International research capacity building program for health related professionals to study the drug phenomenon in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

Most Organization of American States member states do not have a cadre of professionals with scientific knowledge and research experience on drugs and related problems. Therefore, the Organization of American States started a partnership, first with the University of Alberta/Canada and then with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto/Canada to train health related professionals to address this problem. The objective is to create a cadre of health and related professionals with scientific and technical research knowledge to enable scientific advances in the area of drug demand reduction. The program requires the development and implementation of a multicentric drug research proposal. The program has produced the following results: nine multicentric drug research studies implemented in 22 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean; 91 participants from 22 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. This is the only program in the Americas offering continued advanced research training to university faculty and contributing to strengthen the undergraduate and graduates curriculum on drug issues and research capability in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Knowledge of the Consequences and Use of Drugs for Costa Rica University Students

“…The use of drugs represents a growing phenomenon at the national and international level, from which effects generated in public health have been identified, 1 as well as the delinquency that from this has been generated, 2 with the respective consequences at a biological, psychological and social level in consumers, which generates great concern and interest, when talking about a complex, dynamic and multi-causal phenomenon that represents a challenge for the states and their governments in the world. 3 This also coincides with what happened in many other nations in recent years, 4 where it is estimated that 5% of the adult population globally used drugs at least once since 2015, as well as the fact that about 29.5 million drug users suffer from some type of problematic use of substances in 2017. 5 This has also become an important topic of analysis worldwide, as mentioned by the Office of the United Nations Against Drugs and Crime, the use of drugs continues to be a high cost, with loss of human lives and productive years.…”

Use of alcohol and other drugs among male university students and its meanings

“…It is a public health issue that deserves more attention today because of its cultural, ethical-legal, political, economic, and technological determinants and constraints that have impacts on individuals, families, and society. In this way, it demands attention not only from parents and tutors of youth, but also from society, educators, health professionals, and the scientific community (1)(2)(3)(4) . Youth pursue personal growth and a profession in the university environment; however, this social environment can facilitate starting and continuing uncontrolled use of alcohol and other legal and illegal drugs (5)(6) .…”

ATTITUDES TOWARD PERSONS WHO ABUSE DRUGS IN ONE URBAN COMMUNITY OF WOODBROOK IN PORT OF SPAIN -TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

“…1,4,10,12 However, when the frequency of other drugs used were factored in, including marijuana, cocaine and cocaine derivatives, alcohol was the most frequently used drug reported at 81% usage and knowledge among participants in the study about persons who abused alcohol was similarly high at 85.2%. 10,[15][16] However, based on the cross tabulation test by gender males', use of alcohol in the 30-49 age group (33.3%) was slightly more than their female counterparts who reported usage at (29.8%) in the 30-49 age range. Males' use of alcohol in the 50-65 age group was slightly less than females (31.9%).…”

“…Ease of access to substances is a significant predictor of recent use among rural adolescents, however it is unclear whether access to substances varies between rural and urban areas. 10,[15][16] The results on the use and abuse of other substances by age and gender would have to be examined to note similar or dissimilar trends. It is important to note that over the year's drug use 7/11 has been a social problem with serious and even fatal consequences.…”

“…The said trend applied to the 50-65 years olds where females were better known as abusers but only just a bit more than males; the data were as follows: females at 34% versus males at 33.9%. [10][11][12][13][14][15] It is safe to say based on the results obtained from this sample of respondents that alcohol use and abuse were not gender specific and also no one gender was outstandingly dominant whether as a user or abuser. This finding arising from the surveyed sample is perhaps indicative of the broad spread of alcohol use and abuse among persons of different ages and genders in Trinidad and Tobago [10][11][12][13][14][15] The commonness of substance use tends to be overestimated, individuals with alcohol or substance use disorders are branded as "alcoholics" or "addicts".…”