Drug use among teenagers and young adults in Bhutan

Background: Use, possession, and illegal transactions of controlled substances have increased in recent years in Bhutan. This study aimed to determine the national prevalence of ever drug use and identify its associated factors amongst teenagers and young adults. Methods: This study was conducted us...

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Main Authors: Kinley Wangdi, Tshering Jamtsho
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2019-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijpm.info/article.asp?issn=0253-7176;year=2019;volume=41;issue=6;spage=535;epage=540;aulast=Wangdi
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author Kinley Wangdi
Tshering Jamtsho
author_facet Kinley Wangdi
Tshering Jamtsho
author_sort Kinley Wangdi
collection DOAJ
description Background: Use, possession, and illegal transactions of controlled substances have increased in recent years in Bhutan. This study aimed to determine the national prevalence of ever drug use and identify its associated factors amongst teenagers and young adults. Methods: This study was conducted using data from the National Health Survey 2012 of Bhutan. The outcome variable of interest was ever drug use in teenagers and young adults. The questionnaire was developed following the WHO STEPwise approach to surveillance of non-communicable diseases (STEP). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify correlates of ever drug use. Results: The prevalence of ever drug use among teenagers and young adults was 3.2% (n = 672). The factors associated with ever drug use were: being men; being single; being in age group of 18-24 years; having a primary school, high school, monastic, university, or diploma education; being technicians or salespersons; feeling always lonely; having ever consumed alcohol, and having ever smoked. Conclusion: Compared to the other countries in the WHO South-east Asia region, the prevalence of ever drug use in Bhutan is low. Use of other substances, including smoking and alcohol use, was associated with ever drug use. For greater effect, drug use prevention strategies should include prevention of smoking and alcohol use.
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spelling doaj.art-b06bf4d4bba04e56bbff7f5a9011b7392022-12-21T22:21:38ZengSAGE PublishingIndian Journal of Psychological Medicine0253-71762019-01-0141653554010.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_348_19Drug use among teenagers and young adults in BhutanKinley WangdiTshering JamtshoBackground: Use, possession, and illegal transactions of controlled substances have increased in recent years in Bhutan. This study aimed to determine the national prevalence of ever drug use and identify its associated factors amongst teenagers and young adults. Methods: This study was conducted using data from the National Health Survey 2012 of Bhutan. The outcome variable of interest was ever drug use in teenagers and young adults. The questionnaire was developed following the WHO STEPwise approach to surveillance of non-communicable diseases (STEP). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify correlates of ever drug use. Results: The prevalence of ever drug use among teenagers and young adults was 3.2% (n = 672). The factors associated with ever drug use were: being men; being single; being in age group of 18-24 years; having a primary school, high school, monastic, university, or diploma education; being technicians or salespersons; feeling always lonely; having ever consumed alcohol, and having ever smoked. Conclusion: Compared to the other countries in the WHO South-east Asia region, the prevalence of ever drug use in Bhutan is low. Use of other substances, including smoking and alcohol use, was associated with ever drug use. For greater effect, drug use prevention strategies should include prevention of smoking and alcohol use.http://www.ijpm.info/article.asp?issn=0253-7176;year=2019;volume=41;issue=6;spage=535;epage=540;aulast=Wangdibhutancorrelatesever drug usenational health survey key messages: prevalence of ever drug use in bhutanese teenagers and young adults is low drug use is associated with risky lifestyles such as smoking and alcohol use drug prevention strategies should target these lifestyle-related risk factors.
spellingShingle Kinley Wangdi
Tshering Jamtsho
Drug use among teenagers and young adults in Bhutan
Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine
bhutan
correlates
ever drug use
national health survey key messages: prevalence of ever drug use in bhutanese teenagers and young adults is low drug use is associated with risky lifestyles such as smoking and alcohol use drug prevention strategies should target these lifestyle-related risk factors.
title Drug use among teenagers and young adults in Bhutan
title_full Drug use among teenagers and young adults in Bhutan
title_fullStr Drug use among teenagers and young adults in Bhutan
title_full_unstemmed Drug use among teenagers and young adults in Bhutan
title_short Drug use among teenagers and young adults in Bhutan
title_sort drug use among teenagers and young adults in bhutan
topic bhutan
correlates
ever drug use
national health survey key messages: prevalence of ever drug use in bhutanese teenagers and young adults is low drug use is associated with risky lifestyles such as smoking and alcohol use drug prevention strategies should target these lifestyle-related risk factors.
url http://www.ijpm.info/article.asp?issn=0253-7176;year=2019;volume=41;issue=6;spage=535;epage=540;aulast=Wangdi
work_keys_str_mv AT kinleywangdi druguseamongteenagersandyoungadultsinbhutan
AT tsheringjamtsho druguseamongteenagersandyoungadultsinbhutan