Risk factors for initiation of drug use among young males in southwest China.
To identify risk factors for drug use among young males in southwest China a cross-sectional survey and a non-concurrent cohort study were conducted. Demographic, behavioral and drug-use information was collected from young males aged 18-29 years. The non-concurrent cohort included the period 1 January 1991 to 1 August 1994. A total of 1548 subjects were interviewed. The cumulative incidence increased between 1991 and 1993. Multivariate analysis identified the following significant risk factors for drug use: being divorced/widowed/separated, having been encouraged by friends/others to try drugs, smoking cigarettes, belonging to the Jingpo ethnic group, and having a family member who used drugs in 1991. More than 6 years of education was a protective factor for drug use. Drug use in the community was associated with having been encouraged by friends or others to try drugs (71%), to smoking cigarettes (50%), and to belonging to the Jingpo group (24%). The results are consistent with community based prevention approaches which should be studied carefully because of the unique cultural and epidemiological situation in China.
Wu
Z
Z
Department of Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health 90095-1772, USA.
Zhang
J
J
Detels
R
R
Duan
S
S
Cheng
H
H
Li
Z
Z
Dong
L
L
Huang
S
S
Jia
M
M
Bi
X
X
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009892:Opium; D012307:Risk Factors; D012932:Social Facilitation
D009892:Opium