Kavinda Dayasiri¹, Malaka Samarasinghe², Gihan Gunarathna¹, Udara Sandakelum³, Indika Gawarammana²
1- Faculty of Medicine University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
2- Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
3- Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, Sri Lanka
Abstract Body
Introduction: Illicit substance abuse among adolescents is an emerging public health concern in Sri Lanka. Evidence on independent risk factors, particularly among high-risk teenagers undergoing rehabilitation, remains limited.
Objectives: To identify independent social, familial, peer and school-related risk factors associated with adolescent illicit substance abuse.
Methods: A case–control study was conducted among adolescents aged 10–17 years. Cases (n=108) were admitted for inpatient rehabilitation at the Youth Drug Addiction Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, Kandy . Age- and sexmatched controls were recruited from the outpatient department of North Colombo Teaching Hospital, Ragama. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent risk factors (p