Riesgo de consumo de sustancias psicoactivas y su relación con el uso problemático de videojuegos y redes sociales en estudiantes universitarios

Introducción: El nivel de riesgo de consumo se establece a partir de la exposición que tiene una persona a ciertos factores de riesgo o características individuales, familiares o sociales, que posibilitan o aumentan el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas (SPA). Objetivo: Este estudio tuvo como propósito relacionar el nivel de riesgo de consumo de SPA con el uso problemático de videojuegos y redes sociales, a fin de establecer su posible papel como factores de riesgo de tipo social. Método: Se realizó un estudio de tipo cuantitativo con un diseño no experimental transversal de alcance descriptivo correlacional con la participación de 736 estudiantes. Se emplearon como instrumentos de recolección de datos el cuestionario sociodemográfico, prueba de tamizaje ASSIST 3,1, cuestionario de adicción a redes sociales - ARS y el cuestionario de Experiencias Relacionadas con los Videojuegos - CERV. Resultados: Algunos resultados sugieren mayor exposición al consumo de sustancias alcohólicas, derivados del tabaco, del cannabis y mayores niveles en el uso problemático de redes sociales y videojuegos. Conclusiones: A partir de lo hallado, las evidencias apuntan a que el aumento de riesgo no depende de la tipología familiar, al contrario de lo que pasa con el sexo, a su vez el consumo de tabaco, alcohol, cocaína, inhalantes, sedantes y opiáceos dependen de variaciones.

Introduction: The level of risk of consumption is established from the exposure that a person has to certain risk factors or individual, family, or social characteristics, which enable or increase the consumption of psychoactive substances (PAS). Objective: The purpose of this study was to relate the level of risk of PAS consumption with the problematic use of video games and social networks, in order to establish their possible role as social risk factors. Method: A quantitative study was carried out with a non-experimental cross-sectional design of descriptive correlational scope with the participation of 736 students. The sociodemographic questionnaire, ASSIST 3,1 screening test, social network addiction questionnaire ARS and the Video Game Related Experiences Questionnaire CERV were used as data collection instruments. Results: It was found Some results suggest greater exposure to the consumption of alcoholic substances, tobacco derivatives, cannabis derivatives and higher levels in the problematic use of social networks and video games. Conclusions: From what was found, the evidence points to the fact that increased risk does not depend on family typology, contrary to what happens with sex, in turn the consumption of tobacco, alcohol, cocaine, inhalants, sedatives and opiates depend on variations.

The role of spirituality and religiosity in psychoactive substance use among adolescents in a Nigerian Hospital

Objective: Adolescence is a transition period where drug experimentation is common. Spirituality and religiosity have been recognized by literature as having a possible role in stabilizing good physical and mental health. To compare the religiosity and spirituality among adolescents abusing a psychoactive substance and those not abusing psychoactive substances in a Nigerian hospital Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted among adolescent patients admitted to the drug rehabilitation unit and adolescents attending the General Outpatient Department of the ABUAD Multisystem Hospital, Ado-Ekiti. The Daily Spiritual Experience Scale and Centrality of Religiosity Scale were used Results: The prevalence of high religiosity and spirituality among the respondents was 57.9% and 56.1%. The prevalence of high religiosity and spirituality among respondents not abusing psychoactive substances was 62.9% and 62.6% respectively, while the level of high spirituality and religiosity among respondents abusing psychoactive substances was 53.0% and 49.1% respectively. A significant proportion of the respondents who had a low level of religiosity (55.9%) abused psychoactive substances than respondents who do not abuse psychoactive substances (45.7%) (X2=7.694 p=0.006). Similarly, more proportion of respondents who had a low level of spirituality (57.4%) abused psychoactive substances than respondents who do not abuse psychoactive substances (44.2%). The observation is statistically significant (X2=11.1, p<0.001). In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between the spirituality and religiosity scores among the respondents (r =0.50, p<0.001) Conclusion: Psychoactive drug use among the respondent was associated with both low religiosity and spirituality. Therefore, religious activities should be encouraged among adolescents.

