doi: 10.56294/hl202442

 

ORIGINAL

 

Impact of Toxic Substance Use on Quality of Life in Adolescents

 

Impacto del Consumo de Sustancias Tóxicas en la Calidad de Vida de Adolescentes

 

María Carla Hernández Martínez1  *, Michael Angel González Medina1  

 

1Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana. La Habana, Cuba.

 

Cite as: Hernández Martínez MC, González Medina MA. Impact of Toxic Substance Use on Quality of Life in Adolescents. Health Leadership and Quality of Life. 2024;3:42. https://doi.org/10.56294/hl202442

 

Submitted: 05-08-2023                   Revised: 02-10-2023                   Accepted: 20-02-2024                 Published: 24-02-2024

 

Editor: Dra. Mileydis Cruz Quevedo  

 

ABSTRACT

 

Introduction: drug is any chemical substance capable of interacting with a living organism and, from the medical point of view, used for the treatment, prevention, cure or diagnosis of diseases.

Objective: to characterize the consumption of toxic substances in adolescents of the “Arístides Viera González” Preuniversity Institute.

Methods: a descriptive-transversal observational study was carried out. The universe consisted of 187 students belonging to the “Arístides Viera González” Preuniversity Institute, in the period January-December 2021.

Results: female sex predominated (55,08 %), being 16 years old the most frequent age (42,9 %). In terms of toxic habits, consumers of other toxic substances such as cola predominate (53,47 %). 64,17 % of students refer that at school they are educated about the damage caused by toxic habits and 42,78 % of students agree that the family constantly talks to them about the benefits of leading a healthy life and that if there can be fun without toxic habits.

Conclusions: one of the major public health problems is the consumption of toxic substances. There was a predominance of female students and of students who consume other toxic substances such as cola. Most of the students state that they are educated at school about the harm caused by toxic substances and that the family exerts great influence on them to lead a healthy life. There is a predominance of students who believe that there can be no fun without substances.

 

Keywords: Adolescents; Toxic Habits; Consumption.

 

RESUMEN

 

Introducción: droga es toda sustancia química capaz de interactuar con un organismo vivo y, desde el punto de vista médico, utilizada para el tratamiento, prevención, curación o diagnóstico de enfermedades.

Objetivo: caracterizar el consumo de sustancias tóxicas en los adolescentes del Instituto Preuniversitario “Arístides Viera González”.

Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo-transversal. El Universo estuvo constituido por 187 estudiantes pertenecientes al Instituto Preuniversitario “Arístides Viera González, en el período enero-diciembre de 2021.

Resultados: predominó el sexo femenino (55,08 %), siendo los 16 años la edad más frecuente (42,9 %). En cuanto a los hábitos tóxicos predominan los consumidores de otras sustancias tóxicas como el refresco de cola (53,47 %). El 64,17 % de estudiantes refieren que en la escuela los educan sobre los daños que provocan los hábitos tóxicos y el 42,78 % de los estudiantes coinciden en que la familia les habla constantemente sobre los beneficios de llevar una vida saludable y en que si puede haber diversión sin hábitos tóxicos.

Conclusiones: uno de los mayores problemas de salud pública es el consumo de tóxicos. Se observó un predominio del sexo femenino y de estudiantes consumidores de otras sustancias tóxicas como el refresco de cola. La mayoría de los estudiantes plantean que en la escuela los educan sobre los daños que ocasionan las sustancias tóxicas y la familia ejerce gran influencia sobre ellos para que realicen una vida saludable. Hay predominio de los estudiantes que cree que no puede haber diversión sin sustancias.

 

Palabras clave: Adolescentes; Hábitos Tóxicos; Consumo.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

The drug is, in the broadest sense, any chemical substance capable of interacting with a living organism and, from a medical point of view, used for the treatment, prevention, cure, or diagnosis of diseases.(1)

Based on their category as a substance, drugs can be classified as legal (cola, coffee, tea, tobacco, and alcohol), prescription drugs (narcotics, sedatives, tranquilizers, hypnotics, antiparkinsonian drugs, sympathomimetics, analytics, anti-anorexics), illegal drugs (marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, mushrooms, synthetic drugs) and inhalants (toluene derivatives present in glues, plastics, solvents, varnishes).

