Drugs use and risk behavior in a university community

Ketty Aracely Piedra Chavez,Sandra Cristina Pillon,Beverley O'Brien

doi:10.1590/s0104-11692005000800014

Ketty Aracely Piedra Chavez, Sandra Cristina Pillon + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0104-11692005000800014

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate drug use and risk behaviors among students of the University of Guayaquil in Ecuador. To evaluate this issue, we used the questionnaire "Youth Risk Behavior Survey" (YRBS). The study sample consisted of 751 undergraduate students: 328 (44%) male and 423 (56%) female. Average age was 20 years old and 85,5% of the students were single. Alcohol, tobacco and marihuana were the most consumed substances among students, who use them for entertainment. Drug consumption (legal or illegal) among students has become an issue for specialized research as well as an important field of intervention for public policies.

Highlights

According to International Organization(1), the use of alcohol, tobacco and of illegal drugs cause great problems to public health in several countries, mainly among youngsters
The use of tobacco, alcohol and of other illegal drugs have serious implications for health, including acute as well as cronic diseases that lead to high rates of early mortality
Data were collected between October 2003 and January 2004 using a (YRBS) Youth Risk Behaviours Questionnaire(13) that identifies the use of psychoactive substances on the last 30 days, in the last 6 months inside and outside university and general use in life, as well as violence defined by means of risk behaviours such as sexual intercourse without protection, drunk driving, being under threatening and being caught by the police

Summary

Introduction

According to International Organization(1), the use of alcohol, tobacco and of illegal drugs cause great problems to public health in several countries, mainly among youngsters. The results of several studies support the need of intervention work and of the increase in awareness of these problems as well as of the risk factors of the use of drugs. The use of such substances leads young people to early morbidity and mortality rates both in developed and in developing countries, since they are problems that can be prevented and that many in cases start in adolescence. The relationship between the use of drugs and violence has created a lot of interest in several social disciplines including Epidemiology, Sociology, Medicine, Education and Psychology(2-3). The use of drugs accounts for one of the greatest Public Health problems(1)

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