MARIJUANA CONSUMPTION AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: PEER PERCEPTION

Abstract

Worldwide drug use is a real problem. The magnitude of drug use and the associated damage keep increasing. In Chile, among young people, the most consumed drugs are alcohol and marijuana. This article describes the relationship between the perceived norm for marijuana use among peers and the uses reported by students. Objective: To evaluate the perceived norm in the use of marijuana among peers in the Education and Nursing Schools in a public and regional university. Method: This is a quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study. The participant sample of the study were 166 students in second and fourth year studying Education and Nursing at a public university. Results: Most participants were, women (81%), nursing students (76%) and single (75%). It is important to highlight the high percentages observed in the frequencies some time in my life, during the last year and last month (52, 54.8 and 25.5% respectively). There is an overestimation of the use of marijuana among peers for the frequencies last year (57% compared to a 54.8 %), and last month (80%
compared to a 25%), the education students showed a greater perception of drug use than the nursing students (96% compared to 78%), with significant statistical differences. Conclusion: According to the Theory of Social Norms overestimation is a risk factor. It is important to inform the university community about the actual number of peers who use drugs in order to reduce wrong perceptions and risk of consumption.