Search

OBJETIVO. Determinar la prevalencia del consumo de drogas y bebidas alcohólicas entre estudiantes, así como la relación de este consumo con variables sociodemográficas, tiempo libre, actos antisociales, normas y conflictos familiares, entre otras. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS. Los datos se derivan de una encuesta representativa de 1 929 estudiantes de enseñanza media y media superior de la ciudad de Pachuca, estado de Hidalgo, México, levantada en 1996, de los cuales 44.9% son hombres y 52.5% mujeres, con una media de edad de 14 años. Se utilizó un cuestionario autoaplicable, que incluye indicadores de consumo de drogas y alcohol elaborados por algunos países, entre ellos México, con la Organización Mundial de la Salud. RESULTADOS. El 47.9% ha probado bebidas alcohólicas; 12.6% bebieron cantidades considerables -cinco copas o más por ocasión- durante el mes anterior a la encuesta. Las bebidas preferidas son la cerveza y los coolers; el alcohol lo compraron principalmente en tiendas donde no les piden identificación y lo consumen en su casa o en la de otras personas. El 5.1% ha consumido drogas, sobre todo inhalables, mariguana y tranquilizantes. Una cifra mayor de varones consume drogas ilegales, y las mujeres, medicamentos sin prescripción. Un número superior de hombres toma más cantidades de alcohol y consume drogas, tienen mayor edad y trabajaron de medio tiempo durante el año anterior a la encuesta. Los consumidores de drogas y de altas cantidades de alcohol se distinguieron porque un número considerable informó que se aburría en su tiempo libre, se va a beber con sus amigos o ha cometido actos antisociales. Respecto a la familia, manifiestan cumplir menos con las normas parentales y muestran menor interés en hacerlo. Asimismo, un porcentaje más elevado informó que sus padres pelean con frecuencia, han pedido ayuda por esa razón y han intentado separarse. CONCLUSIONES. Los estudiantes que beben cantidades elevadas de alcohol y los consumidores de otras drogas, a diferencia de lo que sucede con los abstemios, presentaron más problemas al destinar su tiempo libre a actividades como irse a beber con amigos, exhibir más conductas antisociales y tener un distanciamiento de la familia que se refleja en la baja participación en actividades compartidas, en el desinterés por cumplir con sus normas y en la percepción de conflictos al interior de la misma.

An editorial to the journal is presented which discusses challenges for implementing new drug health policy in Mexico, with a focus on growth in use of opiod drugs such as Fentanyl and Xylazine in Mexico. The editorial also focuses on the devastating impact of the drugs on the most vulnerable communities particularly among persons Who Inject Drugs (PWID), on the northern border of Mexico and measures to control drug abuse to ensure dignified life for PWID.

Copyright of Salud Mental is the property of Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramon de la Fuente and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Salud Mental is the property of Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramon de la Fuente and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms in the Mexican population, aged 12 to 65 years, by identifying the main related socio-demographic and personal factors., Methods: Data are drawn from the National Survey on Addictions 2008 (ENA 2008), a random, probabilistic, multistage study. A randomly selected sub-sample of 22,962 persons answered the section on depressive symptomatology, measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)., Results: The total prevalence for depressive symptomatology was 5.1%; the prevalence was 7.5% for women and 2.5% for men. For women, more evidence of depressive symptoms was seen in the central region, whereas for men, symptoms were homogeneous across the country. Factors related to the presence of depressive symptoms include being divorced (in women) or widowed (in men), having lower educational attainment, perceiving one's place of residence as unsafe, displaying alcohol abuse or dependence, being a regular drug consumer (in men) and having been sexually abused (males and females)., Conclusions: The regional distribution of depressive symptomatology in women indicates the need for region-specific prevention programs that take into account the different social problems that affect women's emotional well-being. More research is also needed to support the early identification and intervention of men suffering from depression.

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to identify the trends of risky eating behaviors among student population in Mexico City in the period 1997-2003 and its relationship with sex age and family head educational level., Methods: Data from the 1997 (N = 9,755), 2000 (N = 3,286) and 2003 (N = 3,062) Drug and Alcohol Prevalence in Student Population of Mexico City Survey's were analyzed. These are representative data of students of junior high, high school and technical schools in Mexico City, with a mean age of 14.5 years (SD = 1.9). Eating behaviors were assessed with a brief questionnaire developed following DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Risky eating behaviors and the number of risk indicators were compared by sex, age and family head educational level., Results: The results showed an overall increase in the percentage of males (from 1.3% in 1997 to 3.8% in 2003), and females (3.4% in 1997 to 9.6% in 2003) who showed 3 or more risky eating behaviors. The analysis by age groups showed an increase in all but 16-17 year old males, and in all females, being 12-13 year old males and 18-19 year old females the most affected. Regarding the type of risk indicators in both sexes and across all age groups, an increase in preoccupation towards gaining weight and the use of purging and restrictive methods to loose weight was observed. Body weight overestimation decreased in males, while in females showed an increase along with binges in the 2000 survey but showed a decrease after that (2003 survey). The relationship between the family head educational level and risky eating behaviors did not show a regular pattern among males, while a positive relationship between both variables was found among females., Conclusions: A first overall view of the situation of risky eating behaviors among adolescent students in Mexico City and the changes observed in the period studied. An increase of these behaviors was observed along the period of study, being younger males and older females the most affected, as well as women whose family head showed higher educational level.

Objective: To report the rate of exposure to different violent events, their demographic correlates, the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and the impact on quality of life., Material and Methods: The National Survey of Psychiatric Epidemiology is representative of the Mexican urban population aged 18 to 65. The survey was undertaken in 2001 and 2002 using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI- 15) computerized version. The statistical analyses take into account the multistage, stratified, and weighted sample design. Kaplan-Meier and logistic regressions were performed., Results: Sixty-eight percent of the population has been exposed to at least one stressful life event. Exposure varies by sex (rape, harassment, and sexual abuse are more frequent in women; accidents and being a victim of burglary among men) and by age (more frequent in children, adolescents, young adult women, and the elderly). By sex, 2.3% of women and 0.49% of men present PTSD. Rape, harassment, kidnapping, and sexual abuse are the events most associated with PTSD., Conclusions: The results suggest the need to increase treatment coverage to attend the consequences of violence, taking into consideration the important gender and age variations.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of early onset depression in the Mexican population and compare its natural history, comorbidity and treatment latency between early onset and adult onset depression., Material and Methods: The National Survey of Psychiatric Epidemiology (ENEP) is representative of the Mexican urban population aged 18 to 65. The diagnostic instrument is the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Statistical analysis was performed with descriptive and logistic regression analyses, considering the multistage, stratified and weighted sample design of the survey., Results: Two percent of the Mexican population has suffered from depression as children or adolescents, with an average 7 episodes during their lifetime (compared with 3 episodes for adult onset); the first episode lasted a mean of 31 months (compared with 16 for adult onset) and generally did not receive any treatment., Conclusions: The longer duration of the first episode and the greater number of lifetime episodes for subjects with early onset is attributed to the lack of early detection and of timely treatment of depression in Mexican youth. The English version of this paper is available at: http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html.