DRUG CONSUMPTION IN A STUDENT GROUP

Abstract

The use and abuse of substances is a serious health problem on a global leve/ due to its negative effects on biologica,l psychological social and spiritual we/1 being (González et al., 2005) lt is a phenomenon that has continued to increase dramatical/y throughout the world. The objective of the following artic/e is to better understand the consumption of substances among a group of students studying to be " TécnicoSuperior en Enfermería" (Nursing Assistant) in the Professional lnstitute and Center for Technical Formation of the Metropolitan Regían, as part of the student Project financed by the Third National Fund for Projects in the Prevention of Drug Use in the Academic Environment. The study is retrospect ive, transversal and descriptive, with a universe of 535 students belonging to the major, with a purposeful, non-probability sample, arrivin g ata sample of 197 students (36,82%). Data collection was done using a self-administered questionnaire, inquiring into aspects such as substance use, type of substance consumed, frequency of consumption, age at which first consumed, motives for use and need for help. Results obtained demonstrate that this group of students present a high leve/ of alcohol consumption (73,6%) associated with tobacco consumption (55,3%), with a frequency, in the case of alcoho,l of more than once a week(24 ,8%) and in the case of tobacco, of more than once a day (42,2%). The third most commonly used substance is marijuana (27,4%), with a frequency of at least two times a year (61,1%). Regarding the three substances mentioned, the age of first use corresponded to, in over 80 % of the cases, adolescence between 14 and 19 years old. 73% of those answering the questionnaire that stated use of sorne type of substance manifested that they did not need help with their present consumption. Only 18% stated the need for it. .