Prevalence Of Substance Abuse Research Articles

Substance abuse: A survey among medical students of tribal area of Chhattisgarh – A cross-sectional study

Background: Using various substances by medical students is very common nowadays. Owing to the new curriculum and environment with teenage curiosity in the absence of proper guidance and counseling leads to stress in medical students, which results in substance abuse as a cope-up strategy. Moreover, the same may further lead to many personal and socio-legal issues leading to poor academic performance by the students. Aims and Objectives: The primary objective was to evaluate the various kinds of substances abused by different years of MBBS students. The secondary objective was to find out the reasons behind substance abuse among the students and their attitude toward its future use. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study has been conducted on 199 undergraduate students after taking informed consent from them. A questionnaire in Google Forms has been sent to them after explaining the purpose of the study. Results obtained have been analyzed and presented in counts and percentages. The Institutional Ethics Committee approval has been taken before the commencement of the study. Results: The prevalence of substance abuse among MBBS students was 53.5% with male predominance. The most commonly abused substance was alcohol (43.4%), followed by tobacco products (31.3%). 47.5% of substance abusers want to quit drugs in the future, while the rest may or may not quit using the substance despite knowing its harmful effects. Conclusion: The results of the study may contribute policymakers to look into the problem and take necessary steps regarding the prevention of substance abuse.

Acceptability of Peer Networking Strategy in Combating Substance Abuse Among Undergraduates in Universities in Anambra State

Substance abuse among the youths has been on the increase despite efforts of government and other concerned institutions to combat it. The university system in Nigeria is not exempt from this cankerworm. These citadels of learning, as it is, grapple with the challenge of indiscriminate substance use among undergraduates. It is against the backdrop of the prevalence of substance abuse among undergraduates and the consequent failures of so many strategies to combat abuse that this study investigated the acceptability of peer networking as an alternative public relations strategy for combating substance abuse among undergraduates of universities in Anambra State. The study was conducted in the light of the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA) propounded by Sekhon et al (2017). Using a descriptive survey design, the study surveyed a sample of 200 undergraduates from universities in Anambra State to ascertain their perspective on the acceptability of the proposed peer networking strategy in combating substance abuse. A questionnaire titled ‘Peer Networking for Combating Substance Abuse Questionnaire (PNCSAQ) was developed and used to obtain data from the undergraduates. The PNCSAQ was validated and the reliability coefficient index of 0.86 was obtained. Data collected for the study were analysed with descriptive statistics. Findings indicated that undergraduates despite their diverse demographic characteristics accepted peer networking as a good strategy for combating substance abuse in the universities. Based on the findings, it was recommended among other things, that PR managers should employ the peer networking strategy in combating substance abuse among undergraduates in the universities.

Substance Abuse and Its Association with Adherence to ART Drugs Among HIV-positive Pregnant Women at Selected Hospitals of East Ethiopia

Background: Substance abuse among Human Immune Deficiency Virus-positive patients causes depression, carelessness, and anxiety, which in common results in a decrease in adherence to antiretroviral treatment. The purpose of the study is to assess the prevalence of substance abuse and its association with adherence to ART drugs.
 Methods: The current study was conducted at three hospitals (Hiwot Fana Comprehensive University Hospital, Dillchora Hospital, and Jugal Hospital) located in East Ethiopia. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association of independent variables with the dependent variables.
 Results: In this study, 119 HIV-positive pregnant patients were included. While 74.8% of the patients were adherent to their medication, the remaining 25.2% were nonadherent. The major reasons for nonadherence to ART medications prescribed were getting better (73.3%) and finishing medication (16.7%). Moreover, 96 (80.7%) respondents abused alcohol while 36 (30.3%) and 75 (35.6%) abused opioids and cigarette smoking, respectively. Mothers who abused alcohol were 38.1 times more likely to be nonadherent to ART medications for PMTCT [AOR = 38.1% CI: 21.47–56.54] compared to their counterparts. Additionally, mothers who abuse opioids were 19 times more likely to be nonadherent to ART treatment medication [AOR = 19, 95% CI: 2.46– 19.46] than their counterparts. Furthermore, mothers who smoked cigarettes were 43.1 more likely to be nonadherent [AOR = 43.19, 95% CI: 8.42–187.84] than nonsmokers. Unemployment was also found to be associated with nonadherence to ART medication to PMTCT of HIV [AOR = 5.4, 95% CI: 2.8–5.7]. Smoking of marijuana/cannabis/hashish was not significantly associated with nonadherence to ART [AOR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.084–0.355].
 Conclusion: Abuse of alcohol, cigarette smoking, abuse of opioids, and joblessness were found to be significantly associated with nonadherence to ART medications prescribed to PMCT of HIV. Wheareas, smoking of marijuana/cannabis/hashish was not significantly associated with nonadherence to ART medications.

