REGULACIÓN BIOECOLÓGICA DEL CONSUMO PROBLEMÁTICO DE SUSTANCIAS PSICOACTIVAS EN UN CONTEXTO UNIVERSITARIO.

Objective: To understand the emergence of Problematic Substance Use (PSU) among young students in a university context because of significant interaction between the socio-educational, health, and regulatory systems of the institution under study. Materials and method: A qualitative case study conducted at a private university, utilizing Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory (2011) with ecological intervention (Koller et al., 2016). Participants included students, teachers, and administrative staff. Four interviews and six focus groups were conducted. Theoretical sampling was carried out until category saturation. Coding and categorization were done using Atlas-Ti, employing constant comparative method in data collection, open, axial, and selective coding, and systematic analysis (Strauss and Corbin, 2002). Results: PSU in this context occurs through a trilogy of proximal processes of interinfluence: 1. Influence for the intake of multiple substances, 2. Focused on problematic use, and 3. Transgression of institutional norms, acting as triggers for the experience within and outside the university. These processes, in communication dynamics, shape social systems of bioregulation: socio-educational (indirect selfregulation), health-related (palliative care route), and regulatory (punitive student regulations), attempting to regulate PSU. Regulation is possible through the interaction of proximal and distal risk/protection factors, which can directly and indirectly drive PSU. Conclusions: Bio-regulation systems act as guarantors and shape symbolizations of the emotional, social, and institutional life of students with PSU, succeeding in proximal person-to-person processes (microsystem) but with little effectiveness in the mesosystem. It is proposed that universities create conditions for a regulatory structure of PSU that promotes favorable student development consistent with their professional training expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]