Trends in Norwegian adolescents' substance use between 2014 and 2022: socioeconomic and gender differences.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Substance use is a global health concern and early onset among adolescents increases health risks. We explore national overall trends in prevalence and trends in socioeconomic inequalities in past year alcohol intoxication, cannabis use, and use of other illicit drugs among Norwegian adolescents (ages ∼ 15-19 years of age) between 2014 and 2022.

Method

The present study builds on data from a nationwide repeated cross-sectional survey collected in 2014-2016 (T1), 2017-2019 (T2), 2021 (T3) and 2022 (T4). In total 415,560 adolescents (50.3% girls) completed the questionnaire during the study period. Trends in socioeconomic inequalities were assessed using the Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and the Relative Index of Inequality (RII).

Results

While the prevalen

SUBMITTER: Myhr A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11391704 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature