Revista Internacional de Investigación en Adicciones

Ensuring Public Health and Safety while Guaranteeing Individual Rights

Thomas Kattau — 2023-10-03

The balanced approach between supply and demand reduction is based on a false dichotomy. What is needed is a fair balance between the demands of the general interest of the community and the protection of the individual’s fundamental rights. Balancing supply reduction with demand reduction efforts is the result of a political process to bring about more attention and funds to deal with the health and social consequences of illicit drug use and interdiction. It was a political compromise between different ideologies and geopolitical interests brokered in the diplomatic sphere, and achieving more coherence between drug policy aspects was not the aim. While the “balanced approach between supply and demand reduction” brought more political prominence to the health-related aspects of the world drug problem, it manifested tensions between supply side advocates and supporters of demand reduction.

Adaptation and Validation of the Screening Test for Problems Related to Alcohol Consumption in Parents through the Perception of Children (CAST-6)

Angélica Susana López-Arellano — 2023-10-03

Introduction: children of parents with alcohol use problems are a population susceptible to risk factors that can affect their current and adult lives. The Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST-6) is a screening test that allows detecting alcohol-related problems in parents through the perception of their children; however, this questionnaire has not been validated for the Mexican population.

Objective: the main objective is to adapt and validate the Test of Alcohol-Related Problems of Parents through the perception of children CAST-6 in Mexican adolescents, distinguishing between the father and the mother.

Method: the sample consisted of 307 adolescents from public high schools, with a mean age of 12.7 years. Reliability analysis and exploratory factor analysis were performed.

Results: the exploratory factor analysis of the CAST-6 Dad yielded a single factor with 53.1% of variance explained, and the CAST-6 Mom presented a single factor with 46.1% of variance explained. Both tests presented a Cronbach’s Alpha of .82 and .76 respectively.

Discussion and conclusion: the CAST-6 Dad and CAST-6 Mom are accurate and validity for screening use in Mexican population in research field and clinical work, and to positively impact the future health of adolescents and families with alcohol problems.

Differences in Service Utilization, Co-occurring Disorders and Risk Behaviors between Men and Women Receiving Substance Use Treatment in Residential Facilities

Diana Amelia Mondragón-Martínez — 2023-10-03

Introduction: gender differences are notorious in population with a substance use disorder (SUD), from consumption patterns to treatment needs.

Objective: to determine the differences between men and women in the prevalence of co-occurring disorders, contact with services and other health risks, like suicidal and high-risk sexual behaviors in a sample of patients with SUD currently receiving care in residential facilities.

Method: comparative analysis between men and women, secondary to a multicenter cross-sectional study, conducted in 30 residential centers located in Mexico City, Puebla, Hidalgo, Queretaro and State of Mexico. Bivariate statistics studies were performed (Student’s t and Chi-square) to determine the difference between men and women.

Results: differences were found in the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and bulimia, as well as inconsistent condom use in the last year, which predominantly affect women.

Discussion and conclusions: the female population is at higher risk, which highlights the importance of considering other paradigms in future studies in order to understand mental disorders and their comorbidities, such as the paradigms of social determinants in health and syndemic.

The Approach to the Health of Gay Men who Consume Substances in Mexico: an Approach through Focus Groups

Juan Carlos Mendoza-Pérez — 2023-10-03

Introduction: gay men (GM) in Mexico face specific health challenges due to their sexual orientation (SO). The relationship between substance use (SU) and healthcare in this population has been underexplored.

Objective: to analyze the experiences and expectations of Mexican gay men who use substances in healthcare settings to generate recommendations for improving their healthcare approach.

Method: focus groups were conducted to gather insights from 19 gay men who use substances. A directed content analysis was performed using four categories: experiences in health services, expectations for ideal healthcare services, care strategies and self-care, and issues to address in potential health interventions.

Results: participants reported predominantly negative experiences in health services, primarily attributed to discrimination and rejection based on SU and SO. Faced with shared experience of SU in gay socialization environments, the gay men resorted to self-care practices and provided suggestions to enhance their care.

Discussion and Conclusions: the findings underscore the importance of non-prohibitionist specialized care, free from stigma or discrimination based on SU and SO. It is recommended to incorporate protocols and care proposals for substance use within a harm reduction framework.

