Vaporizers in Adolescents: Associated Factors, Prevalence, and Community Perspective on Health Promotion

Abstract

Objective: In the third of the Sustainable Development Goals: Health and Well-being, there
is a goal aimed at strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. Three
objectives are proposed: (1) identify a bibliography regarding the use of vaporizers in
adolescents and young people to verify important variables as associated factors, and (2)
carry out a community compilation through interviews and forums to recognize the social
perception of the use of vaporizers, and (3) determine, in the population of Puerto Rican
youth and adolescents, the prevalence of the use of vaporizers.
Materials and methods: A mixed study: qualitative observational and cross-sectional
analytical was carried out with data collection consisting of a review of 13 articles, interviews
with key informants who work with the health and safety of young Puerto Ricans, and
analysis, using the SPSS program, of the prevalence of the Puerto Rican self-administered
questionnaire Consulta Juvenil as a secondary database (n=8,603).
Results: The literature establishes associated factors such as marketing, family relationship,
and socialization. It was found that organizations view community health promotion as a
preventive method. 21.9% of high school students use vaporizers. 22.1% do not know the
substance contained in their vaporizer.
Conclusion: Health promotion is based on favorable public policies, health education, socialcommunity
mobilization, and multidisciplinary work. We recommend that evaluations and
prevention of the use of vaporizers be practiced based on health-promoting public health. In
this way, the Sustainable Development Goal will be worked on: Health and Well-being for
the protection of young generations and to reduce the prevalence of substance use.
Keywords: Vaporizers; Puerto Rico, Adolescents; Health Promotion.