Pattern of substance use among schoolchildren in Palestine: a cross-sectional study

Substance use and misuse is a major medical, psychological, and social problem (Ljubotina et al. 2004). Important changes in trends and patterns of drug use present new challenges to public health practitioners and program planners (WHO 2000). The use of tobacco, alcohol, and other illegal substances and drugs is a worldwide problem and affects many children and adolescents (Hanson et al. 2014; NIDA 2014; UNODC 2015). Adolescence is a period of transition involving sensation seeking and experimentation in risky behaviors, and therefore, adolescents are at high risk for the use of substances of addiction (Das et al. 2016; Makanjuola et al. 2007).

Many factors are associated with the increased danger of using addictive substances such as the age the user starts, type of substances, the frequency and the duration of the use, and using multiple substances at the same time. Many studies had discussed the effect of introducing harmful substances early in life (Grant and Dawsin 1997; NIDA 2010). The initiation and the use among youth and young adults are of particular concern due to the established increased risk of harm such as other drug use and dependent drug use, a risk of heavy dependence, lung problems, memory impairment, and psychosocial problems (Fergusson et al. 2002; Grant and Dawsin 1997; Ljubotina et al. 2004). Children below 15 years who had exposed to illicit drugs and alcohol are predicted to have substance disorders and addiction in adulthood (Grant and Dawsin 1997). Moreover, the development of those children’s brains would be affected. They would suffer from low school performance and are more vulnerable to risky behaviors, sexually transmitted diseases, and crimes (Odgers et al. 2008). According to the Global School-based Student Health Survey, among students who ever used drugs, about 91.6% had used them for the first time before the age of 14 years in the West Bank (CDC 2013). Moreover, there is an increase in trials to produce these drugs locally in the West Bank, and young adults are implicated in the field of drug farming and marketing (Damiri et al. 2018b). There are few studies that have been conducted in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza in order to determine the extent, the trend, and the pattern of drug use among Palestinians in different age groups (Damiri et al. 2018a, 2018b; Massad et al. 2016; Stulhofer et al. 2016; Thabet and Dajani 2012). The results of these studies had indicated that drug use among Palestinian is relatively high, and it is increasing despite the religious, legal, and cultural constraints. It has been established that the most used drugs were cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids, and most of the Palestinian users had initiated drugs at an early age (Damiri et al. 2018a; Damiri et al. 2018b). Around 1.9% of persons convicted with drug possession were in the age group < 18 years, and 3% of them were students (Damiri et al. 2018a, 2018b). To the authors’ best knowledge, there are no studies that have described the pattern of psychoactive substance use among schoolchildren in Palestine.

The response rate was high (94.7%), and a total of 831 had participated; 3 questionnaires were excluded, and a final of 828 students had completed the questionnaire.

Students are the most vulnerable to drug use during times of transition. New social and emotional challenges affect teenagers on many levels when they switch to high schools. Since it is a stage of cognitive development, its alteration by the use of drugs and alcohol can have long-term effects on the individual such as cognitive impairment, physical agitation, and fatality (Gould 2010). This work has explored the risk factors of substance use among schoolchildren in two main aspects, mentally and socially.

Many factors had determined the danger of using addictive substances in this age group such as initiation age, type of substances used, the frequency of use, and using multiple substances at the same time. Children who are using licit or illicit substances are sometimes stigmatized and face various difficulties and maltreatment including physical, psychological, and sexual use (Newcomb et al. 1988). Using illicit drugs and alcohol is stigmatized and illegal behaviors for children in Palestine. Therefore, the results of this study could be underreported for these substances. However, the results indicate that substance use is common among 10th-grade schoolchildren. Tobacco use is a critical national health concern and remains number one preventable cause of death worldwide (Harvey et al. 2016). The prevalence of smoking was high as 40.6% of the students were current smokers and 40.3% of them smoke daily. This is higher than the prevalence of smoking among Palestinians live in different other countries and adolescent live in the Mediterranean Eastern region in general (Jawad et al. 2016). Moreover, these numbers are expected to increase, as the Eastern Mediterranean region is one of the regions that continue to experience an escalating tobacco epidemic (Alzyoud et al. 2014; Mzayek et al. 2012). The harmful effects of nicotine and cigarette smoke are significant and long-lasting (Centers for Disease et al. 2010). The initiation age of smoking was 12 years and most of the students smoke daily. In agreement with other studies (Wu et al. 2007), curiosity and experience were the most frequent causes that would motivate students at this age for substance use as 63.1% of students would smoke, 19.8% would drink alcohol, and 23.2% would use illicit drugs for these motives. Anger and escaping from problems were also frequent causes that would push for substance use. Therefore, the Palestinian National Authority needs to make more efforts in smoking legislation regulating the age of access and smoking for adults in public areas and in schools. Moreover, health care professionals, ministry of education, ministry of health, and clinicians have key responsibilities in preventing tobacco use among youth and need to develop more effective smoking prevention and cessation strategies and promoting tobacco-free environments.

