Hi!
I have chosen this article because I think
that drug addiction is a very important problem in today ´s society.
The objective of this study is to investigate the habits, attitudes and
practices related to drug use among young people from the area of Sarajevo
city.
Moreover,
this article is aimed to determine the frequency of substance abuse among
adolescents. Also it explains predisposing factors for substance abuse such as
personal predisposing factors, environmental predisposing factors, personal maintaining
factors…
From my point of view one of the most
important information it provides us is that while around 85% of parents don’t
know that their children are consuming drug, only 8% are aware of this fact.
Finally, I would like to know your opinions
about adolescents drug addiction, what do you think about adolescents drug
addiction in Spain? Is drug addiction a medical-social problem?
Marta Sánchez Pérez
Frequency of Substance Abuse Among Adolescents
Abstract
Introduction:
Drug
addiction is one of the most prominent problems in many countries in
transition, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. Age limit of drug addiction is
shifted to the younger age groups, especially is troubling the increase in
number of injection drug users. Our study was aimed to investigate the habits,
attitudes and practices related to drug use among young people from the area of
Sarajevo city. We can still feel the effects of the war, among which are the
most important life without closest relatives, banishment and various types of
war and post-war trauma.
Goals:
To determine
the frequency of substance abuse among adolescents; Identify potentially
relevant biological, psychological and socio economic characteristics of the
adolescents; To explore adolescents attitudes towards drug use; Examine the
general level of knowledge of adolescents about drugs and their effects.
Material and Methods:
The study
was conducted on randomized sample of 502 students in two primary and three
secondary schools in Sarajevo and Gracanica. To study used survey method.
Survey instrument was a self-made questionnaire with the research variables.
The obtained data were processed by a computer and statistically correlated.
The study is of combined, retrospective, prospective and transversal type.
Results:
To the
question “How many times have you consumed cannabis in the last 30 days” about
6% of the respondents have tried once or twice, while 1.5% use it daily,
ecstasy have tried one or two times 2.25%, while 0.5% have daily use. Based on
the obtained results it can be concluded that students at schools in Sarajevo
consumed drugs 50% more than the children in Gracanica. Analyzing the age at
which the subjects consumed the drug for the first time, we came to the
conclusion that in the third year of high school only 8% of adolescents have
tried any drugs before they turned 15 years. This percentage among eighth
graders is about three times higher.
Conclusion:
Presented
research results clearly suggest a strong contamination of the living
environment of young people with different types of psychoactive substances.
Offer of drugs is extensive and distribution network covers all the places
where young people visits, including schools. It is clear that today’s
teenagers sooner or later hear about drugs, see, get in touch with a “junkie”
and have a chance to take the drugs if they want to. From our research, we
found that the following factors: Marital status of parents, employment of
parents, the number of family members, type of school and satisfaction with
oneself are not crucial for the eventual drug use among young people. While,
the biological status of the parents, educational status of parents, financial
status of parents, the tendency of parents tobacco and alcohol use,
adolescents’ attitude to parents, the harmony of relationships between parents,
school performance, positive attitude toward the so-called light drugs,
represent significant risk factors for adolescent populations.
Key words: Drug use, adolescence, risk and
protective factors, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
1. INTRODUCTION
Drug addiction is one of the most prominent problems
in many countries in transition, including Bosnia and Herzegovina (1-10). Age limit of drug addiction is shifted to the younger
age groups, especially is troubling the increase in number of injection drug
users. Our study was aimed to investigate the habits, attitudes and practices
related to drug use among young people from the area of Sarajevo city. We can
still feel the effects of the war, among which are the most important life
without closest relatives, banishment and various types of war and post-war
trauma. General situation is making much worse unemployment, insufficient and
inadequate space for recreation and entertainment of young people. Open borders
and lack of link between police and judicial institutions contribute to the
widespread of psychoactive substances illegal trade. The drugs are available to
everyone, at many places in the city. The main reasons for taking drugs are the
current dissatisfaction with the social and political, and especially economic
situation. Although the drug addiction is recognized as a major socio-medical
problem, still in the fight against it there is no necessary interconnections
of different segments of the society. Drug use is an attempt to escape from
reality. Only a small number of addicts are ready for treatment. To solve the
problem of drug abuse it is necessary to include in the joint work several
sectors, but of course the role of the family and a healthy upbringing has the
primary position.
