INTRODUCTION:

The term “Substance use” describes the use of certain substances such as alcohol, tobacco products, drugs, inhalants, and other substances that can be consumed, inhaled, injected, or otherwise absorbed into the body with possible dependence and other detrimental effects.¹ The National Drug Survey report in 2019 revealed that the prevalence of substance use among adolescents were high. Among them 1.8% of adolescents used opioids, 1.3% consumed alcohol, 1.17% used volatile solvents and 0.9% used cannabis.²

In India, studies indicate that substance use is common among adolescents. A study conducted in Karnataka revealed that the prevalence of substance use was 27%. Among them, 22% used tobacco and 8.2% used alcohol. A minority of 1.2% have used other substances also.³

A study conducted at Pallithottam, Kerala, found that 48% of adolescent boys had poor knowledge about substance abuse. Additionally, 53% of the students had an unfavorable attitude, while 47% had a favorable attitude towards substance abuse.⁴

Substance abuse problems occur on a spectrum from use to dependence. Substance abuse among adolescents can lead to problems at school, cause or aggravate physical and mental health-related issues, poor peer relationships, causes motor-vehicle accidents, and create stress on the family. They can also develop into lifelong issues such as substance dependence, chronic health problems and social and financial consequences.⁵ Socio demographic variables such as the population’s gender, age and the rate of urbanization are all the risk factors of substance abuse.¹ Kerala has one of the highest rates of alcohol consumption and also over 15 million people were suffering from substance use disorders.⁶

A study conducted among 402 students in central Kerala, India, found that 31.8% had used substances such as alcohol, tobacco (smoking), and pan (betel leaf) chewing at some point in their lives, regardless of the time and frequency of use.⁷ Therefore, assessing their awareness and attitudes towards substance use is crucial. Recognizing this need, the researcher decided to conduct a study to evaluate the awareness and attitudes towards substance use among college students in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

Findings of the study can be used as a base to develop effective strategies to provide awareness, prevent the harmful social evil and protect our adolescents and there by create a better society for tomorrow.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary objectives:

1. Assess the awareness regarding substance use among the college students in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

2. Assess the attitude towards substance use among the college students in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

Secondary objectives:

1. Find out the correlation between awareness and attitude towards substance use among the college students.

2. Find out the association of awareness regarding substance use among the college students with their socio demographic variables.

3. Find out the association of attitude towards substance use among the college students with their socio demographic variables.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Quantitative research approach and descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted for this study. After obtaining permission from the Institutional Human Ethics Committee, Institutional Research Committee, Directorate of Collegiate Education and Principal of selected Colleges, the study was conducted. The data were collected from 450 college students from various Arts and Science colleges in Thiruvananthapuram by multi stage cluster sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the sociodemographic data and awareness regarding substance use and Likert 5-point scale was used to assess the attitude towards substance use among college students.

RESULTS:

Figure 1: Distribution of students based on awareness regarding substance use

Figure 1 showed that mmajority (62.7%) of participant’s had average awareness regarding substance use. But 13.3% had poor awareness and only 24% of the students reported good awareness regarding substance use.

Table 1: Distribution of participants based on their attitude towards substance use n = 450

Attitude	Frequency	Percentage
Positive	40	8.9
Negative	410	91.1

Table 1 showed that majority 91.1% students had a negative attitude and 8.9% had positive attitude towards substance use.

Figure 2: Scattered plot showing the correlation between awareness and attitude

Figure 2 shows that there was a moderate positive correlation.

Association between awareness regarding substance use among the college students and their sociodemographic variables.

Table 2: Association of awareness regarding substance use among the college students with their age. n =450

Age (in years)	Good	Awareness
Age (in years)	Good	Average	Poor	χ²	Df	p value
18	13	58	3
19	16	48	12
20	32	80	21	17.4**	8	0.025
21	20	59	14
22	27	37	10

Table 2 shows that the chi-square value (χ²= 17.4) is significant at p<0.05 level of significance. Hence there is significant association between awareness regrading substance use among the college students and their age.

Association between attitude towards substance use among the college students and their socio demographic variables.

Table 3: Association of attitude towards substance use among the college students with occupation their mother and their socio-economic status. n=450

Attitude	Positive	Negative	χ²	df	p value
Occupation of their mother
Government employee	1	68
Private employee	6	85
Business	0	2	10.2**	4	0.036
Self-employed	5	41
Home maker	28	214
Socio economic status
APL	12	219	7.9*	1	0.005
BPL	28	191

Table 3 illustrates that the obtained chi square value (χ² = 10.2) is significant at p value <0.05 for occupation of mother and for socioeconomic status (χ²= 7.9, p< 0.05). Hence there is significant association of attitude towards substance use the students with occupation of their mother and their socio-economic status.

DISCUSSION:

In the present study, majority (62.7%) of participants had average level of awareness regarding substance use, 24% had good awareness level and 13.3% had poor awareness. The findings were congruent to the findings of another study conducted in Kerala, where 60% of children had average awareness, 5% had good awareness, and 35% had poor awareness.⁸

The findings of the present are contradictory to another study conducted at Bihar, which was intended to assess knowledge of substance abuse among adolescents. Out of 100 students 84% had good knowledge regarding substance abuse and its consequences and 16% adolescents had average knowledge.⁹

In the present study, majority (91.1%) of participants had negative attitude and 8.9% had positive attitude towards substance use.

The findings are congruent to a study conducted at Thiruvananthapuram to assess the attitude towards substance abuse among youth revealed that majority (66.7%) of the participants had negative attitude towards substance use.¹⁰

Evidences from the present study was inconsistent to another study conducted at Spain. In that, results suggest that 55.6% had a positive attitude towards alcohol use and 40.9% had a negative attitude.¹¹

The differences in the scores may be due to the difference in socio cultural background of the students.

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Received on 15.05.2025 Revised on 17.06.2025

Accepted on 14.07.2025 Published on 16.08.2025

Available online from August 25, 2025

Int. J. Nursing Education and Research. 2025;13(3):176-178.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2660.2025.00037

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