Consumo de álcool e outras drogas por universitários brasileiros da área da saúde: uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

Introduction: University entrance and the experience of new experiences and challenges may favor greater consumption of alcohol and other drugs among students, generating consequences for physical and mental health, as well as academic impairment. Objective: To conduct a bibliographic survey on the consumption of alcohol and other drugs by Brazilian health students, and the possible prophylactic and therapeutic interventions. Method: This is an integrative literature review study, searching for articles in the Virtual Health Library (BVS-BIREME), based on the database: Online Medical Literature Search and Analysis System (MEDLINE), Latin American Literature. American and Caribbean Health Sciences (LILACS) and Nursing Database (BDENF). The following descriptors (Decs) were used: “Student” AND “Alcoholism” AND “Alcohol and Illicit Drug Disorders”. Applying the inclusion criteria 6 articles composed this review. Results and discussions: The most consumed drugs among the undergraduates analyzed, with an average age of 21 years, are alcohol, in addition to the consumption of tobacco and illicit drugs such as cannabis. The motivating factors for drug use were living with people who make use, curiosity and influence of friends. While the risk factors were the challenges of adult and academic life, living away from parents, and feelings of low self-esteem and dissatisfaction with activities during college, lack of religion, presence of psychiatric disorder, etc. Final considerations: Through this study, it was evident how important identification of the factors involved in alcohol and other drug use by college students and the development of awareness campaigns to prevent and reduce alcohol and other drug use among college students.