Recent substance use and high levels of psychological distress among secondary school students in New South Wales

Tom F. Norris; Margo L. Eyeson-Annan

doi:10.1071/NB07056

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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Recent substance use and high levels of psychological distress among secondary school students in New South Wales

Tom F. Norris ^A and Margo L. Eyeson-Annan ^A ^B

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division NSW Department of Health

^B Corresponding author. Email: meyes@doh.health.nsw.gov.au

NSW Public Health Bulletin 18(8) 125-129 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB07056
Published: 27 August 2007

Abstract

In 2002, the NSW Department of Health, in conjunction with The Cancer Council NSW, carried out the NSW School Students Health Behaviours Survey. The methodology and summary descriptive results have been previously described [NSW Department of Health. The health behaviours of secondary school students in New South Wales 2002. N S W Public Health Bull 2004; 15(S-2): 1–86]. In the survey, 18% of NSW secondary school students reported high levels of psychological distress, 30% reported recently using alcohol, 13% reported recently using tobacco, and 9% reported recently using cannabis. With regard to the other illicit drugs, 2.0% reported recently using amphetamines, 1.0% cocaine, 1.4% hallucinogens (LSD, heroin) and 1.9% ecstasy. The survey did not, however, examine associations between substance use and high levels of psychological distress. These associations are described in this article.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Baohui Yang (statistical support), Michael Giffin (editing), and Lee Taylor (managerial support and data management) from the Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health. Also Margaret Thomas from the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Advancement, NSW Department of Health; Beverley Raphael, and Gavin Stewart from the Centre for Mental Health, NSW Department of Health; and Devon Indig from the Centre for Drug and Alcohol Programs, NSW Department of Health, for providing helpful comments.

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