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Updated: Mar 30, 2026

Novel Apparatus and Method for Drug Reinforcement
Published on: August 20, 2010
[Psychoactive Drug Abuse in Adolescent Addicts of a Colombian Rehabilitation Foundation. Descriptive Study]
Óscar Adolfo Medina-Pérez1, Luz Adriana Rubio2
1Magíster. Docente Investigador, Escuela de Ciencias Sociales, Artes y Humanidades de la Universidad Nacional a Distancia (UNAD). Bogotá, Colombia.
Objective:
To describe the use of psychoactive substances (PAS) in addict population between 14 and 18 years of a foundation devoted to rehabilitation in the Department of Quindío, Colombia.
Methods:
Quantitative-descriptive research. The VESPA (Epidemiological surveillance for psychoactive substance abuse) Forms of the people admitted to the institution between 2006 and 2009.
Results:
During the study, 333 adolescents between 14 and 18 were attended. 75.4% were men, only 31.2% had primary education, 56% reported being unemployed, and 34.5% stated they were admitted at the foundation after legal indication. Upon admission, the PAS was: 44.2%, tobacco; 25.8%, marijuana; 18.0%, alcohol and 5.7% cocaine. The average starting age for men was 12.33, while for women was 11.96; reported substances showed the following starting averages: alcohol, 12.26 ys old; tobacco, 12.49 ys old; marijuana, 13.39 ys old; inhalants, 13.98 ys old; cocaine, 14.01 ys old; crack, 14.27 ys old; and heroin, 15 ys old. The average admission age to the institution was 15.7 ys old.
Conclusions:
Figures found highlight the need for greater and better prevention programs regarding PAS abuse in adolescents and children.
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