Use of licit and illicit drugs at the university of Alfenas

Abstract

This paper reports the study of drug consumption carried out within the population of undergraduate students from 2 colleges of Alfenas, in the state of Minas Gerais state. Both licit and illicit drugs were studied, including alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, crack, inhalants, glue, tranquilizers, stimulants, and others.METHODOLOGY: The research included a wide bibliographical search and the application of a questionnaire to approximately 23% of the students (total of 6500 students).RESULTS: A total of 1500 students participated in this investigation. The results demonstrated that there was a significant consumption of both licit and illicit drugs. The pattern of drug consumption in the research sample was similar to other investigations conducted in Brazil and in other countries.DISCUSSION: It was observed that 55% of the university students use drugs. However, the most surprising finding was that most of the students (88%) answered "yes" to the inquiry, "Have you already tried any type of drug, including alcohol and cigarettes?" The students revealed that they had taken drugs even prior to the admission to the university. The results suggest clearly that the university environment does not necessarily represent the starting point for student drug consumption. DESCRIPTORS: Drugs. Toxics. University. Students. Youth.During the past few years, the consumption of illicit drugs has been increasing considerably among the young Brazilian population. The precocious relationship between drugs and the consumer can be found in several papers in the literature. Among the several factors that account for the growth of distribution and consumption of drugs in this country include the psychosocial factors of youth that are related to the search for freedom and fast, easy pleasure [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] . The individuals involved with the sale and distribution of drugs seek high school and undergraduate students. Studies were performed concerning the influence of gender and age regarding the consumption of drugs in Brazil; the authors verified that the male population had greater preference for non-prescription drugs, whereas female users tended to prefer psychotropic medications. With regard to the correlation between cigarette use and alcohol abuse, the authors found greater consumption in the male population, with the consumption of alcohol being more frequent than tobacco use 6,7 . It was also observed that of 63 people hospitalized for drug abuse, 86% were male, with ages ranging from 12 to 25 years. Except for tobacco and alcohol, marijuana was reported by 66% of the interviewees as the first psychoactive drug used, serving as the starting point for the use of other drugs 7 . In São Paulo, the incidence of alcoholism is 8 times greater in adult men, but it has grown faster among the women 2,3 . Among the main effects caused by drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, LSD, ecstasy, mushrooms, glues, and amphetamines are mydriasis, euphoria and a sensation of well being, hallucinations, delirium, excitement, anguish, ...

Psychoactive Substance Use among Medical/Health Faculty Undergraduate Students

“…This finding supports numerous international research which found alcohol to be the leading substance of choice among students in tertiary educational institutions (9,10). This finding is also in accordance with Jamaican drug use surveys which report alcohol, cannabis and tobacco as the psychoactive substance primarily used among Jamaican youth (11).…”

“…This finding is also in accordance with Jamaican drug use surveys which report alcohol, cannabis and tobacco as the psychoactive substance primarily used among Jamaican youth (11). Except in the case of the misuse of prescription drug use which was represented as the third most common drug used among this sample (5% in the past year), this was different than what is generally reported among youth, where tobacco use and inhalant/solvent use typically follow after alcohol and cannabis use (10,11). In this case, the possibility of greater access to prescription drugs among this population may be a factor in its place among the misused psychoactive substances.…”

Trabalho, abuso de drogas e os aparelhos ideológicos de estado: um estudo com alunos do ensino médio e fundamental

“…Com o início do abuso químico, aparecem sinais de que a família e a escola podem usar como parâmetro a queda do rendimento escolar e o aumento da evasão (LARANJEIRA, 1999). O ponto de partida não é necessariamente o ambiente universitário, mas os cursos fundamental e médio (FIORINI et al, 2003), com maior ênfase no fundamental.…”

Uso de drogas por estudantes de Farmácia da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo

“…A cerveja e o chope foram as bebidas mais consumidas pelos universitários (42,6%), seguidas do vinho (11,5%) e da vodka (6,1%). A maioria dos universitários costumava beber na companhia de amigos (57,4%) e de familiares (8,1% 14 . Neste estudo, a quantidade de cigarros consumidos por dia não foi significativa, entretanto, observa-se que, entre os universitários, a maioria consome menos de dez cigarros por dia 8,15 .…”

“…No presente estudo, observou-se que os inalantes apresentaram maior uso na vida (17,6%), dados de acordo com os encontrados em outros estudos 1,14,18 . No trabalho de Canuto et al 18 , o lança-perfume foi a substância mais utilizada pelos universitários, ao contrário da população em geral 19 .…”