The use of substances capable of altering consciousness and behavior has been reported since the dawn of humanity.(2)

The first written references to the use of opium as a medicine date back 5000 years, and about 1000 years later, wine, beer, mandrake, and marijuana derivatives were reported.

The massive incorporation of drugs into lifestyles, which characterizes consumer societies, is established with greater expression from the 1970s onwards, which coincides with the progressive characterization of drugs as highly profitable commercial merchandise.

The increasing complexity of modern society, as well as the growing availability of a wide variety of drugs, have contributed to the increase in drug consumption. Currently, about 10 % of the world's population suffers, at some point, from effects related to the abuse or dependence of substances that affect behavior, in addition to the total number of people who will suffer the direct consequences of irresponsible consumption of these substances, without being addicts themselves, to which can be added family members and cohabitants who will also suffer harmful consequences if preventive measures are not applied, which represents, in total, a third of the world's population affected in this century.(2)

The use of addictive substances is a serious and complex social phenomenon, a health problem directly related to the family and education. Its extension and relevance demand a health vocation in health and education professionals with a vital social component.

The problem of addictions is challenging and more accessible to address and achieve if it is analyzed from a social perspective, seeking results and changes from the perspective of the individual and his or her family with a view to the socio-economic context in which he or she lives. As a health problem, it requires a policy of promotion, specific prevention, and individualized treatment in each case.(3)

During adolescence, which is nothing more than a period of biological, psychological, sexual, and social development immediately following childhood and beginning with puberty, severe and profound transformations take place, where people establish their sense of individual identity, adapt to more mature intellectual capacities, the demands of society in terms of mature behavior, internalization of a system of personal values and preparation for adult roles.(4,5,6)

Drug use has severe consequences for the physical, mental, family, and social health of the patient, family, and community. The more severe the consequences, the earlier the onset of drug use. There is an association between some parental patterns, such as affection/support and control/supervision, in the involvement of their adolescent sons and daughters in drug use.

Addictions are a cause of mortality due to unintentional injuries, suicide, and homicides in adolescents, so it is necessary to analyze the problem of addictions based on the social perception of this situation with a comprehensive patient-family-social environment approach.

Adolescents believe that when they use a drug, they are more popular and fit in with the group; they are more active, and their thinking is faster. Sometimes, they use it out of curiosity and think it will not harm them. However, like any drug, it causes addiction, and the subsequent consequences on physical and mental health, in addition to affecting the family, contribute to detrimental effects in the social, monetary, and legal order.(7)

Based on the above, and motivated by the constant and dynamic current social processes and the severe problem of toxic habits, a study was carried out to determine the prevalence of the consumption of addictive substances among Cuban adolescents. The main scientific problem was: What are the characteristics of the consumption of toxic substances among adolescents at the "Arístides González Viera" Pre-university Institute?

Addiction to any substance: tobacco, alcohol, medicines, plant extracts, psychoactive substances, etc., originates a pattern of behavior characterized by the insurmountable clinging to consumption, compulsive behavior for the same, and a great tendency to relapse after suppression, so we must be able to detect the circumstances and factors that promote the onset or triggering of addiction, we must work with the family as an essential element for the achievement of any success.

 

METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was carried out at the "Arístides Viera González" Pre-university Institute of the Playa municipality, Havana, during the period January-December 2021.

The universe was constituted by 187 students belonging to the pre-university.

Inclusion criteria: 10th and 11th-grade students who were in school on the day the survey was applied. Exclusion criteria: insufficient data in the surveys applied.

During the research, the ethical and bioethical criteria established for this type of study were rigorously observed and taken care of. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee and the Scientific Council of the "Juan Manuel Márquez" Pediatric Hospital.

The consent of the students was requested for the application of the survey; in addition, special attention was paid to the principles of confidentiality, veracity, and security in the preservation and handling of the information obtained in the research and its use and dissemination for exclusively scientific purposes.

