Alcohol use and misuse among school adolescents from national surveys in Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2018

Abstract The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of alcohol use and misuse and associated factors among adolescents in Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Data from 3,847 adolescents (mean age:14.6 years, SD = 1.7) that took part in national cross-sectional school surveys in 2018 in Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were analysed. Students responded in a classroom setting to self-administered questions on substance use and othe variables. The results indicate that 42.7% of the students reported current alcohol use, 27.9% were ever drunk and 11.4% had trouble with alcohol use. In adjusted logistic regression analyses, compared to students from Saint Lucia, students from Saint Vincent and the Granadines had higher odds of trouble from drinking. Older age was associated with current alcohol use and ever drunk but not with trouble from drinking. Severe food insecurity and suicidal ideation were associated with trouble from alcohol use. Current tobacco use and current cannabis use were highly associated with current alcohol use, ever drunk, and trouble with alcohol use, while ever use of amphetamines was associated with ever drunk. School truancy, participation in physical fights, injury, and multiple sexual partners increased the odds, while parental support decreased the odds of current alcohol use, ever drunk, and trouble from alcohol use. In conclusion, high alcohol use and misuse has been identified calling for interventions.