Introduction. The use of psychoactive substances in adolescents generates adverse effects on the individual, family, and development. This study aims to describe the adolescents' perception of the problems, causes, and consequences of psychoactive substance use in the school environment. Methodology. This qualitative, exploratory study involved the development of seven focus groups. Convenience sampling was used until data saturation. Forty adolescents from a public school in Bogota participated voluntarily, with prior informed consent and assent. A 10-question guide on psychoactive drug use was used. Audio recordings and transcripts were subjected to inductive and interpretative analysis. Results. These data were classified into three previously defined categories: 1) problem, 2) causes, and 3) consequences. One subcategory emerged in the first; two subcategories emerged in the second and third. Discussion. Studies confirm that the causes of psychoactive substance use are domestic abuse and bullying, which generate physical and mental effects. Unlike what is reported in the literature, adolescents do not perceive their peers and family members as protecting factors. Conclusion. From the adolescents' perception, access to psychoactive drug use in school environments is easy and sometimes occurs through outsiders. It is a problem related to family and social relations. They highlight as causes intra-family abuse, violence, and bullying. Consequently, they perceive that academic performance, physical and psychological health are affected.
Summary:Introduction. The consumption of psychoactive substances in adolescents generates negative effects on the individual, family and development. The objective of this work is to describe the perception of adolescents about the problems, causes and consequences of the consumption of psychoactive substances in the school environment. Methodology. Qualitative, exploratory study, development of seven focus groups. Sample for convenience until data saturation. Forty adolescents from a public school in Bogotá participated voluntarily, with prior informed consent and assent. Guide of 10 questions on the consumption of psychoactives. Audio recordings and transcriptions, inductive and interpretive analysis were made. Results.Data from adolescents between 10 and 13 years of age were collected. These data were classified into 3 previously defined categories: 1) problem, 2) causes and 3) consequences. In the first, a subcategory emerged; in the second and third, two subcategories emerged. discussion . Studies confirm that the causes of the consumption of psychoactive substances are domestic abuse and bullying , which generate physical and mental effects. Unlike what is reported in the literature, adolescents do not perceive their peers and relatives as a protective factor. Conclusion.From the perception of adolescents, access to the consumption of psychoactive drugs in school environments is easy and is sometimes given by outsiders. It constitutes a problem related to the family and social relations. Intrafamily abuse, violence and bullying stand out as causes. As consequences they perceive affectation of academic performance, physical and psychological health.
