Bogotá has updated data on the consumption of psychoactive substances
The District Health Secretariat and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) presented the results of the Study on the Consumption of Psychoactive Substances in Bogotá 2022, which will strengthen decision-making and the design of public policies in the city.
More than 10,000 households were surveyed on the use and type of substances, possible evidence of abuse or dependence, as well as characteristics of age, stratum, and location.
Compared to the study carried out in 2016, this exercise was applied in rural areas and had a greater inclusion of women, diverse and ethnic populations.
Bogotá D.C., December 13, 2022. The Bogotá District Health Secretariat and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for the Andean Region and the Southern Cone, presented the results of the Study on the Consumption of Psychoactive Substances in Bogotá 2022, which is part of a series of studies carried out in 2009 and 2016, which allows updating, comparing and expanding the information on the consumption of psychoactive substances in the District of Bogotá.
The study was carried out through a household survey applied to a total of 10,912 people, a sample that represents around 6.5 million inhabitants of Bogotá, between the ages of 12 and 65.
This epidemiological investigation includes chapters on access to treatment services, the consumption of psychoactive substances in urban and rural areas, in women, in a diverse and ethnic population, as well as the main effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Bogotá District Health Secretary, Alejandro Gómez López, affirmed that “for the District Administration, the perspective regarding the consumption of psychoactive substances has a public health approach. With our territorial model 'Salud a Mi Barrio' and 'Salud a Mi Vereda' we continue to work on this purpose (…) Bogotá recognizes its fundamental role at the country level on this issue, which is why we provide all the resources and efforts to have the best available evidence that allows us to make the best decisions and design adequate public policies”.
In this regard, the Deputy Regional Representative of UNODC, Olivier Inizan, pointed out that "it is worrying to see how the consumption of women is increasing and closing the gap compared to men, because for every three men who access treatment, one woman does so".
Among the main results of this third study, it was evidenced that the consumption of psychoactive substances in general is higher in men than in women; in young people between 12 and 24 years of age and in strata 4, 5 and 6, although abuse or dependency increases in strata 1 and 2. Among adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age there are already rates of abuse and dependency.
The recent consumption (last year) of tobacco continues to decrease, however, an increase can be seen in women, as well as in younger people (12 to 24 years). On the other hand, alcohol continues to be the most consumed substance in Bogotá (2.5 million current consumers). People with abuse or dependency reach 21% and represent some 531,000 people.
Another of the study's conclusions indicated that 19.3% of the people surveyed reported having used any illicit substance at some time in their lives. In addition, 6.16% (more than 400,000) declared recent or last year use of any illicit substance (inhalants, dick, marijuana, cocaine, basuco, ecstasy, and heroin). Between 2016 and 2022 the three prevalences (life, year and month) grew significantly. Likewise, the localities that concentrate the highest indicators of consumption of any illicit substance in the last year are: Chapinero, Barrios Unidos and Teusaquillo (14.24%), followed by Usaquén (14.5%).
Regarding problematic consumption or dependence on any illicit substance, this characteristic was identified in 161,000 people, who would be in a position to require some type of assistance to reduce or overcome their consumption.
The district study identified that marijuana is the illicit substance with the highest consumption, 371,086 people report having used it in the last year. Of these, 40% classify in the groups in a situation of abuse or dependency; which represents a little more than 148 thousand people. Regarding the perception of this substance, 70% of people consider the frequent consumption of marijuana to be of great risk, while 4.8% do not consider it to be risky. It was also identified that cocaine is the second most consumed illicit substance in the Capital District and 4.74% of the people surveyed declare that they have used this substance at some time in their lives. 7,295 people reported abuse or dependence on this substance. The data collection phase was carried out with the support of the polling firm Centro Nacional de Consultoría. The study used the SIDUC (Inter-American System of Uniform Data on Drug Consumption) methodology of the Organization of American States (OAS/CICAD), which allows for internationally comparable information. This research constitutes an essential source of consultation available to the community in general and serves as the basis for making public policy decisions, as well as the formulation and implementation of evidence-based strategies.
Article taken from unodc.org
By: UNODC
this is a substantial update to the city's data, with a notably large and representative sample. the inclusion of rural areas and a more diverse demographic, compared to the 2016 study, makes the findings more comprehensive. the detailed breakdown by age, stratum, and locality provides crucial context for understanding the patterns of substance use and where public health efforts might be most needed. AI Image Editor
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Having accurate data on substance consumption helps communities build better awareness and support systems. I was actually discussing these urban health studies with my baseball bros the other day—solid research like this from CNC is key for real intervention.
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This is such an important update from Bogotá on substance use trends. The focus on including rural areas, women, and diverse populations is crucial for creating effective public policy. It’s concerning to see the rising use among women and young people, but having this solid data is the first step to addressing it properly. Just like cursed images, the reality here is complex, but transparency is key.