Drug Trend Study in Mexican Population: Consumption and Cognitive Dysfunction Correlates

Gilberto Manuel Galindo-Aldana,Alfredo Padilla-López,Antonio Cedano-Gasca,Carlos Murillo-Macías,Ibza América García-León

doi:10.15446/revfacmed.v67n4.64157

Abstract

Introduction: Drug abuse screening tests (DAST) are a useful tool in decision making regarding the planning and implementation of drug-related public health policies. In addition, they constitute a rapid way to obtain data on the effects of drug consumption in specific populations.Objective: To describe the correlation between drug abuse (per type of drug) and cognitive dysfunction prevalence based on the information reported in a DAST.Materials and methods: A DAST was administered to 1299 individuals from 5 cities in Baja California, Mexico. In addition, an internal consistency reliability test was conducted to determine the internal consistency level of the instrument.Results: Several correlations between the consumption of different drugs were found. The main associations were found between methamphetamine and marijuana consumption. In addition, a positive correlation between the age at first drug use and cognitive impairment was found.Conclusions: DAST are brief administration instruments that allow obtaining data on drug abuse and drug addiction patterns. In addition, they can be used to identify the interaction between the consumption patterns of different drugs and the possible association between age at first drug use and cognitive dysfunction.

Highlights

Drug abuse screening tests (DAST) are a useful tool in decision making regarding the planning and implementation of drug-related public health policies
DAST are brief administration instruments that allow obtaining data on drug abuse and drug addiction patterns. They can be used to identify the interaction between the consumption patterns of different drugs and the possible association between age at first drug use and cognitive dysfunction
Results are presented in two sections: first, those regarding the DAST reliability test, and second, those regarding the association between reported cognitive impairment and consumption of a specific type of drug and the interaction between the different types of drugs consumed by participants

Summary

Introduction

Drug abuse screening tests (DAST) are a useful tool in decision making regarding the planning and implementation of drug-related public health policies. They constitute a rapid way to obtain data on the effects of drug consumption in specific populations. In Mexico, as in other countries [1], the most commonly abused drugs include cannabis, opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, and some of their derivatives Other than their general neuropathological effects, little is known regarding the direct effects of these drugs on the central nervous system in humans [2], mainly due to different ethical and procedural issues and the fact that drug use habits change constantly among population groups. In the case of cognitive impairment, one instrument is used to analyze the drug under study, while another instrument or multiple instruments are used to analyze cognitive performance. [10,11,12]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion