• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.608-617
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze related factors in relation to usage of illicit substances for Korean adolescents. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, which used data from the Twelfth Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS). A total of 65,528 students in 2016 were included in this study. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used for analyzing related factors using illicit substances. Results: Overall, 553 (0.8%) students responded as having ever used illicit substances during their lifetime and 133 (0.2%) students responded as current illicit substance users. It was found that electronic cigarette (EC) use, conventional cigarette smoking, second hand smoking, sad/despair mood, and economic status were significantly associated factors with usage of illicit substances. Comparing 'current EC users' with 'never EC users', the adjusted odds ratios (OR) was 7.76 (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.56-10.82) for life-time use of illicit substances, and 18.74 (95% CI: 8.01-43.87) for current use of illicit substances among adolescents. Additionally, comparing 'students who ever were exposed to second hand smoking during the past week', with 'students who never were exposed to second hand smoking', the adjusted OR was 2.60 (95% CI: 2.13-3.17) for life-time use of illicit substances, and 2.85 (95% CI: 1.68-4.83) for current use of illicit substances among adolescents. Conclusions: Based on the results, electronic cigarette use, second hand smoking, conventional cigarette smoking, sad/despair mood, and economic status were significantly associated with increased odds of substance experience and current substance use. Therefore, the results of this study can provide a useful evidence about adolescent behaviors in predicting substance use.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2018

Objectives: To identify the associations of characteristics of the neighborhood environment with substance abuse among clients receiving treatment for drug abuse in Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 1128 drug addicts from 28 neighborhoods who were receiving treatment at all 7 compulsory drug detention centers in Thailand. A trained interviewer conducted structured interviews with the subjects about substance use and the perceived neighborhood environment in their community. A multilevel logistic regression model was applied to estimate the effects of the neighborhood environment on substance use. Results: The majority of participants, 53.8% only used methamphetamine pills, 31.3% used other illicit drugs as well as methamphetamine pills, and 14.9% used an illicit drug other than methamphetamine. Three neighborhood characteristics were associated with substance use. A 1-unit increase in the perceived neighborhood cohesion score was associated with a 15% reduction in methamphetamine pill use and an 11% reduction of the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug. Conversely, a 1-unit increase in perceived neighborhood crime predicted 19 and 14% increases in the use of methamphetamine pills and the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug, respectively. In addition, a 1-unit increase in the scores for stigma surrounding addiction corresponded to a 25% increase of the use of methamphetamine pills and a 12% increase in the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug. Conclusions: Substance use among drug addicts was influenced by characteristics of the neighborhood environment. Therefore, prevention and intervention strategies should be designed based on a consideration of the impact of neighborhood context on substance use behaviors.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.91-106
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• 2005

The subjects for this study consisted of 301 Korean-American students in grades 6 to 12. Findings of this study showed that most of the risk factors in all domains demonstrated a strong relationship to the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other illicit drugs. In the community domain the most common risk factor was "laws favorable toward drug use"(60.2%); this risk factor increased the odds of substance use by approximately 3 times. The protective factor, "opportunity for positive involvement" in school domain reported by 82% of the sample decreased the probability of substance use by 3 times. The percentage of students "resilient" on all protective factors in the family domain was much lower than that of protective factors in other domains. The strongest predictors of substance use were shown in the peer-individual domain.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.10033-10038
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of tobacco use, beliefs and risk awareness and psychosocial correlates of tobacco use among university students in 24 low, middle and emerging economy countries. Using anonymous questionnaires, data were collected from 16953 undergraduate university students (mean age 20.9, SD=2.9) from 25 universities in 24 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Results indicate that overall 13.3% of the university students were current tobacco users, 22.4% for men and 6.6% for women, ranging from 3.8% in Singapore to 32.5% in Cameroon. The risk awareness of the smoking lung cancer link was 83.6%, while the risk awareness of the smoking heart disease link was 46.5%. Multivariate logistic regression found that older age, male gender, having a wealthy family background, living in a low income country, residing off campus on their own, poor beliefs in the importance not to smoke, awareness of the smoking heart disease link, hit by a sexual partner, depressive symptoms, and substance use (binge drinking and illicit drug use) were associated with current tobacco use.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.361-382
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• 2022

The third opium war may have already started, not only due to illicit opioid trafficking from the Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle on the international front but also through indiscriminate opioid prescription and opioid diversion at home. Opioid use disorder (OUD), among unintentional injuries, has become one of the top 4 causes of death in the United States (U.S.). An OUD is defined as a problematic pattern of opioid use resulting in clinically significant impairment or distress, consisting of 2 or more of 11 problems within 1 year, as described by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Observation of aberrant behaviors of OUD is also helpful for overworked clinicians. For the prevention of OUD, the Opioid Risk Tool and the Current Opioid Misuse Measure are appropriate screening tests before and during opioid administration, respectively. Treatment of OUD consists of 3 opioid-based U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medications, including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, and non-opioid-based symptomatic medications for reducing opioid withdrawal syndromes, such as α₂ agonists, β-blockers, antidiarrheals, antiemetics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and benzodiazepines. There are at least 6 recommendable guidelines and essential terms related to OUD. Opioid stewardship programs are now critical to promoting appropriate use of opioid medications, improving patient outcomes, and reducing misuse of opioids, influenced by the successful implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs. Despite the lack of previous motivation, now is the critical time for trying to reduce the risk of OUD.