Personality and coping styles in medical internees: a cross-sectional study

Background and aims: Medical education is an elaborate course requiring knowledge assimilation, skill development, and academic perfection. Emerging out of the course successfully is a strenuous process which tests students’ psychological domains like personality, coping skills, and so on. The present study was planned with this primary objective of assessing the personality traits, psychoactive-substance use, and coping skills in the medical students and the secondary objective of finding the impact of personality and psychoactive-substance use on coping styles. Methods: The study was conducted on internees, recruited on individual approach over a period of one year. Ethical clearance was taken. Consenting candidates were administered sociodemographic proforma, the Eysenck Personality Inventory, and the coping checklist. Pearson’s correlation and independent t-test were used for analysis. Results: A total of 167 internees took part in study. On personality assessment, mean score of extraversion was 12.56 (±3.78) suggesting ambiversion and neuroticism was 9.36 (±4.89) suggesting mixed neurotic traits. Thirty four (20%) used psychoactive-substance. Problem-solving, distraction-positive, and acceptance-redefinition were frequently used coping styles. Extraversion correlated positively with distraction-negative (p<0.01) and negatively with acceptance-redefinition (p=0.03). Neuroticism had significant positive correlation with problem-solving (p=0.03), distraction-positive (p<0.01), distraction-negative (p<0.01), faith-religion coping (p<0.001), and blame-denial coping (p<0.001). On gender-wise assessment, males used more of distraction-negative (p=0.02) and females used more of faith-religion coping styles (p=0.02). Psychoactive-substance users elaborated more of distraction-negative and less of acceptance-redefinition coping. Conclusion: Internees had ambiversion and mixed neurotic personality traits. Their personality and substance use had significant influence on the types of coping styles used. There is need of training to effectively manage stress using appropriate coping strategies based on their personality.

Educação em saúde para a qualidade de vida de usuários de substâncias psicoativas / Educación en salud para la calidad de vida de los usuarios de sustancias psicoactivas / Health education for the quality of life of users of psychoactive substances

Objetivo comparar os impactos de duas estratégias educativas em saúde na qualidade de vida de pessoas com transtornos por uso de substâncias psicoativas. Método estudo descritivo, analítico e experimental realizado com 40 usuários de um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial Álcool e Outras Drogas. Foi aplicado um questionário para comparação da adesão ao tratamento e os problemas relatados pelos usuários em tratamento, antes e após a aplicação de duas estratégias educativas. As variáveis estudadas foram a adesão em relação ao tratamento e a frequência dos problemas nos âmbitos financeiro, social e de saúde. Resultados no grupo com intervenções dialógicas, houve maior pontuação na adesão e melhor ganho no aspecto econômico, familiar e social em comparação ao grupo com estratégia tradicional. Não houve diferenças no âmbito da saúde. Conclusão a estratégia educativa dialógica demonstrou ser mais efetiva na resolução de alguns problemas relatados por usuários de substâncias psicoativas.

Objetivo comparar los impactos de dos estrategias educativas en la salud en la calidad de vida de las personas con trastornos del consumo de sustancias psicoactivas. Método estudio descriptivo, analítico y experimental realizado con 40 usuarios de un Centro de Atención Psicosocial en Alcohol y Otras Drogas. Se aplicó un cuestionario para comparar el cumplimiento del tratamiento y los problemas reportados por los usuarios sometidos a tratamiento, antes y después de la aplicación de dos estrategias educativas. Las variables estudiadas fueron la adhesión al tratamiento y la frecuencia de los problemas en los ámbitos financiero, social y de salud. Resultados en el grupo con intervenciones con diálogos, hubo una puntuación más alta en la participación y una mejor ganancia en los aspectos económicos, familiares y sociales en comparación con el grupo con la estrategia tradicional. No hubo diferencias en la salud. Conclusión la estrategia educativa con diálogos demostró ser más eficaz en la resolución de algunos problemas reportados por los usuarios de sustancias psicoactivas.