In general, the study was conducted in accordance with the four fundamental ethical principles: respect for persons, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.

The variables necessary to achieve the objectives were determined. All the surveys (Supplementary Material 1) that made up the study universe were reviewed. The results were poured into a data collection model, as shown in Supplementary Materials 2 and 3 of this work. A database was created with the Libre Office 5.0 and Microsoft Office statistical package in order to process all the biostatistical operations required in the research.

Tables and graphs were prepared to better illustrate the results obtained, presenting the values of each variable and the necessary relationship to favor the individual analyses of the readers.

The necessary theoretical research methods were used, such as:

·      Historical and logical analysis: to determine the background of the subject up to the present day, epidemiology, causal factors, types of lesions and clinical manifestations they produce, treatments, and other particularities.

·      Structural systemic: characterize the object of research and the field of action, determine its constituent elements or components, and the relationships established between them.

·      Analysis and synthesis: in the bibliographic sources that were reviewed, consulted, and related to these aspects for the referential theoretical framework, criticism, comparison, and discussion with the results and conclusions.

·      Dialectic: to determine the relationships of contradictory character between all the components obtained.

·      Triangulation: to comprehensively assess all the information obtained in the primary and secondary sources, the analyses of the results, and their comparison with other prestigious authors in this professional and scientific field.

·      The percentage method of Descriptive Statistics was used to present the quantified results.

 

RESULTS

During the period studied, a total of 187 pre-university students were surveyed, with a slight predominance of the female sex with a total of 103 students (55,08 %) over the male sex with a total of 84 students (44,91 %), with 16 years of age being the most frequent age in the study universe with 42,9 % of the total.

 

Table 1. Distribution of students according to age and sex. Arístides González Viera" Pre-university Institute”

Age (years)

no.

%

Female

Male

no.

%

no.

%

15

65

34,8

33

32,03

32

38,09

16

80

42,9

57

55,33

23

27,38

17

41

22,3

13

12,6

28

33,33

Total

187

100

103

100

84

100

Source: Data collection model.

 

Table 2. Ratio of students according to their toxic habits

Criteria

Total

%

Consumers of other substances such as coffee and cola

100

53,47

Consumers of alcoholic beverages

50

26

Smokers

10

3,20

Drug users

5

2,6

Source: Data collection model.

 

Table 2 shows the relationship of the students according to their toxic habits, where it can be seen that there is a predominance of students who consume other toxic substances such as coffee and cola (53,47 % of the total), followed by students who consume alcoholic beverages with 26 % and with very little predominance of students who consume drugs (only 5 students for 2,6 % of the total).

 

Table 3. Distribution of students according to the influence of family and school on the consumption of toxic habits

Criteria

Total

%

At school they are educated about the harms of toxic habits

120

64,17

Family constantly talks to them about the benefits of living a healthy life free of toxic habits

80

42,78

Family forbids them from engaging in toxic habits

45

24,06

They have family members with toxic habits

20

10,69

Family indulges them in toxic habits

15

8,02

Source: Data collection model.

 

Of the total number of students, 64,17 % say that they are educated at school about the harm caused by toxic habits, and 42,78 % of the total number of students stated in the surveys that the family constantly talks to them about the benefits of leading a healthy life free of toxic habits, which contrasts with the 8,02 % who say that the family consents to toxic habits, as can be seen in table 3.

 

Table 4. Ratio of students according to their criteria on toxic habits

Criteria

Total

%

Believe that without toxic habits there can be no fun

107

57,21

Believe that there can be fun without toxic habits

80

42,78

Source: Data collection model.

 

It can be observed in table 4 that 42,78 % of the students believe that, yes, there can be fun without toxic habits, which is opposed to 57,21 % who believe that without toxic habits, there cannot be fun.

 

DISCUSSION

One of the most significant public health problems is the consumption of intoxicants and related risk behaviors.(8)

This phenomenon is so important, especially in young people, because it not only manifests personal, family, and community deterioration but also has social consequences.

