Drug use among juveniles in conflict with the law

Explanatory models of illicit drug use in adolescents: A qualitative study from India

Illicit drug use is a growing concern in India, with a high treatment gap of 73%. Explanatory models can provide valuable insights into the patient's conception of disease and inform help-seeking, treatment, and recovery. Of the studies that examine adolescent drug misuse in India, none have developed a socio-cultural explanatory model. The aim of our study was to develop an explanatory model to better understand the causal beliefs, social context, and self-perception of illicit drug misuse amongst adolescents in India. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 23 adolescents seeking treatment for drug use disorders and 25 healthcare providers recruited across three sites in India. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Most adolescent participants reported using multiple drugs, often in combination with cannabis. Frequent usage was reported i.e., daily at multiple times. Causes of initiation and continued use were peer influence, curiosity and pleasure, psychosocial stressors, family conditions, and systemic risk factors (e.g. socioeconomic instability). Drugs were acquired from various sources, including fellow users and pharmacies. Adolescent participants perceived negative impacts of drug use on physical and mental health, family relationships, and everyday functioning. Our findings on common reasons of drug use initiation, importance of peer relationships in continuation of use, impact of use on various aspects of life and the relationship of illicit drug use with socioeconomic status are consistent with previous research done in India on the subject. Understanding how adolescents and caregivers perceive drug use can help inform patient-clinician rapport, improve treatment compliance and understand intervention effectiveness. Such an explanatory model holds crucial implications for shaping interventions and clinical approaches to address adolescent drug use in India.

Snake Venom Use as a Substitute for Opioids: A Case Report and Review of Literature

The mind-altering agents such as tobacco, cannabis, and opium have been widely used since the evolution of human being. These substances have been widely used for recreational purposes. However, derivatives from reptiles such as snakes, reptiles, and scorpions can also be used for recreational purposes and as a substitute for other substances. Their use is rare and related literature is very scanty. In this report, we present a case of snake venom abuse and review the existing literature.

Psychosocial Attributes of Substance Abuse Among Adolescents and Young Adults: A Comparative Study of Users and Non-users

BACKGROUND

Substance abuse is one of the major health challenges across the globe. Adolescents are among the most affected. This study aims to examine the reasons for initiation, maintenance of harmful use of substances and abstinence among adolescents and young adults by comparing the users and non-users.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Accordingly, 40 users and 40 non-users of substances, aged 15-24 years were selected through convenient sampling method.

RESULTS

It was found that most of the users had initiated substance abuse during 15-18 years of age, with peer influence, curiosity and sense of growing being the major reasons for the same. 'Feel good' and socialization were the main reasons for maintenance. The non-users never gave into substances because of personal values, awareness of the impact on health and family values. Both users and non-users had specific personal reasons for their respective behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

Young population would use substance for various psychosocial reasons despite knowing the harmful effects of substance. These findings have specific implications for preventive programs.

[Adolescents under socio-educational measures: everyday ways of being and possibilities for nursing]

This study aimed to understand the routine of the adolescent-being, who is under semi-liberty socio-educational measures. A phenomenological research was developed in unit of the Socio-Educational Treatment Foundation (Fundação de Atendimento Socioeducativo), in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Interviews were held with nine adolescents, from February to May, 2009. The Heideggerian analysis un-veiled that this socio-educational measure means a prison for them, something bad. They know they are not in the prison system due to their age and re-cognize they have thrown away their adolescence. In the institution, these youngsters go to school to learn something, to get some job. They express themselves through gossip, ambiguity and occupation. The conclusion is that the teenager is-thrown in that which is determined and remain in impersonality. For social reintegration they need the help of the socio-educational system, mediated by interdisciplinary work, and a support network for which the family, community and State are co-responsible.

Initiation to the first drug use among substance-dependent persons in Iran

In the present study, we report the initiation to the first drug in a representative sample of drug dependents in Iran. This is a cross-sectional study with a sample size of 7,743. The participants were characterized as drug dependents according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-Fourth Edition and were sampled from the medical centers, prisons, and streets of the capitals of 29 provinces in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The mean age at first drug use in the sample was 21.1 (6.5), which differed for various first drugs of abuse. Opium was the first drug of use among 46.4% of the sample, and cannabis was the first drug only among 23.5%. The most frequent place of initiation was at a friend's house (n = 2,476, 33.2%). The same-gender friend out of school (the highest rate) was the most frequent person who suggested the first use. A total of 43.5% of the participants started drug use with friends and 18.8% at a friend's party. Policymakers may benefit from considering the information provided here in designing programs with the purpose of prevention.