Investigación sobre el fenómeno de las drogas bajo el abordaje de los estudios multicéntricos en América Latina y Caribe

Abstract

The drugs phenomenon is one of the greatest challenges countries are confronted with in the 21 st century. It is well known that drugs use and abuse influence and negatively affect the health of people, families and communities, as well as national and international development, social stability and security (1)(2) .The globalization process can direct or indirectly facilitate drugs trade, as well as the development of money laundry mechanisms, contributing to increased drugs consumption in different population groups. That makes the drugs phenomenon a global problem. Many countries have emphasized the association between drugs and terrorism and have direct or indirectly reinforced drugs control laws. In the context of the black market, drugs are considered a lucrative source of money; at the same time, this market can be associated with arms trade and violence against civilians and governments all over the world (3) .National policies highlight the importance of reducing drugs consumption, taking into account, for example, the risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS among injection drugs user, or greater accident risks, or the chronic damage that can be associated with drugs use (3) . Psychoactive substance consumption affects users' body and mind. These effects range from alterations in physiological functions to modified time and space perceptions, as well as alterations in states of awareness about the consumers' environment. It can be affirmed that drugs abuse and addiction result from a combination of three factors: a product (alcohol and other drugs), a person with his history and individual vulnerabilities and a social, cultural, political and economic context. In particular, it is fundamental to integrate the importance of social determinants of health and development into the analysis of and answers given to substance consumption, including the strong inequities that exist in the region. Likewise, it should be considered that many people present comorbidities due to addiction and mental health problems at the same time. In view of the above, a comprehensive approach is needed, which does not remain limited to an emphasis on the substance alone.Hence, the drugs phenomenon is an old problem in a new context. Countries face difficulties to control production and trade and reduce demand. That makes drugs use and abuse into a paramount theme on the national and international agenda, due to the damage they cause in countries' social, economic and political aspects.The current global context demands specialized professionals, who are capable of analyzing problems and presenting solutions and/or strategies with national and international perspectives, based on scientific data. Most OAS members states do not have specialized professional staff at their disposal, with scientific knowledge and sufficient research experience on drugs and related problems to work in national drugs commissions, research centers or academic professional training programs.In general, countries have neither established long-term programs or plannin...

Percepción de las mujeres en situación de dependencia química dentro de Mato Grosso, Brasil

“…Essa resignação perturba as funções cognitivas, compromete a saúde mental e desestrutura a condição do ser mulher (Wright, Gliksman, Khenti, & Furegato, 2009;Unodc, 2015).…”

Diversidad y complejidad en el fenómeno de las drogas: el policonsumo simultáneo en estudiantes universitarios en una universidad, Cundinamarca - Colombia

“…A nivel latinoamericano el estudio de este fenóme-no ha tenido un gran liderazgo por parte de la CICAD con el Programa Internacional en Investigación para Profesionales de la Salud y Áreas Relacionadas para estudiar el fenómeno de las Drogas en América Latina. 1 El Informe Mundial sobre las Drogas 2008, elaborado por la Oficina de las Naciones Unidas contra la Droga y el Delito (ONUDD), informa acerca del incremento del consumo de sustancias psicoactivas en el mundo y especialmente en América Latina. Se estima que 208 millones de personas usan sustancias psicoactivas, lo que equivale a un 4.9% de la población mundial; el rango de edad entre los consumidores se encuentra entre los 15 y 64 años.…”

Significado del consumo de drogas para las adolescentes de la calle, en la ciudad de Valencia, Venezuela

“…Sin embargo, en los últimos años se ha hecho hincapié en los efectos negativos que estas producen en el organismo, lo que induce a investigar, en los grupos vulnerables, a este flagelo (1) .…”

“…Considerando que en la actualidad varios estudios han abordado el consumo de drogas en poblaciones vulnerables (7,9-10) , pero pocos con adolescentes de sexo femenino en la calle, esperamos que este estudio puede contribuir para el conocimiento científico, para el desarrollo y formación de recursos humanos, para actuar con programas y acciones que resulten en la reducción de la demanda de drogas, conforme compromiso y políticas internacionales, y según lo establecido en las Américas (1,11) .…”