The association between adult drug abuse and childhood maltreatment in students attending seven universities in five countries in Latin America and one country in the Caribbean

Texto & Contexto - Enfermagem

Samantha Longman-mills¹  Yolanda Maria González Williams¹  Marlon Osman Melendez Rodriguez¹  Monica Rosaura García Baquero¹  Juan Daniel Gómez Rojas¹  Cristina Juárez De Amaya¹  Eduardo Alfredo Martínez Diaz¹  Sobeya Jose Peñalba Corea¹  Enrique Miguel Pizzanelli Baez¹  Lucia Isabel Solórzano Tinoco¹ 

关键词: Child abuse;    Latin America;    Substance-related disorders;    Students;    Universities;    Maus-tratos infantis;    America Latina;    Transtornos relacionados ao uso de substâncias;    Estudantes;    Universidades;    Maltrato a los niños;    Latin America;    Trastornos relacionados con substancia;    Estudiantes;    Universidades;   

DOI  :  10.1590/0104-07072015001ESP026

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

This study investigated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and adulthood drug abuse among university students from seven universities in five countries in Latin America and one country in the Caribbean. This multi-country study utilised a cross-sectional design to collect data on drug abuse, as well as retrospective data on maltreatment during childhood. The sample consisted of 2,283 university students, of which 82.6% reported childhood maltreatment experiences, and 33.5% increased levels of psychological distress. A significant relationship was observed between childhood maltreatment and drug abuse as an adult (p<0.05). Although the sampling technique does not permit generalisations to all university students, the current study identified exposure to childhood maltreatment as a potential precursor to adult drug abuse within the populations studied. Therefore, the effectiveness of drug demand reduction strategies at the respective universities may be enhanced by incorporating policies and interventions aimed at childhood maltreatment.

【 授权许可】

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