Psychosocial factors associated with adolescent illicit drug abuse and dependence:: Bivariate analysis of a case-control study

The growing complexity of drug abuse in Mexico demands the development of more effective programs focusing on specific risk factors. However, due to the difficulties and high costs of longitudinal studies required to identify risk factors properly speaking, it is common to conduct cross-sectional studies for the identification of drug abuse correlates. Several studies with Mexican Population have found, as drug abuse correlates, alcohol and tobacco use, drug abuse among family members, weak family control and Support, belonging to dysfunctional social networks, inadequate leisure or recreational activities, and behavioral and psychological disorders such as low behavioral control, depression and anxiety. On this basis and considering illicit drug abuse as an inadaptative way of coping with anxiety and depression, as the basic forms of psychological distress, this study analyzed drug abuse and drug dependence among teenagers in association to exposure to stress factors and its perceived effect, as well to the presence of depressive symptoms. The correlations of drug abuse and dependence to different coping strategies and family cohesion and adaptability, and analyzed Substance use risk perception and drug availability, were also explored. This article includes the findings of bivariate analysis intended to evaluate the strength of associations between variables. Method This research followed an ex post facto design for a case-control study with a non-probabilistic sample of young people between 10 and 18 years: 116 abusers and 102 illicit drug dependents (according to DSM IV criteria), and 679 non-users paired by age sex and neighborhood. Cases were selected from drug users attending treatment at "Centros de Integracion Juvenil" units in Mexico City. Members of the control group were recruited and interviewed at home. Information was gathered by structured interviews and questionnaires including substance use data, and eight scales that explored stress factors exposure; coping strategies; depression symptoms; family structure, cohesion and adaptability; substance risk perception and availability Findings 82.3% of the subjects of study were men and 17.7% were women. Mean age was 15.35 years (SD=15.56). 98.5% were single. Substances more frequently reported both by abusers and dependents were marthuana, inhalants, cocaine and tranquilizers, although the dependent group reported significantly higher use rates per substance. Exposure to stress factors and perceived stress were higher as severity of drug use increased. The reported frequency of problem solving strategies decreased slightly but significantly in terms of drug use severity, while other ways of coping showed no differences between groups. Depression symptoms, lower risk perception, and higher drug availability were positively related to the intensity of drug use. Finally, there were significant differences on the levels of family, cohesion and adaptability associated with abuse or dependence. Discussion Findings support initial hypotheses, showing significant differences between groups in terms of greater dysfunctionality associated to drug abuse and dependence. Thus, data support the notion of drug use as an inadaptative way of coping, the broadly documented correlation with stress and depression, rigid family interaction patterns, and lack of supportive and affective family links. In spite of limitations of this research as a cross-sectional study with a non-probabilistic sample, findings provide indicators of presumed risk factors, contributing to the design and application of prevention and treatment strategies focusing on specific and malleable factors.