1.1. The etiology
and pathogenesis of drug abuse among adolescents
Carr
(1999) classified different explanations of psychoactive substances abuse of
among adolescents into the following theoretical groups: biological theories,
theories of intrapsychic deficits, behavioral theory, family systems theory,
social theory and the theory of multiple risk factors.
Predisposing
factors for substance abuse are creating psychological vulnerability or
susceptibility for the development of the disorder.
Personal predisposing factors
- Conduct disorder, emotional problems, specific
learning difficulties, positive beliefs about drug use, risk-taking and
creating excitement, problematic temperament, low self-esteem, externally
control focus.
Environmental predisposing factors
- Factors related to the parent–child relationship
in childhood: problems of emotional attachment, inconsistent parental
discipline, lack of intellectual stimulation, authoritative parenting,
indulgent parenting, parents neglect.
- Exposure to family problems in early childhood:
abuse of psychoactive substances by parents, parent’s psychological
problems, criminal behavior of parents, marital discord or violence,
family disorganization, deviant behavior of siblings.
- Stressful situations in childhood: loss,
separation, abuse, social difficulties, growing up in an institution.
- Precipitating factors for substance abuse are
“triggers” or they encourage the development of the disorder.
- Curiosity about drugs, peer pressure to take
drugs, the desire to control the negative mood with the help of drugs, the
benefits of the use of drugs, acute stress situations, illness or injury,
abuse, being violated by peers.
- Maintaining factors contribute to the maintenance
of psychological problems once they have already occurred.
Personal maintaining factors
- Biological factors: physical addiction, HIV,
hepatitis and other diseases associated with drug use can cause negative
emotional reactions, which maintains drug abuse.
Environmental maintaining factors
- Treatment factors: problem denial by family,
family ambivalence toward solving problems; family that for the first time
encountered a similar problem.
- Family factors: family support model of drug
abuse through drug use, expressing positive attitudes about drug use and
tolerance of drug use.
- Parental factors: misleading information about
drug abuse, insecurity in relationships, and low self-esteem of parents.
- Factors of social network: the use of drugs in
order to achieve certain goal; association with a group of peers who abuse
drugs, adverse social environment, high levels of crime, low employment
opportunities.
- Protective factors preventing further
deterioration enhance and maintain the healthy development and have strong
implications for prognosis and treatment.
Personal protective factors
- Biological factors: good physical health.
- Psychological factors: high IQ, good temperament,
high self-esteem, high self-efficacy, optimistic attributional style;
mature defense mechanisms.
Environmental protective factors
- Treatment factors: family that accepts and wants
to solve the problem, families who previously faced a similar problem;
family that accepts the treatment plan.
- Family factors: secure parent-child relationship;
authoritative parenting, clear family communication, flexible, family
organization, the involvement of the father.
- Parental factors: good adaptation of parents;
incorrect expectations regarding drug use, high self-esteem, high
self-efficacy, safety in relationships with others; mature defense
mechanisms, functional strategies of coping with stress.
- Factors of social network: a good network of
social support, low levels of family stress, positive educational
environment, high socioeconomic status.
2. GOALS
To
determine the frequency of substance abuse among adolescents; Identify
potentially relevant biological, psychological and socio economic
characteristics of the adolescents; To explore adolescents attitudes towards
drug use; Examine the general level of knowledge of adolescents about drugs and
their effects.
3. METHODOLOGY
Material
The
study was conducted on randomized sample of 502 students in two primary and
three secondary schools in Sarajevo and Gracanica.
Methods
To
study used survey method. Survey instrument was a selfmade questionnaire with
the research variables. The survey was anonymous and contained 20 questions.
