Why are Youth Engaged in Substance Use? A Qualitative Study Exploring Substance Use and Risk Factors Among the Youth of Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: Substance use refers to the use of psychoactive substances such as khat, alcohol, cigarettes, and illicit drugs. Young people are more vulnerable to substance use than older people. Substance use has varying impacts on the health and socio-economics of countries, and is a major public health concern globally. Currently, substance use is a common public health concern among the youth of Ethiopia, mainly in Jimma town. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the substance use and risk factors among the youth of Jimma town in 2019. Methods: The study was conducted in Jimma town among youth who were engaged in substance use, from March to April 2019. A descriptive qualitative study design was employed and the study participants were acquired using purposive/judgmental sampling techniques. In total, 20 interviews were conducted with young people using in-depth and key informant interview methods. The data were analyzed by using ATLAS.ti version 7. Thematic analyses were performed in order to extract the main themes and categories. Direct quotations were presented with a thick description of the findings. Results: The findings of this study were discussed under six themes and 12 categories, which emerged from thematic analysis of the data: substance use setting, time and means of distribution, substance-related factors, social and economic factors, individual factors, psychological factors, and legal and policy factors. Conclusion:The study indicated that khat, alcohol, cigarettes and shisha or water pipes were the most commonly used substances. Different factors that drive the youth to engage in substance use were identified; individual factors, social and economic factors, substancerelated factors, and legal and policy factors were most common. Generally, to overcome this problem, the community, lawyers, and policemen should participate in the implementation and enforcement of rules and regulations on substance use. Family should monitor their children and need to act as good role models by avoiding substance use.

Current alcohol, tobacco, and khat use and associated factors among adults living in Harari regional state, eastern Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study

“…In 2016, the national prevalence of tobacco use for those aged >15 years was 5% (34). Being male, having stressful live events, peer influence, being single, living in an urban setting, and having conflict with family were factors that were significantly associated with psychoactive substance use in different studies (7,27,30,31).…”

“…Ethiopia is one of the countries in which psychoactive substance use is commonly practiced by the community ( 27 ). The most commonly practiced psychoactive substance is khat chewing 51% ( 28 ).…”

Nearly One-Fourth of Eastern Ethiopian Adolescents are Current Psychoactive Substance Users: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study

“…However, the problems continue to rise at an alarming rate. 19 Factors that drive substance use include age, having substance-user friends, 16 community norms, substance-using family history, offspring's substance use, 18 close to smoking people (parents, teachers, and friends), substance availability, socioeconomic status, academic performance, level of self-esteem, perceived risk of using the substance, 16 gender, having alcohol drinking family member, having khat chewing family member, poor school substance use controlling rule, substance retailing shops in the living areas, strong relationship with parents, and being a member of school mini-media. 15 Even though pieces of evidence are indicating that the age of substance users is falling by, 7 the number of substance-using adolescents is increasing by.…”