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Prevalence of common psychological morbidities among youth and their association with tobacco and/or alcohol use: A cross-sectional study from a village in Central India

Context: Youth is a period of major physical and psychological changes. During this vulnerable phase, many individuals develop an inclination toward addiction. Objectives: The objectives of this study are to assess the prevalence of common psychological morbidities among the youth and its association with addiction. Study Design: The community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals in the age group of 15–24 years. Methodology: A sample size of 102 individuals was estimated assuming 50% prevalence, 95% confidence level, and a nonresponse rate of 10%. One hundred and five individuals were offered participation, of which 97 individuals gave consent and were included in the study. The Global Mental Health Assessment Tool–Primary Care version was used for determining the prevalence and severity of common psychological morbidities. Data regarding tobacco and/or alcohol use were collected using the World Health Organization-Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test. Descriptive analysis was performed using frequency and percentage. Association was found out using the odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals. Results: One-third of respondents have consumed tobacco in their lifetime, whereas 13.4% of respondents are alcohol consumers. Among psychological morbidities, anxiety had the highest prevalence (42.3%). Tobacco consumers had greater odds of developing all the eight psychological morbidities, and significant association was found with depression. Alcohol consumers showed greater odds of developing seven common psychological morbidities. Combined tobacco and alcohol users have greater odds of developing six of the eight common psychological morbidities and had a significant association with depression. Conclusions: There is a wide prevalence of addiction and psychological morbidities among rural youth. The high prevalence of addiction and its significant association with depression compels us to consider paying greater attention to these two factors as a whole.