Analysis of the effect of family, school and state on students’ drug consumption in Brazilian capitals

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the relationship between the characteristics of the family and some measures of school and municipal management on the drug consumption of students in the Brazilian capitals. For this, different specifications of a drug use individual decision model are estimated, based on data from the National School Health Survey (Pense) and socioeconomic information from Brazilian capitals in the years of 2012 and 2015. The results indicated that the characteristics of student’s families are important determinants of youth drug use. To act in this way, the government can use public social assistance policies that aim to reduce the number of families at risk and vulnerability. Schools can offer instructor-led physical activities to students, as this action decreases 0.5 p.p. the student’s chance of using drugs.