Investigation to the use of the addictive substances among the students of Ege University via multidimensional scaling

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of tobacco, alcohol and other addictive substance use and the relationship between risky substance use and personal traits in the students of Ege University. Methods: Eight hundred and thirty university students were included in this study. Addictive substance use and its relationship with the personal traits were evaluated by using TASUPQ (Tobacco, Alcohol and Substance Use Prevalence Questionnaire). Results: Multidimensional scaling analysis of the data indicated that risk-taking, feeling of insecurity, isolation, and anger were located together with age, and cigarette and alcohol use were located together according to three-dimensional Euclidean distance model. Those were more religious and those have high academic achievement were located away from excessive use of cigarette and alcohol. Excessive risk-taking, feeling of insecurity, isolation, anger and age were collected together and they were located with excessive cigarette and alcohol use in the same two-dimensional plane. Discussion: This study which was applied to the university students indicated that addictive substance use was located away from academic achievement and religiousness, and destructive behavior and feelings accompanied addictive substance use.