Risk and vulnerability: youngsters and drugs

Abstract

This article is part of a wider research about the use of illicit drugs in the city of Londrina. Seven hundred and twenty two youngsters assisted by public social institutions and programs form the universe studied here. The main objective of this research is to understand the vulnerability factors which put the youngsters at risk to the drug addiction. The methodology has included the quantitative and the qualitative approaches. The data collection was carried out by means of a questionnaire with multiple-choise and open-ended questions. The multiple choise questions brought quantitative data related to the profile and the use of drugs. The openended ones, still to be analyzed, might bring contexts, practices, motivation and meanings related to the use of drugs. This text will present the results related to the quantitative data, i.e., social demographic information about all the researched universe; patterns and circumstances of the use drugs by those who have reported it; the reasons which have led them to experiment the drug; the existing association between the use of drugs and their related problems; the use of injectable drugs and receptivity concerning the possibility of treatment for chemical dependency. The conclusions point out that a correct evaluation about the extension of the problem will allow more effective preventive and therapeutic programs.