Telephone counseling for young Brazilian cocaine and/or crack users. Who are these users? / Aconselhamento telefônico para jovens brasileiros usuários de cocaína e/ou crack. Quem são esses usuários?

Abstract Objective: To describe the users' drug abuse characteristics, problematic behaviors associated with addiction, the motivation of teenagers and young adults to quit cocaine and/or crack abuse, and then compare these characteristics. Methods: A cross-section study was conducted with 2390 cocaine/crack users (teenagers from 14 to 19 years of age, and young adults from 20 to 24 years of age); 1471 were young adults and 919 were teenagers who had called a phone counseling service between January 2006 and December 2013. Semi-structured interviews were performed via phone calls. The questionnaires included sociodemographic information; assessment of the characteristics of cocaine/crack abuse; assessment of the problematic behaviors; also, the Contemplation Ladder was used to evaluate the stages of readiness to cease substance abuse. Results: Participants reported using cocaine (48.2%), crack and other smoking forms (36.7%) and combined consumption of both drugs (15%). Young adults were more prone to using crack or crack associated with cocaine (OR = 1.9; CI 95% = 1.05-1.57) and they were exposed to substance abuse for longer than two years (OR = 3.45; CI 95% = 2.84-4.18), when compared to teenagers. On the other hand, they showed higher readiness to quit. Conclusion: Data shows important differences in drug abuse characteristics, problematic behaviors and motivation to cease substance abuse between teenager and young adult cocaine and/or crack users. Behaviors displayed by young adults involve greater physical, mental and social health damages. These findings reinforce the importance of public policy to act on prevention and promoting health, to increase protection factors among teenagers and lower risks and losses during adult life.

Resumo Objetivo: Descrever as características de consumo, comportamentos problemáticos associados ao uso e motivação para cessar o consumo entre adolescentes e jovens usuários de cocaína e/ou crack e comparar essas características. Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo transversal, com 2.390 usuários de cocaína/crack (adolescentes: 14 - 19 anos e jovens: 20 - 24 24 anos) sendo 1471 jovens e 919 adolescentes, que ligaram para um serviço de aconselhamento telefônico entre janeiro de 2006 e dezembro de 2013. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas por telefone. Os questionários incluíram informações sociodemográficas; avaliação das características do consumo de cocaína/crack; avaliação dos comportamentos problemáticos e escala de Contemplação Ladder para avaliar os estágios de motivação. Resultados: Os participantes relataram uso de cocaína (48,2%), crack e outras formas fumadas (36,7%) e uso associado de ambas as formas (15%). Os jovens faziam maior uso de crack ou crack associado à cocaína (OR = 1,19; IC 95% = 1,05-1,57) e estavam expostos ao uso da droga havia mais de 2 anos (OR = 3,45; IC 95% = 2,84-4,18) quando comparados aos adolescentes. Por outro lado, mostraram-se mais motivados para cessar o consumo. Conclusão: Os dados mostraram haver importantes diferenças nas características de consumo, comportamentos problemáticos e motivação para cessar o consumo entre adolescentes e jovens usuários de cocaína e/ou crack. Os jovens apresentaram comportamentos que envolvem maiores prejuízos para a saúde física, mental e aspectos sociais. Esses achados reforçam a importância de ações de políticas públicas de prevenção e promoção de saúde para aumentar os fatores de proteção entre os adolescentes e reduzir riscos e prejuízos para a vida adulta.

Telephone counseling for young Brazilian cocaine and/or crack users. Who are these users?

OBJECTIVE: To describe the users' drug abuse characteristics, problematic behaviors associated with addiction, the motivation of teenagers and young adults to quit cocaine and/or crack abuse, and then compare these characteristics. METHODS: A cross-section study was conducted with 2390 cocaine/crack users (teenagers from 14 to 19 years of age, and young adults from 20 to 24 years of age); 1471 were young adults and 919 were teenagers who had called a phone counseling service between January 2006 and December 2013. Semi-structured interviews were performed via phone calls. The questionnaires included sociodemographic information; assessment of the characteristics of cocaine/crack abuse; assessment of the problematic behaviors; also, the Contemplation Ladder was used to evaluate the stages of readiness to cease substance abuse. RESULTS: Participants reported using cocaine (48.2%), crack and other smoking forms (36.7%) and combined consumption of both drugs (15%). Young adults were more prone to using crack or crack associated with cocaine (OR=1.9; CI 95%=1.05-1.57) and they were exposed to substance abuse for longer than two years (OR=3.45; CI 95%=2.84-4.18), when compared to teenagers. On the other hand, they showed higher readiness to quit. CONCLUSION: Data shows important differences in drug abuse characteristics, problematic behaviors and motivation to cease substance abuse between teenager and young adult cocaine and/or crack users. Behaviors displayed by young adults involve greater physical, mental and social health damages. These findings reinforce the importance of public policy to act on prevention and promoting health, to increase protection factors among teenagers and lower risks and losses during adult life.