In the series studied, a slight predominance of the female sex was observed, which may be due to the study universe and which coincides with the research carried out by Maria Elena and collaborators, where 55 % belonged to the female sex and 45 % to the male sex, and which contradicts the study carried out by Pérez Milena and collaborators where the predominant sex was male and where, in addition, they state that the distribution by sex does not influence the consumption of toxic substances.(9,10)

In terms of age, there was a predominance of 16 years of age, which may be influenced by the year of the course in which the respondents were, and also coincides with other studies such as that published by Olesti-Baiges, where the age of onset of tobacco use is 14,1 ± 1,27 years (range 13-17 years), and that of alcohol consumption is 14,1 ± 1,1 years (range 12-18).(11)

Among the students studied, consumers of other substances such as coffee and cola were predominant, followed, in descending order, by consumers of alcoholic beverages and smokers, and on a smaller scale were drug consumers, and this is mainly in line with the study by Vázquez Fernández and collaborators, where the drugs most consumed by students aged 14 to 18 years were alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and tranquilizers, and 77,2 % had consumed alcoholic beverages at some time in their lives; 36,7 %, tobacco; 17 %, cannabis; 2,5 %, prescription tranquilizers; 1,9 %, speed or amphetamines; 1,3 %, non-prescription tranquilizers; 1,1 %, ecstasy; 1 %, cocaine; and 0,7 %, volatile inhalants.(8)

On the other hand, in the study carried out by Campins Martí et al. it can be observed that of the total number of young people surveyed, 138 (32,3 %; 95 % CI: 0,28-0,36) reported smoking, 252 (59,2 %; 95 % CI: 0,54-0,63) reported alcohol consumption, and 89 (20,9 %; 95 % CI: 0,17-0,24) reported non-institutionalized drug use, which can also be found in correspondence with the present study.(12)

As for the influence exerted by the family on adolescents regarding the consumption of toxic substances, it can be seen in the surveys conducted that most of the students' families constantly talk to them about the benefits of leading a healthy life free of toxic habits, which contrasts with the low percentage where the family consents to toxic habits. It can also be noted that some have family members with toxic habits, which can have a significant influence, according to the study conducted by Campins Martí and collaborators, since they state that parental smoking is significantly associated with the consumption of non-institutionalized drugs, although the same does not occur with tobacco and alcohol, although the percentage of smokers is higher among individuals whose parents smoke.(12)

Other studies suggest that the influence of parents and friends is one of the most important predictors of substance use in adolescents. In agreement with other authors, the results of this study also reflect the association between parental smoking and the consumption of some of these substances by their children, which suggests the need to promote intervention strategies aimed not only at school but also at the family environment in pre-adolescence.(13,14)

Regarding the influence of the school on students, there was a significant predominance of students who stated that the school educates them about the harm caused by toxic habits, which entirely coincides with the study conducted by Vázquez Fernández et al. in which 89 % of the respondents feel sufficiently informed about drugs, with a higher proportion of boys.(8)

In their study, Campins Martí and collaborators state that with respect to the socioeconomic level of the school, greater consumption of these substances is observed in schools considered to be of a higher level, the trend being statistically significant in the case of tobacco, which does not coincide with the study published by Carré Martí and collaborators, since they state that the primary source of information came from the media (49,7 %).(12,15,16,17)

Supremacy of students who believe that without alcoholic beverages, there is no fun was observed with respect to those who believe that there can be fun without intoxicating habits, which may be linked to the fact that they experience a new sensation, followed by the fact of having a good time and that it is something forbidden, in addition to health, family and economic problems, as Campins Martí and collaborators refer in their research.(18,19,20) 

In addition, among the reasons given by young people to explain Froggat consumption, curiosity, the pleasure it provides, and relaxation stand out as the most important, which is entirely consistent with the results obtained in the present study.(21) 

 

CONCLUSIONS 

·      One of the significant public health problems is the consumption of intoxicants and related risk behaviors.

·      A slight predominance of female sex and students consuming other toxic substances such as coffee and cola was observed.

