Prevalence and Factors Influencing Substance Use among Ethnically Diverse Adolescents in the Upper Northern of Thailand

Authors

  • Thirawat Chaichana School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University
  • Peeradone Srichan School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University
  • Pilasinee Wongnuch School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14456/dcj.2026.13

Keywords:

substance use, adolescent, ethnicity, ecological model

Abstract

In contemporary society, characterized by cultural diversity and varying living environments, adolescents face heightened risks of substance use. This cross-sectional analytical study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors influencing substance use. Participants included 238 adolescents (aged 15-17 years) recruited via simple random sampling. Research data were gathered through questionnaires between December 2024 and February 2025. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. The findings revealed that alcohol consumption was the most prevalent form of substance use among adolescents (56.3%), followed by kratom use (18.5%), tobacco product use (13.9%), and cannabis use (7.1%). Tobacco use was significantly associated with being male (AOR=5.8; 95% CI: 2.39-14.39), alcohol consumption (AOR=33.1; 95% CI: 3.06-192.84), and kratom use (AOR=3.1; 95% CI: 1.40-8.58). Alcohol consumption was associated with depression (AOR=2.3; 95% CI: 1.25-4.34) family and peer factors (AOR=0.4; 95% CI: 0.23-0.89) tobacco use (AOR=22.2; 95% CI: 2.80-176.16) and kratom use (AOR=17.2; 95% CI: 3.83-77.31). Cannabis use was associated with being male (AOR=46.6; 95% CI: 6.14-403.02) and kratom use (AOR=65.6; 95% CI: 9.54-452.43). Kratom use was associated with tobacco use (AOR=2.8; 95% CI: 1.09-7.50), alcohol consumption (AOR=14.4; 95% CI: 3.19-65.80), and cannabis use (AOR=25.5; 95% CI: 4.49-145.01). The findings reveal a rising trend in substance use prevalence, particularly polydrug use. It recommended that rigorous and sustained policies be established to control and prevent access to alcohol and kratom among the adolescent population.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Frobel W, Grafe N, Meigen C, Vogel M, Hiemisch A, Kiess W, et al. Substance use in childhood and adolescence and its associations with quality of life and behavioral strengths and difficulties. BMC Public Health. 2022;22:275. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-12586-2

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Teenagers (15-17 years of age). [Internet] [cited 2024 Jul 30]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/adolescence2.html

Ismail R, Manaf MRA, Hassan MR, Nawi AM, Ibrahim N, Lyndon N. et al. Prevalence of drug and substance use among Malaysian youth: a nationwide survey. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 2022;19(8):4684. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19084684

Mutiso VN, Ndetei DM, Muia NE, Musyimi C, Osborn TL, Kasike R, et al. Prevalence and perception of substance abuse and associated economic indicators and mental health disorders in a large cohort of Kenyan students: towards integrated public health approach and clinical management. BMC Psychiatry. 2022;22(1):191. doi: 10.1186/s12888-022-03817-2

Olashore, AA, Paruk S, Maphorisa T, Mosupiemang B. Pattern of substance use and substance use disorder in adolescent learners at public secondary schools in Gaborone, Botswana. PLoS One. 2022;17(9):e0268961. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268961

World Health Organization. WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025. 3rd ed. Geneva; 2019.

Pramaunururut P, Anuntakulnathee P, Wangroongsarb P, Vongchansathapat T, Romsaithong K, Rangwanich J, et al. Alcohol consumption and its associated factors among adolescents in a rural community in central Thailand: a mixed-methods study. Scientific Reports. 2022;12:19605. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-24243-0

Dechsiri B, Pummakanchana Robert O. Drug Trafficking Estimation based on Geo-statistics. Defence. Technology Academic Journal. 2019;1(3):52-61. (in Thai)

Apidechkul T, Chomchoei C, Wongnuch P, Tamornpark R, Upala P, Yeemard F, et al. Associations of childhood experiences and methamphetamine use among Akha and Lahu hill tribe youths in northern Thailand: A cross-sectional study. PLoS ONE. 2020;15(6):e0234923. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234923

Banditrat C, Bodeerat C, Taomitr S. Management of ethnic groups cultural capital based on new normal in Chiang Rai province. Journal of Roi Kaensarn Academi. 2023;8(11):542-59. (in Thai)

Nethibut Y, Luangkaew P. Effects of amending drug laws in the case of cancellation of cannabis plants from the list of category 5 drugs. PaññaPanithan Journal 2023;8(2):239-52. (in Thai)

Lo TW, Yeung JWK, Tam CHL. Substance abuse and public health: a multilevel perspective and multiple responses. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(7):2610. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17072610

Felner JK, Haley SJ, Jun HJ, Wisdom JP, Katuska L, Corliss HL. Sexual orientation and gender identity disparities in co-occurring depressive symptoms and probable substance use disorders in a national cohort of young adults. Addictive Behaviors. 2021;117:106817. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106817.

