The alcoholic culture of Ecuador, an analysis of the social factors behind drug abuse alcohol in the city of Ambato

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine, through a field study, the psychological, family, social factors and the cultural influence on people in terms of alcoholic behavior, and to make a correlation between the integral state of the person and the degree of alcohol consumption in the mentioned population. Method: An anonymous questionnaire was applied to a sample of 86 young individuals from 14 to 35 years of age from the Picoa and Miraflores neighborhoods of the city of Ambato, to establish a therapeutic relationship between unhealthy lifestyles and the possible problems that these can carry. Results: According to the reagents that inquire about the amount of alcohol consumed, there is a high prevalence of the habit in the population studied, since more than 70% of the respondents drink alcohol from one to several times per month. Of this group, 12% consume alcohol several times a week, which shows a marked alcoholic behavior. These results confirm that in Picoa and Miraflores Alcoholic habits have a high prevalence and, according to the surveyed population, it is mostly made up of individuals between 14 and 24 years old -of these 45% corresponds to minors- the problem seems to be an alarming characteristic of the Ambateño youth . The responses do not reflect a family or emotional origin of alcohol consumption in the surveyed population. Apparently the main reason why young people consume alcohol is the cultural environment, since alcohol is considered a social tool. Conclusions: The consumption of alcohol in the city of Ambato has its origin in a series of generalized cultural components for Ecuador, they are exacerbated in a small city like this, in which there are no alternatives for fun, adequate control of the sale of liquor and an idiosyncrasy typical of the Ambateños who provide money, a car and time for their young adolescent children to go out and socialize