Adolescents' discourse on the consumption of psychoactive substances in schools.
Karla Nataly Ferreira Vasconcelos, Helder de Pádua Lima, Nathan Aratani and 5 others
PMID 41221951WHAT IT FOUND
Adolescents in this school focus group viewed legal substances as normal and illegal drugs as criminal.
They hid use to avoid punishment and showed gaps in understanding how substances affect school performance, despite asking for more education.
Key findings
01Participants naturalized the use of legal substances like alcohol and tobacco, often not classifying them as drugs, while viewing illegal substances with fear and stigma.
02Fear of judgment and punishment drove adolescents to consume psychoactive substances in secret, including within school environments.
03Adolescents identified curiosity, peer influence, and easy access as primary drivers of use, and expressed interest in educational activities to address these gaps.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included only one focus group session, which may have inhibited participants from sharing dissenting views or personal experiences. Participants were all from a single school in one municipality, limiting generalizability to other regions or school types. The school setting itself may have influenced responses, as students might have felt observed or judged by teachers or administrators.
Declared interests
Funded by the UFMS Foundation. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these themes as evidence that specific nursing interventions will reduce substance use. The study describes adolescents' perceptions and behaviors but did not test any treatment or prevention program.