Analysis of questionnaire-based response of Indian medical students about the distinguishing features of relevant toxic plants, their systemic effects and legal provisions under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, 1985

Abstract

Drug abuse is a great social evil. It affects all aspects of life. The young generation of impressionable age easily falls into the trap and ruins their Physical, mental, social and financial health for the rest of their life. To control the situation, it is essential to know the level of awareness about the toxic plant, their systemic effects and various legal provisions under the NDPS Act 1985 so that a suitable strategy could be planned to fight Narcotic Drug abuse. A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2020 and January 2021 among Phase 3 MBBS students in a medical college at Barabanki with the objective to estimate the level of awareness about the identification of plants, their systemic effects and legal provisions under the NDPS Act 1985. Atotal of 163 students(86 males and 77 females) participated in the study. 63.8% of students were well versed with the legal provisions of the NDPS Act 1985. 60.7% of students could recollect and correlate the morphological features of the plants covered under the NDPS Act 1985. Knowledge of the systemic effects of these toxic plants was not adequate. The knowledge of phase-3 MBBS students about toxic plant identification, their systemic effect and legal provisions under the NDPS Act 1985 is Moderate.