Objective to compare the impacts of two health educational strategies on the quality of life of people with psychoactive substance use disorders. Method descriptive, analytical and experimental study conducted with 40 users of a Psychosocial Care Center for Alcohol and Other Drugs. A questionnaire was applied to compare treatment adherence and the problems reported by users undergoing treatment, before and after the application of two educational strategies. The variables studied were treatment adherence and frequency of problems in the financial, social and health spheres. Results in the group with dialogical interventions, there was a higher score on the participation and better gain in the economic, family and social aspects compared to the group with traditional strategy. There were no differences in health. Conclusion the dialogical educational strategy proved to be more effective in solving some problems reported by users of psychoactive substances.

Temperament and character traits associated with the use of alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and hallucinogens: evidence from a large Brazilian web survey

Objectives: To evaluate how personality traits are associated with occasional use, abuse, and dependence of alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and hallucinogens in a large availability sample of adults via online questionnaires. Methods: The sample consisted of 8,646 individuals (24.7% men and 75.3% women) who completed an anonymous web survey. Involvement with drugs and temperament/character traits were assessed through the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) and the Temperament and Character Inventory - Revised (TCI-R), respectively. Interactions among variables were analyzed using MANOVA with Bonferroni adjustment. Results: Novelty seeking was the trait most associated with increased involvement with alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine. There was a significant association between harm avoidance and benzodiazepine use. Persistence was lower in cannabis-, benzodiazepine-, and cocaine-dependent subjects, as well as in hallucinogen abusers. Self-directedness was reduced in dependents of all drug classes. No strong relationships were found between other temperament or character dimensions and the severity of drug use. Conclusions: Novelty seeking was associated with increased involvement with all drugs studied in this sample, although to a lesser extent with benzodiazepines and hallucinogens. The temperament and character profile for benzodiazepine use was different from that of other drugs due to the relationship with higher harm avoidance and self-transcendence and lower self-directedness. .

Comorbid psychiatric disorders and stages of change in cannabis-dependent, treatment-seeking patients

Objectives: To determine whether and to what extent cannabis dependence is associated with comorbid psychiatric disorders and specific stages of change in treatment-seeking patients. Methods: We evaluated 80 cannabis-dependent, treatment-seeking patients residing in an urban area. Data on cannabis dependence, psychiatric disorders, and motivation were obtained using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry and the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA). Results: A diagnosis of schizophrenia was found to correlate with lower motivation scores (p = 0.038), which could have a negative effect on adherence to treatment. Conclusion: The high prevalence of concurrent psychiatric disorders in cannabis-dependent patients should serve as a stimulus for early screening and treatment of such disorders. Health care professionals should be aware of the magnitude of this association to increase the level of motivation in cannabis-dependent patients with severe concurrent psychiatric disorders. .

Nonprescribed use of tranquilizers and use of other drugs among Brazilian students

Objectives: To describe patterns of nonprescribed use of tranquilizers by students aged 10 to 18 years and assess the sociodemographic characteristics of these adolescents and their use of other substances. Methods: A randomized and stratified sample of 47,979 students from state and private schools of the 27 Brazilian state capitals completed a self-report questionnaire. Poisson regression was used to estimate the associations between tranquilizer use and sociodemographic factors, as well as the use of other psychotropic substances. Results: The lifetime prevalence of nonprescribed use of tranquilizers was 3.9%. Use was most common among girls, wealthier adolescents, and those from private schools. An association was found between use of tranquilizers and lifetime use of alcohol (prevalence ratio [PR] = 3.15; 95% confidence intervals [95%CI] 2.58-3.85), tobacco (PR = 2.61; 95%CI 2.31-2.95), illicit drugs (PR = 3.70; 95%CI 3.19-4.29), and other prescription drugs (PR = 7.03; 95%CI 6.18-7.99). As the number of substances adolescents reported having used increased, so did the nonprescribed use of tranquilizers. Conclusions: Nonprescribed use of tranquilizers by adolescents might indicate the use of other substances, including high-risk combinations such as tranquilizers and alcohol. The risks of this association should be addressed during the early stages of drug prevention programs. .

