EXAMINING THE INFLUENCE OF SMOKING BEHAVIOURS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON ADOLESCENT DRUG USE: EVIDENCE FROM YUNNAN PROVINCE, CHINA

Abstract

Abstract: Throughout human history, drug abuse has posed a significant threat to societal development and individual well-being. Preventing the harms associated with drug use remains a persistent and challenging global issue. Research indicates that many individuals develop drug dependencies during adolescence, with early exposure to substance abuse leading to long-term adverse effects. In China, Yunnan Province faces particularly severe drug-related challenges, reporting the highest rates of drug production, consumption, and associated societal impacts. This study investigates the factors contributing to drug use among adolescents under 25 years old in Yunnan Province, aiming to identify the current trends and characteristics of youth drug abuse in 2023, as well as its underlying causes. The findings will inform targeted interventions to mitigate adolescent drug use. Data were collected through surveys distributed across 13 compulsory isolation and community-based drug rehabilitation centres in Yunnan Province, yielding 1,022 valid responses out of 1,083 questionnaires administered. The analysis focuses on two key determinants of adolescent drug use: smoking behaviour and local government drug policies. The degree of drug dependence serves as the dependent variable, while the school environment, given its universal influence during formative years, is examined as a moderating variable in drug prevention education. Empirical analysis of the data is followed by a discussion of the results, culminating in evidence-based recommendations for preventing youth drug abuse. These strategies are proposed at three levels: individual behavioural interventions, school-based educational programs, and governmental policy reforms.