Substance Use and Parent Characteristics Among High School Students: Edirne Sample in Turkey

ABSTRACT

The current study on substance use and family characteristics of adolescents is a part of the extensive research on substance use characteristics among high school students in Edirne, Turkey. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 8,483 high school students within the 2010–2011 academic year. Self-administered questionnaires were completed anonymously by the participants. The lifetime prevalence of alcohol use was 24.6% and tobacco use was 21.4%. The most commonly used illicit substance was cannabis (1%), followed by inhalants (0.5%) and ecstasy (0.4%). The use of alcohol, tobacco, and nearly all the illegal substances was significantly higher among males compared to females. The rates of lifetime substance use varied by family-related factors such as family structure, perceived parental attitudes and intrafamilial relationships, parental socioeconomic status, and parental substance use. The limitations and implications of these findings are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• adolescent
• parent
• substance use
• Turkey