Prevalence of consuming and beliefs related to psychoactive substances among youth in correctional-educational settings

Temeljni cilj diplomskog rada jest dobiti uvid o prevalenciji konzumiranja i uvjerenjima mladih iz odgojnih ustanova o psihoaktivnim tvarima. Specifični ciljevi vezani su uz tri tematska područja: (1) iskustvo mladih iz odgojnih ustanova u konzumaciji psihoaktivnih tvari, (2) uvjerenja o psihoaktivnim tvarima te (3) znanja o psihoaktivnim tvarima.Istraživanje je provedeno tijekom lipnja i srpnja 2016. godine na prigodnom uzorku od 74 mladih s problemima u ponašanju u odgojnim ustanovama: Dom za odgoj djece i mladeži Zagreb - odjel domskog tretmana (Odsjek Dom za mušku djecu i mladež u Ulici Otona Župančića), Odgojni dom Ivanec te Odgojni zavod Turopolje. Za potrebe istraživanja konstruiran je poseban instrument koji se sastojao od sedam konstrukata: Opći podaci o sudionicima istraživanja (vrsta ustanove i godine), Ček-lista poznavanja psihoaktivnih tvari, Upitnik o znanju vezanom za psihoaktivne tvari, Upitnik o životnoj prevalenciji konzumiranja psihoaktivnih tvari, Upitnik o godišnjoj prevalenciji konzumiranja psihoaktivnih tvari, Pitanja o početku konzumiranja psihoaktivnih tvari (cigarete, alkohol, marihuana te druga sredstva), Upitnik o uvjerenjima vezanim za psihoaktivne tvari. U istraživanju je korištena metoda samoiskaza po principu ''papir-olovka'', a sudjelovanje u istraživanju je bilo anonimno.Rezultati su pokazali kako su mladi iz odgojnih ustanova tijekom života najviše iskustva imali s konzumacijom cigareta (91,5%), alkohola (pivo 78,6%, vino 74,6%, žestoka pića 70, 4%), marihuane (56,3%) i hašiša (39, 4%) te lažnih osvježivača prostora (39,4%). S obzirom na vrstu ustanove u koju su mladi s problemima u ponašanju smješteni, pokazalo se kako postoje razlike u životnoj i godišnjoj učestalosti konzumiranja psihoaktivnih tvari među mladima u odgojnim ustanovama. Sudionici istraživanja iskazali su relativno pozitivna uvjerenja prema psihoaktivnim tvarima i njihovoj konzumaciji te se pokazalo da se mladi s problemima u ponašanju s obzirom na vrstu ustanove u koju su smješteni ne razlikuju po svojim uvjerenjima o psihoaktivnim tvarima. Na upitniku znanja pokazalo se kako sudionici imaju prilično niskurazinu znanja te se utvrdilo kako ne postoje razlike u znanjima kod mladih s obzirom na vrstu ustanove u kojoj su smješteni.The main aim of this paper is to explore the prevalence of consumiation and beliefs related to psychoactive substances among youth in correctional- educational settings. The specific objectives are related to the three thematic areas: 1) the experience of consumming psychoactive substances among youth in correctional-educational settings 2) beliefs about psychoactive substances 3) knowledge about psychoactive substances.The survey was conducted during June and July 2016 on a sample of 74 young people in correctional-educational settings: Institution for education of Children and Juveniles (Intensive institutional treatment for male juveniles in Oton Župančić street), Correctional-educational facility Ivanec and Correctional facility Turopolje. For the aim of this study, special instrument was constructed and it consisted of seven constructs: General information about the research participants, Check list of knowledge about pshychoactive substances, Questionnaire of knowledge about psychoactive substances, Questionnaire about life and past year prevalence, Questions about starting with consummation of psychoactive substances (cigaretts, alcohol, cannabis and other substances) and Questionnaire about beliefs of psychoactive substances. The method used in this study was self-report based on the ''paper-pencil'' principle, and participation in the survey was anonymous.The results showed that youth in correctional educational settings have had the most experience with consummation of cigaretts (91,5%), alcohol (beer 78,6%, wine 74,6%, hard drinks 70,4%), cannabis (56,3%) and hashish (39,4%) and air freshner drugs like Galaxy (39,4%). With regard to type of correctional- educational settings, significant differences were found in life time and past year prevalence of psychoactive substances among youth in correctional-educational settings. The participans of survey expressed quite positive beliefs about psychoactive substances and its consummation. Significant diffrence was not found with regards to beliefs about psycoactive substances among youth considering thecorrectional educational settings. Participants showed low level of knowledge in knowledge test and no diffrences were found in knowledge among youth considering the type of correctional educational setting