Factors Associated with Poly Drug Use in Adolescents

Poly drug use in adolescents represents a significant public health issue, heightening risk for abuse, dependency, and a variety of short- and long-term psychological, psychosocial, and health consequences. However, past studies have typically examined just one or two substances in isolation and the...

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Main Authors: Jongenelis, Michelle, Pettigrew, S., Lawrence, D., Rikkers, W.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Springer 2019
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/74199
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author Jongenelis, Michelle
Pettigrew, S.
Lawrence, D.
Rikkers, W.
author_facet Jongenelis, Michelle
Pettigrew, S.
Lawrence, D.
Rikkers, W.
author_sort Jongenelis, Michelle
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Poly drug use in adolescents represents a significant public health issue, heightening risk for abuse, dependency, and a variety of short- and long-term psychological, psychosocial, and health consequences. However, past studies have typically examined just one or two substances in isolation and there is a lack of research that has comprehensively examined possible predictors of poly drug use in adolescents. To inform the development of comprehensive prevention programs that can simultaneously target multiple substances, the present study sought to identify psychological, environmental, and demographic factors that are most strongly associated with alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis poly drug use. Adolescents aged 15 to 17 years (n = 1661; 50.9% male) completed a survey on their use of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis over the last 30 days. Various psychological, environmental, and demographic factors were also assessed. Weighted multiple-level logistic regression was conducted to assess the factors associated with poly drug use. In total, 20.3% of respondents had used at least one substance, 6.7% reported using two substances, and 3.3% reported using all three substances. The most common combined pattern of use was alcohol and tobacco, followed by alcohol and cannabis. Several factors emerged as significant, with conduct problems, depression, and the school environment accounting for the most variance. Specific psychological and environmental factors appear to be particularly important domains to target in adolescent substance use prevention programs. Early identification of adolescent depression and conduct problems and the development of programs that address these symptoms in youth may be effective approaches to delaying or preventing poly drug use in this population.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-741992020-02-03T06:51:59Z Factors Associated with Poly Drug Use in Adolescents Jongenelis, Michelle Pettigrew, S. Lawrence, D. Rikkers, W. Poly drug use in adolescents represents a significant public health issue, heightening risk for abuse, dependency, and a variety of short- and long-term psychological, psychosocial, and health consequences. However, past studies have typically examined just one or two substances in isolation and there is a lack of research that has comprehensively examined possible predictors of poly drug use in adolescents. To inform the development of comprehensive prevention programs that can simultaneously target multiple substances, the present study sought to identify psychological, environmental, and demographic factors that are most strongly associated with alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis poly drug use. Adolescents aged 15 to 17 years (n = 1661; 50.9% male) completed a survey on their use of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis over the last 30 days. Various psychological, environmental, and demographic factors were also assessed. Weighted multiple-level logistic regression was conducted to assess the factors associated with poly drug use. In total, 20.3% of respondents had used at least one substance, 6.7% reported using two substances, and 3.3% reported using all three substances. The most common combined pattern of use was alcohol and tobacco, followed by alcohol and cannabis. Several factors emerged as significant, with conduct problems, depression, and the school environment accounting for the most variance. Specific psychological and environmental factors appear to be particularly important domains to target in adolescent substance use prevention programs. Early identification of adolescent depression and conduct problems and the development of programs that address these symptoms in youth may be effective approaches to delaying or preventing poly drug use in this population. 2019 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/74199 10.1007/s11121-019-00993-8 Springer fulltext
spellingShingle Jongenelis, Michelle
Pettigrew, S.
Lawrence, D.
Rikkers, W.
Factors Associated with Poly Drug Use in Adolescents
title Factors Associated with Poly Drug Use in Adolescents
title_full Factors Associated with Poly Drug Use in Adolescents
title_fullStr Factors Associated with Poly Drug Use in Adolescents
title_full_unstemmed Factors Associated with Poly Drug Use in Adolescents
title_short Factors Associated with Poly Drug Use in Adolescents
title_sort factors associated with poly drug use in adolescents
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/74199