Prevalence and predictors of comorbid current alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco use among school adolescents in Liberia and Mauritius

Abstract

This study aimed to provide estimates on current comorbid alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco use among school adolescents in Liberia and Mauritius. Secondary data were analysed from the 2017 national and cross-sectional school health surveys in Liberia and Mauritius which sampled 4 934 adolescents (median age 17 years). One in five students (20.6%) reported one type of current substance use, 6.2% two types of current substance use, and 3.8% three types of current substance use. Almost one in 10 (7.8%) students reported current alcohol and tobacco use, 4.6% current alcohol and cannabis use, and 5.2% current cannabis and tobacco use. Male sex, older age, parental tobacco use, passive smoking, psychological distress, soft drink intake, school truancy and low parental support were associated with a higher degree of comorbid substance. One in 10 students engaged in two or three types of current substance use, and several associated factors were identified. Interventions targeting comorbid substance use among adolescents should prioritise identified associated factors.

Keywords:

• comorbid substance use
• adolescents
• Liberia
• Mauritius
• risk factors
• protective factors

Acknowledgements

This paper uses data from the Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS). GSHS is supported by the WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Supplementary material

Supplementary material is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2023.2255452