Skip to main content
  • Research article
  • Open access
  • Published:

Current drinking and health-risk behaviors among male high school students in central Thailand

Abstract

Background

Alcohol drinking is frequently related to behavioral problems, which lead to a number of negative consequences. This study was to evaluate the characteristics of male high school students who drink, the drinking patterns among them, and the associations between current drinking and other health risk behaviors which focused on personal safety, violence-related behaviors, suicide and sexual behaviors.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore current alcohol drinking and health-risk behaviors among male high school students in central Thailand. Five thousand one hundred and eighty four male students were classified into 2 groups according to drinking in the previous 30 days (yes = 631, no = 4,553). Data were collected by self-administered, anonymous questionnaire which consisted of 3 parts: socio-demographic factors, health-risk behaviors and alcohol drinking behavior during the past year from December 2007 to February 2008.

Results

The results showed that the percent of current drinking was 12.17. Most of them were 15-17 years (50.21%). Socio-demographic factors such as age, educational level, residence, cohabitants, grade point average (GPA), having a part time job and having family members with alcohol/drug problems were significantly associated with alcohol drinking (p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for socio-demographic factors, revealed that health-risk behavioral factors were associated with current alcohol consumption: often drove after drinking alcohol (OR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.88-5.12), often carried a weapon (OR = 3.51, 95% CI = 2.27-5.42), often got into a physical fight without injury (OR = 3.06, 95% CI = 1.99-4.70), dating violence (OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.79-3.71), seriously thought about suicide (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.38-3.11), made a suicide plan (OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.43-3.08), ever had sexual intercourse (OR = 5.62, 95% CI = 4.33-7.29), alcohol or drug use before last sexual intercourse (OR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.44-4.53), and got someone pregnant (OR = 3.99, 95% CI = 1.73-9.25).

Conclusions

An increased risk of health-risk behaviors, including driving vehicles after drinking, violence-related behaviors, sad feelings and attempted suicide, and sexual behaviors was higher among drinking students that led to significant health problems. Effective intervention strategies (such as a campaign mentioning the adverse health effects and social consequences to the risk groups, and encouraging parental and community efforts to prevent drinking) among adolescents should be implemented to prevent underage drinking and adverse consequences.

Peer Review reports

Background

It is well established that an increase in alcohol consumption leads to a higher proportion of persons with problem use and addiction. In 2007, the National Statistical Office of Thailand found 29.3% of Thais ≥ 15 years old consume alcohol. The proportion of male alcohol consumption in the age 25-59 years was 59.1%, 15-24 years 39.2% and over 60 years 29.4%, respectively [1]. It was found that the proportion of male drinkers increased from 55.4% in 1996 to 60.8% in 2003, but dropped to 50.3% in 2006 and 51.0% in 2007 [1, 2]. During 1996-2006, the proportion of male drinkers has risen in young people, particularly those aged 15-19 years (20.8% to 24.2%) and aged 20-24 years (56.0% to 58.1%) [2]. Reports from the National Statistical Office of Thailand in 2007 showed the major alcoholic risk groups were working people and youths. Alcohol drinking is frequently related to behavioral problems, which lead to a number of negative consequences, such as domestic violence and quarrels with neighbors, suicides and sexual assault and risky sexual behaviors. It also accounts for numerous accidents such as injuries and traffic accidents. Youths who drink have a greater tendency to develop those health-risk behaviors.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of male high school students who drink, the drinking patterns among them, and the associations between current drinking and other health risk behaviors which focused on personal safety, violence-related behaviors, suicide and sexual behaviors.

Methods

Study design and population

A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2007 to February 2008 in order to explore current drinking and health-risk behaviors among male high school students in central Thailand. The proposal was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee for Research in Human Subjects of Mahidol University (Ref.No. Mu 2007-243). A two-stage stratified sampling technique was used to select the 5,184 students from 10 provinces of central Thailand within the academic zones 5, 6, and 12. The primary sampling unit was province and the second was school. These provinces were randomly selected and represented characteristics of male adolescents in central Thailand. In each province, we randomly selected at least one school from the list of each of the three school categories: urban and rural public schools, and private schools. The selection of schools was based on a list of schools obtained from the Provincial Education Offices and willingness of school administrators to participate in the study. Selected schools could refuse to participate in the study. Altogether, 5,184 students from Mathayomsuksa School (MS) 1, 3 and 5 participated in the study (equivalent to grade 7, 9 and 11 of an ordinary school). In each school, 3 or fewer classes of each of these 3 educational levels were recruited from the same grade level. If there were more than three classes, three classes with students of mixed academic performance were randomly selected by their teachers. The study subjects were classified into 2 groups according to their alcohol intake during the 30 days preceding the survey (yes = 631, no = 4,553). Information was collected by a self administered, anonymous questionnaire which consisted of 3 parts, socio-demographics, health-risk behaviors during past year and alcohol drinking behavior with the help and supervision of well trained research assistants. Current drinking was defined as drinking at least one standard drink of an alcoholic beverage during the past 30 days of the survey. A standard drink was defined as a can (330 cc) of beer, a glass (100 cc) of wine, or a small glass (30 cc) of whisky or spirits. The health-risk behaviors questionnaire was modified from the questionnaire of the U.S. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System [3, 4] and focused on personal safety, violence-related behaviors, suicide and sexual behaviors. The Thai version was translated and verified by a bilingual English university lecturer, and it was reviewed by the experts (composed of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse, social workers, school teachers and health promotion specialists). Details of the study were explained and an informed consent form was signed. Individual answers were kept confidentially.

