A prospective study of methamphetamine use as a predictor of high school non-attendance in Cape Town, South Africa

• Main Authors: Parry Charles D (Author), McKetin Rebecca (Author), Flisher Alan J (Author), Plüddemann Andreas (Author), Lombard Carl J (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2010-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/1747-597X-5-25; 1747-597X
• Keywords: Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology; HV1-9960
• Source: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, Vol 5, Iss 1, p 25 (2010)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This prospective study investigated the association between life-long methamphetamine and other drug use and high school non-attendance, in a sample of high school students in Cape Town, South Africa.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A random sample of 1535 high school students completed a baseline questionnaire in 2006, and were asked to complete a follow-up questionnaire 12 months later. The questionnaire included questions on substance use, including tobacco, alcohol, methamphetamine and cannabis use, demographic factors, and questions relating to school attendance and performance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Forty-three percent of the students surveyed at baseline did not complete a follow-up questionnaire after 12 months. Compared with students who were not using selected substances, an adjusted logistic regression model showed that life-time methamphetamine use in addition to other substances was significantly associated with non-attendance (OR = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.24 - 5.36) when other non-substance use factors (repeating a year at school and being older than the norm for current grade) were taken into account.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Early identification of students with methamphetamine and other substance use problems, and a supportive rather than punitive school policy, may be valuable in improving high school completion and student retention rates.</p>