For most of the questions respondents had to circle the answers on YES or NO
principle, or multiple choice questions. Given is the possibility that the respondent
chooses one answer from those available, and for some it sought a written
reply. The obtained data were processed by a computer and statistically
correlated. The study is of combined, retrospective, prospective and
transversal type.
4. RESULTS
Results
are presented in tabular and graphical form. The answers given are grouped
according to the issues in relation to the school in which the survey was
conducted, for more accurate comparisons of some answers. The tables show data
in absolute and relative numbers, somewhere was performed and the correlation
among tested variables. (Table (Table11,,22,,33,,44 and
Figure Figure11).
The degree of satisfaction with oneself.
The socio-demographic data
Knowledge and attitudes of parents about drug use
among adolescents
Age, the causes of drug use and sources of information
about the harmful effects of drugs
The availability of drugs and methods of spreading
The
gender structure dominated girls (62, 55%) compared to the number of boys
(37.45%).The survey covered two primary and three secondary schools in the two
cities (Sarajevo and Gracanica). The largest number of respondents was from the
Mixed Secondary School in Gracanica.
The
polling included 502 students of which 110 (22%) at eight grade of primary, 120
(24%) from the first, then 130 (26%) in the second and 142 (28%) from the third
grade of high school. On average 6% of respondents had consumed marijuana in
the past month.
In
the schools in the city of Sarajevo data show that 9.5% of respondents consumed
once in a lifetime marijuana, ecstasy 5.25%, 4% LSD and speed, 2.5% sedatives,
1.5% cocaine and heroin and 5% inhalants. Of the total of 200 respondents in
schools in Gracanica 5.75% of them tried marijuana, 1.5% speed and LSD, 1.25%
ecstasy and inhalants, sedatives 1%, 0.5% cocaine and 0.25% heroin with
statistically significant difference between adolescents in Sarajevo and
Gracanica (p <0.05).
Of
the total of 502 respondents in the survey, 15.25% of them consumed marijuana,
about 6% ecstasy, speed, LSD and inhalants, sedatives, with 4% and 2% cocaine
and heroin.
We
note that 50% of respondents completed previous class with very good grades.
The 70% of respondents living with both parents, and 22% live with a single
parent. In case of 70% of respondents only one parent is employed and only in
25% of cases both parents are employed. As many as 67% of respondents have only
one sibling. Over 60% of parents have a high school diploma and about 7% are
college-educated.
Most
respondents (60%) are very satisfied with themselves.
The
absolute majority of parents (85%) do not know that their children are
consuming drugs. The absolute majority of the parents of the respondents (83%)
have a very negative opinion on drugs. Most respondents have excellent
relationship with their parents (50%), while about 20% have poor, mostly poor
or very poor relationship with parents.
At
the third year of high school only 8% of adolescents have tried some drugs
before the age of fifteen, while the percentage of eighth grade students is
about 3 times higher. The highest percentage of respondents listed curiosity, a
personal problem and recognition among peers. Most information about the
harmful effects of drugs adolescents have received from parents, teachers and
over the internet and media.
The
drug is available at all places, even within the school premises. Most drug
users choose to take this step at its own initiative or as offer from a close
friend. Exactly 20% of the eighth grade and even 60% of the high school third
grade came in contact with a person who consumed an illicit drug.
5. DISCUSSION
The
study included a total of 502 students from two primary and three secondary
schools. The survey was conducted among students in the cities of Sarajevo and
Gracanica. The ratio of respondents was 66% female respondents (318) and 33% of
male respondents (188).
Most
of the respondents completed previous class with very good grades, followed by
a good success, average, etc. The largest number of respondents is living with
both parents (70%). When it comes to the employment of parents of respondents
of 70% of respondents work only one parent, while in 25% of cases both parents
are employed. Also 67% of patients had only one brother or sister. Examining
the level of parental education, we have found that 66% of parents have
completed secondary education and only 7% have higher education.
To
the question “Do you have consumed any of the drugs?” 15% of respondents said
that they had tried or regularly consume marijuana, about 6% of the respondents
had tried or regularly consume ecstasy, speed, LSD, sedatives and inhalants,
while cocaine and heroin have tried around 2% of respondents.
To
the question “How many times have you consumed cannabis in the last 30 days”
about 6% of the respondents have tried once or twice, while 1.5% use it daily,
ecstasy have tried one or two times 2.25%, while 0.5% have daily use. Based on
the obtained results it can be concluded that students at schools in Sarajevo
consumed drugs 50% more than the children in Gracanica.
Analyzing
the age at which the subjects consumed the drug for the first time, we came to
the conclusion that in the third year of high school only 8% of adolescents
have tried any drugs before they turned 15 years. This percentage among eighth
graders is about three times higher.
As
for parent’s knowledge about whether they know that their children are taking
drugs, we get that 85% of parents do not know that their children are using any
of the drugs, while only 8% are aware of this fact. We also found that 83% of
parents have a very negative opinion of drugs. Most respondents experiencing
drugs are readily available, even within the school premises. Living
environment of today’s adolescents is characterized by high availability of
drugs, and is likely the contact with people who consume drugs.
Most
adolescents who consume drugs decide to take this step on its own initiative or
at the urging of close friends (2, 6, 8, 11).
When
it comes to informing pupils about the negative effect of drugs on the body,
adolescents received most information from parents, teachers, over the Internet
and from the literature. The most common motive of drug consumption by the
opinion of adolescent is curiosity, then affirmation among peers.
Adolescents’
relation to parents in 50% is excellent, while 20% have a poor or mostly poor.
From the survey we received information that the adolescents are generally
satisfied with them self.
Important
role in preventing use of illicit drugs among youth have parents. They should
observe the child’s behavior, they should be informed about the symptoms that
arise due to the consumption of drugs, especially if the family belongs to a
high risk group. It is necessary to make better contact with the teachers and
spent more leisure time with children. Young people need to create a negative
image of narcotics, but it should find a modus how to do it and that it does
not cause counter effect. Perhaps it would be advisable to use once the shock
therapy, that is, to show to young people any danger due to the consumption of
intoxicants. The media also play an important role. Through them we can
organize content which will inform young people about the harmfulness of drugs,
and the program content should present persons who consume intoxicants. In
parallel with these should be adopted more stringent regulations, or at least
the consistently apply current ones. In addressing the problem of drug
addiction should be involved parents, schools, cultural and sporting
institutions, health care workers and so on.
6. CONCLUSIONS
Presented
research results clearly suggest a strong contamination of the living
environment of young people with different types of psychoactive substances.
Offer of drugs is extensive and distribution network covers all the places
where young people visits, including schools. It is clear that today’s
teenagers sooner or later hear about drugs, see, get in touch with a “junkie”
and have a chance to take the drugs if they want to.
It
seems that the fear from the drugs weakens from generation to generation and
first experiences with drugs adolescents acquire earlier, often as early as in
elementary school.
Smaller
are genders differences in interest for opiates and at the level of
experimentation among girls keep pace with the boys.
Drugs
today are not asking for financial status, does not care in which neighborhood
adolescents live, where they go to school, or to what subculture they belong.
Research has shown that tobacco smokers showed a greater preference for
consuming other drugs, compared with their nonsmoking peers. The same goes for
users of alcohol, where we find that significantly more users of alcohol
consumed other drugs compared to teens that do not drink alcohol.
Reciprocal
links do not show up only on the qualitative level (consume–not consume), but
also include the quantitative aspect. So among heavy smokers of tobacco (or
marijuana) we found a higher rate of consumption of other drugs than among
moderate smokers.
We
also found quite solid chronological sequence of consuming different types of
drugs. Teens prone to drug use, as a rule, are entering the world of narcotic
substances trough alcohol and tobacco, followed by marijuana and then other
illicit drugs.
