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Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
Published in: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Research

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

Authors: Andreas Plüddemann, Alan J Flisher, Rebecca McKetin, Charles D Parry, Carl J Lombard

Published in: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy | Issue 1/2010

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Abstract

Background

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusions

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.
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Metadata
Title
A prospective study of methamphetamine use as a predictor of high school non-attendance in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors
Andreas Plüddemann
Alan J Flisher
Rebecca McKetin
Charles D Parry
Carl J Lombard
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1747-597X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1747-597X-5-25

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