SMOKING, ALCOHOL AND DRUGS AT GIRL ADOLESCENTS: ARE THEY FORGOTTEN IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES?
Abstract
Background: Indonesia is one of developing country that has a high cigarette consumption and production level. Although a lot of researches show that smoking has a damaging health effect, yet the number smoker is increasing every year especially in the girl adolescent smoker. Smoking becomes the symbols of modem, sexy, glamour, mature and independence in women. These girls are the potential target of tobacco industry.
Objective: This study aims to analyze if the smoking behavior has a crucial contribution towards the alcohol and drugs consumption at girl adolescent.
Methods: using a qualitative exploration involve respondents aged 17-23 at girl adolescent, active smoker who smokes at least six months in Jember city. Data is collected by in-depth interview and analyzed by thematic content analysis.
Results: The result of this study show that all respondents are active smoker and regular alcohol consumer. The averages of them are drugs user who uses both injection and oral. They acknowledge that smoking is a one package activity enrolls with drinking alcohol and consuming drugs. A few respondents consume the cheap drugs such as Dextromethasone and some take the expensive one such as Diazepam and Rhextopiramidin. They usually consume 20 tablets of Dextromethasone or 10 tablets of diazepam to gain the same sensation of calming or “high”. Alcohol such as beer is also consumed simultaneously with the drugs to accelerate the “high” effect and create even more pleasurable sensation.
Conclusion: Smoking on girl adolescent is a preliminary gate to another risky behavior to health. Smoking has a significant contribution to form them to be alcohol consumer and drug user. Intensive health promotion about the danger of smoking is needed immediately especially in the girl adolescent.