Alcohol is deleterious to physical and mental health as well as social well-being. This study aims to examine the prevalence of alcohol consumption and factors associated with its use among school-going Malaysian adolescents. The Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2012 employed 2-stage clustering design to Malaysian secondary school respondents aged 12 to 17 years. The prevalence of current alcohol usage was 8.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.8-10.07) overall, 11.2% (95% CI: 9.80-12.80) among males, and 23.4 (95% CI: 21.40-25.50) among Chinese students. Multivariate logistic regression showed that adolescents who had used alcohol were more likely to have used substance (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.39; 95% CI: 2.33-4.99), experienced injury (aOR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.20-1.95), and engaged in sexual behaviors (aOR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.12-1.79), and fights (aOR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.08-1.41). The current national policies on alcohol should be strengthened to curb alcohol consumption among adolescents.

Introduction: A psychoactive substance has become an overwhelming public health burden globally. It causes social problems for the user and surrounding people which may affect work or study and cause negative economic impact. Objective: This study aims to translate and culturally adapt the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) into Malay and to assess its reliability and validity. Methods: The Malay version of the ASSIST v 3.1 was developed after the translation and back-translation, which included the stages recommended by Beaton. The ASSIST v 3.1 was administered to 125 respondents. The Malay ASSIST v 3.1 was completed twice by each respondent 7 to 14-day intervals to assess test-retest reliability based on the intra-rater and interrater correlation coefficient. Results: Majority of the respondents were male, Malay and currently employed. The intra-rater reliability is 0.84 and the test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.97) were excellent. Conclusion: Malay ASSIST v3.1 was a valid and reliable tool to screen substances abuse at varying degree. Nonetheless, further studies are needed to assess its responsiveness.

Study Background: Binge drinking is one types of harmful alcohol use that lead to several adverse health effects either to the drinker or to others. Objective: This study aims to identify the prevalence of binge drinking among the current drinker and its sociodemographic determinants. Subsequently provide information to assist relevant authorities in the planning and control of the harmful use of alcohol. Methods: The data were obtained from a cross-sectional study using a validated self-administered questionnaire of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Malay version (AUDIT-M). Binge drinking was defined as having 6 or more drinks in on one occasion. An analysis of complex survey data was conducted using STATA 11 followed by multiple logistic regressions to examine the effects of potential socio-demographic determinants and the presence of comorbid smoking and bingeing compared to data from current drinkers. Results: Of the current drinkers in Malaysia (n=1759), half reported had engaged in binge drinking. Males and smokers were significantly prone to binge drinking. There was a higher proportion of Malays, Bumiputera Sabah and Sarawak with evidence of binge drinking behaviour compared to non-binge drinkers. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated a higher likelihood of bingeing among males (aOR=1.4, 95% CI: 1.0-1.8), Bumiputera Sabah and Sarawak (aOR=1.7 (1.3-2.3), as well as those who are smoking (aOR=1.6, 95% CI: 1.3-2.2) when compared to non-binge drinkers. Conclusion: One in two current drinkers in Malaysia who are 13 years and older reported had engaged in bingedrinking. Thus, increase attention should be given to the current drinkers drinking habits especially if they are males, Bumiputera Sabah and Sarawak, as well as to the current smokers.