Prevalence and pattern of drug use amongst college students

Abstract

This is a report on the study of the prevalence and pattern of the use of dependence‐producing drugs on 1,192 postgraduate students from the faculties of Arts, Science and Commerce and final year undergraduate medical students. The overall prevalence rate of drug use was 50.08 % (65.22 % in medical and 34.85 % in non‐medical students). The highest drug use (76.43 %) was among male medical students. Male students preferred to use alcohol and bhang while femala had a preference for meprobamate followed by alcohol. In the majority of cases, the age of initiation was in the “teens”. “Friends” were most responsible for suggesting drug use, although “more than one” influencing agents out‐numbered all the single influencing agents. Parents were found to have a significantly “tolerant” attitude towards drug use by their off‐spring. “Personal reasons” were not responsible for indulgence in or abstaining from drug use. L.S.D. users had the maximum number of after‐effects. The effects experienced in respect of most drugs were generally unpleasant and sometimes contrary to the expectations of users. Most “non‐users” and “infrequent users” did not favour self‐decision for drug indulgence though some “moderate” and “frequent” users were in favour of giving this freedom for some substances. Stringent measum against drug use among students were advocated by all drug users.More males, particularly male medical students, than females reported drug experience. Among male users, religion, caste, earlier education, residence (both sexes), employment status, occupation of the father, parental education and family income (among females as well) were the variables found to be significantly associated with drug use.

Prevalence of alcohol and drug dependence in rural and slum population of Chandigarh: A community survey

“…Epidemiological surveys also revealed that 20-40% of subjects above 15 years are current users of alcohol and 10% of them are regular or excessive users. [6–8] In a rural population of Uttar Pradesh alcohol was found to be the commonest substance abused (82.5%) followed by cannabis (16.1%). [9] Deb and Jindal[10] in a survey of 4 villages in Punjab found that 78.28% of the population used alcohol whereas in the same state Lal and Singh[7] reported it to be 9.13% of total population surveyed.…”

Prevalence and Pattern of Alcohol Abuse in a Rural Area of Punjab

“…Similar findings (27.9%) has been reported by Naskar et al (2004), (24) whereas the rate of regular use of substances was found to be 31.3 % by Juyal et al (2006). (25) Comparatively lower prevalence (18.3%) was reported in a study conducted by Dube et al (1978), amongst college students. (27) Sethi and Manchanda (1978) studied Pattern of drug abuse among male students in Lucknow and categorized 11.5% students as `drug abusers'.…”

“…(25) Comparatively lower prevalence (18.3%) was reported in a study conducted by Dube et al (1978), amongst college students. (27) Sethi and Manchanda (1978) studied Pattern of drug abuse among male students in Lucknow and categorized 11.5% students as `drug abusers'. (28) Study conducted in Punjab by Singh (1978) on drug abuse prevention with special reference to alcohol use reported drug abuse for current users as 20.4%.…”

Sociocultural Correlates of Substance Use among Medical Students

“…Rochford, Grant, and LaVigne found that marijuana use among medical students was related to higher socioeconomic status; career interest, marital status, and home town type was not significantly correlated with drug use [28] . Dube et al reported that the highest drug use was among male medical students [29] . Among the male users, religion, area of residence, occupation of the father, parental education and family income were significantly associated with drug use.…”