A supportive school environment may reduce the risk of non-medical prescription opioid use due to impaired mental health among students

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Charlotte Probst - , University of Toronto, Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Tara Elton-Marshall - , University of Toronto (Author)
  • Sameer Imtiaz - , University of Toronto (Author)
  • Karen A. Patte - , Brock University (Author)
  • Jürgen Rehm - , Chair of Behavioral Epidemiology, University of Toronto, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Author)
  • Bundit Sornpaisarn - , University of Toronto (Author)
  • Scott T. Leatherdale - , University of Waterloo (Author)

Abstract

Canada is in the midst of an ongoing, escalating opioid crisis, with significant impacts on adolescents and young adults. Accordingly, mental health impairment was examined as a risk factor for non-medical prescription opioid use (NMPOU) among high school students. In addition, the moderating effects of the school environment, in terms of the availability of mental health services and substance use policies, were characterized. Self-reported, cross-sectional data were obtained from the COMPASS study, including 61,239 students (grades 9–12) in 121 secondary schools across Canada. Current and lifetime NMPOU were ascertained. Categorical indicators of mental health impairment and school environment were derived. The main analytical strategy encompassed hierarchal multilevel logistic regression, including the addition of interaction terms to characterize the moderation effects. Current and lifetime NMPOU were reported by 5.8% and 7.2% of the students, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, students in the highest quintile of mental health impairment had odds ratios (OR) of 2.60 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.29–2.95) and 2.96 (95% CI 2.64–3.33) for current and lifetime NMPOU, respectively when compared to students in the lowest quintile of mental health impairment. A significant interaction between mental health impairment and school environment indicated relatively lower risks of NMPOU in students from schools that provide more mental health services and have stricter substance use policies. Mental health impairment increased the risk of NMPOU, but the associations were moderated by the school environment. These findings underscore the importance of mental health services and substance use regulations in schools.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)293-301
Number of pages9
JournalEuropean Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Volume30
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 32215733

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Adolescent, Analgesics, Education settings, Mental health, Opioid, Prescription opioids, School environment, Schools, Substance use/abuse, Youth