Substance use and its risk factors in Turkey: a nationally representative sample study

Abstract

Objective

Substance use is the most important modifiable factor in increased morbidity and premature mortality. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychological factors associated with substance use status in nationally representative sample.

Method

The data were from the Addiction Map of Turkey Study (TURBAHAR), in which 24,494 adults were recruited from 200 to 2000 participants in 26 provinces in Turkey. Chi-square tests and one-way ANOVAs were used to analyze the relationships between substance status and the risk factors. Multinomial Logistic regressions were used to calculate odds ratios.

Results

The prevalence of single substance use and polysubstance use at least once in their lifetime were 4.5% and 2.6%. Males, late emerging adults (24–29 years old) were more likely be a single substance use and polysubstance use. Having graduates diploma were more likely be a polysubstance use. Higher depression, anxiety, somatization, hostility, externally-oriented thinking, positive affect were associated with higher possibility of single and/or polysubstance use. Higher personal wellbeing scores and anxious attachment scores were associated with lower possibility of single and/or polysubstance use.

Conclusion

Male, undergraduate and graduate, late emerging adults needs special attention. Many psychological variables are associated with substance use. Although not all have a high potency, they provide important information for subsequent treatment and diagnostic approaches.

Keywords:

• Substance use
• epidemiological study
• prevalence
• risk factors

Acknowledgments

The authors also would like to acknowledge A. Yadigar Terzi, Mübarek Aydın, Beyza Arıduru, Şura Yılmaz, Rukiye Aydın, Gizem Zorlu, Işıl Toka, Koray Acar, Seher Tunçer, Sedef Ceylan Çevik, Beste Kara, Ekin Alan, B. Naz Alır, Esra Elitaş, Cemre Menteşe, Deniz Dirin, Gaye Göklü, İlayda Sezen, Sena Kuyumcuoğlu, Sude Yaşa, Nida Boğa, Melike Çapkın, Berna Baydil, Sena Çalın, Rüveyda Ata, Narin Özer, Şebnem Geylani, D.Derya Sarı, Metehan Şenocak, Berat Sena Varlık, Okan Dursun, Enise Öziç, Nuray Yılmaz, Cansu Yılmaz, Samet Çoban, Şeyda Ak, Kübra Mete, Zehra Aydınol, Şenay Dayan, Merve Akçıl, Mihriban Taşpınar, Hülya Aydın, Elif Kocaman, H.Su Kökçü, Özge Engin, Büşra Sürmeli, N. Dilayra Ayvalıoğlu, Ö.Sena Altaş, Yusuf Yerli, Zeynep Kahveci, Ali Işıktaş, Betül Aktürk, Kübra Bakırcı, Sezer Akşit, Beyza Yaz, Berika Gizem Yıldırım, Taner Güler, Zeynep Kır, Kübra Tehci, Berfin Demir, Burcu Beyler, Canan Bulduk, Gülsüm Bircan, E. Çağla Zengül, Aslı Korkmaz, Zeliha Şahin, Aylin Furun, Ezgi Akyel, E.Damla Erol, Hilal Teberoğlu, Aybüke Karataş, Ege Kayhan, Gülçin Mete, Kübra Yılmaz, Merve Beşik, C. Hazal Çevik, Haydar Keşen, Rabia Üçeş, Seda Bay, Tuğba Bakar, Hasretnur Enginyurt, H. Mehveş Onar, Serap Yüksel, Ş. Hazal Kaya, Büşra Keyik, Gizem Öztürk, Mustafa Günel, Zeynep Aygün, Mine Sütcü, Şahika Tural, Z. Büşra Dursun, A. Gül Akbaba, Beyza Yüksel, Burak Sunkur, Rıdvan Yamangil, B.Nilay Şahin, Hülya Özgür, Büşranur Keleş, Derya Zaimoğlu, A.N. Hazal Sezen, N. Handan Macit, Büşra Boz, Hatice Yıldız, Sedef Evlice, Yağmur Yazar, Melisa Er, Bedriye Ege, Osman İcil, Merve Gören, Merve Erten, Nurcan Sönmez, Tuğçe Bilgin, Berna Tefenlili, Cemile Sargın, İclal G. Atayay, Sena Sarıtabak, Ayşenur Yılmaz, Feyza Sümbül, İ. Büşra Ayhan, İ. Nur Ülkü, Ayşegül Özkula, Burak İyidir, Merve Paçacı, Mülkiye Özden and Özge Bedir for assistance with data collection for this research. This work was supported by Üsküdar University.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Funding

No financial support was received for this study.

Authors’ contribution

Both authors significantly contributed in the preparation of the manuscript.

Ethics approval and informed consent

The research project and the terms of informed consent for participants were analyzed and approved by the Üsküdar University Ethics Committee of Noninvasive Studies according to protocol no B.08.6.YÖK.2.ÜS.0.05.0.06/2018/800