ASSESSMENT OF DRUG AWARENESS AMONG SCHOOL STUDENTS IN KABUL, AFGHANISTAN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: In the modern world, addiction and substance abuse are increasingly recognized as some of the most destructive social phenomena and health problems, alongside other social deviations, challenges, and health risk factors. This issue annually drives millions of people, particularly the younger generation, who are nations' essential resources and assets, toward destruction. The low level of awareness among individuals, especially youth and adolescents, about drugs, along with other contributing and aggravating factors, plays a significant role in the prevalence of substance abuse and addiction among young people. This study aims to assess the level of awareness regarding drugs among school students.

Methods: This study was conducted as a descriptive cross-sectional survey on a sample of 363 students from two schools during the period from October to November 2024. The data were collected using the proportional quota sampling technique, and data were analyzed using SPSS 27.

Results: Out of 363 distributed questionnaires, 350 were completed. The majority of participants 89.4% were aged 16-20 years. Among students, 57.71% had good awareness, 41.43% had average awareness, and 0.86% had poor awareness about drugs. The majority of students reported that their main sources of information about drugs were friends 50.86% and teachers 20.29%. A total of 14.3% reported having at

least one addicted family member, and 67.4% were able to refuse drug offers. Analysis revealed significant relationships between age, marital status, and place of residence with awareness levels (p<0.001), while economic status and parents' education showed no significant association.

Conclusion: This study identified the 16-20 age group as the most vulnerable yet receptive to drug awareness programs. The majority of the students had an average economic status, and most of them were single. Their main source of information about drugs was their friends, which raises concerns about the possibility of misinformation. While overall awareness was satisfactory, aspects like awareness of drug consumption methods need improvement. Statistical analysis showed significant relationships between awareness levels and factors such as age, marital status, and pla    of residence. Strengthening the role of families and formal education in providing accurate information and reducing the negative influence of social networks is essential