Prevalence, pattern and determinants of substance abuse among youths in a rural community of Osun State, Southwest Nigeria.

This study assessed the prevalence, patterns and factors associated with substance abuse among youths of Ejigbo community, Osun State, Nigeria. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study which employed cluster sampling method to select 420 consenting youths (aged 15-24years). Data were collected using interviewer-administered, semi structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out at p < 0.05. The mean age (±SD) of the respondents was 19 ± 4.18 years. Majority (89%) of the respondents possessed good knowledge of substance abuse while 4% of them had a positive attitude towards it. Above a quarter (29.8%) of respondents had ever consumed alcoholic beverages while 12.3% of them had engaged in substance abuse. Besides alcohol, Shisha and tramadol were the most commonly abused substances in the study setting. Respondents' age (AOR=3.11;95%CI=1.67-5.24), gender (AOR=1.87;95%CI=1.53-9.25), attitude to substance use (AOR=5.90;95%3.45-10.23) and marital status (AOR=3.27;95%-CI=2.71-7.24) were the main determinants of substance abuse in the study setting. Respondents in the current study had good knowledge, predominantly negative attitude but a relatively high burden of substance abuse. There is urgent need for policy makers to upscale fights against the menace of substance abuse among rural Nigerian youths.

Analisis Metode Pendidikan Kesehatan Berbasis Online dalam Peningkatan Pengetahuan dan Sikap Pencegahan Narkoba pada Anak Usia Remaja

The results of a survey by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in 2018 stated that the prevalence of drug abuse in students reached 4.7 percent of the total number of students in Indonesia or around 921,695 people. This requires serious attention from health practitioners and education to make prevention efforts. The programs that are being promoted include, among others, effective online health education, through cellphones, whatsapp groups and other online facilities. The purpose of the study was to analyze the effect of online-based health education on the level of knowledge and attitudes of adolescents in drug prevention. This study is a quantitative study with a quasi-experimental design using a pre-posttest design without a control group. The research sample was 30 respondents from SMPN 2 Sumberlawang, which was held in July-September 2020. Data collection was by giving a questionnaire via an online g-form. The data were tested using the Wilcoxon test. Results: there was a significant effect (p-value = 0.000 &lt; 0.005) of providing health education interventions through whatsapp groups using voice notes and videos about drug prevention on the level of knowledge and attitudes of SMPN 2 Sumberlawang students.

Abstract B123: A descriptive study of substance use and cardiovascular issues among Nigerian men with prostate cancer

Abstract Introduction: Black males face a higher incidence of prostate cancer compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension and metabolic syndrome, are more frequently observed in black men with prostate cancer, significantly impacting their quality of life, treatment outcomes, and related challenges. Socioeconomic disparities and stress also pose significant challenges for black men who engage in substance use, such as tobacco or alcohol. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of cardiovascular issues and substance abuse specifically among black males diagnosed with prostate cancer. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study examined associations between substance abuse, cardiovascular co-morbidities, and diagnoses of prostate cancer in men in Nigeria, Africa. It utilized data collected from the Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC) Familial Cohort Study, an ongoing longitudinal cohort study initiated in 2018 which explores risk factors of prostate cancer among African Black men in Nigeria, Cameroon, and the United States (U.S.). Descriptive statistics generated association tables for variables captured. Results: From 708 participants who resided in Nigeria, 117 reported prostate cancer diagnoses compared to 580 who denied any cancer diagnoses. Median age of participants was 50, most were married (98.1%), Christian (65.8%), college educated (29.4%), with professional occupations (29.4%) and an average household income of 1,000,000 + Naira (24.2%). Marijuana use and alcohol consumption were identified to have statistically significant associations with prostate cancer diagnoses (p=0.003, p&amp;lt;0.001, respectively), while smoking (p=0.13), weight (p=0.22), and annual physicals (p=0.39) were not found to be significant predictors of prostate cancer diagnoses. Conclusion: Both marijuana and alcohol use were found to have significant associations with prostate cancer diagnoses in Nigerian men. Further research is directed to explore similar associations in Black men of other locations to confirm. This study provides a glimpse of associations of substance use and cardiovascular concerns in black males with prostate cancer. It is crucial for interventions to identify and understand the role of substance dependence and cardiovascular disorders in black males with prostate cancer to effectively address all risk factors, implementing lifestyle modifications, and providing culturally appropriate care, ultimately improving outcomes and reducing health disparities. Citation Format: Brittany M. Norris, Marvin Fullwood, Daniel Lee, Folakemi Odedina. A descriptive study of substance use and cardiovascular issues among Nigerian men with prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B123.

