Association of adolescent substance use: behavioral problems and family background among school students in Tsunami affected area in southern Thailand.
OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence of substance use and associated factors in school students in Tsunami affected areas in southern Thailand.


METHODS
The study was a school-based, cross-sectional, anonymous survey that used a translated questionnaire, ESPAD-03, in 5 schools. Chi-square tests and odds ratios were used to evaluate factors associated with substance use.


RESULTS
Two thousand seven hundred and sixteen students (87.8%) were enrolled in the study. Lifetime, last 12 months, and last 30 days prevalence rates of any substance use were 50.3, 33.9, and 24.8%, respectively. Lifetime, last 12 months, and last 30 days prevalence rates of alcohol use were 43.2, 30.1, and 17.5%, respectively. Lifetime and last 30 days prevalence rates of smoking were 21.7 and 12.0%. Fighting, stealing, truancy, running away, unsafe sex, and thought of self-harming were associated with alcohol and substance use. Siblings and friends with alcohol and substance use were risk factors. Close support from parents and friends were protective factors.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a high prevalence of smoking, alcohol, and substance use among school students in Tsunami affected areas. Behavioral problems and psychosocial risk factors were associated with history of smoking, alcohol and substance use. School-based intervention in students with behavioral problems seems to be a worthwhile investment. However, longitudinal studies should be done to confirm the correlation of PTSD and substance use.
Nantawat
N
Sitdhiraksa
Vinadda
V
Piyasil
Pornjira
P
Pariwatcharakul
Sirirat
S
Ularntinon
Nuttorn
N
Pityaratstian
Supachoke
S
Singhakant
Woraphat
W
Ratta-apha
Nattha
N
Saisavoey
Panom
P
Ketumarn
D000293:Adolescent; D000295:Adolescent Medicine; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012574:Schools; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D057192:Tsunamis