Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of drug use among adolescents: results from the Mexican Adolescent Mental Health Survey.

AIMS

To estimate the life-time and 12-month prevalence of illicit drug use among Mexican adolescents, the age of onset of first drug use and the socio-demographic correlates.

METHOD

A multi-stage probability survey of adolescents aged 12-17 years residing in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area was carried out in 2005. Adolescents were administered the computer-assisted adolescent version of the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview by trained lay interviewers in their homes. The response rate was 71% (n = 3005). Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed considering the multi-stage and weighted sample design of the survey.

FINDINGS

Of the adolescents, 5.2% have ever tried illicit drugs, 2.9% in the last 12 months. The most frequently used drugs are marijuana, followed by tranquilizers/stimulants. The median age of first use is 14 years. Correlates of life-time drug use are older age, having dropped out of school, parental drug problems, low religiosity and low parental monitoring.

CONCLUSIONS

While drug use among Mexican adolescents is lower than among adolescents from other developed countries, its increasing prevalence with age and the narrowing male/female ratio calls for firm public health actions, particularly prevention strategies.