From
our research, we found that the following factors: Marital status of parents,
employment of parents, the number of family members, type of school and
satisfaction with oneself are not crucial for the eventual drug use among young
people. While, the biological status of the parents (both parents died),
educational status of parents (and higher university degree), financial status
of parents (extreme poverty and extreme wealth), the tendency of parents
tobacco and alcohol use (father smokes, father drinks), quantitative aspects of
education (weak presence of the mother, the weak presence of the father),
adolescents’ attitude to parents (poor relationship with the mother or father),
the harmony of relationships between parents (poor relations between parents),
school performance (poor grades, grade repetition), the harmfulness of drugs
(low perception of harmfulness of drugs), positive attitude toward the
so-called light drugs (moderately negative attitude), knowledge about drugs
(user knowledge, misconceptions about drugs), represent significant risk
factors for adolescent populations.
It
is unquestionable that in the earliest grades of elementary schools should
start the primary prevention of drug use among children using all types of
education that needs to be implemented by teachers in collaboration with health
educators and possibly professionals working in drug discovery and sanctioning
those who take them. Community must devote more resources to this activity,
because the consequences are costly or irreparable, for the community and for
the family of consumers of the drugs.
Conflict of interest
None
declared.
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Articles from Materia Socio-Medica are provided here courtesy of Academy
of the Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina
hi Marta!
ResponderEliminarI think it is a very important issue, because I think it is a problem bigger than what we think it is.
Teenagers are in a very influenciable time in their lives, so that they sometimes are doing things that they don't really wantto, to fit in a goup.
it is important also, the knowladge of the parets, who normally don't want to see that their descendants, and do not act actively on their drug education or prevention of consumption.
In my opinion, we as doctors, have to explore in every patient the relation with the drugs that he or she has. not only to the patient we can see that there is an evident problem, but also to every person, which may be needs help in other areas.
due to the consecuences of taking drugs in early ages, whe should take it more seriously and start to prevent, to educate earlier.
finally I think that we don't have to forget to educate parents, beucause they are an important part of teenager's live.
what do you think?
:D
Hi Marta!! Congratulations for the choosed article ,it´s really interesting and for us there´s a easy topic because we´re in constant contact with the drug´s world.
ResponderEliminarFirst of all ,which kind of people consume drugs?Drurgs have been related with people from a low economic level,marginalization, suburbs......It´s true but people who have money consume bigger amounts of drugs that normal persons.Of course rich people buy drugs with an excellent quiality and they have reasons for consuming all theses kinds of substances like what to do with the money,trying to be cool,stress......
In our society,Spain or other city in the world,all teenagers can buy drugs,it´s not a good new but it´s the truth.Each person is going to decide what to do,consuming or not consuming drugs.You can find legal an ilegal drugs in a pub,disco,gym and even in the university if you have contacts.
Drugs destroy us.Theses substances detroy us physically and pshycologically.
For all theses reasons its necessary to teach girls and boys in the high school and trying to explain them all risks.Doctors have an important role here,they must know how to treat all problems related with drugs.
What do you think about all types that are appearing in our society?Are the abstinence syndrome hard and for that any kind of drug is useful?
Hi girls!
ResponderEliminarFirst of all, I want to to congratulate Marta on have chosen this article. I have found it very interesting, in fact, I have done a project about this topic in this academic year.
This is an actual problem, increasingly big and I think there are a lot of questions without answer.
In my opinion, stressful situations are one of the most important factors to start to consume drugs. This is shown in this article, because it is made in Sarajevo city, where we can still feel the effects of the war. In our society young people have other stressful factors such as parent's divorce, abuse, illness, marginalization,.. However there is something wrong in this opinion, because there are a lot of young people who consume drugs and they don't have any of that factors.
I can understand that they could have curiosity about drugs but nowadays there are many information about what happen if you take drugs. So.. Who knows what goes on in the head of a young person in the moment when he decide to take the first drug?
I would like if you could help me to find an answer for this question.
Thanks! :)
Good afternoon, everyone. This article is very interesting, first drugs is a big problem in society for years and even with prevention campaigns consumption continues to increase.
