Drug use by Brazilian students: associations with family, psychosocial, health, demographic and behavioral characteristics

Aims in the last few years epidemiological studies in Brazil have detected significant increases in the use and abuse of psychoactive drugs by adolescents: however. there is it paucity of data on the factors associated with this use.Objectives To assess the prevalence of drug use by students from public schools in a Brazilian city and to evaluate the influence of age. school achievement, family, psychosocial, health, demographic and behavioural characteristics on regular drug use.Design This cross-sectional study was conducted using a representative sample of 6417 students attending public schools in the City of Barueri, Brazil and included adolescents from the 5th grade of elementary school to the 3rd year of high school. the Brazilian version of the Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI-R) was administered in the classroom by trained educational advisers without teachers being present.Findings prevalence rates for the previous month were: alcohol: 48%, tobacco: 22.5%. cannabis: 14%. inhalants/solvents: 5%, cocaine: 3%, tranquillizers: 0.5%. amphetamines: 0.9%, anabolic steroids: 0.1% and ecstasy: 0.9%. With the exceptions of tranquillizers and amphetamines, the older students reported significantly higher frequencies and amounts of drug use than the younger ones. Boys reported a significantly higher consumption of alcohol. cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy than girls, as well as higher percentages of frequent/heavy use. Logistic regression analysis detected that poor school achievement a poor or bad relationship with those with whom they live. studying in the evening period, presence of antisocial behaviour, family problems and friends who use drugs were factors significantly associated with drug use.Conclusions the findings suggest that preventive programmes should be more comprehensive in scope, rather than focusing only on information about the negative consequences of drug use.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Are reasons for the first use of drugs and family circumstances predictors of future use patterns?

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the level of drug dependence in adolescents can be predicted by any of the following factors: the reasons to which the first use or non-use of drugs is attributed, living arrangements, economic situation, family history of alcohol use, or school delay. 213 Brazilian adolescents were classified according to DSM-III-R criteria as: 71 non-drug-dependent users (Group 1), 71 lightly/moderately dependent users (Group 2), and 71 severely dependent users (Group 3). Logistic regression identified the following predictors of current drug use patterns: low economic level, school delay, living only with the mother, having a poor/bad family relationship, and influence of friends, pleasure seeking, or curiosity as reasons for initial drug use. Among Groups I and 2, never felt like trying, fear of dying from an overdose, and religious reasons were the main reasons for not using other drugs. School delay and troubled family relationships were important predictors of current drug dependence, and pleasure seeking was a prominent reason for initial drug use. This suggests that drug use prevention should not simply focus on reducing drug availability but also on helping young people to develop good family/peer relationships and finding healthy ways to enjoy themselves. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

AMYGDALOID KINDLING and KINDLED SEIZURES in RATS RECEIVING CHRONIC ETHANOL ADMINISTRATION

ESCOLA PAULISTA MED SCH,DISCIPLINA NEUROL EXPTL,BR-04023 São Paulo,BRAZILESCOLA PAULISTA MED SCH,DEPT PSICOBIOL,BR-04023 São Paulo,BRAZILESCOLA PAULISTA MED SCH,DISCIPLINA NEUROL EXPTL,BR-04023 São Paulo,BRAZILESCOLA PAULISTA MED SCH,DEPT PSICOBIOL,BR-04023 São Paulo,BRAZILWeb of Scienc

Crack cocaine: An increase in use among patients attending clinics in São Paulo: 1990-1993

Unsubstantiated reports suggest that the availability and use of crack are increasing in São Paulo. To investigate this claim we used the databases from two outpatient clinics for drug users at a public hospital and examined the changes in the reported routes of administration of cocaine among 245 patients who had attended between 1990 and 1993. the proportion reporting crack use increased from 17% in 1990 to 64% in 1993 (p < .01). It does not seem that this increase was simply due to changes in demographic variables. Treatment policies need to be reviewed and HIV harm-reduction programs should focus more on the risks of sexual transmission.ESCOLA PAULISTA MED,DEPT PSICOBIOL,São Paulo,BRAZILESCOLA PAULISTA MED,DEPT PSICOBIOL,São Paulo,BRAZILWeb of Scienc