Illicit Stimulant Use among Medical Students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study aims to assess the prevalence of illicit use of stimulants and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among a sample of medical students at the main universities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and their motivation for use. We examine the association between the use of stimulants and the students' academic performance. We also look into the possible adverse consequences of illicit stimulant use among students. The competitive nature of medical school might place the students at a higher risk of using stimulant drugs illicitly. Acquiring these stimulants illegally has become easier since the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD have risen. We are unaware of any other study exploring the prevalence of and motivation for illicit use of stimulants among medical students in Riyadh. A cross-sectional web-based survey was the study design we chose as we were targeting medical students in three governmental medical colleges in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The total sample population of 1,177 participants was divided into the three following groups: no previous use of stimulant drugs (Group 1), illicit use (Group 2), and medical use (Group 3). Of the 1,177 medical students, 29 (2.46%) were found to be using stimulants illicitly; 39 (3.31%) were using the stimulants medically as they had been diagnosed with ADHD. The ability to prolong study time was reported as the most common motive for illicit use by many students. The present study contributes to the literature by casting light on this serious issue in Riyadh. More educational effort is needed to promote awareness about the adverse effects of ADHD drugs and their illicit use among students.

Prevalence and Socio-Demographic, Academic, Health and Lifestyle Predictors of Illicit Drug/s Use among University Undergraduate Students in Finland

“…For instance, some studies separate marijuana or cannabis use from each other IDU [ 65 , 69 ]. Others refer to a mesh of terms e.g., neuroenhancing substances (could include coffee, energy drinks, nicotine, alcohol) or psycostimulants [ 70 ]; illicit stimulants (amphetamines, Fenethylline, Ritalin, Concerta, Dexedrine, Adderall, Vyvanse) [ 71 ]; nonmedical attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication [ 72 ]; illicit substances (including cocaine, designer drugs, and nonmedical use of prescription stimulants and opioids) [ 73 ]; illicit drug use, and misuse of prescription stimulants, sedatives, and opioids [ 74 ]; hallucinogen use [ 75 ]; smart drugs (aka cognitive enhancers, prescription drugs taken, either without a prescription or at a dose exceeding that which is prescribed) [ 76 , 77 ]; street drugs vs. prescription drugs [ 78 ]; or nonmedical use of prescription stimulants [ 79 ].…”

“…In addition to the nature of the illicit substance used, comparisons are further compounded by the type/manner of use e.g., illicit use vs. medical use [ 71 ], as well as the various definitions of frequency of use: e.g., experimental, episodic, frequent [ 80 ]; or regular, occasional, and never use [ 28 ]. A related point is the changes in the legal context of marijuana use and recreational marijuana legalization (RML) [ 74 ] in some countries/states, and whether marijuana would be included in IDU or otherwise, particularly that the prevalence of marijuana use increased more after legalization among college students in RML vs. non-RML states [ 81 , 82 ].…”

Assessing prevalence, knowledge and use of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A quantitative study

“…There may be levels of substantial CE use among students in high-ranking universities and highly competitive courses such as Medicine [ 18 ] and Pharmacy [ 19 ]. A study conducted in Saudi Arabia, a country that is geographically and socially similar to UAE, assessed the prevalence and motivation of illicit use of stimulants in 1177 medical students; some 29 (2.46%) were found to be using stimulants illicitly [ 20 ].…”

Stimulant Usage by Medical Students for Cognitive Enhancement: A Systematic Review

“…As stimulant use, namely caffeine and amphetamine becomes increasingly prevalent, this paper sought to explore the use of stimulants among medical students given the above-average amount of stress in their daily lives. Increased use of these stimulants can be correlated with communities in which there are high amounts of stress such as prior to an exam [ 6 ]. This includes students, who are met with the burden of a large workload and the pressure to do well.…”

“…Taking these results into consideration, a recommendation for future research would be to look for possible placebo effects with the use of Adderall in healthy brains as students using them for cognitive enhancement might feel motivated because simply taking a substance implied to improve focus. Studies show that the population is not educated on the mechanism of action, side effects, and implications of the use of psychostimulants such as amphetamines for academic performance [ 6 ]. The most consumed NPS are ADHD medications such as Adderall (mixed salts amphetamine), dextroamphetamine, and Ritalin (methylphenidate).…”