The Relationship Between Risk Factors and Substance Use Behaviors: North Cyprus Case

Abstract

This study examined the relationships between substance use, family support, peer support, perceived social pressure, school absenteeism and the duration of social media use among 15-16-year-old high school students in Northern Cyprus. Conducted in the 2024–25 academic year, the study aimed to survey all 3,901 students using the ESPAD scale, and the data were evaluated through quantitative analysis. The findings showed that family support was negatively associated with cigarette and alcohol use. A 1-unit increase in family support was associated with a 0.08% decrease in the frequency of 30-day cigarette use. Peer support only modestly reduced the frequency of getting drunk. Social pressure was identified as one of the strongest risk factors for substance use, with a particularly high β-value of 1.62 observed for alcohol use. School absenteeism explained 8% of the variance in cigarette use and approximately 5% of alcohol use, indicating its significance as a risk factor. The duration of social media use increased cigarette and alcohol use, and a weak negative association was observed with cannabis use. These results suggest that factors relating to the family, peers, school and digital environments should be considered together. This study is one of the first comprehensive quantitative analyses in the context of substance use in adolescents in Northern Cyprus, providing local data for preventive interventions. It is recommended that preventive strategies focus on strengthening family support, increasing school engagement, developing coping skills in the face of peer pressure, and reducing exposure to risky content on social media.