[Ketamin: a harmful recreational drug]. / Kétamine : une substance récréative qui fait mal.

Adolescence is a developmental phase that exposes young people to exploratory behaviors, including substance abuse. In Switzerland, recreational ketamine use among young people is on the rise and is likely to lead to irreversible somatic complications. Primary care physicians play an essential role in identifying ketamine users, and should offer brief interventions, risk-reduction advice and a psychosocial assessment of the situation, involving close relatives. In the event of secondary damage, particularly urological damage, coordinated management by specialists is essential to achieve symptom regression. Primary and secondary prevention measures are also essential in the fight against addiction among young people.

L'adolescence est une phase développementale exposant les jeunes à des comportements exploratoires, dont la prise de substances. En Suisse, la consommation récréative de kétamine chez les jeunes est en augmentation et est susceptible d'entraîner des complications somatiques irréversibles. Le médecin de premier recours joue un rôle essentiel dans l'identification des usager-e-s de kétamine et doit proposer des interventions brèves, des conseils de réduction des risques et une évaluation globale de la situation (anamnèse psychosociale), en impliquant les proches. En cas d'atteinte secondaire, en particulier urologique, une prise en charge coordonnée entre spécialistes est primordiale pour viser une régression des symptômes. Des mesures de prévention primaires et secondaires sont également essentielles dans la lutte contre les addictions chez les jeunes.

[Drugs: minors and harm reduction?] / Drogues : mineur-e-s et réduction des risques ?

The use of controlled substances (narcotics and psychotropic substances) poses increased risks for minors. However, minors are generally excluded from existing harm reduction services (e.g. drug consumption rooms, drug checking, exchange of consumption material). Based on public health considerations, the authors recommend the establishment of harm reduction services for minors.

La consommation de substances soumises à contrôle (stupéfiants et substances psychotropes) présente des risques accrus pour les mineur-e-s. Pourtant, ces derniers sont généralement exclus des offres existantes de réduction des risques et des méfaits (par exemple, locaux de consommation, drug checking, échange de matériel de consommation). Sur la base de considérations de santé publique, les auteurs recommandent la création de services de réduction des risques dédiés aux mineur-e-s.

[Substance use in adolescence: an intervention model]. / Consommations de substances psychotropes à l'adolescence: un modèle d'intervention.

Substance use in adolescence can have a negative impact in the short and long terms. Fighting the deleterious effects of substance abuse is a public health issue. All adults who supervise adolescents, both specialized and not specialized professionals, can be involved in preventive actions. Young people at risk must be identified early enough and referred to appropriate care. It is therefore crucial that first-line professionals should be able to detect nascent problems and to understand signs of appeal. Professionals must be willing to raise drug consumption topics in their interviews and, thereafter, seek advice and guidance from specialized organizations. One such organization is DEPART which offers an intervention model for adolescents and their families as well as for professionals by offering them support and training.

Les consommations de substances à l'adolescence peuvent avoir un impact négatif à court et long termes et lutter contre ces méfaits est un enjeu de santé publique. Les actions de prévention impliquent tous les adultes qui encadrent les adolescents, les professionnels spécialistes mais également les non-spécialistes. Les jeunes à risque doivent pouvoir être repérés suffisamment tôt et orientés vers une prise en charge adaptée. Il est donc crucial que les intervenants de premier recours soient sensibilisés au repérage et à ses signes d'appel, se sentent légitimes d'aborder la consommation dans leurs entretiens et puissent solliciter les structures spécialisées pour conseil et orientation. L'unité DEPART propose un modèle d'intervention pour des adolescents et leur famille ainsi que pour les professionnels en leur offrant soutien et formation.

Social integration and substance use: assessing the effects of an early intervention programme for youth.

AIM: Appropriate social integration has been shown to be a protective factor against substance use among adolescents and associated negative consequences. Promoting social integration through early intervention with adolescents using substances is thus necessary and is the aim of the Identification, Assessment and Follow-up of Adolescents with Substance Use (in French, Dépistage - évaluation - parrainage d'adolescents consommateurs de substances (DEPART) programme. The present study aimed to describe this programme and its participants from 2009 to 2013 as well as to assess its effects on social integration. METHODS: Data from 398 adolescents using substances who attended the DEPART programme were analysed. RESULTS: The results showed that almost 80% of the adolescents admitted to the DEPART programme were boys, with a large proportion using cannabis. Globally, social integration did not increase from admission to discharge from the programme, but a shift was observed for school and professional integration. Additionally, after the intervention, we observed that social integration was more important in younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that adolescents with problematic substance use mostly consumed soft drugs and that those who were integrated into the DEPART programme at a younger age were more likely to be socially integrated at the end of the programme.