Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 April 2020
Une étude longitudinale auprès de 327 adolescents scolarisés suivis de 16 à 18 ans a permis de mettre en évidence l’évolution de la consommation de drogue illicite et les facteurs liés à cet usage. Au total, à 18 ans, 26% des garçons et 16% des filles ont essayé la drogue au moins une fois dans leur vie, et respectivement 10 et 8% en ont pris urant plusieurs périodes de l’enquête. L’expérimentation d’une drogue illicite est peu corrélée aux variables socioemographiques de la famille, ce que traduit l’homogénéisation de la population qui en fait l’essai. En revanche, les jeunes consommateurs se caractérisent par un mode de vie centré sur les relations avec les pairs, mettant l’accent sur la sphère relationnelle au détriment des relations familiales et de l’intérêt pour leur scolarité. L’alcoolisation et le tabagisme précoce sont des facteurs prédictifs de l’usage (unique mais surtout répété) d’une drogue illicite. De même que le cumul des problèmes de santé (dépressivité, troubles du sommeil, troubles somatiques). Toutefois, pour l’ensemble e ces variables corrélées à l’essai d’une drogue illicite, une prédictivité différentielle selon le sexe est observée. La consultation médicale augmente après l’usage répété de drogue. Les jeunes expérimentateurs conservent un contact Privilégié avec leurs parents et avec les jeunes en cas de problèmes (scolaire, santé, sentimentaux, graves). Il est discuté a Place des parents, des adultes responsables (médecins, professionnels de la santé, enseignants) et des pairs dans une Prévention précoce des difficultés de l’adolescent.
A cohort study on a sample of 327 high school students was carried out between 1983 and 1985. Health and behaviour problems were investigated by a self reported questionnaire including 150 response choice items. The topics investigated were: socio-demographic situation of the student and his/her family; self perception of personality; family relationship; social use of licit (alcohol, tobacco, psychotropic medecines) and illicit drugs; health problems; psychosomatic symptom's and depressive moods; demand for medical or non medical help.
At age 18, 26% of the boys and 16% of the girls had already experienced illicit drugs, especially haschisch or marijuana. 16% of the boys and 8% of the girls used drugs at one period during the study (experimental use); 10% and 8% used drugs at different periods during the survey (non experimental use). These data seem close to those observed in other european countries (Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg), but the results are far below those observed in the US.
Illicit drug consumption increases between age 16 and 18, especially in young males, but there is no correlation between drug use and other socio-demographic characteristics such as marital status of the parents, or their professional situation. Way of life (social activities, degree of peer activity, sexual intercourse, school involvement) seems to be related to illicit drug use. So an early high degree of social involvement (frequent incidence of: meeting friends at home or outside, visits to the movies, listening to music, sexual intercourse) is a good predictor of subsequent illicit drug use.
Early (before age 16) high tobacco and alcohol consumption are also good predictive variables for experimental and non experimental use between age 16 and 18.
Health problems are good predictors of non experimental use. So young people with depressive moods (frequent feelings of nervousness or depression, suicidal ideas), sleep disorders (frequent nightmares and bad sleep) or somatic symptoms (headaches, nausea, asthma, respiratory problems, problems of vision, dental problems) at age 16 are more often non experimental users than those without these symptoms. But all these variables do not have the same predictive value according to sex. Consumption variables have a more predictive value in young females; health variables are more predictive in young males.
Visits to a general practitioner or paramedical consultant (dentist, physiotherapist) increase after repeated drug experience. This moment may be favourable for medical and non medical professionals to intervene and aid in preventing drug involvement and drug dependence.
Young drug users (as compared to non users) confide more in friends than in parents. But the parents' role is important for all young people, including those who have used drugs. Practical implications of this data are discussed.
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