Association between use of licit and illicit drugs, sex, and socioeconomic status among 12-year-old adolescents

Abstract Background Drug use among adolescents is on the rise, and the habit has been taking root at an increasingly early age. Objective Investigate the correlation between use of licit and illicit drugs, sex, and socioeconomic conditions among 12-year-old adolescents. Method Cross sectional study conducted with a representative sample of adolescents enrolled in public and private schools in the urban area of Diamantina, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Consumption of drugs was investigated using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) instrument. School type, family income, and maternal education were used to investigate socioeconomic condition. Associations were tested using the Pearson’s chi-square and Fisher's exact tests (p < 0.05). Results The following drug consumption prevalence values were found: alcohol, 45.6% (260/588); marijuana, 1.5% (9/588), cocaine, 0.3% (2/588); inhalants, 1.7% (10/588). The male gender was statistically associated with consumption of marijuana (p = 0.018) and alcohol (p = 0.012), but not with use of inhalants (p = 0.536). No statistically significant correlation was observed between consumption of licit and illicit drugs and the socioeconomic indicators adopted. Alcohol consumption was associated with use of marijuana (p = 0.013) [OR:9.814 (1.220 to 78.984)]. Conclusion Alcohol consumption and use of marijuana were statistically associated with the male gender, but not with socioeconomic indicators.