Social factors associated with drug use in the Mexican school-age population: A comparison of two national surveys

Abstract

Objectives: This study analyses changes in drug use in Mexican junior high and high-school students and identifies differences over two decades in the social factors (availability of drugs, perceptions of risk and social tolerance) associated with such use. Method: Data from two national surveys, conducted in 1991 and 2014, were analysed. Results: Data show that the proportion of students who had tried drugs doubled in 2014. In both surveys, substance use was significantly associated with a high perception of availability and use by friends and older siblings; in 2014, there was a decrease in the perception of risk for marijuana use and an increase in social tolerance toward illegal drugs. Conclusions: It can be inferred from this analysis that public policy to prevent drug use has not had the expected impact, at least not on the social factors considered here.

Keywords:

• Student survey
• substance use
• perception of risk
• substance availability
• social tolerance

Declaration of interest

The authors report that they have no conflicts of interest.

Funding information

The 2014 School population Drug Use Survey was sponsored by the National Council Against Addictions (known as CONADIC for its initials in Spanish) and the Health Ministry.