Predictive factors of substance misuse and abuse in South Korean adolescents: A secondary data analysis of the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey

Purpose This study aimed to identify the general characteristics and health behaviors of students with non-therapeutic substance use. Methods This secondary data analysis used data from the 17th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (2021). Analyses of the 54,848 adolescents used descriptive statistics, the Rao–Scott χ2 test, and logistic regression. Results The risk factors for substance use among students were anxiety, loneliness, living separately from family, suicidal ideation, e-cigarette use, and high stress. Conclusion The findings help identify the risk factors for non-therapeutic drug use among adolescents. Since South Korea does not have a drug prevention program for its adolescent population, an educational plan based on these findings could help prevent adolescent substance abuse.