Statistical analysis

Socio-demographic factors were given as a percentage, crude odds ratio, 95% CI of OR and p-value. Univariate analysis was performed using the Pearson's chi-square test to differentiate proportional exposures between drinkers and non-drinkers for categorical variables. Adjusted odds ratio and the 95% CI of OR were calculated from multiple logistic regression to examine associations between current drinking and health-risk behaviors, adjusted for socio-demographic factors. A criteria of p < 0.05 for statistical significance was applied.

Results

A total of 5,184 male high school students, their percents of alcohol consumption in the past 30 days were 12.17. Current drinking prevalence increased with increasing age (6.41% among less than 15 year-olds vs 26.54% among 18 years and older) and grade level (4.73% among 7th graders vs 22.08% among 11th graders).

Using a univariate analysis, the factors significantly associated with current alcohol drinking assessed by a Pearson's chi-square test (p < 0.05) were age group (OR 15-17 yrs = 2.92; 95% CI = 2.40-3.53; OR ≥18 yrs = 5.28, 95%CI = 3.59-7.76), educational level (OR MS 3 = 3.06, 95% CI = 2.38-3.95; OR MS 5 = 5.74, 95% CI = 4.46-7.40), residence (OR school dormitory = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.07-3.08), cohabitants (OR friend = 2.93, 95% CI = 1.76-4.87), as well as GPA (OR GPA < 2.0 = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.05-1.76; OR GPA > 3.0 = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.32-0.56), having a part time job (OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.22-1.76) and having family members with alcohol/drug problems (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.05-1.51) (Table 1).

Table 1 Socio-demographic factors associated with current drinking of male high school students

Other health risk behaviors were more common among current drinkers. After adjusting for socio-demographic factors (age, educational level, residence, cohabitants, GPA, having a part time job, and having family members with alcohol/drug problems), compared with non-drinkers, current drinkers were more likely to drive a car/bicycle after drinking alcohol (OR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.88-5.12). For violence-related behaviors, often carrying a weapon (OR = 3.51, 95% CI = 2.27-5.42), often getting into a physical fight without injury (OR = 3.06, 95% CI = 1.99-4.70), and experience dating violence (OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.79-3.71) were proportionally higher among current drinking students than non-drinkers. In addition, sad feelings and attempted suicide, indicated that participants had seriously thought about suicide (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.38-3.11) and making a suicide plan (OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.43-3.08) were also significantly associated with current drinking. In case of sexual behaviors, higher proportions of ever having sexual intercourse (OR = 5.62, 95% CI = 4.33-7.29), alcohol or drug use before last sexual intercourse (OR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.44-4.53), and getting someone pregnant (OR = 3.99, 95% CI = 1.73-9.25) were found among current drinkers than among non-drinking students, as shown in Table 2.

Table 2 Percent, crude OR and adjusted OR of health-risk behaviors among male high school students according to drinking status

The majority of boys drank alcohol less than 3 times a month (59.83%) and they each consumed less than 3 standard drinks in the previous month (38.59%). Approximately 40% of boys drank more often than twice a month and 39% of them drank more than 4 standard drinks each time. Alcohol consumption was more common when joining a party (45.68%) but a high proportion of boys drank at home/dormitory (36.33%). Nearly 70% of respondents experienced binge drinking within 2 weeks and nearly half of them admitted to being intoxicated during the 30 days prior to participating in this study, as shown in Figure 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Figure 1
figure 1

Frequency of drinking in the previous month.

Figure 2
figure 2

Quantity of drinking each time in the previous month.

Figure 3
figure 3

Places of drinking.

Figure 4
figure 4

Frequency of drinking each time ≥5 drinks within 2 weeks.

