Medical students: Abuse of psychoactive substances and sexuality aspects

Abstract

University students aged 17 to 24 years of age are prone to many risk factors. Objectives·. Identify risk factors related to exploring sexuality and characteristics of consumption of psychoactive substances in students attending medical school. Methods: 465 Medical students from Santa Casa of Säo Paulo Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCMSCSP) were prospectively and transversely evaluated during 2005. An anonymous, semi-structured, self-filling questionnaire was used. The average age of the students was 21.5 years, 43% females. 76.2% preferred alcohol, and 11.1% tobacco consumption; chloroethane (lan?a-perfume) consumption occurred in 22.6% and 15.3% consumption of other types of illicit drugs, with marijuana as the most used one (94%). 70.3%, of the parents drink alcohol and 30.5% smoke tobacco. As for the students' sexuality, 85.3% have already had sexual intercourses, starting at average age of 17. 88. 8% used condom during the first sexual intercourse, however, 35.6% did not use it regularly; 5.4% had already had some type of DST. 79.8% of the females preferred having used contraceptive methods; however, 28.1% had a suspicion of pregnancy, which was confirmed in 7.9% of the cases. 9.9% of the students had ideas of abortion, 12.5% have effectively attempted it. 85% found medical school stressing and to relieve tension, 33.8% practiced sports; 6.9% preferred either licit or illicit drug consumption, and 5% used tranquilizers. The results showed risk behaviors: unsafe sex and the use of licit and illicit drugs indicated the need to establish guidance programs on reproductive health, improving self-esteem, and prevention during medical education.

Drug consumption among medical students in São Paulo, Brazil: influences of gender and academic year

“…Although there was a significant increase in inhalant use among other undergraduates at USP, 11 the increase was significantly greater among medical students. This corroborates the findings of other Brazilian studies [15][16][17][18][19]40,45 and suggests that, despite some regional differences, inhalant consumption is usual among medical students.…”

“…59 At other universities, inhalant use has also been found to be more prevalent among medical students, which would characterize this as a common behavioral pattern among such university students. 16,17,19,40,45 In addition, inhalant use has been found to be more prevalent among males (in studies of general populations). 12,49 This suggests that male gender is a relevant risk factor for inhalant consumption.…”

“…In reality, medical students have revealed significant vulnerability with regard to engaging in health risk behavior, 21 a paradoxical situation that has been a matter for concern worldwide [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] and in Brazil. [14][15][16][17][18][19][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] A cross-sectional study on drug use among medical students at FMUSP, carried out in 1991, 1992 and 1993, found that alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, inhalants and tranquilizers were the drugs most commonly consumed. 39 The medical students consumed these drugs with the aim of improving academic performance, reducing fatigue, alleviating psychological tension and compensating for the lack of leisure time commonly observed among such students.…”

“…39 The medical students consumed these drugs with the aim of improving academic performance, reducing fatigue, alleviating psychological tension and compensating for the lack of leisure time commonly observed among such students. 22,40 Among the risk factors for drug consumption attributed to medical courses, the relevance of the academic year has recently been identified as a relevant factor. 16,19,39,46 The academic year has been found to influence not only drug consumption but also clinical practice, especially patient counseling regarding the effects and consequences of alcohol and illicit drug use.…”

Health Promoting Behaviours and Lifestyle Characteristics of Students at Seven Universities in the UK

“…Use of illicit substance (recreational drugs): in Brazil, 15.3% of university students reported the consumption of several types of illicit drugs, with marijuana being the most used (94%) (24). In order to relieve the stress and tension of university study, 6.9% preferred either licit or illicit drug consumption, and 5% used tranquilizers (24).…”