Drug-use among students is a significant public health problem around the world, but in Indonesia, its lifetime prevalence decreased from 9% in 2006 to nearly 5% in 2011. Interestingly, a study conducted in 16 Indonesian provinces showed prevalence in Jakarta reduced slowly from 10% to 8.7%, while in Makassar, the figure dropped dramatically from 8% to 3%. Theoretically, such declines can be attributed to improved knowledge and attitude changes, which are primarily achieved through drug-use prevention programs that students participate in. Therefore, this study aims to describe the determinants of student participation in drug-use prevention
programs in Jakarta and Makassar. A secondary data analysis was conducted using the results of a 2011/2012 survey administered by the NNB and the CHRUI. The data of randomly sampled students ( Jakarta = 1857 and Makassar = 1741) were collected via self-administered questionnaires and analysed by employing logistic regression with an adjusted odds ratio. Half of the respondents were female or senior high school students and two thirds had less knowledge on drugs. Student participation in prevention programs in Makassar was slightly lower (14%) than the corresponding rate in Jakarta (18%). Although there were some similarities in the respondents’ sociodemographics, the results of the regression analysis showed different determinant patterns. Students with mothers who suffered from severe illness discouraged student participation in Makassar (OR of 4.9 with 95% CI = 1–18); other relevant determinants included being female (OR of 1.4) and having fathers with higher education levels (OR of 2.0). In Jakarta, having mothers with lower education levels (OR of 1.8 with 95% CI= 1–3) and having more knowledge about drug use (OR of 0.4 with 95% CI = 0.2–0.9) lead to decreased student participation. This study therefore concludes that in order to increase student participation rates, school-based programs in both cities may need to concern themselves with different issues. More specifically, increased attention to parents’ circumstances in Makassar and improvement of students’ knowledge and
attitudes about drug-use programs in Jakarta must both be promoted.