Drug Abuse Perception and Associated Variables among Secondary School Students in Duhok City

Background: Nowadays, illicit drug abuse is becoming a serious public health problem worldwide specifically in Iraq, affecting the entire community. This study aimed to determine the secondary school students' perception in Duhok City about drug abuse and its association with their demographic...

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Main Authors: Alaa Noori Sarkees, Sardar Abdullah Issa, Azad Jameel Hussein
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Kufa, Faculty of Nursing 2023-10-01
Series:Kufa Journal for Nursing Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journal.uokufa.edu.iq/index.php/kjns/article/view/13237
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author Alaa Noori Sarkees
Sardar Abdullah Issa
Azad Jameel Hussein
author_facet Alaa Noori Sarkees
Sardar Abdullah Issa
Azad Jameel Hussein
author_sort Alaa Noori Sarkees
collection DOAJ
description Background: Nowadays, illicit drug abuse is becoming a serious public health problem worldwide specifically in Iraq, affecting the entire community. This study aimed to determine the secondary school students' perception in Duhok City about drug abuse and its association with their demographic characteristics. Methods: A descriptive (cross-sectional) study which is conducted from September 2022 to January 2023 utilizes an assessment approach in order to determine the secondary school perception of drug abuse at nine boy secondary schools in Duhok City. A probability sample was adapted to select students from each secondary school to reach (135) students. Data were collected through the direct interview technique using the questionnaire as a tool for data collection, which is constructed through the extensive review of the related literature that consisted of two assessment parts. The first one is concerned with the assessment of the secondary school student's demographic characteristics and the second part of the assessment tool is concerned with assessing the student's perception of drug abuse. Data were analyzed through the application of frequency, percentage, cut-off points, and Fisher Exact test. Such analyses are computed by using the SPSS, IBM program version 23. Results: The findings indicate that approximately half of the students who participated in the present study have good perceptions about each of the general perceptions of drug abuse and perception of physical, behavioral, and Psychological warning signs of such abuse.  While they have an average perception of the factors that increase vulnerability and alteration of brain function due to drug abuse.   Conclusion: According to the study results and discussion, more than fifty percent of secondary school students had a high perception of drug abuse.              
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spelling doaj-art-9208445d8fcd445e874f10082d12e1882025-08-20T02:26:27ZengUniversity of Kufa, Faculty of NursingKufa Journal for Nursing Sciences2223-40552521-86382023-10-0113210.36321/kjns.vi20232.13237 Drug Abuse Perception and Associated Variables among Secondary School Students in Duhok CityAlaa Noori Sarkees0https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7453-2419Sardar Abdullah Issa1https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4588-1312Azad Jameel Hussein2 College of Health and Medical Technology, Duhok Polytechnic University, Duhok, IraqCollege of Health and Medical Technology, Duhok Polytechnic University, Duhok, IraqCollege of Health and Medical Technology, Duhok Polytechnic University, Duhok, Iraq Background: Nowadays, illicit drug abuse is becoming a serious public health problem worldwide specifically in Iraq, affecting the entire community. This study aimed to determine the secondary school students' perception in Duhok City about drug abuse and its association with their demographic characteristics. Methods: A descriptive (cross-sectional) study which is conducted from September 2022 to January 2023 utilizes an assessment approach in order to determine the secondary school perception of drug abuse at nine boy secondary schools in Duhok City. A probability sample was adapted to select students from each secondary school to reach (135) students. Data were collected through the direct interview technique using the questionnaire as a tool for data collection, which is constructed through the extensive review of the related literature that consisted of two assessment parts. The first one is concerned with the assessment of the secondary school student's demographic characteristics and the second part of the assessment tool is concerned with assessing the student's perception of drug abuse. Data were analyzed through the application of frequency, percentage, cut-off points, and Fisher Exact test. Such analyses are computed by using the SPSS, IBM program version 23. Results: The findings indicate that approximately half of the students who participated in the present study have good perceptions about each of the general perceptions of drug abuse and perception of physical, behavioral, and Psychological warning signs of such abuse.  While they have an average perception of the factors that increase vulnerability and alteration of brain function due to drug abuse.   Conclusion: According to the study results and discussion, more than fifty percent of secondary school students had a high perception of drug abuse.               https://journal.uokufa.edu.iq/index.php/kjns/article/view/13237Drug Abuse, Secondary School Students
spellingShingle Alaa Noori Sarkees
Sardar Abdullah Issa
Azad Jameel Hussein
Drug Abuse Perception and Associated Variables among Secondary School Students in Duhok City
Kufa Journal for Nursing Sciences
Drug Abuse, Secondary School Students
title Drug Abuse Perception and Associated Variables among Secondary School Students in Duhok City
title_full Drug Abuse Perception and Associated Variables among Secondary School Students in Duhok City
title_fullStr Drug Abuse Perception and Associated Variables among Secondary School Students in Duhok City
title_full_unstemmed Drug Abuse Perception and Associated Variables among Secondary School Students in Duhok City
title_short Drug Abuse Perception and Associated Variables among Secondary School Students in Duhok City
title_sort drug abuse perception and associated variables among secondary school students in duhok city
topic Drug Abuse, Secondary School Students
url https://journal.uokufa.edu.iq/index.php/kjns/article/view/13237
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AT azadjameelhussein drugabuseperceptionandassociatedvariablesamongsecondaryschoolstudentsinduhokcity