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Box 3. Risk and protective factors for substance use

Risk factors Protective factors
Environmental
  • availability of drugs
  • poverty
  • social change
  • peer culture
  • occupation
  • cultural norms, attitudes
  • policies on drugs, tobacco
  • and alcohol
Environmental
  • economic situation
  • situational control
  • social support
  • social integration
  • positive life events
Individual
  • genetic disposition
  • victim of child abuse
  • personality disorders
  • family disruption and dependence problems
  • poor performance at school
  • social deprivation
  • depression and suicidal behaviour
Individual
  • good coping skills
  • self-efficacy
  • risk perception
  • optimism
  • health-related behaviour
  • ability to resist social pressure
  • general health behaviour

Source: WHO  Neuroscience of Psychoactive Substance Use and Dependence, Summary (2004),
Global use of psychoactive substances and burden to health, p.23

Related publication:
Psychoactive Drugs homePsychoactive Drugs Tobacco, Alcohol, and Illicit Substances
Other Figures & Tables on this publication:

Table 1. Prevalence of smoking among adults and youths in selected countries

Table 3. Percentage of total global mortality and DALYs attributable to tobacco, alcohol and illicit substances

Depressants – overview of effects

Table 5. Pharmacological treatments for substance dependence

Table 2. Annual prevalence estimates of global illicit substance use, 2000-2001Table 2. Annual prevalence estimates of global illicit substance use, 2000-2001

Figure 3. A terminal button and synapse

Figure 4. Two types of chemical synapses

Table 4. Summary of psychoactive substance effectsTable 4. Summary of psychoactive substance effects

Figure 5. Mesolimbic dopamine pathway

Box 3. Risk and protective factors for substance use

Figure 1. Adult (15+) Per Capita Alcohol Consumption by Development Status

Figure 2. Mechanisms relating psychoactive substance use to health and social problems

Box 4: Types of psychotherapies and behavioural interventions

Box 1: Injecting substance use and HIV/AIDS

Box 2: Criteria for substance use dependence in ICD-10