A Prospective Study on the Influence of Scholastic Factors on the Prevalence and Initiation of Illicit Drug Misuse in Adolescence

Zoran Zubak, Natasa Zenic, Ljerka Ostojic, Ivana Zubak and Haris Pojskic
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Zoran Zubak: Faculty of Medicine, University of Mostar, 88000 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Natasa Zenic: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Ljerka Ostojic: Faculty of Medicine, University of Mostar, 88000 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ivana Zubak: Department for Ecology, Agronomy and Aquaculture, University of Zadar, 23000 Zadar, Croatia
Haris Pojskic: Department for Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, 83125 Östersund, Sweden

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: Background: This study aimed to prospectively investigate the scholastic factors related to illicit drug misuse (IDM) and the initiation of IDM among older adolescents from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: This 2-year prospective study included 436 participants (202 females), who were an average of 16 years old at the beginning of the study (baseline). The participants were tested at baseline and follow-up (20 months later). The predictors included variables of scholastic-achievement (grade point average, school absences, unexcused absences and behavioral grade). The criteria were: (i) IDM at baseline; (ii) IDM at follow-up; and (iii) initiation of IDM over the study course. Results: Logistic regression indicated increased odds of IDM in adolescents who were more frequent absent from school (baseline: Odds Ratio (OR): 3.73, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 2.12–6.57; follow-up: OR: 2.91, 95% CI: 1.90–4.65). The lower grade point average and more unexcused absences were evidenced for adolescents who consumed drugs on follow-up (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.11–2.51; OR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.30–2.32 for grade point average and unexcused absences, respectively). Initiation of IDM was predicted by frequent absences from school (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.3–3.8), and lower behavioral grades (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2–3.3). Conclusions: The findings confirmed strong correlations between scholastic failure and IDM. Absences from school and lower behavioral grades at baseline were predictive of the initiation of IDM in older adolescents.

Keywords: substance misuse; academic achievement; puberty; association (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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