Behavior Activation for Smoking Cessation in College Students through Videoconference: Pilot Study

Juan Gabriel Magdaleno Rico — 2023-10-03

Introduction: tobacco use is a public health problem in the world. In Mexico, prevalence rates are higher in young adults. There are different reasons for smoking or quitting in a college environment, but they all overlap since most include positive affect induction and reduction of negative affect, which accounts for positive and negative reinforcement processes in smoking behavior. Behavioral Activation (BA) was originally proposed in the treatment of depression through the reinforcement of incompatible behaviors. Promising results have been reported recently in the use of substances and modification of affective states.

Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of a Behavioral Activation intervention to Smoking cessation (BA-S) in the consumption pattern.

Method: BA-S was applied by videoconference to 15 college students, with a single-case design with replication; the effect size was calculated using the non-overlap of all pairs (NAP). Results: The BA-S was effective for smoking cessation and reducing consumption patterns. The effect size ranged between 91.10% and 100%; nine students quit smoking and six reduced their consumption.

Discussion and conclusions: BA-S decreased the pattern of tobacco consumption and modified the affective states; these results should be taken with caution due to the limited number of participants. It is suggested to continue with the application of the intervention through videoconference since it is a viable alternative in this population.

Cognitive Performance in Methanphetamine Users and Non-Users in Early and Longterm Abstinence

Pedro Antonio Fernández Ruiz — 2023-10-03

Introduction: methamphetamine use decreases general cognitive performance; however, evidence of this is heterogeneous and limited in the Mexican population.

Objective: to determine the difference between the time period of methamphetamine abstinence and cognitive performance in Mexican drug users and non-users, and to identify the relationship between users in early and prolonged stages of abstinence.

Method: comparative correlational research. It was composed of 34 male participants aged between 17 and 57 years old; 25 are patients with methamphetamine use disorder in an abstinence period and they are from a rehabilitation center (1 to 180 days: n = 17; 180 or more days n = 8) who were compared with healthy non-using controls (n = 9). A battery of neuropsychological tests was applied to measure cognitive performance (mental flexibility, inhibitory control and working memory). Data were analyzed with the STATISTICA 7 statistical program.

Results: The findings suggest significant differences in cognitive performance between methamphetamine withdrawal users and non-users, particularly in cognitive inhibitory control and working memory. On the one hand, similar cognitive functioning was found among patients with different withdrawal times. Although, in comparison with the non-consuming group, cognitive performance was found to be worse for the early abstinence group, but not for the prolonged abstinence group. Consumption history was correlated with cognitive alterations in working memory and mental flexibility.

Discussion and conclusions: methamphetamine use has implications on inhibitory control and working memory performance in early abstinence.

Early Life Parent-Child Positive Interactions (Points) Prevent the Development of Psychiatric Symptoms

Alejandra E. Ruiz-Contreras — 2023-10-03

Introduction: early life positive parent/child interactions (points) nuance the child’s behavior when coping with adversity.

Objective: to contrast parent-child points and negative interactions (no-points) to determine their potential impact on resilience, academic achievement (AA), and current psychiatric symptoms.

Method: points and no-points were contrasted to determine their impact on resilience, academic achievement (AA), and current psychiatric symptoms in young students (n = 115; mean = 20.56 years, SD = 1.85).

Results: of all the students interviewed, 61.73% reported being raised from both parents with no-points (negligent care, NC) and/or overprotection, while the rest (38.26%) were raised with points (optimal care, OC) and no overprotection. Half of the NC subjects suffered abuse (NC+A). OC induced higher AA and resilience, less insomnia and depression/anxiety symptoms, and fewer number of drugs of abuse than NC or NC+A. NC and NC+A were risk factors for mild, moderate, and severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia; and NC+A were more likely to consume three or more drugs.

Discussion and conclusions: raising children with points makes them resourceful and resilient to psychiatric disorders and better able to meet social and academic demands throughout life. Psychoeducation about the impact of early-life negative psychosocial interactions on adult life will promote points and social adaptation.