Trucco EM. A review of psychosocial factors linked to adolescent substance use. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2020;196:172969. doi: 10.1016/j.pbb.2020.172969.

Fagan AA, Wright EM, Pinchevsky GM. A multi-level analysis of the impact of neighborhood structural and social factors on adolescent substance use. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2015;153: 180-6. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015. 05.022.

Winer JM, Yule AM, Hadland SE, Bagley SM. Addressing adolescent substance use with a public health prevention framework: the case for harm reduction. Ann Med. 2020;54(1):2123-36. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2104922

Daniel WW. Biostatistics: A Foundation for Analysis in the Health Sciences. 7th ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 1999.

Bloom BS, Hastings TJ, Madaus GF. Hand Book on Formative and Summative Evaluation of Student Learning. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company; 1971.

Likert R. The human organization: its management and values. McGraw-Hill; 1967.

Best J. Research in Education. New Jersey: Prentice Hall; 1977.

Assanangkornchai S, Kittirattanapaiboon P, Sutheeadisai W. The ASSIST V3.1 Screening Tool. Bangkok: Community Based Addiction Treatment, ThaiHealth Promotion Foundation; 2011. (in Thai)

Nantasenee P, Thananithisak C. The association between depression and blood pressure in essential hypertensive patients, Jaokunpiboon Pranomtuan Hospital. Phranakhon Rajabhat Res J (Sci Technol). 2019 [cited 2024 Jan 21];14(1):91-104. https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/PRRJ_Scitech/article/view/110368 (in Thai)

Panyawong W, Pavasuthipaisit C, Santitadakul R. Validation of the Thai version of the Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents (PHQ-A) in school setting. J Ment Health Thai. 2022 [cited 2024 Jan 21];30(1):38-48. Available from: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jmht/article/view/250527 (in Thai)

Rothenberg WA, Lansford JE, Chang L, Deckard KD, Giunta LD, Dodge KA, et al. Examining the internalizing pathway to substance use frequency in 10 cultural groups. Addict Behav. 2020;102:106214. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106214

Marklein E, Negriff S, Dorn LD. Pubertal timing, friend smoking, and substance use in adolescent girls. Prev Sci. 2009;10(2):141-50. doi: 10.1007/s11121-008-0120-y

Hoffmann JP. Family Structure, Unstructured Socializing, and Heavy Substance Use among Adolescents. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(14):8818. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19148818

Wambeam RA, Canen EL, Linkenbach J, Otto J. Youth misperceptions of peer substance use norms: a hidden risk factor in state and community prevention. Prev Sci. 2014;15(1):75-84. doi:10.1007/s11121-013-0384-8

Halladay J, Woock R, El-Khechen H, Munn C, MacKillop J, Amlung M, et al. Patterns of substance use among adolescents: A systematic review. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2020;216: 108222. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108222

Cho SB, Llaneza DC, Adkins AE, Cooke M, Kendler KS, Clark SL, et al. Patterns of substance use across the first year of college and associated risk factors. Front Psychiatry. 2015;6:152. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00152

Doherty EA, Moyers SA, Crockett-Barbera EK, Appleseth H, Leffingwell Q, Richards V, et al. Daily patterns of single and poly-substance use among adolescent and young adult females: A day-level latent class analysis. Addict Behav. 2025;169:108394. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108394

Downloads

Published

2026-03-28

How to Cite

1.
Chaichana T, Srichan P, Wongnuch P. Prevalence and Factors Influencing Substance Use among Ethnically Diverse Adolescents in the Upper Northern of Thailand. Dis Control J [internet]. 2026 Mar. 28 [cited 2026 Apr. 6];52(1):152-64. available from: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/DCJ/article/view/282770

Issue

Vol. 52 No. 1 (2026): January-March

Section

Original Article

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Disease Control Journal

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Articles published in the Disease Control Journal are considered as academic work, research or analysis of the personal opinion of the authors, not the opinion of the Thailand Department of Disease Control or editorial team. The authors must be responsible for their articles.