Volatile Substance Misuse Among Youth in Israel: Results of a National School Survey

Abstract

Volatile substance misuse (VSM) among Israeli youth has been identified as widespread and growing. Using data from the National School Survey of 12–18 year olds (N = 7,166), this study describes VSM prevalence among Jews and Arabs, examining relationships between past-month VSM and sociodemographic, behavioral, psychological, and interpersonal characteristics. Past-month VSM, reported by 7.5% of respondents, was significantly associated with other risky behaviors including past-month illicit drug use (Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) = 5.41, 95% CI: 3.5–8.1), Internet gambling (AOR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.5–3.1), smoking, binge drinking, and truancy. National drug policy must address VSM and develop strategies to reduce demand and supply. Potential study limitations are noted.

Keywords :

• inhalants
• volatile substance misuse
• drugs
• adolescents
• epidemiology
• Israel

THE AUTHORS

Yehuda Neumark, Ph.D., M.P.H., is a Senior Lecturer of Epidemiology at the Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel, where he teaches courses in interpretation of epidemiological data, research methods in public health, and community-oriented primary care. He heads the Addictions Section of the Israeli-arm of the WHO World Mental Health 2000 Project. Yehuda's research focuses primarily on social, economic, and genetic variations in the epidemiology of alcohol and drug use, misuse, and dependence and related topics such HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk behaviors.

Rachel Bar-Hamburger received her Ph.D. degree in pharmacy and pharmacology at the School of Medicine, Hebrew University, and conducted postdoctoral studies in The Netherlands. Since 1989, she has been the Chief Scientist of the Anti-Drug Authority in Israel. Prior to joining the Anti-Drug Authority, Bar-Hamburger was Director of Drug Administration for the Israeli Ministry of Health and Head of the Behavioral Research Team at the Mental Health Center in Jerusalem. She also cofounded the Drug Information Center at Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem.