Children and women: special health and social problems related to substance abuse

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of substance abuse among 1187 women, 15-50 years, in a national sample and 1074 children 10-18 years in eight schools in Jamaica, using a modified Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI) questionnaire are used to indicate the likely health and social problems that may result. Painkillers (48.4 percent) were the most popular substances used by children followed by alcohol (36.9 percent) and painkillers (39.2 percent). In both samples inhalants and marijuana by rank are the most popular illicit substances used. Inhalant use was 1.9 percent for women and 9.0 percent for children in a ratio of 15 and marijuana 2.8 percent and 2.5 percent respectively. Cocaine/crack use is 50 percent more among children (1.0 percent) compared to women (0,5 percent). LSD-25 use was only reported by children (0.2 percent). Women under 20 years in the national sample, by rank, were the heaviest users of inhalants (52.2 percent), marijuana (30.0 percent), painkillers (24.4 percent) and alcohol (23.0 percent). Differences in use of tranquilizers (p=0.0008) and inhalants (p=0.008) were statistically significant for women among the age groups under 20 years, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34 and 35 and over. Among children differences by age for substances used were insignificant. Drug involvement evidence reported by children were withdrawal symptoms 10.4 percent, 16.9 percent playing drinking games at parties and 8.9 percent having a craving or strong desire for alcohol or drugs, corresponding proportions for women were 3.3 percent, 0.1 percent and 0.1 percent. Psychosocial factors in both samples which correlated strongly with drug use were behaviour patterns, behavioural disorders, social competence and family system. Substance use and its effects on health are reflected in reported health problems. Children (43.1 percent) reported too much or too little sleep and 25-29 percent reported weight change of 10 pounds or more, abdominal pain and nausea, trouble with breathing and coughing and deficient energy. Corresponding proportions for women reporting similar problems were 15-17 percent. The paper discusses the likely impact of drug use on the health and social well being of women and children and the size of the problem in relation to the proportions reporting use. (AU)