The role of family relations, spirituality and entertainment in moderating peer influence and drug use among students of eight universities from five countries in Latin America and three from the Caribbean

Abstract

This study is a multi-centric investigation on the role of family relations, spirituality and entertainment in moderating the relationship between peer influence and drug use (licit and illicit) among students from eight universities from five countries in LatinAmerica and three from the Caribbean. The sample was composed by 2198 university students from faculties of Social Sciences and Humanities/Health Sciences. Drug use was the dependent variable and the level of peer influence (number of friends who use drugs) was the independent variable. The results showed that problematic family relationship, high number of party-based entertainment and high number of friends on drugs use (peer influence) increased the odds of youths using illicit drugs. The only interaction statistically significant for licit and illicit drug use was party-based entertainment and friends on drugs. The use of licit drugs presented large variability among universities in the sample, potentially influenced by cultural/religious aspects. The role of family relations, spirituality and entertainment in... O PAPEL DAS RELAÇÕES FAMILIARES, ESPIRITUALIDADE E DIVERSÃO COMO MODERADORES ENTRE A INFLUÊNCIA DE PARES E O USO DE DROGAS ENTRE ESTUDANTES DE OITO UNIVERSIDADES DE EL PAPEL DE LAS RELACIONES FAMILIARES, ESPIRITUALIDAD Y DIVERSIÓN COMO MODERADORES ENTRE LA INFLUENCIA DE PARES Y EL USO DE DROGAS ENTRE ESTUDIANTES DE OCHO UNIVERSIDADES DE CINCO PAÍSES DE AMERICA LATINA Y TRES DEL CARIBERESUMEN: Estudio multicéntrico que analiza el papel de las relaciones familiares, la espiritualidad y la diversión-fiestas como moderadores de la relación entre la influencia de pares y el uso de drogas entre estudiantes de ocho universidades de cinco países de America Latina y tres del Caribe. La muestra fue composta de 2198 estudiantes de Facultades de Ciencias Sociales y de Ciencias de la Salud. El Uso de drogas fue la variable dependiente y la influencia de pares (número de alumnos usando drogas) la independiente. Los resultados indicaron que las relaciones familiares problemáticas, participar de muchas fiestas y tener muchos amigos utilizando drogas aumentó la oportunidad de los estudiantes de la muestra a utilizaren drogas ilícitas. La única interacción estadísticamente significante para el uso de drogas lícitas e ilícitas fue la diversión/fiestas/amigos usando drogas. El uso de drogas lícitas presenta grande variabilidad entre las universidades de la muestra, potencialmente influenciada por aspectos culturales/religiosos.

The drugs phenomenon from the perspective of nursing students: patterns of consumption, attitudes and beliefs

“…Thus, there are difficulties to meet the needs of this group fully. 2 The drug problem has intensified in all social classes, 3 establishing a challenge, especially with regard to the formulation and proposal of public policies and coping strategies to deal with this phenomenon.…”

“…1 Studies show that entering university is a facilitating event to access drugs. 3 The new experiences that arise in social gatherings and the length of stay away from the family make the young person more vulnerable. 6,10 Added to these factors are the conflicts related to transition to adulthood including psychological factors, family relationships, 1 peer pressure, religion, 3 and economic conditions.…”

“…3 The new experiences that arise in social gatherings and the length of stay away from the family make the young person more vulnerable. 6,10 Added to these factors are the conflicts related to transition to adulthood including psychological factors, family relationships, 1 peer pressure, religion, 3 and economic conditions. However, despite the conditions that contribute to the use of drugs involved in this phase of life, nursing is a science that focuses on human care, promotion of health and disease prevention, 11 making it essential to identify elements that harm the health of the population.…”

Drug Consumption, Knowledge on the Consequences of Consumption and Academic Performance Among College Students in San Salvador, El Salvador

“…12 This study suggests that differences in knowledge about the effects of alcohol and alcohol may exist based on the configuration of the university (traditional versus non-traditional) that reinforce the only relationship of dependence found in this study between the consumption of drugs and the socio-demographic variable related to the importance of religious beliefs, that is, there is less likelihood that one will consume drugs regarding larger importance to religious beliefs of the interviewed college student. 13 The data obtained by this study will be used for preventing, intervening and developing public policies. These initiatives are especially important for university students, who are under risk -depending on their stage of development as young adults and their social stage -as they begin to be independent.…”

Adolescents´ Perception of Harms, Benefits and Intention to Use Marijuana Within the Context of Regulatory Changes in Belize

“…Some studies have reported increases in marijuana use corresponding to a change in the legal environment for medical marijuana. [42][43][44] In the current study, marijuana was not made legal for adolescents and the law had not been implemented at the time of data collection. However, in the light of present realities, where marijuana has now been decriminalized in Belize, there is need for a follow-up study to examine the risk perceptions of adolescents within current framework of changed marijuana policy.…”