Personal and interpersonal risk factors in the consumption of illicit drugs by marginal adolescents and young people from juvenile gangs

Jordanian client perspectives of substance abuse: Implications for occupational therapists

Background/Aims:

Substance abuse is a global health problem with harmful consequences for the individual, family and society. This study explored the personal factors contributing to substance abuse from the perspective of Jordanian clients and its implications for occupational therapy.

Methods:

An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using a questionnaire with nine open-ended questions to explore participants' experience of their illness and recovery. Inductive content analysis was used to analyse data.

Results:

Participants were 146 Jordanian substance abuse clients (142 male) with a mean age of 28 years. Five main themes emerged: fears; personal traits; helpers; speaking out; the best solution.

Conclusions:

Occupational therapists might design client-centred interventions for substance abuse where they consider the perspectives of clients with regard to the personal traits that contribute to their recovery. Occupational therapy services that take an interdisciplinary team approach are recommended for clients diagnosed with substance abuse.

Correlation between depressive symptoms and quality of life in users of psychoactive substances

Objectives: To evaluate the correlation between the presence of depressive symptoms and quality of life in users of psychoactive substances from Psychosocial Attention Centers in Mato Grosso. Method: A cross-sectional analytical study, conducted in Psychosocial Attention Centers, with 109 users. The instruments used were: Medical Outcomes Study 36, Beck Depression Inventory, socio-demographic variables and the use of psychoactive substances. A Tukey analysis and a Spearman correlation were conducted with a significance level of α<0,05. Results: The most affected domains of quality of life were emotional, social and mental health aspects, besides the strong correlation between depressive symptoms and quality of life. Conclusion: The use of psychoactive substances and the presence of symptoms significantly interfere in the life of users, which can compromise the motivation to the treatment, negatively affecting the quality of life in this population.



[Drugs use as a cultural practice within gangs]

Today, the social phenomenon of drugs trafficking and violence related to drugs has tended to minimize the implications of drugs consumption in gangs. This article is based on in-depth interviews in young gangs in the metropolitan area of Nuevo León, Mexico, with a view to reflecting on and analyzing the drug as a cultural practice within gangs. In the search for meaning, the first thing that is shown is the beginning of gang members in drugs consumption, and the form how drugs are presented by family members and friends of the gang is described. Next, we described the meaning of drugs use in everyday life and show the extent to which drugs use is acceptable and normalized.

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

Se trata de un estudio descriptivo de enfoque cualitativo con el objetivo de revelar el significado del consumo de drogas en las adolescentes de la calle, condición que las convierte en problema social, por lo que se busca obtener una aproximación teórica para comprender este fenómeno. Siete (7) adolescentes femeninas del paseo Cabriales en la ciudad de Valencia, en Venezuela fueron entrevistadas. Para el análisis de los datos se utilizó el recurso metodológico de la Teoría fundamentada (Grand Theory) y la visión del Interaccionismo simbólico y de ahí surgieron las siguientes categorías: la búsqueda de no ser la buena, la reafirmación del rol femenino, el consumo como experiencia, la mirada de los otros a la adolescente que consume drogas, y la adicta como cuidadora. Finalmente, concluimos que el uso de drogas en la calle para las adolescentes del sexo femenino es una forma de protección, sobrevivencia e inclusión en los grupos.