Substance use and associated factors among high school students in Northwest Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION: substance abuse is the use of a drug that affects both the function and the structure of the brain by altering the activity neurotransmitters of particular pathways in the central nervous system that affect the mood, perception, and consciousness of the person. METHODS: a cross-sectional study design was employed among 422 high school students. Study participants were selected by simple random sampling from all five high school students. A self-reported questionnaire was used that included alcohol, smoking, and substance involvement screening test, Oslo-3 social support, and other instruments. Data were checked, coded, and entered into Epi-Data version 4.6.2 then exported to the statistical package for social sciences version 20 for analysis. Bi-variable and multi-variable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with substance use. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were determined and predictors with a p-value of <0.05 were counted as significantly associated. RESULTS: a total of 406 students have participated with an overall response rate of 96.2% (n=406). Of the participants 235 were female and 171 were male. The mean age was 17.51 with a standard deviation of ±1.42. The prevalence of substance use among study participants was 52.5%. Being male aOR: 1.77, 95% CI 1.11-2.77, family history of substance use aOR: 3.07, 95% CI 1.57-6.01, and having close friends´ pressure aOR: 5.77, 95% CI 2.39-13.89 were significantly associated with substances use among high school students. CONCLUSION: the prevalence of substance use among high school students was high. Being male, family history of substance use, and having peer pressures were strongly associated with substance use.