Consumption of licit and illicit substances in Portuguese young people: a population-based cross-sectional study

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018-07-12

Authors

Carlos Franclim Silva (Author) Other; Paula Rocha (Author) Other; Paulo Santos (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Journal of International Medical Research

Vol. 46 No. 8

Pages: 3042-3052

ISSN: 0300-0605

Publisher: SAGE

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 5 Citations

Scopus - 4 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00P-GKV

DOI: 10.1177/0300060518767588

Abstract (EN): Background The consumption of addictive substances is common in adolescence and raises concerns about future addiction. We investigated addictive substance consumption among young people to inform the design of drug intervention programmes. Methods Participants were a population-based sample of 14- to 24-year-olds from Paredes, northern Portugal. A self-report questionnaire measured social and health variables, including tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug consumption. Results Data were analysed for 731 valid responses. Participants who had drunk alcohol did so first at 14.7 years (mean); 15.3% (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 12.9-18.1) drank alcohol regularly (more than 1/week, adjusted for age and sex) (95% CI: 12.9-18.1). Participants who had smoked tobacco did so first at 14.8 years (mean); 16.6% (95% CI: 14.0-19.5) were regular smokers. Illicit drug consumption was reported by 16.7% of participants (95% CI: 14.2-19.6) and 10.4% consumed drugs regularly. Conclusion We found a high prevalence of addictive substance consumption, particularly alcohol. As cultural attitudes likely influence alcohol consumption, a multigenerational approach is needed to address adolescent consumption. Participants' main sources of drug information were family members. Strategies are needed to promote drug literacy in parents and other relatives to change adolescents' culturally acquired habits of addictive substance consumption.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11