An overview of the use of psychoactive substances among students at the University of Lille during the COVID-19 health crisis: Results of the PETRA study

Abstract

Objectives Students represent a population at risk for substance abuse. That risk may have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to describe substance abuse among students and to compare consumption according to the university field. Methods A self-administered questionnaire was sent by email to all students at the University of Lille, France, between March and July 2021. This anonymous questionnaire included questions about sociodemographic characteristics, university courses and the use of psychoactive substances (frequency, reasons, routes of administration) since the first university year. Results Among the 4431 students who responded (response rate 6.1%), eighty percent declared having used alcohol since the first university year, 34% cannabis, 15.4% benzodiazepines, 14.7% opioid drugs, 7.5% cocaine, 6.8% nitrous oxide and 6.5% MDMA. More than 20% of the users of cannabis, benzodiazepines, amphetamines and cocaine reported having already felt dependent. Recreational use was described by more than 10% of benzodiazepine or opioid drug users. Nitrous oxide use was significantly more frequent in the health and sport field ( p < 0.001). Tobacco, benzodiazepine, cannabis and MDMA uses were significantly more frequent in the humanities and social sciences/art, language and literature fields ( p < 0.001). Conclusion Prevention measures focusing on alcohol, cannabis, illicit psychostimulants, nitrous oxide and prescription drugs are required in the student population.

Revealing the Unseen: Detecting Negative Symptoms in Students

“…Cannabis stands out as the most extensively consumed psychoactive substance, with a 4% world consumption rate and a slightly higher prevalence of 5.4% in Europe [ 2 ]. In French universities, one-third of students use cannabis [ 3 ], despite its harmful effects on health [ 4 , 5 ]. In addition, the World Mental Health Survey highlighted that 20.3% of students in 21 different countries suffer from at least one mental disorder over a 12-month period [ 6 ], and 25% of them have of depression [ 7 ], with an increased risk of suicide [ 8 ].…”