Factors Associated with Having Family/Whānau or Close Friends Who Used Alcohol or Other Drugs in Harmful Ways among University Students in New Zealand

Ben Wamamili, Pauline Stewart and Mark Wallace-Bell
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Ben Wamamili: School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
Pauline Stewart: Family Drug Support Aotearoa, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
Mark Wallace-Bell: School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: The consequences of alcohol and other drug (AoD) use are well documented. This study investigated factors associated with having family/whānau or close friend who used AoD in harmful ways in New Zealand. Data came from a July–August 2020 cross-sectional survey of students from eight universities ( n = 946). Participants were asked if they had family/whānau or close friends in New Zealand who consumed alcohol or used other drugs (cannabis, ecstasy/MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, prescription drugs, inhalants, or other) in a way that negatively impacted them, their family, or close friends in the last 12 months. Logistic regression assessed associations of having family/whānau or close friend who used AoD harmfully with student characteristics. Of respondents, 36.2% (33.1–39.4) had family/whānau or close friend who had consumed alcohol harmfully, and 42.9% (39.5–46.3) had family/whānau or close friend who had used at least one drug harmfully. Respondents’ age and ethnicity were significantly associated with having family/whānau or close friend who used AoD harmfully. The results suggest widespread harmful AoD use and potentially significant second-hand effects of AoD use in New Zealand. These data can be used to supplement information from traditional in-person surveys of individuals using alcohol and other drug (e.g., the New Zealand Health Survey).

Keywords: alcohol use; AoD use; other drug use; family/whanau; close friend (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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