Stages of substance use among adolescents in Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

Objectives (1) To examine whether there is a developmental pattern of use of the following substances among high-school students in Cape Town, South Africa: tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, Mandrax, Ecstasy and crack cocaine. (2) If such a pattern is present, to investigate whether it is affected by gender or racial differences.

Study type Cross-sectional analytical study.

Sample Multistage cluster sample of 2930 students in Grades 8 and 11 at 39 schools in Cape Town, South Africa.

Data source Anonymous and confidential self completed questionnaire.

Results Lifetime usage prevalence rates were 42.1 % for cigarettes, 43.8% for alcohol, 12.3% for cannabis, and 3.6% for Mandrax, Ecstasy or crack. There was a significant ordering effect, which was consistent across gender but not race classification. For black and white students, the sequence was cigarettes or alcohol, followed by cannabis and then Mandrax, Ecstasy or crack. For coloured students (those deriving from Asian, European and African ancestry), the sequence was cigarettes, followed by alcohol, cannabis and then Mandrax, Ecstasy or crack.

Conclusions There is a developmental sequence of substance use in this population which is identical for males and females but not for different race classifications. Future research should elucidate the reasons for the developmental sequence.

Key Words:

• adolescents
• Development
• substance use