Around 3.2% of the students are current alcohol users, and 2.0% are current illicit drug users. Moreover, 7.9% of the students had used alcohol and 2.9% had used illicit drug at least once in their lifetime. This is a high prevalence for different reasons. Having alcohol and illicit drugs is considered a social stigma, illegal, and has cultural and religion constraint. All students were Muslims, and Islam is generally considered to have strong proscriptive norms against the use of alcohol and any psychoactive substance in comparison with other cultures (Johnston et al. 2015; Spear 2015; WHO 2011).

Many studies had discussed the danger of introducing harmful substances at the same time in early age (Popovici et al. 2012; Benda et al, 2005; Biswas et al. 2006; Chatterji 2006; NIDA 2010). The mean initiation age of smoking was 12 years, and drinking alcohol or using illicit drugs was 14 years. These results demonstrate the need for immediate intervention in order to avoid future negative health consequences from substance use such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, lung disease, and mental disorders (NIDA 2010). In addition to these health problems, substance use also puts adolescents at high risks of poor academic performance and increased school dropouts (Biswas et al. 2006; Chatterji 2006) and involvement in crime and violent activities (Popovici et al. 2012; Benda 2005). Therefore, early intervention is vital to change a child’s life pathway away from risk-taking behaviors.

Many studies had also discussed the danger of introducing multiple harmful substances at the same time in early age (EMCDDA 2009; Belcher and Shinitzky 1998). Around 87.0% of drug users in this study were also tobacco smokers and alcohol users (87.0%). This is consistent with the findings of epidemiological research which indicated that one rarely finds a drug user without a previous or concurrent use of tobacco or alcohol (EMCDDA 2009). In addition to that, around 78.3% of illicit drug users in this study had used tobacco, alcohol, and energy drinks. A child who smokes tobacco or drinks alcohol will be 65 times more likely to use marijuana than a child who never smoked or drank, and children who used marijuana were 104 times as likely to use cocaine compared with their peers who never used marijuana (Belcher and Shinitzky 1998). The results in this study agree also with the gateway theory which states that the earlier use of one of several licit substances such as tobacco or illicit substances such as alcohol as well as cannabis can lead to future use of more dangerous hard drugs via a sequence of stages (Nguyen 2015; Vanyukov et al. 2012).

Both natural and synthetic cannabinoids were the most frequently used illicit drugs (19.5% of respondents and all illicit drug users). This agrees with local and international studies as cannabis continues to be the most seized drug worldwide and locally, both in terms of the number of cases and actual quantities intercepted (CDC 2013; Damiri et al. 2018a; Damiri et al. 2018b; UNODC 2015). An average of 5.0% of students aged 13–15 years in the West Bank and 3.6% in Gaza in 2010 had used marijuana one or more times during their life (CDC 2013). Methamphetamine has become more potent in recent years as techniques for its manufacture have evolved (Damiri et al. 2018b). A new liquid homemade form of this drug called GG had been introduced to the West Bank in 2013 (Damiri et al. 2018b). In this study, 87.0% of illicit drug users had used amphetamines and methamphetamine. Moreover, 43.7% of illicit drug users use drugs daily. Among the factors acting in favor of the use of cannabis, synthetic cannabinoids, and methamphetamine by these students are the lower price as they are counterfeited drugs and the availability and accessibility of these drugs in children communities. Emerging evidence suggests that heavy cannabis use by adolescents increases the risk of depression and schizophrenia in later life, especially in individuals who already have a vulnerability to develop a psychiatric syndrome (Chadwick et al. 2013; Radhakrishnan et al. 2014). It is associated also with increased rates of arrangement of adjustment problems in adolescence and young adulthood such as other illicit drug use, crime, and suicidal behaviors (Fergusson et al. 2002). Around 35.2% of users in this study tried to commit suicide, and 35.2% have given medication. Amphetamines have serious short and long-term harms such as brain damage, producing deficits in learning and memory, permanent damage to the blood vessels of the heart and brain leading to heart attacks, strokes and death, multiple organ damage, severe tooth decay, and psychosis (Wu et al. 2007). Moreover, 2.2% of students in this study had used opioids or cocaine. This seems to be a high prevalence especially for this age and in the West Bank. Opioids and cocaine were less captured and used in the West Bank especially in the north of the West Bank (Damiri et al. 2018b). The reported forms were pills such as codeine (Codavis or Rekod) which can be easily accessed from the market or in the form of powder under the names of morphine, heroin, or cocaine. Further investigation was done for the powder, and the results of the tested powder samples indicated that no opioids or cocaine in the tested samples. Substandard and counterfeited illicit drugs are well known and documented in the West Bank (Damiri et al. 2018b). The tries to commit suicide and the need for hospital admission and medication or treatment center indicate that illicit drug use is a serious problem among Palestinian children, and this calls an urgent need for treatment and rehabilitation centers.

