Diferencias en función del sexo en la percepción del riesgo asociado al consumo de drogas en jóvenes

The aim of this study was to characterize the perception of the risk associated to both legal substances (alcohol, tobacco and inhalants) as illegal (cannabis, cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, designer drugs, hallucinogens) among youth 18 to 29 years old in six dimensions (problems for the physical health, mental health, traffic, ability to perform tasks, interpersonal relations and legal problems), and also, if weather such perceptions are different by sex. With a ex post facto single group design, were studied the perceptual profiles of 3,819 Andalusian young people about cited drugs. The perceptions of young people show different patterns for each drug, enhancing that there are certain biases about the psychic problems derivatives of alcohol, which are viewed as less dangerous than the problems of health; or the health effects of cannabis, which are seen as less dangerous than the tobacco. With regard to sex variable, women perceive drugs studied as more dangerous, except in the case of inhalants and certain specific dimensions of other drugs, in particular, the risk to the physical health in cocaine, and traffic accidents and the risk to the physical health in the case of amphetamines. Emphasizing these aspects in information campaigns and preventive measures is suggested.ResumenEl objetivo de este estudio consiste en caracterizar la percepción del riesgo asociado tanto a sustancias legales (alcohol, tabaco e inhalantes) como ilegales (cannabis, cocaína, heroína, anfetaminas, drogas de diseño, alucinógenos) entre los jóvenes de 18 a 29 años en seis dimensiones (problemas para la salud física, salud psíquica, tráfico, capacidad para realizar tareas, relaciones interpersonales y problemas legales) y, además, si existen diferencias de percepciones en función del sexo. Con un diseño ex post facto de grupo único se han estudiado los perfiles perceptivos de 3819 jóvenes andaluces en las nueve drogas citadas. La percepción de los jóvenes muestra patrones diferentes para cada droga, destacando que existen ciertos sesgos los problemas psíquicos derivados del alcohol, que son vistos como menos peligrosos que los problemas de salud o los efectos sobre la salud del cannabis, que se ven como menos peligrosos que los del tabaco. Con respecto a la variable sexo, las mujeres perciben las drogas estudiadas como más peligrosas, salvo el caso de los inhalantes y ciertas dimensiones específicas de otras drogas, en concreto, el riesgo para la salud física en la cocaína, y los accidentes de tráfico y el riesgo para la salud física en el caso de las anfetaminas. Se sugieren enfatizar estos aspectos en las campañas informativas y preventivas. AbstractThe aim of this study was to characterize the perception of the risk associated to both legal substances (alcohol, tobacco and inhalants) as illegal (cannabis, cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, designer drugs, hallucinogens) among youth 18 to 29 years old in six dimensions (problems for the physical health, mental health, traffic, ability to perform tasks, interpersonal relations and legal problems), and also, if weather such perceptions are different by sex. With a ex post facto single group design, were studied the perceptual profiles of 3,819 Andalusian young people about cited drugs. The perceptions of young people show different patterns for each drug, enhancing that there are certain biases about the psychic problems derivatives of alcohol, which are viewed as less dangerous than the problems of health; or the health effects of cannabis, which are seen as less dangerous than the tobacco. With regard to sex variable, women perceive drugs studied as more dangerous, except in the case of inhalants and certain specific dimensions of other drugs, in particular, the risk to the physical health in cocaine, and traffic accidents and the risk to the physical health in the case of amphetamines. Emphasizing these aspects in information campaigns and preventive measures is suggested