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Early Substance Use Initiation and Suicide Ideation and Attempts among School-Aged Adolescents in Four Pacific Island Countries in Oceania

Author

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  • Karl Peltzer

    (ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Salaya 73170, Thailand
    Department of Research & Innovation, University of Limpopo, Turfloop 0727, South Africa
    HIV/AIDS/STIs and TB (HAST), Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria 0002, South Africa)

  • Supa Pengpid

    (ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Salaya 73170, Thailand
    Department of Research & Innovation, University of Limpopo, Turfloop 0727, South Africa)

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the correlations between early initiation (<12 years) of smoking cigarettes, alcohol use, and drug use (cannabis) with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in school-aged adolescents in four Pacific Island countries in Oceania. The sample included 6540 adolescents (≤13 to ≥16 years old) from Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted to assess the association between pre-adolescent substance use initiation and suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Results indicate a prevalence of 25.8% suicidal ideation in the past 12 months (ranging from 17.2% in Vanuatu to 34.7% in Kiribati) and 34.9% suicide attempts in the past 12 months (ranging from 23.5% in Vanuatu to 62.0% in Samoa). The prevalence of early cigarette smoking initiation was 15.7%, early alcohol initiation 13.8%, and early drug use initiation was 12.9%. Students who reported pre-adolescent substance use initiation, compared with non-substance users, were more likely reporting suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. The concurrent initiation of cigarette smoking, alcohol, and drug use should be targeted in early prevention programmes in order to prevent possible subsequent suicidal behaviours.

Suggested Citation

  • Karl Peltzer & Supa Pengpid, 2015. "Early Substance Use Initiation and Suicide Ideation and Attempts among School-Aged Adolescents in Four Pacific Island Countries in Oceania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-13, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:10:p:12291-12303:d:56618
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rubinstein, Donald H., 1983. "Epidemic suicide among micronesian adolescents," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 17(10), pages 657-665, January.
    2. Monica Swahn & Robert Bossarte & Marie Choquet & Christine Hassler & Bruno Falissard & Nearkasen Chau, 2012. "Early substance use initiation and suicide ideation and attempts among students in France and the United States," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 57(1), pages 95-105, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Youn Huh & Hong-Jun Cho, 2021. "Associations between the Type of Tobacco Products and Suicidal Behaviors: A Nationwide Population-Based Study among Korean Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-10, January.
    2. Fanny Hoogstoel & Sékou Samadoulougou & Vincent Lorant & Fati Kirakoya-Samadoulougou, 2021. "A Latent Class Analysis of Health Lifestyles in Relation to Suicidality among Adolescents in Mauritius," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-15, June.
    3. Bimala Sharma & Eun Woo Nam & Ha Yun Kim & Jong Koo Kim, 2015. "Factors Associated with Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempt among School-Going Urban Adolescents in Peru," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Bimala Sharma & Tae Ho Lee & Eun Woo Nam, 2017. "Loneliness, Insomnia and Suicidal Behavior among School-Going Adolescents in Western Pacific Island Countries: Role of Violence and Injury," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-11, July.

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