Alcohol Use Disorder and Determinant of Alcohol Dependence among Vocational Students in the Northeast of Thailand

Abstract

Background: Alcohol-related deaths currently comprise 3.2% of all global mortality and alcohol

consumption is the 3rd leading health risk factors among Thais after unsafe sex and smoking. This research

aimed to determine the pattern of alcohol use disorders and investigate factors associated with alcohol

dependence among vocational students in the Northeast of Thailand.

Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,006 vocational students who were multistage

random sampling from five provinces of the Northeast of Thailand to response to a self-administrated

structured questionnaire. The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test in Thai version was used to identify

prevalence of hazardous, harmful, alcohol dependence as well as some specific consequences of harmful

drinking. Multiple logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with alcohol dependence.

Result: Among the total of 1,006 vocational students, more than a quarter was hazardous drinkers (26.34%;

95%CI: 23.64 -29.18), 13.72 % (95%CI:11.65 -15.99) were harmful drinker and 11.43% (95%CI: 9.53-

13.56) were alcohol dependence. Factors that were associated with alcohol dependence among vocational

students were; stayed in dormitory (adj.OR=2.78; 95%CI: 1.62-4.75), used to drink and drive (adj.OR=2.21;

95%CI:1.64-2.97), studying in higher vocational program (adj.OR=2.04;95%CI: 1.55- 2.69), were tobacco

user (adj.OR=1.77; 95%CI: 1.23-2.55), never been arrested for drink driving (adj.OR=1.76; 95%CI: 1.24-

2.49), used to access to advertisement on alcoholic beverages from radio or television (adj.OR=1.48; 95%CI:

1.10- 1.99), university did not comply to implement no alcohol advertisement and consumption measures

(adj.OR=1.47; 95%CI: 1.10-1.95), had good attitude toward drinking alcohol (adj.OR=1.44; 95%CI: 1.09-

1.90) when controlling other covariates.

Conclusion: Almost half of the vocational students had alcohol use disorders, and more than ten percent

suffering alcohol dependence. Peer factors, advertisement, other risk behaviors, poor law enforcement

as well as personal attitude were associated with alcohol dependence among vocational students in the

Northeast of Thailand.