Phenomenology of consumption of psycoactive substances in university students in Bogota Fenomenología del consumo de sustancias psicoactivas en estudiantes universitarios en Bogotá

Resumen

Objective: Determine the phenomenological context related to the habits of consumption of psychoactive drugs, in university students from a higher education institution of health sciences in Bogota, Colombia. Materials and methods: Qualitative descriptive study of phenomenological approach; 8 interviews were performed in young university students (key informants) who knew about the university context, the dealers, and the consumers. The technique for the recollection of data used were in-depth interviews. The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee in Human Beings, Hospital of San Jose – University Foundation of Health Sciences (FUCS). Results: The findings identify 6 categories: 1) Risk factors of polydrug abuse; 2) Protective factors of polydrug abuse; 3) Psychoactive drugs; 4) Places for consumption; 5) Risk behaviors; 6) Consumption effects. From the analysis of the content and the propositions, 14 sub-categories emerged: internal and external risk factors; external protective factors; support networks; illicit and legal drugs; places: bars, trips, friend’s houses; risk behaviors: suicide, fights, sexual risk behavior; mental and physical diseases and academic performance. Conclusion: The study concludes that the present social problematic in university students, is based on risk situations to which students are socially exposed and requires a formative process that starts during childhood. The UNODC, proposes to examine the variables that influence the consumption and act with viable preventive programs in depth, allowing to strengthen the intrapersonal and interpersonal skills.