Risk factors associated with tobacco, alcohol and drug use among adolescents attending secondary school in three cities from Argentina.
Tobacco, alcohol and drug use starts at an early age. It is important to identify risk factors associated with initiation. In 2014, a survey was conducted among students attending first year of secondary schools in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Tucumán. A total of 3172 students completed the survey (42% were girls); their mean age was 12.8 years old. Findings showed that 10% had smoked; 32% had consumed alcohol; 17% had a heavy drinking episode in the past month; and 8% had used at least one illegal drug once in their lifetime. A high sensation seeking index was associated with the use of tobacco (odds ratio [OR]: 4.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.2-8.1), alcohol (OR: 5.56, 95% CI: 3.73-8.31), and marijuana, coca paste or cocaine, (OR: 11.73, 95% CI: 5.81-23.69). Having friends who smoke or drink was associated with tobacco (OR: 12.6, 95% CI: 7.8-20.5) and alcohol use (OR: 5.17, 95% CI: 4.15-6.40). Having permissive parents in terms of media use was associated with tobacco use (OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 2.1-6.5), and perceiving a low parental support and control (OR: 3.02, 95% CI: 1.40-6.52) was associated with marijuana, coca paste and cocaine use.
Centro de Estudio de Estado y Sociedad (CEDES). Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA), Argentina. paolamorello@hotmail.com.
Paola
P
Morello
Centro de Estudio de Estado y Sociedad (CEDES). Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA), Argentina.
Adriana
A
Pérez
Centro de Estudio de Estado y Sociedad (CEDES). Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA), Argentina.
Lorena
L
Peña
Centro de Estudio de Estado y Sociedad (CEDES). Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA), Argentina.
Sandra N
SN
Braun
Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, USA.
Christy
C
Kollath-Cattano
Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, USA.
James F
JF
Thrasher
Department of Pediatrics, Geisel School of Medicine of Dartmouth College, USA.
James
J
Sargent
Centro de Estudio de Estado y Sociedad (CEDES). Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA), Argentina.
Raúl
R
Mejía
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D057566:Self Report; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014504:Urban Health
Argentina; adolescent; alcohol; illegal drugs; tobacco