Prevalence of Substance Abuse Among High School Students in Hamedan, Iran in 2015

Substance abuse is one of the main health challenges that lead to addiction and physical, psychological, and social issues. It can also eliminate the foundation of family and community. 

The present study aimed at determining the frequency of experience of at least once abuse of addictive drugs in high school students in Hamedan, Iran.

The present cross-sectional study was carried out in 2015 in high schools of Hamedan City. A self-report questionnaire was used to identify the number of cigarette smokers and other addictive substances abusers. The data were analyzed, using SPSS V. 14.

Out of 800 distributed questionnaires, 29 questionnaires were incomplete. In total, 18% of the students had abused addictive substances at least once. The most common substances were hookah, cigarette, and alcohol. Independent risk factors for substance abuse experience included male gender, non-governmental and vocational schools, mathematics major, history of the educational failure, an average of less than 17.00 GPA, unemployment of a student’s father, and student’s employment other than education.

The prevalence of hashish (cannabis) abuse and anabolic-androgenic steroids is high in Iran and codeine is the most commonly used substance in the non-prescribed groups.