The 15-Year Consequences of War: Drug Use Tendencies and Reasons Among Adolescent Refugees

Purpose This study aimed to identify substance use patterns and reasons among adolescent refugees. Methods This study employed a research design that utilized descriptive, correlational, and structural modeling approaches. The study participants were selected using a combination of random and convenience sampling methods. The adolescents and their parents were informed about the study's aims, and they were included after obtaining informed consent from the parents and written consent from the children. Results The current study has determined that refugee adolescents have a substance use tendency. Adolescents experiencing the loss of a father or mother, smoking cigarettes or hookah, and facing issues such as shelter, heating, health, economic, psychological, and sleep problems following war and migration are influenced by substance use behaviors. In addition, it has been determined that despite the passing of a long time since the war and migration, the experiences of witnessing the destruction of homes, seeing dead bodies, and witnessing death during that period also had an impact on adolescents. Substance use among adolescents has been found to influence suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts. Conclusions Refugee adolescents have been found to have a high substance use tendency, and certain variables have been observed to increase their substance use. It has been found that this situation has an impact on suicide attempts.