Internet use and the risk of drug use in adolescents

Abstract

Objective: To know the influence of problematic Internet use on the risk of drug use in adolescents. Methods: Correlational study; The sample was made up of 258 Mexican adolescents from 11 to 16 years old. Results: 19% show a medium risk of alcohol consumption, 15.9% a risk of tobacco consumption and 11.6% a risk of marijuana consumption. A significant positive correlation was reported between drug use and the problematic internet use score (r_s=.339, p<.001), the number of hours of internet use (r_s =.221, p<.001). and age (r_s=.256, p<.001). Conclusions: the greater the number of hours of Internet use, the older the age and the higher the problematic Internet use score, the greater the drug consumption.