Los padres hablaron después del COVID-19: aprendizajes sobre el consumo de drogas de los adolescentes

Parents spoke out after COVID-19: learnings on adolescent drug use. The present article analyzes parental awareness regarding tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use during the COVID-19 pandemic. An ad-hoc survey was administered to 1500 parents to assess their knowledge about the substance use of their teenage children (n = 1927) during pre-quarantine, quarantine, and post-quarantine periods. The results suggest a significant lack of awareness among parents regarding the substance use of their children, particularly among girls. Tobacco emerged as the most prevalent drug during all three periods, and it was the only one that did not see a reduction during the quarantine in any of the groups. Substance use was more prevalent in males and non-students compared to females and students across all substances. However, the lockdown had a greater mitigating effect on alcohol and cannabis consumption in males and non-students compared to females and students. These findings emphasize the role of educational institutions as a protective factor against substance use during adolescence.