제주지역 성인에서 마약류 및 약물 남용에 대한 인식과 태도에 관한 조사

The Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Drug and Substance Abuse Among Community-Dwelling Adults in Jeju Area

Objectives: Drug abuse and substance use disorder have become a pressing public health cri\-sis. Recent trends show a rise in non-typical user groups and prescription drug misuse, highlight\-ing the need for preventive education and awareness. This cross-sectional survey study explored the perceptions and attitudes about drug and substance abuse among adults in Jeju. Methods: Data were obtained from 500 adults living in Jeju, Korea. The participants were as\-sessed using a self-reported questionnaire that evaluated perceptions and attitudes toward drug abuse across three domains: risk perception, attitudinal agreement, and behavioral intention. Awareness of specific drugs was also measured from dichotomous (yes/no) responses. The as\-sociations between the three domains and sociodemographic variables were analyzed using a Pearson’s chi-square test. Results: Approximately 54.2% of participants have perceived the risks associated with drug use problems, and 60.2% agreed with the importance of preventive education. In behavioral inten\-tion, 62.2% indicated a willingness to seek help in case of addiction, and 57.2% were willing to share preventive information with others. Significant differences in risk perceptions and attitudes based on gender, age, and education levels were noted. Conclusion: The findings underscore the need for targeted prevention strategies based on an individual’s sociodemographic factors and educational campaigns that address lesser-known prescription drugs. Future studies should explore mediating factors between awareness and be\-havior, incorporating objective assessment tools to enhance reliability.