PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS USE AMONG HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ROSARIO (ARGENTINA)

BIOLATTO, SILVANA; DROGO, CLAUDIA; LABADIE, NATALIA; FERREYRA, JOAQUIN; PARDAL, MA. ALEJANDRA; REINOSO, AMELIA; BOTTAI, HEBE; PACCHIONI, ALEJANDRA M

Zavalla

Congreso; XIX CONGRESS ? XXXVII ANNUAL MEETING; 2017

Sociedad de Biologia Rosario

The abuse of psychoactive drugs is a global health problem, that has its onset during adolescence. Between 2013 and 2016, we carried out a series of high-school?s visits around Rosario; where the biological substrates as well as the social aspects of drug addiction were discussed with the students. Towards the end of the activity they completed a validated, self-administered, anonymous and voluntary questionnaire; which main goal was to survey their use of psychoactive drugs such as alcohol, nicotine, cocaine and marijuana. The work presented here is a descriptive analysis of the questionnaire´s results. A total of 1080 student were surveyed during 17 visits to public and private high-schools in Rosario. Their average ages differed over the years; in 2013 they were higher than in 2014 and 2016. While the percentage of students who claimed to have used any psychoactive drug at least once in their lifetime showed a significant increase over time, with 2016 being significantly higher than 2013 and 2014. Moreover, the average age of psychoactive drugs use onset was significantly lower in 2016 compared to 2013 and 2014. However, when considering the use of illegal drugs (i.e. excluding tobacco and alcohol) the percentages of use at least once do not differ over the years. Another interesting fact is the distribution of the type of drugs used. The most frequently drug used was alcohol which also showed a significant increase in 2016; followed by tobacco (significantly lower in 2014) and marijuana (significantly decreased in 2016). In summary, it was found that alcohol is the psychoactive drug more frequently used in the years tested among adolescents, while those mentioned in second and third place (tobacco or marijuana) changed according to the evaluated period. Changes were observed in the age of onset, as well as in the use percentages and patterns. However, in the analysis of the results it must be considered the differences in the samples composition over the years (age and school year).