Figure 5
figure 5

Frequency of drinking until intoxication in the previous month.

Discussion

The present study found an increased risk of health-risk behaviors, including intentional injury-related behaviors, suicidal behaviors and premature sexual behaviors among drinking and non-drinking students. This study is one of a few studies on underage drinking among high school students in a developing country of the South-East Asian region. Our findings demonstrated that approximately 12% of male high school students reported that they drank alcohol during the 30 days preceding the survey. This figure was also lower than the studies of Miller et al, 2007 [5], Johnston et al, 2008 [6] and Assanangkornchai et al, 2007 [7]. Even more alarming, we found that among students who drink, almost 70% reported binge drinking (drinking ≥ 5 drinks of alcohol in a row at least once during the past 2 weeks) and half of them had experienced drunkenness. Heavy episode drinking in adolescence is associated with several serious consequences; such as motor vehicle injuries, suicide, sexual assault and risky sexual behaviors with the danger to acquire sexual transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies [8]. Adolescence is a vulnerable period and facilitates the start of risk behaviors, for instance consuming alcohol, cigarette smoking and substance use. This study confirmed that older boys drank more than the younger ones [5, 9–13]. Non-drinkers had lower rates of health risk behaviors compared with current drinkers. This study also confirmed that current drinking is associated with driving a vehicle which corresponds with the results of the study of Domingues et al, 2009 [14]. Eaton found 10% of high school students had driven a car or other vehicle one or more times when they had been drinking alcohol [15]. Alcohol is associated with much of the mortality and morbidity among youth. In addition, alcohol drinking and drunk driving are a major factor causing road traffic accidents. The percentage of Thai male drunk drivers has risen from 36.6 in 2001, to 48.2 in 2002 and 44.1 in 2006 [2]. In aspect of violence-related behaviors, current drinkers are at higher risk of often carrying a weapon [16–18], getting into a physical fight without injury [5] and dating violence [5, 19–21]. In addition, according to the present study (see table 2 above) drinkers are at higher risk of seriously thinking about suicide and making a plan how they would attempt suicide. This corresponds with the results of the previous studies [5, 22–24]. In sexual behaviors, this study also confirmed that higher levels of alcohol consumption are associated with ever having sexual intercourse [5, 20, 25], alcohol/drug use before last sexual intercourse [5, 26] and getting someone pregnant [5, 22, 27].

Limitation of the study

Some limitations of this study should be noted. First, the study was a cross-sectional study, therefore, a temporal relationship cannot be established between alcohol consumption and the health-risk behaviors. A longitudinal study would be needed to examine causal effects of drinking on subsequent drinking. Second, all data were obtained through self-reports, which may lead to inaccuracies of alcohol drinking [28–31] and other health-risk behaviors.

Conclusions

An increased risk of health-risk behaviors, including driving vehicles after drinking, violence-related behaviors, sad feelings and attempted suicide, and sexual behaviors was higher among drinking students that led to various health problems. The results from this study show prevention of underage drinking is needed. Law enforcement, namely minimum age of purchasing alcohol ≥ 20 years, increasing the penalty of drunk driving, and limiting the availability and accessibility of alcohol through restrictions of times and places should be done strictly. The results suggested that effective intervention strategies among adolescents should be implemented to prevent underage drinking. Applications of the health promoting school model of WHO [32] should be utilized to develop the effective school health programmes to relieve these problems. Some papers showing the effectiveness of Health Promoting School in minimising health-risk behaviors [33–39]. Therefore attempts should be made to limit youth access to alcohol in order to reduce accidents, injuries, violence and alcohol-related health problems [40]. A campaign mentioning the adverse health effects and social consequences to the risk groups, and encouraging parental and community efforts to prevent youth drinking and other health-risk behaviors would reduce the proportion of new and current drinkers and other adverse consequences. The results obtained from this study indicate that to prevent drinking among adolescents need a rather sophisticated approach and more studies to explore the cultural and socio-economic background of current youth drinkers.

