[A qualitative study on drug abuse in adolescents]

To study the characteristics of drug abuse in the adolescent population of Llefià, in order to be able to develop new prevention strategies.

Qualitative study by focus groups.

ABS Badalona-6 (Llefià).

Four working groups were established: 14-18 year-old teenagers, parents of teenagers, teachers and sanitary professionals on ABS Llefià.

Group meetings took place up to information saturation, achieved after 15 meetings, with an average duration of one hour. The meetings were then transcribed, and data was processed using the "Atlas.ti" program. Verbal labels were given to segment the information and the conclusions that come out of the text, obtaining a map of meanings on each working group.

Using the information extracted from the opinion of participants, we obtained variables that allowed us to describe the characteristics, pattern, sociofamilial context, accessibility and problematics derived from consumption, the profile of the adolescent consumer, available health resources, information about abuse drugs and the perception of its use on the part of health professionals, teachers and parents.

Adolescent have easy access to drugs of abuse and their use is widespread. Health professionals demonstrate a lack of specific training, and complain about insufficient available resources. A great sociofamilial permissiveness is observed. The prevention must be orientated to families, since a good sociofamilial environment protects from drug abuse.