Determinants and Prevalence of Drug Abuse by Gender in the Selected Competitive Sports at the Universities in Kenya

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to identify the determinants and prevalence of drug abuse by gender in selected competitive sports at the universities in Kenya.&#x0D; Methodology: The study used a mixed methods research design with an intention to capture and utilise both qualitative andquantitative data. The study sample comprised 300 respondents. Out of the 300 students, 173(57.7%) were male and 127 (42.3%) were female players derived from six selected competitive sports at the universities in Kenya.The selected sports were badminton, tennis, basketball, volleyball, soccer and rugby. Stratified sampling followed by simple random sampling was used to select 10 universities proportionately (4 private and 6 public), the method was the most appropriate to capture universities with women rugby in addition to the five other selected sports. The study sought to investigate the prevalence of drug abuse due to factors such as psychosocial, medicinal and competition. SPSS computer version 20 was used to process data. The data was presented inform of Tables.&#x0D; Findings: The study found that more male players than females abused drugs, with majority being rugby players. Findings indicated that there were more males than females abusing drugs at approximately 89% and 11% respectively. It was concluded that more male than female athletes engaging in sports in universities in Kenya, abuse drugs. This could be attributed to the assumption that males tend to experiment more on most things than do their female counterparts.&#x0D; Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Social Learning Theory, Self Determination Theory and Harm Reduction Theory may be used to anchor future studies. It was recommended that various stakeholders that include the university management, NACADA and the security apparatus work together with an aim to sensitize and curb drug abuse menace among university athletes, general students’ community and the entire community bordering the universities.

Pengembangan Kapasitas Residen dengan Metode Therapeutic Community di Panti Rehabilitasi Narkoba Ar-Rahman Palembang

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Drug abuse, psychotropics, and other addictive substances have increased in Indonesia. Drug abuse can pose a serious threat to social life and health in society. The National Narcotics Agency of South Sumatra Province recorded that the prevalence of drug abuse throughout 2021 reached 5.5 percent or as many as 359,363 people from the total population of South Sumatra Province. This figure is the second highest in Indonesia. There is a need for a social movement from the government or society to overcome the problem of drug abuse. An independent society is a society that has good capacity. Capacity building to develop the quality of personal characteristics to be more effective and efficient both in the entity and global scope. The research aims to determine the process of capacity building of residents with the Therapeutic Community method at the Ar-Rahman Palembang Drug Rehabilitation Center. Qualitative research method with descriptive qualitative type through phenomenological research strategy. Research informants consist of key informants, key informants and supporting informants. The residents become the unit of data analysis. Data collection techniques through observation, documentation, and interviews. Technical data analysis through the process of data collection, data coding, data presentation and conclusions. The process of the Therapeutic Community Method focuses on coaching which includes 4 main things, namely: (1) changing behavior, (2) controlling emotions and thoughts, (3) growing spiritually and intellectually, and (4) being able to survive and be independent&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Determinants and Prevalence of Drug Abuse by Gender in the Selected Competitive Sports at the Universities in Kenya

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to identify the determinants and prevalence of drug abuse by gender in selected competitive sports at the universities in Kenya.&#x0D; Methodology: The study used a mixed methods research design with an intention to capture and utilise both qualitative and quantitative data. The study sample comprised 300 respondents. Out of the 300 students, 173 (57.7%) were male and 127 (42.3%) were female players derived from six selected competitive sports at the universities in Kenya. The selected sports were badminton, tennis, basketball, volleyball, soccer and rugby. Stratified sampling followed by simple random sampling was used to select 10 universities proportionately (4 private and 6 public), the method was the most appropriate to capture universities with women rugby in addition to the five other selected sports. The study sought to investigate the prevalence of drug abuse due to factors such as psychosocial, medicinal and competition. SPSS computer version 20 was used to process data. The data was presented in form of Tables.&#x0D; Findings: The study found that more male players than females abused drugs, with majority being rugby players. Findings indicated that there were more males than females abusing drugs at approximately 89% and 11% respectively. It was concluded that more male than female athletes engaging in sports in universities in Kenya, abuse drugs. This could be attributed to the assumption that males tend to experiment more on most things than do their female counterparts.&#x0D; Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Social Learning Theory, SelfDetermination Theory and Harm Reduction Theory may be used to anchor future studies. It was recommended that various stakeholders that include the university management, NACADA and the security apparatus work together with an aim to sensitize and curb drug abuse menace among university athletes, general students’ community and the entire community bordering the universities

