Factors influencing the consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and psychoactive substances using machine learning

Abstract

Introduction. Addiction to psychoactive substances is a global challenge that impacts physical, mental, and emotional health, generating significant social and economic consequences influenced by individual, psychological, family, and social factors. Objective. Analyze the sociodemographic and mental health factors that influence dependence on alcohol, tobacco, and psychoactive substances in El Salvador. Methodology. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using data from the 2022 National Mental Health Survey. All participants were included and categorized according to their risk of tobacco, alcohol, or psychoactive substance use. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed, along with correlation, clustering, and logistic regression analyses. The programs used were RStudio 4.3.2 and QGIS 3.34.3. Results. The national rate of high tobacco use was 0.36%, alcohol use was 0.5 %, and moderate use of psychoactive substances was 3.2 %. There was a strong correlation between high alcohol use and moderate tobacco use (0.96), tobacco use and moderate substance use (0.93), and moderate alcohol use and moderate substance use (0.90). In the multivariate model, being female, having resilience, and having a partner are protective factors, while living in an urban area, anxiety and depression are risk factors for substance use. Conclusion. Geographical environment impacts substance use and is associated with mental health problems, and the use of one substance correlates with the use of additional substances.