University students' perceived norms of peers and drug use: a multicentric study in five Latin American countries.

This cross-sectional study compared perceived peer drug use and actual drug use in a sample of Latin American university students. Students from nine universities in five countries (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Honduras and Peru) completed a questionnaire that addressed the use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. Analysis focused on comparing perceptions to actual drug use. The findings largely, but not completely, confirmed the idea that students overestimate peer drug use. The unexpected findings were those relating to alcohol. While students generally overestimated peer use of tobacco, marijuana and cocaine, they accurately estimated or underestimated peer use of alcohol. Apart from the anomalous findings with regard to alcohol, this study shows that perceived drug use relates to actual drug use in Latin America as it does elsewhere. The results also support the suggestion that interventions using normative feedback would be useful to strengthen drug use prevention programs aimed at youth in Latin America.

[Building sensitive knowledge in mental health]. / Construindo um conhecimento sensível em saúde mental.

This is a report of an experience presented by the faculty of the subarea Promoting and Recovering Mental Health, by the Nursing School, from State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This subarea is offered in eight of the total nine terms of the undergraduate program, integrating into the themes of other subareas at each term. Based on students' experiences regarding those themes, and connecting them to theory later on, we hope they will grow on sensitiveness and empathy, thus strengthening their role of carers for clients in different fields. The evaluation of this subarea points out to the qualitative change in the teaching/learning process.