1.Determinants of alcohol consumption and marijuana use among young adults in the Republic of Palau.
Mizuki SATA ; Renzhe CUI ; Chifa CHIANG ; Singeru Travis SINGEO ; Berry Moon WATSON ; Hiroshi YATSUYA ; Kaori HONJO ; Takashi MITA ; Everlynn Joy TEMENGIL ; Sherilynn MADRAISAU ; Kazumasa YAMAGISHI ; Atsuko AOYAMA ; Hiroyasu ISO
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2021;26(1):12-12
BACKGROUND:
This study aimed to describe the status of alcohol consumption and drug use among young adults as well as their determinants.
METHODS:
We conducted a cross-sectional study of 356 young adults (aged 18 to 24 years) living in Palau in 2013. The prevalence of self-reported alcohol and marijuana usage were compared within and between sexes, age groups, ethnicities, and education levels.
RESULTS:
The proportion of current drinking was higher in people aged 21-24 than in those aged 18-20 (73.2% vs. 60.9%, p = 0.09 in men and 48.3% vs. 30.0%, p = 0.02 in women), while that of marijuana use did not differ between the age groups. The proportions of current drinking and marijuana use were higher in Palauan than in other ethnicities (current drinking: 70.6% vs. 40.6%, p = 0.005 in men and 38.8% vs. 16.6%, p = 0.04 in women; lifetime marijuana use: 80.0% vs. 52.9%, p = 0.02 in men and 56.1% vs. 30.6%, p = 0.09 in women). The proportion of frequent (3 times or more) marijuana users was higher for the lower educated than for the higher educated (62.5% vs. 32.1%, p < 0.001 in men and 33.9% vs. 24.4%, p = 0.12 in women).
CONCLUSIONS
Sex, age, ethnicity, and education were significant determinants of alcohol and marijuana use.
Age Factors
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Alcohol Drinking/ethnology*
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Cross-Sectional Studies
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Educational Status
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Marijuana Use/ethnology*
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Palau/epidemiology*
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Prevalence
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Sex Factors
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Young Adult