Prevalencia del consumo de sustancias en progenitores y su relación con el consumo actual de sustancias legales e ilegales en adolescentes. Un estudio exploratorio con jóvenes escolarizados en la Comunidad Valenciana, España

Abstract

Aims

To explore the prevalence of the consumption of legal and illegal drugs in the parents reported by a representative sample of youth from 14 to 18 years enrolled in schools in the region of Valencia; and to analyze its relationship with the consumption of licit and illicit substances among youth, considering if the consumption is done by the father or the mother

Methods

A cross-sectional design. Participants are a representative sample of 10,520 young people between 14 and 18 years: 46.5% male. Was given a school survey in March and June 2006. The logistic regression is applied and the statistical program SPSS 15.0 is used.

Results

A total of 43.7% of youth responded that their mother consumes at present some substance, and 51.4% answer that the father consumes. The substances most consumed by the mother are tobacco (30.9%) and alcohol (25%) and by the fathers alcohol (35.5%), and tobacco (33.9%). Youth who reported that his mother uses tobacco are more likely to smoke (OR = 1.32; p < .005), and if the mother uses a substance are more likely to use designer drugs (OR = 2.44; p < .05). Also, are more likely of consuming tobacco if the father smokes (OR = 1.34; p < .005), and to drink alcohol if the father drinks (OR = 1.53; p < .05).

Conclusions

Gender of the parent is a mediator variable in the association between current use of substances by the parent and current consumption of the young. The study provides empirical evidence on the etiology of the consumption of licit and illicit substances in young population from Spain.