Local census on drug use in school population

Abstract

Introduction: Under the framework of social prevention of violence, the results of a survey on drug use in school population in a locality in Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico, are presented.

Objective: Determine the prevalence of drug consumption in the local student population.

Method: The questionnaire developed by INPRFM for ENCODE 2014 in its version for student age populations was applied. The questionnaire was answered by 96.6% of the population studied (N=1139).

Results: 33.3% of the students stated that they had been offered drugs as gifts and 7.9% stated that they had been offered to buy drugs. Lifetime prevalence were 49.4% for alcohol, 37.6% for tobacco and 24.3% for some drugs such as amphetamines, tranquilizers, marijuana, cocaine, crack or rock, inhalants, methamphetamines or heroin. Prevalence of use in the last twelve months were 56.9% for alcohol, 20.1% for tobacco and 13.2% for other drugs. Prevalence of use in the last month were 35.8% for alcohol, 9.1% for tobacco and 9% for other drugs.

Discussion: the relevance of a bivariate logistic regression analysis is proposed to study the connection between personal or sociodemographic characteristics with drug use. Two routes of action are proposed: a) Psychosocial, brief interventions adapted to the population and b) Socio-political, influence on the social context of conflict and illegality.