Introduction

The study aim was to identify factors related to the use of psychoactive substances by adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Material and methods

The study consisted of secondary school students from districts of Warsaw: Mokotów, Ursynów and Wilanów, aged 14-15 (N = 794). Data was collected using “SurveyMonkey” during online lessons led by the teacher and a research team member, usually on the Zoom platform. The work considered any substances use in the last year. Qualitative factors (gender, age, family structure, academic performance, religious involvement, meetings with drug use peers, assessing whether the period of pandemic was difficult), and quantitative (parental support and control, bonding to school, impulsivity, sensation seeking and dissatisfaction with pandemic restrictions) were analysed. Hierarchical logistic regression with the Wald statistic were used to identify significant factors.

Results

Meetings with peers who used drugs proved to be the strongest predictor of substance use. Parental control turned out to be an important protective factor. The risk factor was age, as well as impulsiveness and sensation-seeking. Substance use was also fostered by heightened dissatisfaction with the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

Discussion

The importance of the pandemic with respect to the relationship of some of the factors with any substance use was discussed.

Conclusions

Prevention of the use of psychoactive substances among adolescents should focus on educating parents in the proper control of adolescents, strengthening students’ resilience to the negative peer influences and helping students to cope with the problems associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.