ResponderEliminarBut what most caught my attention in this article is that is made in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a place where war and problems are recent. So the large index of youths using drugs may in part be caused by the situation of stress and disorganization which are subjected. I also find it very impressive the young age at which the drug was started.
For it seems very important to study the causes why people enter into the world of drugs. As Ana says is hard to understand how people nowadays choose to consume these substances (now we know what cause. However, we must take into account the context, as in this study.
Good afternoon girls!
ResponderEliminarThis article is very interesting in my opinion because drugs have been and are nowadays a topic of relevance to health care. I think the typical consumer has been changing the last years, after drugs were associated to “junkies”, low economic level, marginalization or suburbs but at present the consumer could be anyone, from adolescents to successful entrepreneurs.
The article studies the population of Sarajevo, a city which has suffered a war, and it’s possible that the people of this city have more characteristics to consume drugs than people from one Spanish city.
Most drug users begin their abuse in adolescence therefore I agree with some of my partners saying that prevention and health education in high schools are the key points to prevent the drug consume. Doctors and teachers have duty to educate in these fields, but in my opinion the parents have the most important responsibility. They should advise and warm about drugs and try that their children have a consolidated personality to say “no” to drugs.
Hello everyone!
ResponderEliminarYes, as my partners have said, drugs are an ongoing problem that we as doctors must deal every day.
First, note that this study was performed in Sarajevo, so I do not know how it would be comparable to our country. However, after reading it I am sure that our young people are more alike than we would like.
Drugs are in our society, both at low and high classes. In the 90's the role of addicted was associated with a tramp, but now even the most successful entrepreneurs use drugs.
So I think it is a real public health problem, and therefore should be treated well. There are measures to help eradicate it, as educating children in schools and society, making prevention campaigns, chasing the big dealers, etc.
Drugs are not just a toy; they play with your life.
Hi again!
ResponderEliminarDrug abuse is one of the most relevant problems we have. After childhood teens crate new ways of lives, new ways of fun. People who don´t have information about the risk of became taking drugs, sometimes think that do that can be a funny activity, which allows us be most sympathetic and most interesting too.
Nevertheless, this early wrong behaviour take the consumers and their families to a very severe situation that includes other consequences apart from the own overcomes of taking drugs.
From my point of view, the most important activity to stop that is the prevention; informative campaigns must be performed and carried out as far as is possible. In that way, people from different social status, from teenagers until his elderly relatives, who will have the knowledge about the prevalence of this use and how to recognise if a teenage behaviour could be among this kind of soon abusers.
Hi girls! How are you?
ResponderEliminarIn my opinion this is an interesting and a current topic which involves us as future doctors and obviously as a young people that we are.
First, as you have said, drug abuse is a public health problem because it can produce psychiatric diseases, for example schizophrenia. In consequence there would be more disabled people. Finally it causes a waste of public money.
Secondly, nowadays there are more teenagers who become addicted to drugs, teenagers from all cultures or different social status. They just do that in order to be cool.
Finally, in my opinion, we would warm these young people about the consequences leading drug abuse, I know there are campaigns which do that, but in my opinion they are not so effective, so teenagers continue taking that. Maybe the prevention would be more powerful than now but I know this is very difficult.
My question is, what do you propuse to reduce drug abuse amoung teenagers?
Hi girls!
ResponderEliminarFirst of all, thank you very much for your comments and for this interesting debate.
All of us have come to the same conclusion addiction drug is a current problem that we as future doctors will prevent and we will report about numerous risks having drugs. We will make effective prevention and we will inform young people about the risks but also we will inform their parents because they are very important in their education. Most of you think that prevention could be a solution to this problem and I agree with you.
Nowadays drugs are available to everyone, not just drugs are consumed by young and poor people also drugs are consumed by executives or children of higher social class.
We do not know which factor induces people to take drugs but my colleagues have pointed out that many of these people when they start taking drugs are under a stressful situation.
For example, this study was carried out in Bosnia and Herzegovina after a recent war.
To sum up, drug addiction is a problem that affects our society in any country and doctors should try to prevent it.
Thanks for all girls.