Objective: As the age starting using drugs decrease and drug use among young people increase, the prevention programs start to focus on young people who has become most important risk group. The purpose of this study is to determine the characteristics and risk factors for cigarette, alcohol and other psychoactive drug (OPD) use among university students in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Methods: A survey was administered to 1323 university students randomly chosen. The questionaire was designed to obtain data about sociodemographic characteristics of the students, the frequency of their cigarette-alcohol and OPD use and beliefs and attitudes of the students about substance use. Results: 398 (30.3%) of the students were from TRNC, 824 (62.7%) from Turkey and 92 (7.0%) from other countries. The lifetime use of cigarette was 69.5% and boys smoked more than girls. Students from Turkey smoked cigarette significantly more often. Lifetime use of any alcoholic beverages was 81.0% and the students from TRNC used alcohol significantly more than others. Lifetime use of any illicit drug was 10.9% and the ratio was higher for boys. Lifetime use of cigarette and lifetime use of OPD and gender (being male) were found to be positively associated with the tendency to use illicit drugs. Conclusion: Repeating prevalence studies for substance use among university students at certain intervals will be helpful to follow the changes of substance use rates and determine the substances mostly preferred so that prevention programs can be planned more efficiently.

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BackgroundDepression is one of the most common diagnosed psychiatric disorders in the world. Besides individual risk factors, it is also found that environment and socio-cultural factors are the other main risk factors for depression. In this article, the results of the 2016 national household survey of depression in North Cyprus (NC) are presented. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence and possible risk factors of depression in NC households.MethodsThe study was conducted between April and June 2016, the sample consisting of Turkish-speaking individuals between 18 and 88 years of age living permanently in NC. A multi-stage stratified (randomized) quota was used in the survey, and 978 people were selected according to the 2011 census. A 21 item questionnaire prepared by the researchers and a Turkish version of the Beck Depression Inventory scales were used for obtaining data.ResultsThis cross-sectional study found a point prevalence of 23.4% for relatively high BDI scores (≥17) suggesting clinical depression. Being female, a widow, unemployed, having a limited education and low income level, having a physical illness, living alone, and using illicit substances were defined as possible risk factors for depression.ConclusionsWhen we consider the world prevalence, NC has one of the higher depression prevalence. NC has environmental and socio-cultural characteristics such as a history of war, migration and colonization, high unemployment rates, socioeconomic problems, similar to other extremely high prevalence depression countries and regions, which give a strong indication of the importance of socio-cultural factors on depression.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12888-017-1548-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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