Pais não autoritativos e o impacto no uso de drogas: a percepção dos filhos adolescentes / Non-authoritative parents and impact on drug use: the perception of adolescent children

OBJETIVO: Verificar a associação entre uso de drogas e estilos parentais percebidos pelos filhos adolescentes brasileiros. MÉTODOS: Este estudo transversal foi realizado com adolescentes de 14 a 19 anos que ligaram para o Serviço Nacional de Orientações e Informações sobre a Prevenção do Uso Indevido de Drogas. Participaram do estudo 232 adolescentes. As entrevistas, realizadas por telefone, incluíram: a Escala de Responsividade e Exigência Parental, que classifica os estilos materno e paterno percebidos pelos adolescentes em autoritativo, negligente, indulgente e autoritário; variáveis sociodemográficas; e instrumento para avaliar consumo no mês e abuso de substâncias. RESULTADOS: Os estilos parentais materno e paterno percebidos como negligente, indulgente ou autoritário (não autoritativos) tiveram associação significativa para uso de drogas [odds ratio (OR) = 2,8, intervalo de confiança de 95 por cento (IC95 por cento) 1,3-5,7 para mães, e OR = 2,8, IC95 por cento 1,3-6,3 para pais]. Os estilos não autoritativos também demonstraram relação significativa com uso de tabaco no mês para o estilo materno (OR = 2,7, IC95 por cento 1,2-6,5) e para o paterno (OR = 3,9, IC95 por cento 1,4-10,7), uso de cocaína/crack no mês (OR = 3,9, IC95 por cento 1,1-13,8) e abuso de qualquer droga (OR = 2,2, IC95 por cento 1,0-5,1) somente para o estilo paterno. A análise de regressão logística mostrou que o estilo materno (OR = 3,3, IC95 por cento 1,1-9,8), sexo do adolescente (OR = 3,2, IC95 por cento 1,5-7,2) e idade (OR = 2,8, IC95 por cento 1,3-6,2) tiveram associação com o uso de drogas. CONCLUSÕES: Adolescentes que avaliam suas mães como não autoritativas apresentam maior chance de usar drogas. Os pais não autoritativos têm mais associação com abuso de drogas pelos adolescentes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between drug use and parenting styles perceived by Brazilian adolescent children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled adolescents aged 14 to 19 years that used the Serviço Nacional de Orientações e Informações sobre a Prevenção do Uso Indevido de Drogas (VIVAVOZ). A total of 232 adolescents participated in the study. Phone interviews were conducted using the Parental Responsiveness and Demandingness Scale, which classifies maternal and paternal styles perceived by adolescent children as authoritative, neglectful, indulgent or authoritarian. Sociodemographic variables were collected and an instrument was used to assess monthly drug use and abuse. RESULTS: Maternal and paternal parenting styles perceived as neglectful, indulgent or authoritarian (non-authoritative) were significantly associated with drug use (odds ratio [OR] = 2.8; 95 percent confidence interval [95 percentCI], 1.3-5.7 for mothers and OR = 2.8; 95 percentCI, 1.3-6.3 for fathers). Non-authoritative styles also had a significant association with tobacco use in the previous month in the analysis of maternal (OR = 2.7; 95 percentCI, 1.2-6.5) and paternal (OR = 3.9; 95 percentCI, 1.4-10.7) styles, and use of cocaine/crack in the previous month (OR = 3.9; 95 percentCI, 1.1-13.8) and abuse of any drug (OR = 2.2; 95 percentCI, 1.0-5.1) only for the paternal style. Logistic regression revealed that maternal style (OR = 3.3; 95 percentCI, 1.1-9.8), adolescent sex (OR = 3.2; 95 percentCI, 1.5-7.2) and age (OR = 2.8; 95 percentCI, 1.2-6.2) were associated with drug use. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents that perceived their mothers as non-authoritative had greater chances of using drugs. There was a strong association between non-authoritative paternal styles and adolescent drug abuse.

Non-authoritative parents and impact on drug use: the perception of adolescent children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between drug use and parenting styles perceived by Brazilian adolescent children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled adolescents aged 14 to 19 years that used the Serviço Nacional de Orientações e Informações sobre a Prevenção do Uso Indevido de Drogas (VIVAVOZ). A total of 232 adolescents participated in the study. Phone interviews were conducted using the Parental Responsiveness and Demandingness Scale, which classifies maternal and paternal styles perceived by adolescent children as authoritative, neglectful, indulgent or authoritarian. Sociodemographic variables were collected and an instrument was used to assess monthly drug use and abuse. RESULTS: Maternal and paternal parenting styles perceived as neglectful, indulgent or authoritarian (non-authoritative) were significantly associated with drug use (odds ratio [OR] = 2.8; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 1.3-5.7 for mothers and OR = 2.8; 95%CI, 1.3-6.3 for fathers). Non-authoritative styles also had a significant association with tobacco use in the previous month in the analysis of maternal (OR = 2.7; 95%CI, 1.2-6.5) and paternal (OR = 3.9; 95%CI, 1.4-10.7) styles, and use of cocaine/crack in the previous month (OR = 3.9; 95%CI, 1.1-13.8) and abuse of any drug (OR = 2.2; 95%CI, 1.0-5.1) only for the paternal style. Logistic regression revealed that maternal style (OR = 3.3; 95%CI, 1.1-9.8), adolescent sex (OR = 3.2; 95%CI, 1.5-7.2) and age (OR = 2.8; 95%CI, 1.2-6.2) were associated with drug use. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents that perceived their mothers as non-authoritative had greater chances of using drugs. There was a strong association between non-authoritative paternal styles and adolescent drug abuse.