L’intention et la consommation de drogues chez les élèves : une approche communautaire basée sur le comportement planifié

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies the consumption of drugs in students as a global health issue by constant progression, generating increasing public health concerns because of its negative and mental health impacts of adolescents. In Cameroon, the prevalence of this phenomenon reaches alarming levels. The survey reports of local and international organizations document a significant increase in the use of drugs in young people, with a x marked predilection for cannabis, crack (« pebble »), alcohol, chicha and various other psychoactive substances. In a context characterized by the absence of research on the predictive factors of the intention of consumption in Cameroonian school environment, this study is based on the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1991) as the theoretical framework. Its main objective is to measure the determinants of drug use intention among students. Methodologically, data collection was carried out with a sample of 102 students using two validated instruments: the behavioral intention scale (Ajzen, 1991) and the Drug uses Disorders Test identification (DUDIT; Berman et al., 2003). The administration of the questionnaires was carried out on top of paper during a single session. The analysis of the results reveals a distribution of consumption intentions as follows: 73.5% Respondents do not express any intention, 24.5% manifest a moderate intention, while 2% present a high intention. The analysis of the correlations of Bravaispearson confirms two of the three hypotheses formulated: a significant positive correlation between attitude towards behavior and intention of consumption (H1), and a significant negative correlation between perceived behavioral control and this same intention (H3). These observations converge with certain previous works while diverging other reference studies. At the end of this research, practical implications are proposed for students and public policies. Finally, additional research avenues are suggested to deepen the exploration of this complex phenomenon.