' gender, field of study, parents' educational status, being or not being close to drug containing environment, using or not using substances.…”

“…Because it was found out in the study that educators with less college education were likely to see addiction as an inheritable disease. Another study by Mousavi et al (2014) reinforced the idea that positive attitudes towards drugs, having friends who use drugs, unsupportive parents, individual characteristics and impulsiveness were the risk factors increasing the liability. Correspondingly, Shresta emphasized based upon the result of his study that peer group influence was one of the factors for using drugs and having positive attitudes towards drug use.…”

“…In such studies sometimes educators (e.g., Broadus et al, 2010) and sometimes students from different class levels (e.g., Mousavi et al, 2014;Shrestha, 2010;Martin et al, 2007;Tansel, 2006;Tekten, 2006;Çırakoğlu and Işın, 2005;Altintas et al, 2004;Türkşen and Atakan, 2003;Tot et al, 2002;Lindström and Svenson, 1998;Herken et al, 1997) were investigated. Broadus et al (2010) discovered in their study that educators viewed substance abuse as a coping mechanism rather than a moral failure; but they had contradictory beliefs about regarding it as a disease.…”