References

  1. National Statistical Office: The cigarette smoking and alcoholic drinking behaviour survey 2007. 2008, Bangkok: Statistical forecasting bureau

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bureau of Policy and Strategy, Ministry of Public Health: Thailand Health Profile 2005-2007. 2008, Bangkok: the War Veterans Organization of Thailand

    Google Scholar 

  3. Brener ND, Kann L, Kinchen SA, Grunbaum JA, Whalen L, Eaton D, Hawkins J, Ross JG: Methodology of the youth risk behavior surveillance system. MMWR. 2004, 53: 1-13.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. [http://www.cdc.gov/healthyYouth/yrbs/index.htm]

  5. Miller JW, Naimi TS, Brewer RD, Jones SE: Binge drinking and associated health risk behavior among High School students. Pediatrics. 2007, 119: 76-85. 10.1542/peds.2006-1517.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Johnston LD, O'Malley PM, Bachman JG, Schulenberg JE: Monitoring the future, National results on Adolescent Drug Use: Overview of Key Finding, 2007. 2008, Bethesda, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse; (NIH Publication No. 08-6418)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Assanangkornchai S, Pattanasattayawong U, Samangsri N, Mukthong A: Substance use among high-school students in southern Thailand. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2007, 86: 167-74. 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.06.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Underage drinking: a major public health challenge. Alcohol Alert No. 59. 2003, Rockville, MD: NIAAA

    Google Scholar 

  9. Takakura M, Wake N: Association of age at onset of cigarette and alcohol use with subsequent smoking and drinking patterns among Japanese High School students. J Sch Health. 2003, 73: 226-231. 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2003.tb06566.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ramisetty-Mikler S, Goebert D, Nishimura S, Caetano R: Dating violence victimization: associated drinking and sexual risk behavior of Asian, native Hawaiian, and caucasian high school students in Hawaii. J Sch Health. 2006, 76: 423-429. 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2006.00136.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Chaveepojnkamjorn W, Pichainarong N: Factors associated with alcohol consumption among upper secondary school students. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2007, 38: 146-151.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ozer EJ, Fernald LC: Alcohol and tobacco use among rural Mexican adolescents: individual, familial, and community level factors. J Adolesc Health. 2008, 43: 498-505. 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.04.014.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Strauch ES, Pinheiro RT, Silva RA, Horta BL: Alcohol use among adolescents: a population-based study. Rev Saude Publica. 2009, 43: 647-655. 10.1590/S0034-89102009005000044.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Domingues SC, Mendonca JB, Laranjeira R, Nakamura-Palacios EM: Drinking and driving: a decrease in executive frontal functions in young drivers with high blood alcohol concentration. Alcohol. 2009, 43: 657-664. 10.1016/j.alcohol.2009.10.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Eaton DK, Kann L, Kinchen S, Shanklin S, Ross J, Hawkins J, Harris WA, Lowry R, McManus T, Chyen D, Lim C, Brener ND, Wechsler H: Youth risk behavior surveillance-United States, 2007. MMWR. 2008, 57: 1-131.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Clubb PA, Browne DC, Humphrey AD, Schoenbach V, Meyer B, Jackson M, the RSVPP Steering Committee: Violent behaviors in early adolescent minority youth: results from a "middle school youth risk behaviors survey". Maternal Child Health J. 2001, 5: 225-235. 10.1023/A:1013076721400.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. DuRant RH, Krowchuk DP, Kreiter S, Sinal SH, Woods CR: Weapon carrying on school property among middle school students. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999, 153: 21-26.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Peskin MF, Tortolero SR, Addy RC, Weller NF: Weapon carrying prevention should adults spend more time with youth?. Youth Violence Juv Justice. 2009, 7: 32-45. 10.1177/1541204008324912.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Kreiter SR, Krowchuk DP, Woods CR, Sinal SH, Lawless MR, DuRant RH: Gender differences in risk behaviors among adolescents who experience date fighting. Pediatrics. 1999, 104: 1286-1292. 10.1542/peds.104.6.1286.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Basile KC, Black MC, Simon TR, Arias I, Brener ND, Saltzman LE: The association between self-reported lifetime history of forced sexual intercourse and recent health-risk behaviors: findings from the 2003 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. J Adolesc Health. 2006, 39: 752 e1-7. 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.06.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Champion H, Foley KL, Sigmon-Smith K, Sutfin EL, DuRant RH: Contextual factors and health risk behaviors associated with date fighting among high school students. Women Health. 2008, 47: 1-22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Merrill JC, Kleber HD, Shwartz M, Liu H, Lewis SR: Cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, other risk behaviors, and American youth. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 1999, 56: 205-212. 10.1016/S0376-8716(99)00034-4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Shaughnessy L, Doshi SR, Jones SE: Attempted suicide and associated health risk behaviors among Native American high school students. J Sch Health. 2004, 74: 177-182. 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2004.tb08217.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Kirkcaldy BD, Siefen GR, Urkin J, Merrick J: Risk factors for suicidal behavior in adolescents. Minerva Pediatr. 2006, 58: 443-450.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Takakura M, Ueji M, Sakihara S: Covariation of cigarette smoking and other health-risk behaviors among Japanese high school students: a preliminary study. J Epidemiol. 2001, 11: 224-228.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Santelli JS, Brener ND, Lowry R, Bhatt A, Zabin LS: Multiple sexual partners among U.S. adolescents and young adults. Family Planning Perspectives. 1998, 30: 271-275. 10.2307/2991502.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Dunn MS, Bartee RT, Perko MA: Self-reported alcohol use and sexual behaviors of adolescents. Psychological Reports. 2003, 92: 339-348. 10.2466/PR0.92.1.339-348.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Wechsler H, Lee JE, Kuo M, Seibring M, Nelson TF, Lee H: Trends in college binge drinking during a period of increased prevention efforts. Finding from 4 Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study surveys: 1993-2001. J Am Coll Health. 2002, 50: 203-217. 10.1080/07448480209595713.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. White AM, Kraus CL, McCracken LA, Swartzwelder HS: Do college students drink more than they think? Use of a free-pour paradigm to assess how college students define standard drinks. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003, 24: 1751-1756.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Kraus CL, Salazar NC, Mitchell JR, Florin WD, Guenther B, Brady D, Swartzwelder HS, White AM: Inconsistencies between actual and estimated blood alcohol concentrations in a field study of college students: do students really know how much they drink?. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2005, 29: 1672-1676. 10.1097/01.alc.0000179205.24180.4a.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. White AM, Kraus CL, Flom JD, Kestenbaum LA, Mitchell JR, Shah K, Swartzwelder HS: College students lack knowledge of standard drink volumes: implications for definitions of risky drinking based on survey data. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2005, 29: 631-638. 10.1097/01.ALC.0000158836.77407.E6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. World Health Organization: School and Youth Health. [http://www.who.int/school_youth_health/gshi/hps/en/index.html]

