Abstract
Introduction: The use of psychoactive substances by the student population has been the object of various studies in Brazil. Objective: To determine the prevalence of substance use among students. Methods: Quantitative study with a closed questionnaire based on standardized assessment instruments was developed. It consists of questions related to types of psychoactive substance use, abuse, frequency and duration of use, self-criticism regarding the use, consequences of use in relation to health, and misdemeanors committed under the influence of psychoactive substances. The sample included the participation of 268 students. A total of 183 (68.3%) questionnaires were analyzed, and only those with positive result for substance abuse at some point in life, the remainder, 85 (31%) questionnaires, had negative responses to psychoactive substances. Results: Students’ responses to the two years surveyed indicated that the first psychoactive substance used was alcohol (77.9%), followed by tobacco use (10.9%), and marijuana (7.6%). Of the students surveyed, 145 (79.2%) answered that still make use of psychoactive substances, and the current frequency of use varies from one or more times per week. When asked about the possibility of being or becoming drug addicts, 169 (92.3%) responded that they are not or will not become dependent. Conclusion: The results indicate the high rate of substance use among college students surveyed, and point to their contradiction to consider such psychoactive substances harmful to their health.
Highlights
The use of psychoactive substances by the student population has been the object of various studies in Brazil
In a research conducted by Picolotto et al.[13], referring to drug use by college students, it was found that the prevalence of licit drugs ranged from 20.7 to 83.1% for tobacco and alcohol respectively and, for general illicit psychoactive substances (PS), the prevalence found was of 24.6%
Questionnaires were applied to 268 college students, showing that 68.3% had used PS once in their lifetime and 79.2% continue to use some type of PS
Summary
The use of psychoactive substances by the student population has been the object of various studies in Brazil. Results: Students’ responses to the two years surveyed indicated that the first psychoactive substance used was alcohol (77.9%), followed by tobacco use (10.9%), and marijuana (7.6%). Conclusion: The results indicate the high rate of substance use among college students surveyed, and point to their contradiction to consider such psychoactive substances harmful to their health. Data presented by the last survey, in 2010, pointed that 49% of the surveyed college students have already experienced some illicit drug at least once in life and 80% of the respondents declared to be younger than 18 years-old and stated having consumed alcohol. The authors still highlight that the prevalence of drug use is more accentuated in males, who do not live with their families and with higher family income
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