PREVALENCIA DEL CONSUMO DE SUSTANCIAS PSICOACTIVAS EN ESTUDIANTES UNIVERSITARIOS DE LA SALUD Y CIENCIAS SOCIALES 1

• Published in: Cuidarte Vol. 3; no. 1; pp. 334 - 341
• Main Authors: Esteban, Astrid Nathalia Páez, Aguilar, Sonia Solano, Parra, Myriam Durán, Mancilla, Deiby, Suarez, Enuar, Melgarejo, Paula, Flórez, Gustavo, Ortiz, Edna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Bucaramanga Universidad de Santander 01-01-2012
• Subjects: Alcohol; Cocaine; College students; Colleges & universities; Drug use; Social sciences; University students; Colombia
• ISSN: 2216-0973; 2346-3414

Introduction: The lifetime prevalence of any illicit or licit psychoactive substance misuse in college students from Colombia is 29.3%. Objective: We determined the magnitude of psychoactive substance use among students in the Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Sciences at the University of Santander. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study; the sample size was calculated by academic program with an expected frequency of 2%, standard error of 0.5% and a 95% confidence. Questionnaire was used "risk factors and protective for youth drug use" developed by Varela Arévalo MT and collaborators, Psychology Research Group, Health and Quality of Life at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali. Results: A total of 995 students from the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences were evaluated, 76.71% were women, the median age was 21 years, 93.90% were single. The most widely consumed psychoactive substance given the prevalence of life were in order: 83.73% alcohol, snuff 34.08%, 11.87% marijuana, hallucinogens 4.59% and cocaine 2.33%, also with a current prevalence of 61.69%, 16.40%, 3.05 %, 1.60% and 0.42% for each substance, respectively. Men have a higher prevalence of use in life and current cigarette, marijuana, cocaine and hallucinogens than women (p <0.01). Among the problems caused by the consumption of psychoactive substances highlights interpersonal, personal conflicts, economic, academic and employment. Discussion and Conclusions: It is necessary to develop and implement programs and strategies to promote mental health and prevention of psychoactive substance use in college students, linking university welfare, in order to prevent the prevalence increases, affecting the life project students and biopsychosocial problems.