The investigation of drug or stimulant usage prevalence and related factors among university students in Mersin in Turkey

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective This study aims to investigate the prevalence of drug use and related factors in university students. Methods: This study was carried out in Mersin, Turkey. Data forms were filled in by 1767 students. Results 905 (52.3%) of the 1767 participants were male. Their median age was 21.0, and 120 (6.8%) of the participants were found to have used drugs at least once in a life time; 77 (4.4%of them once in the last year. The coefficients of the increase rates for having used drugs at least once in a lifetime can be listed as follows: Presence of friends in the social environment who use drugs, 10.55 times (p < .001); being an active smoker, 4.78 times (p < .001); active alcohol consumption, 13.36 times (p < .001). The following variables appear to be the coefficients of increase rates for using drugs at least once in the previous year: having somebody who uses drugs around, 12.71 times (p < .001); being an active alcohol consumer, 10.38 times (p < .001) and parental separation, 2.64 times (p < .01). Conclusions In this study it was determined that cigarette/alcohol use and the effects of social environment are the most important factors in drug use in university students.