Consumo de metanfetaminas en estudiantes universitarios: prevalencia y factores asociados

Introduction: methamphetamine (MA) trafficking has spread to 117 countries between 2010 and 2020. In Mexico, MA ranked second among illegal drugs in the search for treatment, increasing by 218% between 2018 and 2020 in young people aged 18 to 25. Objective: estimate the prevalence and analyze the factors associated with methamphetamine use among college students. Method: 211 Students pursuing technical and undergraduate degrees of Universidad Veracruzana in the state Veracruz, Mexico, were included. Sociodemographic, academic, illegal drug use, and psychosocial factors were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate associations. Results: lifetime prevalence 1.10% and last twelve months .39%; those who consumed cocaine are 2.6 times more likely to use methamphetamine (p = .006, CI: 1.319-5.427), crack or rock cocaine 16 times (p = .000, CI: 3.451-74.942), and hallucinogens 2.3 times (p = .009, CI: 1.241-4.547). High academic performance was a protective factor, and the use of free time during the school week was a risk factor that increased the probability of using methamphetamines 3.52 times. Discussion and conclusions: MA consumption was identified at this university stage and was reported in both men and women. The main risk factors associated with MA consumption were family dysfunction and use of free time during the week. In the context where the study was carried out, this illicit substance is among the main synthetic drugs consumed.