Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Department of Public Health, Warsaw, Poland.
J Prev Med Hyg. 2023 Aug 1;64(2):E178-E187. doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2023.64.2.2902. eCollection 2023 Jun.
Substantial research evidence indicates that adolescents commonly use a variety of pharmaceuticals. Studies in this area carried out so far in Poland have focused on youth attending mainstream schools. However, there is a lack of research covering adolescents residing in special education centres (SEC). The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence of medicine use for negative emotional states (nervousness, difficulties in falling asleep, and depressive mood), and to identify factors associated with the use of the aforementioned medications by SEC youth.
The study was conducted in 2018 on a random nationwide sample of SEC adolescents aged 12-19 (N = 1730). The logistic regression analyses included sociodemographic variables, as well as factors related to the participant's individual characteristics and to their social environment.
Medicine use for negative emotional states was confirmed by about 24%-30% of respondents. The prevalence of these medicine use among SEC youth was significantly higher than among adolescents from mainstream schools. The individual risk factors associated with medicine use were gender (female), current mental and somatic health problems, past suicide attempts and psychoactive substances use while self-control turned out to be protective factor. Among factors related to the respondents' social environment, positive relationships with peers were significant protective factor.
Preventive measures aimed at SEC youth should be focused on improving positive relationships with peers and developing self-control. Educational programs for youth, their parents and SEC staff to develop knowledge and skills regarding safe medicines intake would also be useful.
大量研究证据表明，青少年通常会使用多种药物。迄今为止，波兰在该领域进行的研究主要集中在主流学校的青年群体上。然而，缺乏针对特殊教育中心（SEC）青少年的研究。本研究的目的是评估 SEC 青少年因负面情绪（紧张、入睡困难和抑郁情绪）使用药物的普遍性，并确定与上述药物使用相关的因素。
本研究于 2018 年在全国范围内随机抽取了 12-19 岁的 SEC 青少年（N=1730）进行。逻辑回归分析包括社会人口统计学变量，以及与参与者个体特征和社会环境相关的因素。
约 24%-30%的受访者证实使用了药物来缓解负面情绪。与主流学校的青少年相比，SEC 青少年使用这些药物的比例明显更高。与药物使用相关的个体风险因素包括性别（女性）、当前的精神和身体健康问题、过去的自杀企图和使用精神活性物质，而自我控制则是保护因素。与受访者社会环境相关的因素中，与同伴的积极关系是显著的保护因素。
针对 SEC 青少年的预防措施应侧重于改善与同伴的积极关系和培养自我控制能力。为青少年、家长和 SEC 工作人员提供有关安全用药知识和技能的教育计划也将是有益的。
