Citation

Berenzon S, Tiburcio M, Barragán V, Fleiz C, Medina-Mora ME, Villatoro J. Drugs Educ. Prev. Policy 2017; 24(2): 170-178.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09687637.2016.1182470

PMID

unavailable

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.

Language: en