title: Substance use by Egyptian youth: current patterns and potential avenues for prevention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Substance abuse in Egypt is a serious public health threat. Recent studies have demonstrated increases in the prevalence of the use of tobacco, illegal drugs, and over-the-counter drugs, particularly among youth.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted focus groups with a total of 40 male and female youth participants, ages 12-14 and 15-18, recruited from two different areas (Cairo and Alexandria) in 2012. We investigated their knowledge and perceptions regarding current substance use, its sources, and promoting and protecting factors, broadly addressing the use of tobacco products, illicit and prescription drugs, inhaled substances such as glue and solvents, and alcohol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our findings suggest that: (1) youth in Egypt had access to and were actively using substances encountered in similar research worldwide, including tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs, glue sniffing, and pharmaceutical agents; (2) smoking cigarettes and using hashish were the most common practices, and Tramadol was the most commonly used pharmaceutical drug; (3) peer pressure from friends stood out as the most common reason to start and continue using substances, followed by adverse life events and having a parent or family member who used substances; (4) strict parenting, religiosity, and having non-user friends were among the factors perceived by youth to prevent substance use or help them quit using substances; (5) most youths were aware of the adverse health effects of substance use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings will inform the design of quantitative surveys aimed at estimating the prevalence of specific behaviors related to substance use among youth and potential avenues for prevention.
authors: 1Georgetown University, Washington, DC USA.
authors: Christopher A
authors: CA
authors: Loffredo
authors: Dina N K
authors: DN
authors: Boulos
authors: Doa'a A
authors: DA
authors: Saleh
authors: Irene A
authors: IA
authors: Jillson
authors: Magdy
authors: M
authors: Garas
authors: Nasser
authors: N
authors: Loza
authors: Philip
authors: P
authors: Samuel
authors: Yousri Edward
authors: YE
authors: Shaker
authors: Mar-Jan
authors: MJ
authors: Ostrowski
authors: Sania
authors: S
authors: Amr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: drugs; focus groups; smoking; substance use; youth