Consumo de substâncias lícitas e ilícitas por policiais da cidade do Rio de Janeiro / Consumption of licit and illicit substances by police officers in the city of Rio de Janeiro

Investiga-se o consumo de substâncias psicoativas entre policiais civis e militares da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Os dados provêm de dois estudos seccionais sobre condições de trabalho e saúde que aplicaram questionário a amostra representativa das duas corporações. Os resultados mostram maiores frequências de consumo regular de tabaco (23,3% dos civis versus 19,1% dos militares), de uso diário de bebida alcoólica (12% dos civis versus 11% dos militares) e de tranquilizantes no último ano (13,3% dos civis e 10,1% dos militares). O consumo de maconha envolveu 0,1% dos policiais civis e 1,1% dos militares, e o uso de cocaína entre os militares foi de 1,1%. O consumo de álcool apresentou-se intenso e acarretando problemas no trabalho e nas relações sociais e familiares destes policiais. Ressalta-se a necessidade de políticas públicas preventivas às adicções e a possível subestimação das informações sobre as substâncias ilícitas.

The consumption of psychoactive substances by civil and military police of the city of Rio de Janeiro was investigated. Data was gathered from two cross-sectional studies on a questionnaire on work and health conditions given to a sample from the two corporations. The results show higher frequencies of regular consumption of tobacco (23.3% by civil police and 19.1% by military police), daily use of alcohol (12% by civil police and 11% by military police) and tranquilizers in the past year (13.3% by civil police and 10.1% by military police). The consumption of marijuana among officers was 0.1% by civil police and 1.1% by military police, and cocaine use among the military police was 1.1%. Alcohol consumption proved to be intense and causes problems at work and in the social and family relationships of these officers. The need for preventive policies for addiction and the possible underestimation of information on illicit substances is emphasized.

Comparação do uso de drogas entre universitários brasileiros, norte-americanos e jovens da população geral brasileira / Comparison of drug use between Brazilian and American college students and young Brazilian general population

OBJETIVO: Comparar o uso de drogas entre os universitários e a população geral brasileira, assim como com os universitários norte-americanos, identificando possíveis diferenças de uso pela interferência da cultura. MÉTODOS: Para comparar o uso de drogas na vida entre as populações de interesse, foram utilizados os dados públicos de levantamentos estatísticos brasileiros realizados com universitários e a população geral, assim como levantamento estatístico norte-americano, por meio da comparação de intervalos de confiança (IC 95%). RESULTADOS: O uso de drogas na vida é mais frequente entre os estudantes norte-americanos, que relatam usar mais tabaco, tranquilizantes, maconha, ecstasy, alucinógenos, cocaína, crack e heroína que os universitários brasileiros. Em contrapartida, os universitários brasileiros relatam usar quase duas vezes mais inalantes do que os universitários norte-americanos. Esse padrão se repete ao se analisarem as diferenças intragênero. A isso se soma que os universitários brasileiros parecem envolver-se com mais frequência no uso de bebidas alcoólicas, maconha, tranquilizantes, inalantes, alucinógenos e anfetamínicos que seus pares da população geral brasileira. CONCLUSÕES: Conhecer as particularidades do uso de drogas entre os universitários é de suma importância para a detecção precoce desse consumo. Investimentos nesse segmento e diferenças de sexo devem ser contempladas nas políticas preventivas, assim como na elaboração de estratégias para a redução e o controle desse consumo, como programas de triagem e intervenção breve, uma vez que possuem a melhor relação custo-benefício.

