This report sheds new light on adolescent drug experiences in Panama, the five Spanish-heritage countries of Central America, and the Dominican Republic, and presents the first estimates of school-level clustering of youthful drug involvement in these seven countries. Placed in relation to school survey findings from North America and Europe, these estimates indicate lower levels of drug involvement in these seven countries of the Americas. For example, in the United States of America 70% of surveyed youths had tried alcohol and 59% had smoked tobacco. By comparison, in these seven countries, only 51% have tried alcohol and only 29% have smoked tobacco. Future research will help to clarify explanations for the observed variations across different countries of the world. In the meantime, strengthening of school-based and other prevention efforts in the seven-country PACARDO area may help these countries slow the spread of youthful drug involvement, reduce school-level clustering, and avoid the periodic epidemics of illegal drug use that have been experienced in North America.
New framework of Technical & Financial Cooperation (TFC) has been used to develop a partnership between an international organization and universities in Latin America to advance the contribution of nursing profession in the area of demand reduction. TFC purpose is to support development on specific issues or areas that needs to produce impact within the society as a whole. The "Regional Research Capacity-Building Program" for nurses to study the drug phenomenon in Latin America represents an example of new framework of TFC to enhance nurses to use science and technology in areas of health promotion, prevention of drug use and abuse, and social integration in Latin America. TFC has becomes a powerful instrument to advance nursing professional in the area of demand reduction.
This article reports on the experience of the specialization course called: research training program for nurses to study the drugs phenomenon in Latin America, which was offered by two institutions, one of which is local (University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing) while the other is an international organization (Interamerican Drug Abuse Control Commission - CICAD of the Organization of American States - OAS). This program was offered consecutively in 2002 and 2003. The report discloses data on the negotiation and didactical planning process for the first course, the distribution of contents and activities, experiences acquired during the teaching process and student evaluations. According to the participating students, teachers and institutions involved, offering partially in-class and partially distance courses, like the above mentioned program, has proved to be a successful experience with political, academic and social repercussions for the participants.
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