·      Most of the students state that at school, they are educated about the harm caused by toxic substances to health, and the family exerts significant influence on them to lead a healthy life free of toxic habits.

·      There is a slight predominance of students who believe that there can be no fun without toxic substances despite the fact that there is a low predominance of students who consume toxic substances such as alcohol and drugs.

 

REFERENCES

1. Organización Mundial de la Salud. Quinto reporte del comité de expertos de la OMS. Uso de medicamentos esenciales. 1992.

 

2. Valdés Martín S, Gómez Vasallo A, Báez Martínez JM. Temas de Pediatría. 2da ed. La Habana: Ciencias Médicas; 2011.

 

3. Organización Mundial de la Salud. Salud mental en las emergencias: aspectos mentales y sociales de la salud de poblaciones expuestas a factores estresantes extremos. 2011.

 

4. Colectivo de Autores. Puericultura en la adolescencia. La Habana, Cuba: MINSAP; 2014.

 

5. Adolescent Medicina Comitee, Canadian Paediatric Society. Age limits and adolescent 2000.

 

6. Organización Mundial de la Salud. La salud de los jóvenes: un desafío para la sociedad 2000.

 

7. Cruz Sánchez F, Rodríguez Alonso B, Alonso Uría RM. La puericultura en la adolescencia. Cuba: MINSAP; 2014.

 

8. Vázquez Fernández ME, Muñoz Moreno MF, Fierro Urturi A, Alfaro González M, Rodríguez Carbajoe ML, Rodríguez Molinero L. Consumo de sustancias adictivas en los adolescentes de 13 a 18 años y otras conductas de riesgo relacionadas. Rev Pediatría Aten Primaria 2014;16.

 

9. Licea S ME, Díaz S MT. Evaluación de hábitos tóxicos en una población de adolescentes s. f.

 

10. Pérez Milena A, Leal Helmling FJ, Jiménez Pulido I, Mesa Gallardo I, Martínez Fernández ML, Pérez Milena R. Evolución del consumo de sustancias tóxicas en los adolescentes de una zona urbana (1997-2004). 39 2007;6:299-304.

 

11. Olesti-Baiges M. Hábitos tóxicos en los adolescentes de los institutos de enseñanza de Reus. Enferm Clínica s. f.;10:63-70.

 

12. Campins Martí M, Gasch Blasi J, Hereu Boher P, Rosselló Urgell J, Vaqué Rafart J. Consumo y actitudes de los adolescentes frente a sustancias adictivas: Encuesta de prevalencia. An Esp Pediatría 1996;45.

 

13. Severson H. Psychosocial factors in the use of smokeless tobacco and their implications for PL 99-252. J Public Health Dent 1990;50.

 

14. Gottlieb A, Pope S, Rickert V, Hardin B. Patterns of smokeless tobacco use by young adolescents. Pediatrics 1993;91.

 

15. Carré Martí M, Jiménez Fernández M, Lara Rodríguez M. Artículo. Rev Rol Enferm 2011;34:15-9.

 

16. Froggat P. Determinants of policy on Smoking and Health. Inter J Epidemiol 1989;18.

 

17. Gómez Cruz M, Vinent González R, Santana Espinosa MC. Atención integral a gestantes vulnerables en hogar materno provincial de Pinar del Río. Rev Cienc Médicas Pinar Río 2020;24.

 

18. Arrom Suhurt MA, Fresco M del P, Arrom Suhurt CM, Ruoti M, Capurro MH, Arrom Suhurt C, et al. Consumo abusivo de alcohol en estudiantes adolescentes. Med Clínica Soc 2021;5:25-31.

 

19. Saquicela DMB, Saquicela HLB, Loor SB. Embarazo en adolescentes y alteraciones psicosociales. RECIMUNDO 2020;4:337-45.

 

20. Daniel-Díaz JD, Pérez-de-Zayas K, Hernández-Rodríguez M, Carvajal-Rivero MA, Ramos-Pérez MY. Factores de riesgo para defectos congénitos en embarazadas adolescentes del municipio Camagüey. Rev Electrónica Dr Zoilo E Mar Vidaurreta 2021;46:2861.

