Alcohol and drug consumption in adolescents province of Santa Elena

Abstract

Context: Drug use is currently an important social phenomenon that especially affects adolescents. The perception of risk and risk factors, together with leisure, free time and recreational life, are elements that must be considered to understand this problem, the practice of adequate and effective prevention and treatment programs contributes to its treatment. Objective: To determine the perception that adolescents in the Santa Elena province have in relation to drug and alcohol consumption. Methodology: The data come from the ASSIST V3.0 WHO questionnaire, aimed at adolescents from Colegio la Libertad of the day and evening high schools in a total of 431 respondents. The sample design was probabilistic, stratified and by conglomerates in various stages of sampling. Results: 34% of the adolescents surveyed are inclined to alcohol consumption, the use of alcoholic beverages are the substances that are most used in 142 respondents, while 55 of them do tobacco consumption, where they mention that said consumption is concerning intrafamily problems present in each home, unlike the routine of cannabis linked to anxiety or hyperactivity events that can be the starting point for greater complications in the health of adolescents. Conclusions: The environment that surrounds young people between the ages of 12 and 17 indicates that drug use is increasingly present. Consumption rates have increased in the province of Santa Elena, where the need to develop promotion and prevention campaigns against this social phenomenon arises.