Factors associated with volatile solvent use among junior high school students in Kanto, Japan.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the relative association between life-time volatile solvent use and risk factors for usage.


METHODS
Cross-sectional anonymous questionnaire survey.


METHODS
Junior high schools in Kanto, Japan.


METHODS
Junior high school students (n = 7744).


METHODS
Data on life-time and past-year solvent use, demographic variables, urbanization, regularity of waking patterns, school life, family life, peer relationships, prior alcohol and cigarette use and knowledge on harmful effects of solvent use.


RESULTS
Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios for each index. The primary findings were (1) 'smoking cigarettes nearly every day' (adjusted OR = 9.88, 95% Cl = 3.74, 26.12) and peer pressure measured by 'been tempted to use solvents' (adjusted OR = 9.53, 95% Cl = 4.84, 18.74) demonstrated the highest adjusted odds ratios; (2) being male (adjusted OR = 2.56, 95% Cl = 1.37, 4.76), seeing school life as 'not at all enjoyable' (adjusted OR = 2.69, 95% Cl = 1.03, 7.01) and family environment as 'neither good nor bad' (adjusted OR = 2.15, 95% Cl = 1.19, 3.88) also showed significant association; (3) life-time alcohol use did not show a significant association in the multivariate model (adjusted OR = 0.80, 95% Cl = 0.30, 2.12); and (4) solvent use appeared independent of knowledge regarding its effects ('death by acute intoxication', 'psychotic symptoms', 'amotivational syndrome', 'flashbacks' adjusted ORs all non-significant).


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol use may not function as a gateway to solvent use in Japan. The reasons may be culture-bound. A longitudinal study is required to test this hypothesis.
Kikuchi
Akiko
A
Division of Drug Dependence Research, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Chiba-ken, Japan. soudan1@har.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Wada
Kiyoshi
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007564:Japan; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D012997:Solvents; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D012997:Solvents