Factors Predicting Risk Behaviors of Amphetamine Use in Junior High School Students Nakhon Sawan Province, Thailand*

Abstract

This survey research studied the factors predicting risk behaviors related to amphetamine use
by 400 junior high school students in Nakhon Sawan province, Thailand. Data was collected by selfadministered questionnaires and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Multiple Classification
Analysis. The study results from a Multiple Classification Analysis model showed that 64.4 percent of
the variance of risk behaviors in amphetamine used (R2=0.646) could be explained by 10 selected
factors, which were gender, grade point average, knowledge about amphetamine, student’s
personality, sensation seeking, perceived self-efficacy in controlling risk behaviors regarding
amphetamine use, teaching and learning activities about prevention and control amphetamine use
conducted by school, online activity regarding amphetamine, peer influence on amphetamine use,
and how they were raised by their family. Once the effect of all other factors were taken into account,
the best three predictors were peer influence on amphetamine use, internet using, and sensation
seeking (Beta=0.44, 0.28และ 0.17 respectively). Therefore, teaching and learning activities should be
conducted to reduce risk behaviors associated with amphetamine use among junior high school
students should, emphasize peer pressure, online activity regarding amphetamine, and sensation
seeking of the student.