The drugs phenomenon from the perspective of nursing students: patterns of consumption, attitudes and beliefs

Luciana De Souza Pereira De Magalhães,Marcelo Santos Cruz,Taís Verônica Cardoso Vernaglia,Silvana Vieira Da Chagas,Flávia Abrahão Marcolan De Sousa

doi:10.1590/2177-9465-ean-2017-0205

Luciana De Souza Pereira De Magalhães, Marcelo Santos Cruz + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2177-9465-ean-2017-0205

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Abstract

Abstract Objective: To describe and analyze patterns of drug use and abuse of first- and fifth-year undergraduate nursing students and to investigate their attitudes and beliefs regarding drugs and users. Method: A quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study of 160 students from the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro was performed. Participants were interviewed using the instruments: ASSIST and NEADA FACULTY SURVEY. Collected data were analyzed with significance being set for p-values < 0.05. Results: Students of the first and the fifth years reported that alcohol had been the most frequently used drug in the previous three months (69.4% and 80.0%, respectively). Students believe they have adequate basic education about drugs however they present a prejudiced view and negative attitudes toward users. Conclusion: The pattern of drug use among students and the lack of education about the care of drug users reinforce the need to review and reformulate course contents and practices on the subject.

Highlights

Drug use affects societies worldwide, posing a major threat to health, well-being and social development.[1]
It is evident to both groups that it is the responsibility of the nursing professional to investigate the consumption and know how to counsel these individuals, this study identified a contradictory attitude to this statement among the students of the first year, where less than half disagreed when asked about it being unpleasant to care for drug users
Knowing the beliefs and attitudes of nursing students regarding drug users as well as the pattern of drug use among them is important, as nurses are responsible for prevention of disease, and for the promotion of health and rehabilitation

Summary

Introduction

Drug use affects societies worldwide, posing a major threat to health, well-being and social development.[1]. There are difficulties to meet the needs of this group fully.[2] The drug problem has intensified in all social classes,[3] establishing a challenge, especially with regard to the formulation and proposal of public policies and coping strategies to deal with this phenomenon. The chances of experiencing this type of problem have increased, as we have seen increasingly early exposure to illicit substances.[5] Drug abuse, which means harmful or risky use but without loss of control, can involve social, psychological, economic and political harm, reflecting negatively on family and social life.[6] In this text, the term 'dependency' is used with the sense of harmful use with loss of control

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