Influential risk factors in consumption of psychoactive substances in university students in times of COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: The consumption of psychoactive substances has become a public health problem, having great consequences on the health, economy, academic performance, family, and social coexistence of the consumer. Objective: To determine the risk factors influencing the consumption of psychoactive substances in university students during COVID-19. Materials and Methods: Research with quantitative correlational, cross-sectional descriptive type, with a sample of 272 university students of a University of Barranquilla of the Nursing program of fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth semesters. The instrument used was a virtual survey divided into five sections, comprising identification and sociodemographic data, individual, sociocultural, family, and psychological factors. Results: In the statistical analysis, the predominant sex was female with 69%, and 74% of them aged 17–20 years. Seventy-nine percent stated that they had consumed psychoactive substances, and 58% indicated that the type of psychoactive substance they had consumed for the first time was alcohol. Discussion: In contrast to a study conducted by Fernández et al, in 2021, it was found that the frequency of consumption of psychoactive substances in the students of the Simón Bolívar University was higher with a percentage of 74%, on the other hand the study in question only 41.8% consumed some type of psychoactive substance (alcohol, tobacco, etc.).Through the research carried out, it was possible to evaluate each of the factors that significantly influence the consumption of psychoactive substances, taking into account each of the variables evaluated (sociodemographic, consumption, individual, family, psychological, sociocultural) in times of COVID-19.