Prescription Drugs, Alcohol, and Illicit Substance Use and Their Correlations Among Medical Sciences Students in Iran

Abstract

Background:Substance use among young people is a major public health problem in Iran.Objectives:The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of substance misuse and its determinants in medical sciences students in Tehran, Iran.Patients and Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed on a randomly selected sample of 1992 medical sciences students during 2012-2013. Anonymous, structured questionnaires were distributed among the students in each selected class. Substance misuse was defined according to cultural and epidemiological features. Data analysis was performed using chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test, and binary logistic regression.Results:The prevalence of prescription drug misuse, last year alcohol use, and ever illicit substance use was 4.9%, 6.9%, and 2.9%, respectively. The result of multiple logistic regression model showed that being a male (OR = 4.0), hookah use in the last year (OR = 3.2), prescription drug misuse (OR = 3.2), and alcohol use in the last year (OR = 3.3) were associated with the students’ illicit substance use. Last year alcohol use (OR = 5.3), ever illicit substance use (OR = 3.2), and illicit substance use in friends (OR = 2.6) were associated with prescription drug misuse.Conclusions:Our results suggested that the prevalence of prescription drugs, alcohol and illicit substance use was relatively low, though still significant, among Iranian students, which was strongly associated with family and friends’ use. The findings of this research can be used for planning and evaluating interventions by considering the risk factors and protective factors in Universities.

Use of amphetamine-type stimulants in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2004-2015: a review

“…The highest prevalence of simulant use was reported by Barati et al in a study among university students in Hamadan; the prevalence of lifetime use of methamphetamine, ecstasy and LSD were 18%, 8.5% and 4.8% respectively (15). However, in 3 other studies that reported methamphetamine and/or amphetamine use, the prevalence of lifetime use was less than 1% in the total sample (16)(17)(18). Two studies reported the prevalence of lifetime use by sex: 0.8 and 1.6% in boys, and 0.1 and 0.6% in girls (16,18).…”

“…However, in 3 other studies that reported methamphetamine and/or amphetamine use, the prevalence of lifetime use was less than 1% in the total sample (16)(17)(18). Two studies reported the prevalence of lifetime use by sex: 0.8 and 1.6% in boys, and 0.1 and 0.6% in girls (16,18). The prevalence of use in the previous year was reported to be 0.2% and 1.1% in 2 studies (18,19).…”

Parental Bonding and Academic Burnout on Addiction Potential Among Students

“…Their findings emphasize on planning preventive interventions by considering high-risk behaviors (22). In order to explain their relationship, Dyrbye and colleagues believed that burnout seems to be common among US medical students and may be increased as students proceed in their course.…”

Substance Abuse and Its Predictors in Freshmen Students of Lorestan Universities: Subgrouping of College Students in West of Iran

“…Data from United States revealed that more than 60% of American college students reported past month alcohol use and 14.5% of the students reported past 30-day use of marijuana (24,25). Studies revealed that 2.6% to 7.6% and 8% to 17% of university students in Iran abused drugs and used alcohol at least once in the past 30 days (5,7,8,12,13). In the present study, 5.5% of the students had ever used alcohol and 2.4% had alcohol consumption in the past 30 days, and only 2.4% had an experience of drug abuse.…”

“…The prevalence of occasionally and regular hookah smoking among university students in Iran was about 14% and 6%, respectively (10,11). Studies revealed that 2.6% to 7.6% and 8% to 17% of university students in Iran abused drugs and used alcohol at least once in the past 30 days (5,7,8,12,13).…”