Many factors contributed to substance initiation in teenagers including working and the availability of money, the easy access to the substances, and individual attitudes and beliefs about substance use which often arise from the environment such as the family and friends. The results of this study revealed that most children (71.2%, 37.6%, and 27.6%) have an easy access to cigarettes, alcohol, and illicit drugs, respectively. Refugee camps and Israel were the most common sources of the illicit drugs due to the weak governmental control and surveillance on drugs in these areas. Programs of Anti-Narcotic Drugs Department should make particular efforts in refugee camps due to the perceived fact that they are at greater risk for risky behaviors. Moreover, working in Israel, the availability of money from work in general, and the affordability of these substances by close friends and relatives play a valuable risk factor in adolescent vulnerability to substance use. The majority (67.7%) of users had never been arrested, supporting the idea that there is no adequate supervision on illicit drug use. Since adolescence is a transitional period during which adolescents define their identities, clarify their values and goals, and increase their independence from their families, they are considered relatively sensitive to any environmental influences. Studies revealed that working adolescents are likely to have higher exposure to others (e.g., older coworkers) who use cigarettes, alcohol, or other drugs, and those exposed to others who use substances are at higher risk for early initiation (Kosterman et al. 2000). Therefore, the Ministry of Labor has a significant responsibility to apply the Palestinian Labor Law No.7 of 2000 about the minimum age of working, to strict observation of early working phenomena, and to prevent all children from working near Israeli checkpoints or in Israel. These areas are considered passage points for Palestinian workers who work in Israel, and they have weak governmental control and surveillance on psychoactive substances where producing, trafficking, and smuggling of drugs are notably high (Damiri et al, 2018b).

The results of this study support the idea of peer pressure as the main reason for substance use among adolescents. Friends were the most frequent substance users among close contacts across the various substances in this study. Around 50.0%, 4.2%, and 2.6% of all respondents had been offered cigarettes, alcohol, and illicit drugs by a friend, respectively. Moreover, around 49.2% of students would smoke, 13.4% would drink alcohol, and 14% would use illicit drugs for the purpose of harmony with friends. In addition, the majority (58.8%) of illicit drug user did this behavior in the company of a friend. Students’ families and relatives also may have a fundamental impact on their children’s use of substances. Some studies (Blanton et al. 1997) suggest that parents’ substance use is one of the main reasons for adolescents substance use. This addresses the importance of parents’ influence because of their contribution to molding adolescents’ environment. Most of the adolescents’ behaviors are learned by imitation to surrounding adults. Since prevention of substance use among adolescents requires awareness of the characteristics that place youth at risk and targeting risk factors that are modifiable, awareness of the adolescents’ families should be considered as a part of the prevention program.

Psychoactive substances use is common among 10th-grade school students. The prevalence of smoking and alcohol use is quite substantial and defies local and international scales. However, illicit drug use is relatively common compared to local studies, but it is within normal ranges compared to international scales. Many factors had determined the danger of using addictive substances among schoolchildren including the initiation age, the type of substances used, the frequency of the use, and using multiple substances at the same time. Many factors contributed to substance initiation in schoolchildren including working, and the availability of money, having easy access to the substances, and individual motivation about substance use which often arise from the environment such as the family and friends. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate an urgent need for the development of intervention and immediate attention from local authorities, policymakers, families, and school system. A multidimensional prevention approach may be effective and impactful in fostering substance use attitudes among school adolescents. Contents of such approach should be culturally appropriate, age-targeted, and family/peer focused. Early intervention is vital to change a child’s life pathway away from risk-taking behaviors.