Common and differential factors associated with abstinence and poly drug use among Australian adolescents

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. Background Social norms relating to youth substance use are changing. In Australia, alcohol use among adolescents has fallen dramatically and tobacco and cannabis use have also reduced, albeit more moderately. The aim of the present study was to identify (i) factors associated w...

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Main Authors: Pettigrew, S., Jongenelis, Michelle, Lawrence, D., Rikkers, W.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Elsevier BV 2017
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/57806
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author Pettigrew, S.
Jongenelis, Michelle
Lawrence, D.
Rikkers, W.
author_facet Pettigrew, S.
Jongenelis, Michelle
Lawrence, D.
Rikkers, W.
author_sort Pettigrew, S.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description © 2017 Elsevier B.V. Background Social norms relating to youth substance use are changing. In Australia, alcohol use among adolescents has fallen dramatically and tobacco and cannabis use have also reduced, albeit more moderately. The aim of the present study was to identify (i) factors associated with compliance with recommendations for zero intake of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis and (ii) factors associated with poly drug use (intake of all three substances). Methods As part of the Young Minds Matter Study, a self-report survey was administered to 1661 Australian adolescents aged 15–17 years. The survey included items relating to: substa nce use; psychological, social, and protective factors; and demographic characteristics. Probit regression analyses were conducted to generate a model of factors associated with abstinence from all three substances and a model of factors associated with the use of all three substances. Results While there were substantial differences between the two models indicating that different factors may influence the initiation of substance use versus poly drug use, there were also several common factors that operated in opposite directions. These were child age, degree of parental supervision and monitoring, the experience of externalising problems, and a diagnosis of major depression. Conclusion The results highlight the potential utility of targeting high-risk youth by identifying (i) parents’ supervision and monitoring behaviours and (ii) children's externalising problems and symptoms of depression. Directly addressing these factors in substance-use interventions may delay or prevent initiation while also reducing the likelihood of adolescents engaging in poly drug use.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-578062017-11-20T08:58:03Z Common and differential factors associated with abstinence and poly drug use among Australian adolescents Pettigrew, S. Jongenelis, Michelle Lawrence, D. Rikkers, W. © 2017 Elsevier B.V. Background Social norms relating to youth substance use are changing. In Australia, alcohol use among adolescents has fallen dramatically and tobacco and cannabis use have also reduced, albeit more moderately. The aim of the present study was to identify (i) factors associated with compliance with recommendations for zero intake of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis and (ii) factors associated with poly drug use (intake of all three substances). Methods As part of the Young Minds Matter Study, a self-report survey was administered to 1661 Australian adolescents aged 15–17 years. The survey included items relating to: substa nce use; psychological, social, and protective factors; and demographic characteristics. Probit regression analyses were conducted to generate a model of factors associated with abstinence from all three substances and a model of factors associated with the use of all three substances. Results While there were substantial differences between the two models indicating that different factors may influence the initiation of substance use versus poly drug use, there were also several common factors that operated in opposite directions. These were child age, degree of parental supervision and monitoring, the experience of externalising problems, and a diagnosis of major depression. Conclusion The results highlight the potential utility of targeting high-risk youth by identifying (i) parents’ supervision and monitoring behaviours and (ii) children's externalising problems and symptoms of depression. Directly addressing these factors in substance-use interventions may delay or prevent initiation while also reducing the likelihood of adolescents engaging in poly drug use. 2017 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/57806 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.09.011 Elsevier BV restricted
spellingShingle Pettigrew, S.
Jongenelis, Michelle
Lawrence, D.
Rikkers, W.
Common and differential factors associated with abstinence and poly drug use among Australian adolescents
title Common and differential factors associated with abstinence and poly drug use among Australian adolescents
title_full Common and differential factors associated with abstinence and poly drug use among Australian adolescents
title_fullStr Common and differential factors associated with abstinence and poly drug use among Australian adolescents
title_full_unstemmed Common and differential factors associated with abstinence and poly drug use among Australian adolescents
title_short Common and differential factors associated with abstinence and poly drug use among Australian adolescents
title_sort common and differential factors associated with abstinence and poly drug use among australian adolescents
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/57806