  33. Wong MC, Sun J, Lee A, Stewart D, Cheng FFK, Kan W, Ho M: The impact of a newly designed resilience-enhancing programme on parent- and teacher-perceived resilience environment among Health Promoting Schools in Hong Kong. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2009, 63: 209-14. 10.1136/jech.2008.074260.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Xin-Wei Z, Li-Qun L, Xue-Hai Z, Jun-Xiang G, Xue-Dong P, Aldinger C, Sen-Hai Y, Jones J: Health-promoting school development in Zhejiang Province, China. Health Promot Int. 2008, 23: 220-30. 10.1093/heapro/dan021.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Lee A, Wong MC, Keung VM, Yuen HS, Cheng F, Mok JS: Can the concept of Health Promoting Schools help to improve students' health knowledge and practices to combat the challenge of communicable diseases: Case study in Hong Kong?. BMC Public Health. 2008, 8: 42-10.1186/1471-2458-8-42.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Inchley J, Muldoon J, Currie C: Becoming a health promoting school: evaluating the process of effective implementation in Scotland. Health Promot Int. 2007, 22: 65-71. 10.1093/heapro/dal059.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Lee A, Cheng FF, Fung Y, St Leger L: Can Health Promoting Schools contribute to the better health and wellbeing of young people? The Hong Kong experience. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2006, 60: 530-6. 10.1136/jech.2005.040121.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Deschesnes M, Martin C, Hill AJ: Comprehensive approaches to school health promotion: how to achieve broader implementation?. Health Promot Int. 2003, 18: 387-96. 10.1093/heapro/dag410.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Lee A, Tsang C, Lee SH, To CY: A comprehensive "Healthy Schools Programme" to promote school health: the Hong Kong experience in joining the efforts of health and education sectors. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2003, 57: 174-7. 10.1136/jech.57.3.174.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Klepp KI, Schmid LA, Murray DM: Effects of the increased minimum drinking age law on drinking and driving behavior among adolescents. Addiction Research. 1996, 4: 237-244. 10.3109/16066359609005570.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Pre-publication history

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express sincerely thanks for their valuable participation in the study given by the high school students and the practical support of the health staff and the staff of the participating high schools. We also thank those who are not mentioned for their kindness and encouragement. This study was a part of the surveillance of drinking behaviors and other health-risk behaviors among high school students in Thailand and was supported by a grant from the Center for Alcohol Studies (CAS), Thailand and was supported for publication by the China Medical Board (CMB) Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. The authors would finally like to thank Eric Curkendall of the Office of International Affairs, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University for editing this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wisit Chaveepojnkamjorn.

Additional information

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions

WC was involved in drafting the manuscript and revising it critically for important intellectual content. All authors were involved in the design of the study, statistical analysis and data interpretation. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Authors’ original submitted files for images

Rights and permissions

This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chaveepojnkamjorn, W., Pichainarong, N. Current drinking and health-risk behaviors among male high school students in central Thailand. BMC Public Health 11, 233 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-233

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-233

Keywords