In educational practice in health, the subjects' knowledges and contexts are valued, supporting necessary changes. This study aims to report the experience of educational practices undertaken with 11 women of a community in Fortaleza, in the Brazilian state of Ceará, using Community-Based Participatory Research to investigate, identify and study the health problems which are important for that community. The participants showed that the prevention of pregnancy in adolescence was a priority in the community. Thus, the causes of this occurrence were reflected upon and analyzed, and actions which could reduce this were planned and undertaken. A film was made for adolescents, focusing on pregnancy in adolescence, demonstrating the dramas and difficulties experienced by the adolescents and their families. The study shows the potential which groups have for community mobilization and confrontation of the problems, as, when involved in the educational processes, they are able to provoke individual and collective changes, increase their autonomy and exercise their citizenship.

RESUMEN Objetivo: determinar las sustancias psicoactivas más prevalentes en los estudiantes de grado del área de la salud y su interferencia en el rendimiento académico. Métodos: 115 estudiantes de Enfermería y Educación Física de una universidad pública del interior de Ceará, Brasil, respondieron el cuestionario Drug Use Screening Inventory, en 2021. Para analizar los resultados se utilizaron las pruebas estadísticas chi-cuadrado de Pearson y de razón de verosimilitud. Resultados: 65 (56%) estudiantes utilizaron analgésicos; 54 (47%) alcohol y 14 (12,2%) marihuana. No hubo asociación estadística entre el uso de sustancias psicoactivas y el rendimiento académico. Sin embargo, más de 1/3 de los que consumía analgésicos o alcohol, consideró que el desempeño era malo/pésimo o regular, al igual que la mitad de los que consumía marihuana. Conclusión: el estudio contribuyó a comprender cuales son las sustancias psicoactivas prevalentes en el contexto universitario y los aspectos asociados, y destacó la necesidad de intervenciones.

Objective: to verify the most prevalent psychoactive substances used among undergraduate students in the health area and their interference in academic performance. Methods: a total of 115 Nursing and Physical Education students from a public university in inland Ceará, Brazil, answered the Drug Use Screening Inventory questionnaire in 2021. To analyze the results, Pearson’s chi-square and likelihood ratio statistical tests were used. Results: a total of 65 (56%) students used analgesics, 54 (47%) drank alcohol and 14 (12.2%) smoked marijuana. There was no statistical association between use of psychoactive substances and academic performance. However, among those who used analgesics or alcohol, more than 1/3 analyzed their performance as poor/terrible or fair, and half of those who smoked marijuana analyzed it in the same way. Conclusion: the study contributed to understanding the psychoactive substances prevalent in the university context and associated aspects, emphasizing the need for interventions.

RESUMO Objetivo: verificar as substâncias psicoativas mais prevalentes entre alunos de cursos de graduação da área de saúde e a interferência destas no desempenho acadêmico. Métodos: 115 acadêmicos de Enfermagem e Educação Física de Universidade pública do interior do Ceará, Brasil, responderam ao questionário Drug Use Screening Inventory, em 2021. Para análise dos resultados, utilizaram-se dos testes estatísticos de qui-quadrado de Pearson e da razão de verossimilhança. Resultados: 65 (56%) alunos usavam analgésicos; 54 (47%) o álcool e 14 (12,2%) a maconha. Não houve associação estatística entre o uso de substâncias psicoativas e o desempenho acadêmico. Todavia, dentre aqueles que utilizavam analgésicos ou álcool, mais de 1/3 analisaram o desempenho como ruim/péssimo ou regular e metade dos que usavam maconha analisaram da mesma maneira o desempenho acadêmico. Conclusão: o estudo contribuiu para o entendimento sobre as substâncias psicoativas prevalentes no contexto universitário e os aspectos associados, enfatizando a necessidade de intervenções.