title: Some factors associated with substance abuse among secondary school students in Trinidad and Tobago.
abstract: This study attempts to investigate factors associated with involvement in substance abuse in Trinidad and Tobago, through a survey of 1603 secondary school students, aged fourteen to eighteen years. Analysis of the data using the Chi-square test indicates a significant association (p < .001) between involvement in substance abuse and the following factors: grades at school, importance of religious involvement, amount of spending money obtained, confidence placed in parents/peers, parental involvement in alcohol consumption and educational expectations. Generally, the study indicates that youth less committed to traditional values, show a greater tendency to be involved in substance abuse. Involvement also appears to be associated with low self esteem and low educational expectations.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Trinidad and Tobago.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mustapha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004522:Educational Status; D006266:Health Education; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D010290:Parents; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012945:Social Values; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago / Q000453:epidemiology