Attention-Deficit Associated with Illicit Substances Use in Adolescents: A Case-Control Study

Drugs are chemical substances that can negatively affect human physical and mental health. For adolescents specifically, drug addiction can cause cognitive distortions that result in behavioral and cognitive disorders. Aims: The aim of this study was therefore to explore attention-deficit related to drug use in a population of adolescents in Morocco. Materials & Methods: We performed a randomized case-control analytical study in the Addictology Center, the Child Protection Center and two schools in Morocco. We also used the “Bells Test” to evaluate the visio-attention deficits, the unilateral spatial neglect and the organizational strategies in the same population. The statistical analysis has been performed by SPSS software and consists of descriptive and qualitative analysis. During data collection, we respected the free consent of tutors, the anonymity and the confidentiality of participants. Results: Among 115 studied adolescents aged between 10 and 18 years, 55 (%) (G1) were addicted to drugs and 60 (%) (G2) were non-addicted and used as a control group in this study. Results showed that the main used drugs used by this population were cannabis, tobacco and synthetic glue. They also showed that 73% of the addicts represent omissions (> 6 bells). Moreover, three types of hemianopsia were detected: Bilateral visuospatial neglect (BVN) for 36% (G1) and 17% (G2) and right spatial visuo-neglect for 24% (G1) and 13% (G2). Conclusion: The attention-deficit, as well as the neurocognitive abilities in the studied adolescents, are significantly affected by the drug's consumption.