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Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...

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Thus, substance abuse research has a lengthy history in Mexico, and<br />

solvents always have been included as a drug <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>cern. More research<br />

is needed am<strong>on</strong>g high-risk groups in cities outside <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the capital, where<br />

most research efforts and funds have c<strong>on</strong>centrated. It also is important to<br />

standardize core items to be used in the protocols to allow comparability<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> data. Major efforts have been made to maintain comparability through<br />

the adopti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> core items proposed by WHO (Hughes et al. 1980; Smart<br />

et al. 1980). However, the most recent surveys will not be strictly<br />

comparable to what has been produced by different instituti<strong>on</strong>s in the<br />

country in the previous 20 years.<br />

HEALTH AND SOCIAL POLICIES<br />

Substances with psychotropic effects that have no therapeutic use and<br />

comm<strong>on</strong>ly are used in industry are viewed as a separate group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> volatile<br />

solvents 7 in the health laws—at least since 1973—and c<strong>on</strong>tinue to be<br />

regulated in the <str<strong>on</strong>g>Nati<strong>on</strong>al</str<strong>on</strong>g> Health Law <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1984. It is stated that their use<br />

needs to be authorized and regulated by the Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Health. Several<br />

regulati<strong>on</strong>s have been developed that mainly are aimed at protecting<br />

workers, and these are well implemented in the industry. However, a<br />

problem still remains with familial industries. Other regulati<strong>on</strong>s include<br />

restricti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the type <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> substances that may be c<strong>on</strong>tained in end<br />

products that are subject to abuse, their packaging, and<br />

commercializati<strong>on</strong>. The end products that c<strong>on</strong>tain these substances<br />

should have a warning label, and their sale to minors under 18 years <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

age is restricted.<br />

Several drug programs also have been implemented in the past to address<br />

substance abuse in the country. The most comprehensive <strong>on</strong>es were<br />

established in the last decade. Since 1986, the Ministry <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Health has<br />

coordinated a <str<strong>on</strong>g>Nati<strong>on</strong>al</str<strong>on</strong>g> Program Against Addicti<strong>on</strong>s that includes three<br />

levels <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> preventi<strong>on</strong> carried out through CONADIC and State Councils.<br />

These councils were formed by representatives from the different sectors<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Government, as well as from the social and private sectors.<br />

C<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> each sector were integrated into the <str<strong>on</strong>g>Nati<strong>on</strong>al</str<strong>on</strong>g> Program<br />

Against Addicti<strong>on</strong>s. It c<strong>on</strong>tains acti<strong>on</strong>s for c<strong>on</strong>trol <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both availability<br />

and demand at the three levels <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> preventi<strong>on</strong> including: (1) c<strong>on</strong>trol and<br />

regulati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> availability; (2) preventi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> use and <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> risks associated<br />

with the use in circumstances that endanger the individual or the society;<br />

(3) measures oriented to increasing the awareness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the populati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />

importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the preventive measures proposed through programs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

168

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