Prevalence and Associated Factors of Substance Use Disorder in Bahir Dar City Residents, Northwest Ethiopia

Background Substance use problems in Ethiopia have a profound impact, contributing significantly to the global disease burden by causing extensive social, physical, mental, and public health challenges. Substance use disorder significantly affects the health and well‐being of our communities, families, friends, and loved ones. These problems have emerged as a critical public health concern in the country. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of substance use disorder and its associated factors among adults in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia, in 2022. Methods A community‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted among residents of Bahir Dar City from March to June 2022. A multistage systematic random sampling method was utilized to select the study participants. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, and the data were analyzed using SPSS Version 25. Binary logistic regression was employed to explore the association between substance abuse and other variables. A p value of less than 0.05 at a 95% confidence level was considered statistically significant. Results Out of 422 enrolled individuals, 412 took part in the study, for a 97.2% response rate. The overall prevalence of lifetime psychoactive substance use disorder was found 59.7% (95% CI: 52.6, 67.3). Currently, nearly two‐thirds (63.3%) of the respondents uses psychoactive substances. Alcohol (21.8%), khat (14.3%), and tobacco (13.6%) were the most used substances. Respondents who were males (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.04–5.29), divorced (AOR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.00–3.15), unemployed (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.08–5.79), had monthly income of 3000–4999 (AOR = 3.31, 95% CI: 1.01–8.65), and ≥ 5000 (AOR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.06–5.19), and had peers who were substance abusers (AOR = 3.507, 95% CI: 1.093–6.592) were found to have substance use disorder than their counterparts. Conclusion This study concluded that the overall prevalence of psychoactive substance use disorder was significantly higher compared to studies conducted in various other cities across Ethiopia. Males, divorced individuals, unemployed individuals, individuals with a higher monthly income, and friends of substance users were more likely to have substance use disorder. Regulatory bodies could take action on substance usage. Providing information and education on substance use prevalence among peers, along with training in refusal skills and social competence or life skills, should be initiated and implemented.