Contributing Factors of Substance Abuse among Secondary Level School Students in Bharatpur Metropolitan

Introduction: Substance abuse is harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substance including alcohol and illicit drugs. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and contributing factors for substance abuse among secondary school level students in Bharatpur Metropolitan. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among 495 students of grade 11 and 12 in secondary school setting in Bharatpur metropolitan from June to December, 2019. Data were collected using self-administered anonymous questionnaire. Chi-square test was performed to find out the association between dependent and independent variables and crude odd ratio was obtained to measure the strength of association. Results: The result of the study showed that 18.8% participants were currently involving in substance abuse. Alcohol was found to be most commonly abused substance by participants. Substance abuse was significantly associated with male students (OR=11.903, 95% CI: 6.395-22.157), high monthly household income abuse (OR=1.709, 95% CI: 1.085-2.691), time spent on internet more than one hour per day (OR=2.401, 95% CI: 1.388-4.153), no control over internet by others (OR= 2.578, 95% CI: 1.574-4.224), management students (OR= 1.678, 95% CI: 1.011-2.286), absence school more than 4 days in a month (OR= 2.401, 95% CI: 1.338-4.153), students living with others than family members (OR= 2.577, 95% CI: 1.339-4.958), substance abuser in family (OR= 2.701, 95% CI: 1.667-4.377), sibling abuse substances (OR= 4.757, 95% CI:1.467-15.248), substance abuser in close friend circle (OR= 11.204, 95% CI: 6.693-4.18.755), friends insisted/enforced to take substances (OR= 2.978, 95% CI: 1.409-6.294), substance abuser in neighborhood (OR= 2.866, 95% CI:1.777-4.621)  and stressful events (OR= 2.434, 95% CI: 1.130-5.243). Conclusion: The study concluded that various socio-demographic, socio economic, technological, educational, environmental and psychological factors play significant role in substance abuse among secondary school students. It is recommended to observe and monitor activities of adolescents regularly, provide a suitable and supportive environment to adolescents and provide school, community and health facility based awareness, counselling and problem solving approaches for adolescents to solve the problem of substance abuse.