Psychoactive substance use among Arab adolescent school dropouts in Israel

A phenomenon and its implications

Bibliographic Data

ID12289068
AuthorsFaisal Azaiza (0000-0002-3094-7575, University of Haifa, corresponding author), Meyrav Shoham (0000-0001-8069-9445, University of Haifa), Rachel Bar‐Hamburger (Israel Antiquities Authority), Rachel Bar-Hamburger, Khaled Abu-Asbeh
Year2008
Volume17
Issue1
Pages27-35
Publication date2008-10-10
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth & Social Care in the Community (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0966-0410 • E-ISSN: 1365-2524
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1365-2524.2008.00794.x
PMID18564195
OpenAlexW2027937293
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited24

This comprehensive study is the first to examine rates of legal and illegal psychoactive substance use and their predictors specifically among Arab adolescent school dropouts. It investigates the links between sociodemographic, interpersonal, cognitive and personality characteristics and use rates. Four hundred and seventy-six Arab adolescents aged 12-18 from throughout Israel, who had dropped out of school, participated in the study in late 2004. Sampling was done using a cluster method in order to choose specific localities. Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing substance use and other variables. Legal substances--alcohol and tobacco--were used by 36% and 30% of the respondents, respectively, in the previous year. Being male, non-religious and having higher behavioural intentions and positive attitudes regarding use increased the odds of substance use. The best predictors of alcohol use were gender and religiosity, each raising the odds of use by 3.5. The best predictor of tobacco use was gender, raising the odds by 12.7. The best predictors of illegal use, behavioural intentions and risk perception, each doubled the odds of use. These and other results facilitate a better understanding of substance use among Arab adolescent dropouts and can foster the development of appropriate prevention and intervention programmes for this underserved population

Environmental health · Intervention (counseling · Logistic regression · Odds · Odds ratio · Population · Psychiatry · Religiosity · Substance use · Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes