Nearly One-Fourth of Eastern Ethiopian Adolescents are Current Psychoactive Substance Users: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Sociodemographic and Behavioral Characteristics of Students Attending Their High School Education in Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia, 2022

Variable	Category	Frequency	Percent
Sex	Females	815	54.41
	Males	683	45.59
Age	Mean=15+3Standard Deviation (SD)
Religion	Muslim	1012	67.56
	Orthodox	382	25.5
	Others	104	6.94
Marital status	Married	57	3.81
	In relationship	299	19.96
	Single	1142	76.23
Student’s grade	9th	562	37.52
	10th	554	36.98
	11th	217	14.49
	12th	165	11
Residence	Urban	1049	70
	Rural	449	30
Living with	Alone	52	3.47
	Friends	69	4.61
	Spouse	159	10.61
	With both parents	792	52.87
	With one parent	426	28.44
Father’s level of education	Had no formal education	298	19.89
	Elementary	413	27.57
	Secondary	434	28.97
	Diploma and above	353	23.56
Mother’s level of education	Had no formal education	511	34.1
	Elementary	587	39.2
	Secondary	223	14.89
	Diploma and above	177	11.82
Getting money in Pocket	No	513	34.25
	Yes	985	65.75

Table 2 Clinical Characteristics and Types of Substance Use Among High School Students in Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia, 2022

Variable	Category	Frequency	Percent
Familial history of mental illness	No	1396	93.2
	Yes	102	6.8
Familial history of committing suicidal	No	1452	96.9
	Yes	46	3.1
Familial history of suicidal attempt	No	1415	94.4
	Yes	83	5.6
Sleep greater than 7 hours/per day	No	1052	70.23
	Yes	446	29.77
Ever using substance	No	1117	74.57
	Yes	381	25.43
Ever used khat	No	1138	75.9
	Yes	360	24.1
Ever consumed cigarette	No	1471	98.2
	Yes	27	1.8
Ever consumed alcohol	No	1449	96.7
	Yes	49	3.3
Ever using any other substances	No	1478	98.6
	Yes	20	1.4
Substance easily available	No	1277	85.25
	Yes	221	14.85
Friends influence to use the substance	No	1352	90.25
	Yes	146	9.75
Believe that the substance used for academic purposes	No	1375	91.79
	Yes	123	8.21
Friends used the substance	No	1207	80.57
	Yes	291	19.43
The family used the substance	No	908	60.61
	Yes	590	39.49
There is family control of the substance	No	455	30.37
	Yes	1043	69.63
Level of social support	Poor	716	47.8
	Medium	568	37.92
	Strong	214	14.29
Having Depression	No	829	55.38
	Yes	668	44.62
Having Anxiety	No	909	60.68
	Yes	589	39.32

Table 3 Factors Affecting Psychoactive Substance Use Among High School Adolescent Students in Harari Region, Eastern Ethiopia, 2022

Variable	Category	Psychoactive Substance Use Status		IRR (Bivariable Analysis at 95% CI)	IRR (Multivariable Analysis at 95% CI)	P
		User	Non-User
Sex	Male	287	396	1.54 (1.36–1.74)	1.21 (1.-1.38)	0.01
	Female	86	729	1	1
Living with whom?	Alone	11	41	1.02 (0.74–1.4)	1.18 (0.86–1.61)	0.30 0.09
	With friends	43	26	0.49 (0.33–0.72)	0.71 (0.47–1.06)
	With family	319	1058	1	1
Buying the substance out of the pocket	No	87	426	1	1	0.46
	Yes	286	699	0.85 (0.75–0.96)	0.95 (0.84–1.08)
The psychoactive substance is easily available	No	215	1062	1	1	0.000
	Yes	158	63	2.9 (2.26–3.76)	2.02 (1.53–2.66)
Having peer influence	No	281	1071	1	1	0.40
	Yes	92	54	0.46 (0.35–0.61)	0.87 (0.64–1.19)
Had substance using a friend	No	186	1021	1	1	0.000
	Yes	187	104	2.36 (1.93–2.89)	1.60 (1.28–2.02)
Family control	No	143	311	1.13 (0.99–1.29)	1.04 (0.91–1.19)	0.49
	Yes	230	814	1	1
Age of the students (years)	At least 15	226	958	1.52 (1.29–1.79)	1.21 (1.02–1.44)	0.02
	Greater than 15	147	167	1	1
Having stress	No	226	958	1	1	0.49
	Yes	147	167	1.16 (1.01–1.34)	1.05 (0.91–1.22)

Data Sharing Statement

Data used in the current study are available from AB upon reasonable request.