Therapeutic Treatment Factors in Recovery Identity in People with Substance Use Disorder: Content Analysis

Alexis Amelio Fernández Flores — 2023-10-03

Introduction: Various studies have shown that some components located within the treatment are important in building a new recovery identity and in addressing substance use disorders.

Objective: the present study aims to explore the impact that the interaction of some treatment-related factors has on the internalization of a long-term recovery identity and the internal logic that follows the maturation of this process from the Opinion of people with substance use disorder who have been abstinent for more than a year.

Method: a deductive content analysis was used that was operationalized on the basis of prior knowledge with semi-structured interviews with 9 participants diagnosed with a substance use disorder who were in a state of abstinence for more than one year, selected through intentionality and snowball.

Results: the main categories explored that were relevant were: prolonged treatment time and continuous care, motivation to change, and quality of treatment received.

Discussion and conclusions: the findings showed the importance of continuing and active treatment to achieve a stable recovery identity, the need for catharsis as an aid for the transition to sobriety and the conscious acceptance of the chronic nature of the disease. Also, the need and voluntary search for help was highlighted after having experienced critical and cumulative experiences of suffering associated with “hitting rock bottom”, the quality of treatment to consolidate a fortuitous rehabilitation, and the support of peers to increase self-efficacy and motivation towards change.

Marijuana Consumption and Child-to-Parent Violence in Adolescents

Pedro Moisés Noh-Moo — 2023-10-03

Introduction: marijuana use has repercussions among members of the family nucleus; it is related to child-to-parent violence due to the neurological and behavioral effects that it originates in the adolescent, which can trigger violent behavior of sons and daughters towards the father and mother.

Objective: to analyze the relationship between marijuana consumption and child-to-parent violence in high school adolescents.

Method: correlational study in 318 high school adolescents of both sexes, between 14 and 19 years old. The instruments used were a Sociodemographic File and the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2), programmed on the Microsoft Forms platform.

Results: there is a positive relationship between marijuana use and verbal and economic violence towards both parents (p < .05). The Multiple Linear Regression Model, it was significant (p < .05) on the verbal and economic violence towards both parents.

Discussion and conclusions: marijuana consumption in adolescence is a risk to the health of adolescents and family parents. It is proposed to design early care strategies in the family core, with emphasis on the prevention of marijuana use or misuse and the different types of child-to-parent violence.

Relationship between Gender Stereotypes, Role, and Traits with Illegal Drug Use in Adolescents of Veracruz, Mexico

Nicole Guadalupe Vallejo Alviter — 2023-10-03

Introduction: in Mexico, in the last decade, the consumption of psychoactive substances has increased among teenagers, especially the female population (INPRFM et al., 2017). One of the conceptual lines to understand this change is the construction of gender.

Objective: we explored the relationship between gender stereotypes, traits and roles, and the use of illegal psychoactive substances in Mexican adolescents.

Method: cross-sectional, correlational study, with a sample of 145 high school students from the Veracruz state, Mexico. The participants answered the scales: Traits, Roles, and Gender stereotypes, along with some questions to explore drug use.

Results: we found similarities between men and women’s consumption of alcohol and tobacco; however, there was a higher use of illegal drugs in men. Men and women illegal drug users presented negative instrumental traits such as aggressiveness and impulsiveness. Men, both users and non-users, presented a higher score on the gender stereotypes scale, while women users had more negative instrumental roles with their peer group. Negative instrumental traits were predictors of illegal drug use.

Discussion and conclusion: findings suggest further analysis of substance use from a gender perspective.

The Importance of an Early Warning System for Drug Policy in Mexico

Miguel Bencomo Cruz-López — 2023-10-03

Drug markets are dynamic systems that often adapt quickly to demand, competition, or legislation (Krausz et al., 2021). Evidence of this is the adulteration of substances with highly harmful compounds like fentanyl (Palamar et al., 2020), the demand for New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) like 2C-B (Caudevilla-Gálligo et al., 2012), and the emergence of new marketing dynamics like the deep web (Schifano, 2020). While global actions have been implemented to control and regulate the illicit market, these have proven insufficient, leading to the need for transformative drug policies to provide timely and effective responses to this global phenomenon.