 

21. Pozo KL, Vázquez-González LA, Betancourt MM, Molina IB, Rodríguez DBF. Intervención educativa sobre caries dental en adolescentes de la Secundaria Básica Urbana “Wenceslao Rivero Pérez”. Rev Científica Estud Cienfuegos Inmedsur 2020;3:9-17.

 

FINANCING

The authors did not receive funding for the development of this research.

 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

 

AUTHORSHIP CONTRIBUTION

Conceptualization: María Carla Hernández Martínez, Michael Angel González Medina.

Curation of data: María Carla Hernández Martínez, Michael Angel González Medina.

Formal analysis: María Carla Hernández Martínez, Michael Angel González Medina.

Acquisition of funds: María Carla Hernández Martínez, Michael Angel González Medina.

Research: Maria Carla Hernandez Martinez, Michael Angel Gonzalez Medina.

Methodology: Maria Carla Hernandez Martinez, Michael Angel Gonzalez Medina.

Project Management: Maria Carla Hernandez Martinez, Michael Angel Gonzalez Medina.

Resources: Maria Carla Hernandez Martinez, Michael Angel Gonzalez Medina.

Software: Maria Carla Hernandez Martinez, Michael Angel Gonzalez Medina.

Supervision: María Carla Hernández Martínez, Michael Angel González Medina.

Validation: María Carla Hernández Martínez, Michael Angel González Medina.

Visualization: Maria Carla Hernandez Martinez, Michael Angel Gonzalez Medina.

Writing - original draft: María Carla Hernández Martínez, Michael Angel González Medina.

Writing - revision and editing: María Carla Hernández Martínez, Michael Angel González Medina.

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 1

Survey conducted among 10th and 11th grade students of the "Arístides Viera González" Pre-university.

Hello:

A study is being conducted on toxic habits in Cuban adolescents and your opinion would be of great help. It is not mandatory that you take the survey and it is completely anonymous.

Age: _____.                Sex: _____.

Municipality: _______________.                Province: _______________.

1. What are toxic habits for you? What do you think about the consumption of them?

2. Answer yes or no:

_____I drink cola, tea or coffee.

_____At least once in my life I have smoked.

_____I surround myself with a group of friends who think that without alcoholic beverages there can be no fun.

_____I live in a family environment where at least one member of my family has toxic habits.

_____At least once during the school year teachers have talked about how harmful toxic habits are (smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages and ingesting toxic substances such as drugs).

_____My parents and other family members prohibit me from having toxic habits (smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages, and ingesting toxic substances such as drugs).

_____At least once in my life I have drunk alcoholic beverages.

_____I believe that there can be fun without intoxicating habits.

_____My family constantly talks to me about the benefits of living a healthy life free of toxic habits (smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages and ingesting toxic substances such as drugs).

_____My family does not mind that I have toxic habits (smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages and ingesting toxic substances such as drugs).

_____I have used drugs at least once in my life (sedatives, tranquilizers, hypnotics, antiparkinsonians, sympathomimetics, vagolytics, anti-anorexics, marijuana, cocaine).

 

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 2

Data collection model.

·      Age.

·      Sex.

·      Consumers of alcoholic beverages.

·      Consumers of drugs.

·      Consumers of other substances such as coffee and cola.

·      Smokers.

·      Have family members with toxic habits.

·      The family forbids them toxic habits.

·      They are educated at school about the harm caused by toxic habits.

·      Family indulges them in toxic habits.

·      They believe that without alcoholic beverages there is no fun.

·      Family constantly talks to them about the benefits of living a healthy life free of toxic habits.

·      They believe that there can be fun without toxic habits.

 

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 3

Informed Consent

I, ______________________________, consent to participate in the survey on toxic habits in adolescence. I understand that my responses will be kept confidential and used solely for research purposes. No risks are anticipated, and my participation is voluntary. I may withdraw at any time without penalty.

Signature: ____________________________ Date: ______________