Access to information in school and the use of psychoactive substances in Brazilian students – A multilevel study

Cristine Scattolin Andersen,Rogério Lessa Horta,Marcos Pascoal Pattussi

doi:10.1016/j.abrep.2018.07.004

Cristine Scattolin Andersen, Rogério Lessa Horta + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2018.07.004

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Abstract

IntroductionUse of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs can be considered a global health problem, which typically begins in adolescence. Unsupervised access to information may arouse the adolescent's interest and predispose the use of drugs. MethodologyThis is a cross-sectional study using data from National School-based Health Survey (PeNSE, 2012), with sample of 109,104 Brazilian students in 42.717 schools. Outcomes were: self-reported use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs in the past 30 days. Main exposures were contextual and included: library and media resources availability, computer room and internet available at school. Data analysis included multilevel logistic regression. ResultsPrevalence of alcohol use was 25.2% (IC95% 24.7–25.6), tobacco use was 5.3% (IC95% 5.1–5.5) and use of other drugs was 2.6% (IC95% 2.5–2.7). Multilevel analysis showed that recent use of alcohol and tobacco was associated to the presence of computer room and internet, while the use of other drugs presented an association with all media. ConclusionResults indicate that supervision in access to information and communication resources may play a role on the prevention of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use by students.

Highlights

Use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs can be considered a global health problem, which typically begins in adolescence
Higher prevalence of the substances were verified in the interviewees reporting that the family would not care if they came home drunk
Results showed that the availability of information and communication resources in schools was associated with higher prevalence of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use by students

Summary

Introduction

Alcohol and other drugs can be considered a global health problem, which typically begins in adolescence. Unsupervised access to information may arouse the adolescent's interest and predispose the use of drugs. Conclusion: Results indicate that supervision in access to information and communication resources may play a role on the prevention of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use by students. The use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs among students can be considered a global public health with high prevalence worldwide (Carlini et al, 2010; Hibell et al, 2007). The inquisitiveness and risk taking behaviour characteristic of school age children (Eisenstein, 2005; van der Meer et al, 2010), together with permissive family factors (Brooks, Magnusson, Spencer, & Morgan, 2012; Calafat, García, Juan, Becoña, & Fernández-Hermida, 2014), and the possible unsupervised information broadcast may, in opposition to whats is desired, arouse adolescent's interest and stimulate the use of alcohol, tobbacco and/or drugs (Kuntsche & Jordan, 2006; van der Meer et al, 2010)

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