Factors associated with smoking and transitioning to nyaope injection amongst women in the City of Tshwane Municipality: A self-report by women

Background: Substance use disorder has emerged as a key health and social challenge in South Africa (SA). It is projected that about 15% of South African youth, especially young women are prone to engage in drug use and the prospects of coming into contact with nyaope, a highly addictive drug, are higher. Nyaope is mainly smoked, but the prevalence of injecting it is increasing in most regions. Aim: This study aimed to explore and describe the perception of women, who use nyaope, about the factors contributing to nyaope smoking and transitioning to injecting nyaope amongst women in the City of Tshwane Municipality (CoT), Gauteng. Setting: The research was conducted within Community Oriented Substance Use Programme sites across the CoT Municipality. Methods: Qualitative research methods were utilised to explore and describe the perceptions of the participants on factors contributing to the use of nyaope amongst women residing in the CoT. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and thematically analysed. Results: Intimate partner influence (IPI), peer pressure, being misled by friends, weight loss, lack of effective coping mechanisms and counteracting other drugs contributed to women smoking nyaope. Additionally, a need for an intense high, IPI, influence by the social network, curiosity and cost-effectiveness contributed to women transitioning from smoking to injecting nyaope. Conclusion: The study has established factors contributing to smoking and transition to injecting nyaope as viewed by women residing in the CoT.

Chronic use of benzodiazepines among older adults / Uso crônico de benzodiazepínicos entre idosos

OBJECTIVE To analyze the perception of and motivation for the chronic use of benzodiazepine among older adults. METHODS A qualitative study was conducted on 22 older adults living in Bambuí, MG, Southeastern Brazil, who were taking benzodiazepines and had the clinical and cognitive ability to respond to interview questions. The collected data were analyzed on the basis of the “signs, meanings, and actions” model. RESULTS The main reasons pointed out for the use of benzodiazepines were “nervousness”, “sleep problems”, and “worry” due to family and financial problems, everyday problems, and existential difficulties. None of the interviewees said that they used benzodiazepines in a dose higher than that recommended or had been warned by health professionals about any risks of their continuous use. Different strategies were used to obtain the prescription for the medication, and any physician would prescribe it, indicating that a bond was established with the drug and not with the health professional or healthcare service. Obtaining and consuming the medication turned into a crucial issue because benzodiazepine assumes the status of an essential food, which leads users to not think but sleep. It causes a feeling of relief from their problems such as awareness of human finitude and fragility, existential difficulties, and family problems. CONCLUSIONS Benzodiazepine assumes the characteristics of polyvalence among older adults, which extrapolate specific clinical indications, and of essentiality to deal with life’s problems in old age. Although it relieves the “nerves”, the chronic use of benzodiazepines buffers suffering and prevents older adults from going through the suffering. This shows important difficulties in the organization and planning of strategies that are necessary for minimizing the chronic use in this population. .

OBJETIVO Analisar a percepção e motivação do uso crônico de benzodiazepínicos entre idosos. MÉTODOS Estudo qualitativo desenvolvido com 22 idosos residentes em Bambuí, MG, sob uso de medicação benzodiazepínica e em condições clínicas e cognitivas para responder à entrevista. Os dados coletados foram analisados com base no modelo de “signos, significados e ações”. RESULTADOS As principais razões apontadas para o uso dos benzodiazepínicos foram “nervosismo”, “problemas de sono” e “preocupação”, decorrentes de problemas familiares, financeiros, dificuldades cotidianas e existenciais. Nenhum dos entrevistados referiu utilizar benzodiazepínicos acima das doses recomendadas nem foi alertado pelos profissionais acerca de quaisquer riscos sobre o seu uso continuado. Houve diversidade de estratégias na obtenção da prescrição do medicamento e qualquer médico fornecia a receita, o que indica que o vínculo é estabelecido com o medicamento e não com o profissional ou serviço de saúde. A obtenção e o consumo do medicamento tornam-se uma questão crucial, pois o benzodiazepínico assume a importância de um alimento essencial, que lhes permite não pensar e dormir. Oferece um alívio dos seus problemas, que incluem a consciência da finitude e da fragilidade humanas, dificuldades existenciais e familiares. CONCLUSÕES O benzodiazepínico assume características de polivalência entre os idosos, que extrapolam as indicações clínicas mais precisas, e de essencialidade para lidar com problemas da vida na velhice. Embora alivie o “nervoso”, o uso crônico de benzodiazepínicos tampona o sofrimento e impede a pessoa idosa de enfrentar o que ele representa. ...

Consumo de drogas en adolescentes mexicanas / Drug use in mexican female adolescents

Resumen:

Estudio descriptivo y transversal, cuyo objetivo fue identificar el uso de drogas en mujeres estudiantes de bachillerato de Veracruz, México. Participaron 152 adolescentes, seleccionadas mediante muestreo aleatorio simple. Se utilizaron 14 preguntas del cuestionario para estudiantes 2006 aprobado por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y adaptado a población mexicana. El uso en la vida fue de un 60,5% con edad de inicio de 14,3 años, el 21,1% consumió en el último mes, el 3,3% hace uso frecuente y el 4% uso. Las drogas más experimentadas fueron el alcohol (52%), el tabaco (28,9%) y la marihuana (7,2%). El 14,6% realizó el primer consumo en su propia casa, el 9,9% uso alcohol y tabaco y el 4,7% drogas ilícitas. Existe alta tolerancia familiar para el consumo de drogas lícitas e ilícitas y baja percepción del riesgo de las estudiantes. El estudio tiene contribuciones para apoyar la realización de programas preventivos en relación al consumo de drogas en estudiantes de bachillerato.