Alcohol and tobacco use are risky behaviours related to each other. The use of these substances creates some negative health, social, and economic consequences not only for the individual but also for the whole society. These negative results are even more common among individuals who use both substances together. It is of utmost importance to identify and understand the determinants of abuse of these substances in order to minimize the negative effects of alcohol and tobacco use and to mitigate their impact on the individual and society [12].
In this study, impacts of sociodemographic factors on alcohol and tobacco use were determined. The cross-sectional data set in the research was obtained from Turkey Health Survey Questionnaire conducted in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016 by the Turkish Statistical Institute.
In most of the academic studies conducted with adults, it was seen that there is a significant relationship between age and alcohol and tobacco use [13–15]. In this study, it was found that all age categories were important determinants of alcohol and tobacco use, and the probability of both alcohol and tobacco use increased until a certain age and followed a decreasing with increasing age.
The effect of the gender on alcohol and tobacco use was another issue in the literature. This study showed that alcohol and tobacco use habits differed significantly in terms of gender, and it was concluded that men use more alcohol and tobacco than women. This result supports the literature [16–19] In addition, alcohol and tobacco use in some societies is considered as inappropriate behaviors because of social, environmental, and cultural pressure, and social disapproval is considered to be one of the inevitable reasons for the low rate of using such substances in women. In traditional societies, in particular, the use of alcohol and tobacco is considered to be contrary to the characteristics related and ascribed to women. However, while men tend to be more prone to substance abuse in coping with their problems, women are less prone to substance use as women are more likely to seek help from their parents, friends, or professionals when faced with these problems. Moreover, alcohol and tobacco use are perceived as part of the male gender role in the areas affected by traditional values and serve to establish and maintain interpersonal and social ties [20]. As the frequent use of both alcohol and tobacco is known to be highly addictive and associated with adverse health outcomes, there is a need for integrated approaches that prevent alcohol and tobacco from being used together, especially in male individuals [17].
It was found that all categories of educational status were significant for alcohol and tobacco use. Education has an increasing effect on the use of alcohol and tobacco, it was observed that, as the education level increased, alcohol and tobacco use incrases. It is possible to find studies in parallel with this result in the literature [21]. However, the increase in the level of education increases the level of knowledge and awareness about the harms of alcohol and tobacco use, and this may have a diminishing effect on the simultaneous use of these substances. Different results were obtained from the results of this study [15, 22, 23] because they reached the conclusion that when the level of education increases, high risk alcohol and tobacco consumption rate decreases.
It was found that all categories of monthly income variable were negative and significant for alcohol and tobacco use. Those with low income levels (first, second, third, and fourth income levels) are less likely to use both alcohol and tobacco than those in the fifth income level. This may be related to the fact that individuals with higher income levels have easier access to such items than those with low income levels. Different results were obtained from the results of the study where they have demonstrated that alcohol and tobacco use decreased as income level increased [6, 22, 24]. According to the marital status of the individual, lifestyle may be the determinant of alcohol and tobacco use. In this study, the use of both substances was examined to determine whether such use was more likely with the individual who is living alone and is suffering from psychological stress and depression so the individual’s marital status and seeking psychosocial support was examined in order to see whether these factors had an impact on the use of substances. The results show that individuals whose spouses have died or individuals who are separated from their spouses are more likely to use alcohol and tobacco than those who never got married. Similar results obtained from different studies show that individuals living alone or widowed/separated individuals are more inclined to use the said substances [6, 23]. Some studies suggested that the mortality rate of married individuals is lower than those who never got married and stated that married individuals are healthier and happier so marriage itself is a factor and presents a lifestyle which may prevent alcohol and tobacco (cigarette) addiction. The result obtained in the study suggested that married individuals have lower alcohol and tobacco use than those who never got married [25]. In 2012 and 2016, it was determined that the probability of using both alcohol and tobacco decreased compared to 2010. In the last decade, a number of restrictions with the purpose of combating alcohol and tobacco use have been associated with reducing the alcohol and tobacco use habits of individuals. It is clear that there is a need for further efforts in this context in order not to face serious health, social, and economic costs in the future.