OBJECTIVE: To compare drug use between college students and the general Brazilian population, as well as with American college students' drug use, identifying possible usage differences related to cultural interference. METHODS: To compare lifetime drug use between target populations, public data collected from statistical surveys conducted with Brazilian college students and the general population were used, as well as surveys conducted with American college students. The surveys' confidence intervals (95% CI) were subjects of comparison. RESULTS: Drug use is more frequent among American college students, who use more tobacco, tranquilizers, marijuana, ecstasy, hallucinogens, cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin than Brazilian college students. In contrast, Brazilian college students use nearly the double of inhalants than American college students. This pattern of use is repeated in the analysis of intra-gender differences. Add to this that Brazilian college students seem to engage more frequently in drinking alcoholic beverages and using marijuana, tranquilizers, inhalants, hallucinogens and amphetamines than their peers in the general Brazilian population. CONCLUSIONS: Knowing the particularities of drug use among college students is of paramount importance for the early detection of consumption. Investments in this segment and gender differences should be considered in preventive policies, as well as developing strategies of consumption reduction and control, such as screening programs and brief intervention, due to better cost-effectiveness.

Gender parity and drug use: are girls catching up with boys? / A paridade de gêneros e o uso de drogas: as meninas estão alcançando os meninos?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between gender and use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs in adolescents aged 10 to 18 years in the municipalities of Jacareí and Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: A total of 971 adolescents completed the Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI). RESULTS: In our sample, 55 percent of adolescents were male, 33.8 percent reported having made use in the previous month of alcohol, 13.5 percent of cigarettes, and 6.4 percent of illicit drugs. There was no significant difference between genders in the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs in any of the analysis (p > 0.05). The use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs was associated with the city, age, educational level, school failure, and relationship with parents (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Substance abuse among adolescents in our sample seems to follow the recent global trend towards the equalization of drug use between genders. This result should be taken into account by public health professionals in developing policies for this problem.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as associações entre gênero e uso de álcool, tabaco e outras drogas em adolescentes de 10 a 18 anos dos municípios de Jacareí e Diadema (São Paulo, Brasil). MÉTODOS: O Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI) foi respondido por 971 adolescentes. RESULTADOS: Na nossa amostra, 55 por cento eram do sexo masculino, 33,8 por cento relataram ter feito uso de bebidas alcoólicas no último mês, 13,5 por cento de cigarro e 6,4 por cento de drogas ilícitas. Não foi encontrada diferença significativa quanto ao uso de álcool, tabaco e drogas ilícitas entre os gêneros em nenhuma das análises (p > 0,05). O uso de álcool, tabaco e drogas ilícitas foi associado a cidade, idade, grau de escolaridade, repetência escolar, e relacionamento com os pais (p < 0,05). CONCLUSÕES: O consumo entre os adolescentes nesta amostra parece acompanhar recente tendência mundial quanto à equiparação do uso de drogas entre os gêneros. Este resultado deve ser levado em conta pelos profissionais de saúde pública na elaboração de políticas para o problema.

Efectos de dosis bajas de alcohol sobre la memoria declarativa en humanos / Effects of low doses of alcohol on declarative memory in humans

Se evaluó el efecto de 0, 0.035, 0.150, 0.300 g de alcohol sobre 2 componentes de la memoria explícita o declarativa, en 16 participantes, hombres y mujeres, mediante la aplicación de la prueba de textos del Weschler-III (WMS-III), utilizando un diseño factorial 2 x 4 de medidas repetidas contrabalanceadas. No se encontraron diferencias entre los sexos, pero sí entre las dosis, siendo 0.150 g de alcohol/kg de peso corporal la que más decrementó el recuerdo de episodios y de temas, especialmente a mediano plazo, con tamaños de los efectos de 43.9 y 62.9 %, respectivamente. Estos resultados confirman que el alcohol, aun en dosis bajas, deteriora más el componente semántico del recuerdo explícito, aproximadamente media hora después de su consumo.

This study assessed the effect of low doses of alcohol (0, 0.035, 0.150, 0.300 g) on two elements of explicit or declarative memory, in 16 participants, 8 women and 8 men, with The Weschler Memory Scale III Text Test. A factorial 2 * 4 counterbalanced with repeated measures design was used. There were no statistically significant differences by gender, but there were differences among doses, specially 0.150 g / kg., which reduced episodic and semantic retrieval, between 43.9 and 62.9 % of effect strength, in intermediate term memory. These results provided evidence that alcohol in low doses has a more pronounced effect in semantic, rather than episodic memory, in the middle term.