The profile of amphetamine users in a substance abuse treatment center in Mexico

Abstract

Introduction: in Mexico, amphetamine use is a public health problem. Objective: to describe the profile of consumers of amphetamines. Method: it was retrospective and cross-sectional study. The medical records of those admitted to the state Cúspide substance abuse treatment center, during the period 2016-2018, were reviewed. Results: 112 patients (89 men, 23 women) were analyzed. The profile included a patient with high school (40.2%), coming from an unstructured (67.9%) and dysfunctional family (93.8%) with poor parental affective relationship, alcoholism in the family nucleus (55.3%), early onset of sexual activity, alcohol and tobacco consumption; impulsive personality, suicide attempts (35.7%), and injuries to third parties and theft (73.2%). Discussion and conclusions: amphetamine use and rising prevalence behavior are a reality; the problem goes beyond the field of health and becomes a social problem that potentially involves the entire population to a greater or lesser extent. Knowing the epidemiological profile of the amphetamine consumer is a reference for implementing health policies and establishing preventive and therapeutic measures in order to solve the problem.