Proceso de Normalización del Consumo de Drogas en Jóvenes

Ecuador is currently experiencing a significant public health crisis, largely attributed to the high prevalence of drug consumption. In fact, it is estimated that Ecuador has one of the highest rates of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use in Latin America. The objective of this study is to gain insight into the process of normalization of psychoactive substance consumption from the perspective of young people between the ages of 20 and 25 in the Santa Isabel canton, Elisabeth Jiménez / Nadia Campoverde Fundación Internacional para la Education la Ciencia y la Tecnología,“FIECYT”97located in the province of Azuay. This is a qualitative research study based on the content analysis of 10 semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that the participants first became acquainted with drug use through their peers, in educational, social, and athletic settings, associating it with relaxation, socialization, and enjoyment. Furthermore, they indicated that when they were repeatedly exposed to similar events, their thoughts, emotions, and attitudes towards drug use diverged from those initially experienced. They also identified the presence of sociocultural and normative patterns in their environment that led to the formation of these behavioral patterns. Following the completion of these two processes, all participants reported that they had come to view the consumption of psychoactive substances as a normal practice among young people. They subsequently proceeded to ingest a variety of drugs, for a range of motivations and at varying frequencies. These findings indicate that the normalization of drug use in this group is a complex process, the result of a series of events in which the participants consider that individual, family, social, cultural and political factors interact.