The Role of Individual and Social Mediators in the Association Between Drug Consumption and Mental Health Among Adolescents in Barcelona

This study aims to analyze whether there is an association between poor mental health and high-risk cannabis and alcohol use in adolescents attending secondary schools in the city of Barcelona, and to analyze which individual and/or contextual variables mediate this association. Prevalence of risk of poor mental health, binge drinking, high-risk cannabis use, and comorbidity were stratified by sex. To analyze the association between poor mental health and high-risk cannabis and alcohol use, multilevel linear regression models were constructed, obtaining regression coefficients and confidence intervals at 95%. Poor mental health among adolescents is associated with high-risk cannabis use, and association remains after adjusting for individual and contextual variables. Binge drinking shows a weak association with poor mental health that is only significant in girls. This study emphasizes the relevance of focusing on the context in which students live, specifically the school environment, in order to prevent high-risk drug use and poor mental health.