EPA-0279 – Transcutural Study: Prevalence and Risk Factors of Substance Misuse on a Population of Foreing Non Accompanied Minors

Abstract

Introduction:

The study will assess the risk factors and protective of psychoactive substance misuse in a population of Maghreb immigrant adolescents, Foreign Non Accompanied Minors (FNAM), in juvenile wards of Catalonia.

The research hypothesis is that the presence of psychiatric psychopatholy, personality traits related to impulsivity, stressors related to migration, and several sociodemographic factors such as family dysfunction, poor schooling in the country of origin, etc., are related to psychotropic substance misuse.

Risk Factors: acculturative stress, impulsiveness, mental health/ psychopathology, family dysfunction, uprooting (social and family), etc. Protective Factors: social support network, social stigma of substance misuse, etc.

Methods and Objectives of the study:

1- Substance misuse prevalence and pattern, misuse predictors / risk factors / protective factors

Determine the prevalence and pattern of substance misuse (abuse and dependence) in a sample of FNAM aged 12 to 17 years and hosted in juvenile facilities in Catalonia.

Detect those predictor variables (demographic, psychopathological and social) associated with the substance misuse.

Specific objectives of the study:

1. 1 study the prevalence of substance abuse (tobacco, alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, hallucinogens, solvents / glue / inhalants, MDMA and heroin) pre and post migration

2. 2 study the presence of psychiatric disorders, ADHD, personality traits and impulsivity as risk factors associated with substance misuse

3. 3 Study the temporal distribution often used for each of the substances

4. 4 Identify the risk factors and / or protective socio-demographic variables such as place of origin, idiomatic level, family and social network, hosting conditions, family dysfunction, acculturative stress and migration experience.

Research hypothesis/Results:

1. 1 The presence of psychiatric illness is a risk factor for substance misuse in the studied population

2. 2 high impulsivity levels, sensation seeking traits and ADHD is associated with a higher risk for substance misuse

3. 3 the coexistence of high impulsivity levels (above average expected for age and origin group), presence of psychopathology and unfavorable sociodemographic conditions predict greater severity in substance misuse

4. 4 low idiomatic level, a reduced family and social network, difficulties in relationships during youth custody, the family dysfunction in origin, acculturative stress and complications in the migration process are associated with increased risk for substance misuse