Das Shyamashree, Kamath Veena G, Prabhu Divya A, Praharaj Samir K, Pandey Akhilesh K
Department of Community Medicine, ESI-PGIMSR, Medical College and Hospital and ODC (EZ) Joka, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Indian J Psychiatry. 2025 Aug;67(8):786-793. doi: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry_1133_24. Epub 2025 Aug 15.
Illicit substance use is a major social issue affecting youth worldwide. Early identification of its drivers is essential to implement effective interventions and protect youth from its harmful consequences.
To examine patterns and risk factors of illicit substance use among young adults and explore perceptions of students and teachers on the issue.
An explanatory sequential mixed-method study was conducted over 2 years, among 2,170-degree college students in Udupi taluk. A cross-sectional study identified risk factors, followed by four focused group discussions with students and teachers to explore perceptions. Tobacco and alcohol use was excluded. Binomial logistic regression analysed the factors associated with substance use, while deductive thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data; findings were integrated through data triangulation.
1.8% participants reported lifetime illicit substance use. The mean initiation age was 19 (SD 1.4) years, with cannabis used by 74.3%. Substance use was associated with male gender, lack of parental awareness of children's whereabouts, poor knowledge, and negative attitudes. Drivers included curiosity, pleasure-seeking, festivities, stress management, relationship breakups, peer pressure, career stress, pre-sport use, and social media influence.
Illicit substance use among young adults arises from a complex interplay of factors. The findings highlight the need for screening and brief intervention, along with educational interventions to improve awareness among adolescents and teachers to prevent substance use.
非法药物使用是一个影响全球青少年的主要社会问题。尽早识别其驱动因素对于实施有效的干预措施以及保护青少年免受其有害后果至关重要。
研究青年成年人非法药物使用的模式和风险因素，并探讨学生和教师对该问题的看法。
在乌杜皮县对2170名大学生进行了为期2年的解释性序列混合方法研究。一项横断面研究确定了风险因素，随后与学生和教师进行了四次焦点小组讨论以探讨看法。排除烟草和酒精使用情况。二项逻辑回归分析了与药物使用相关的因素，同时对定性数据应用了演绎主题分析；通过数据三角剖分整合研究结果。
1.8%的参与者报告有终生非法药物使用经历。平均开始使用年龄为19（标准差1.4）岁，74.3%的人使用大麻。药物使用与男性性别、父母对孩子行踪缺乏了解、知识匮乏和消极态度有关。驱动因素包括好奇心、寻求快感、节日、压力管理、关系破裂、同伴压力、职业压力、运动前使用以及社交媒体影响。
青年成年人非法药物使用源于多种因素的复杂相互作用。研究结果强调了进行筛查和简短干预的必要性，以及开展教育干预以提高青少年和教师的认识，从而预防药物使用。
