Implementation of the peers methodology to estimate the consumption of licit and illicit drugs

Abstract

In this study the peer methodology is described and the results obtained from drug consumption in a university population. The peer methodology is directed toward the detection of populations in which supposedly there could be a subdeclaration (hidden populations); one type of these populations are the drug consumers, specially of illegal drugs. The objective is that of obtaining the prevalence of legal and illegal drug consumption through the peer methodology which consists in that one subject, the interviewer, is recognized by another subject, the respondent, as a "PEER". The interviewer must previously have been trained in the instrument and its application. A random sample of 142 young university students of both sexes, with ages ranging from 18 to 26, was obtained. The consumption rate for any type of licit drug during the last 30 days reached 92.2%, the rates of alcohol and cigarrette consumption being similar, 80.3% and 78.9% respectively. For illicit drugs, the consumption was 63.4%, of which 100% declared consuming marihuana. The consumption rates for cocaine and extasis resulted being 4.9% and 2.1%, respectively. In view of the fact that the major part of the rates obtained are not similar to those resulting from traditional methods of information gathering, it seems advisable to continue evaluating the proposed methodology