Prevalance Of Substance Abuse Among Street Children In West Bengal, India

The term substance abuse implies on the use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, glue, opioids, gasoline and legal or illegal substances excessively or in a wrong way. The most commonly used substances are inhalants while they are volatile in nature i.e. volatile substances (VS). The most vulnerable groups are the street children aged between 5-15yrs. in India. Children from broken family, without caregiver, of extreme poverty, food insecurity, often ended up on street life and indulged into these types of addiction. Initially the main cause has always been the appetite. Some studies have identified the substance abuse as remedy for hunger pain. Substance abuse is one of the main reasons to claim lives on the streets of India. Recent studies have shown that out of all inhalants are mostly in trend as those are inexpensive and easy to obtain and legally available in any market. These types of substance abuse are widely spread all over the India, especially in West Bengal. The study aims at prevalence of substance abuse among the street children of West Bengal, India. The literature review is based on about 24 journal articles and some other organizational articles etc. After proper screening of the sources, analysis has done and reviewed to draw findings and discussion for the study. Extensive work and vigorous studies are required to get a clear picture about the prevalence of substance abuse in street children in West Bengal, India as the studies are limited in this area of research.

Prevalence of Substance Abuse among Teenagers in Damietta Governorate

Prevalence of Substance Abuse among Teenagers in Damietta Governorate

A study to assess the prevalence of substance abuse and its impact among medical students in a medical college

Background: Psychoactive drug is an emerging global problem. This is a disturbing matter, especially in the case of medical students, affecting their health and academic performance, which in turn affects the health outcomes of patients. The objectives of our study were to assess the prevalence and impact of substance abuse among medical students. Methods: This was cross-sectional study conducted in tertiary care center. A pretested semi structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Medical students who were available during the study period and who were willing to participate were included in the study. A total of 301 students were interviewed. Data was entered and analysed in SPPSS version 22.0. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used for the statistical analysis. Results: We had a total of 301 responders. Among them, only 70(23.3%) have been a subject to substance abuse. Alcohol was the most abused substance (19.3%). The most common reason for starting these substances was out of curiosity (15.6%). 24.6% of the students have either thought of or tried stopping, however majority of them have not. Out of these students, 10 (3.3%) have experienced withdrawal symptoms. Conclusions: The substance abuse among youngsters in medical colleges is a highly alarming situation. Proper counselling with planned policies should be implemented to root out this evil among the future doctors which will help in providing better health care services to the people.

Substance abuse among mothers in Taiwan: Investigating its prevalence and testing the trauma model

Substance abuse is a serious problem in our society. In particular, household or parental substance abuse could lead to adverse childhood experiences for the affected children. However, little is known about the prevalence of substance abuse among parents, especially in Asian societies. Moreover, although the trauma model of addiction has significant implications for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, most evidence comes from Western samples. To address these knowledge gaps, we examined the prevalence of substance abuse in a sample of mothers in Taiwan and tested the trauma model of substance abuse. A total of 867 Taiwanese mothers completed standardized self-report assessments in 2023. The screening results indicated that the 12-month prevalence of drug abuse and alcohol abuse was 12.3% and 7.3%, respectively; 15.5% had either or both drug and alcohol abuse. Most types of trauma exposure were associated with drug abuse severity, while interpersonal stress and dissociative symptoms were associated with alcohol abuse severity, even after controlling for a variety of demographic and health variables as well as general psychopathology (i.e., depressive symptoms). The relatively high prevalence of substance abuse among Taiwanese mothers in our sample is concerning, particularly when compared to the rates reported in other Asian samples. We also provide preliminary cross-cultural evidence supporting the self-medication theory and the trauma model of substance abuse in the Asian context. We discuss the potential importance of addressing trauma and stress to prevent substance abuse and call for follow-up studies.

Psychedelic Research and Therapeutic Practices: Embracing Communities, Groups, and Traditional Knowledge

ABSTRACTThe global prevalence of substance abuse and mental disorders continues to challenge healthcare systems, with one in eight individuals affected. The therapeutic potential of psychedelics is recognized not only for treating mental disorders but also for enhancing well-being and promoting pro-social behaviors. Conventional biomedical research models fall short in addressing the broader health needs of populations and poorly suited for overcoming barriers to service delivery. This special issue includes six articles that explore alternative approaches to psychedelic research and practice, emphasizing collaboration with diverse actors, including indigenous communities, and incorporating traditional knowledge systems into contemporary psychedelic research. They underscore the need for innovative research methods that engage multidisciplinary approaches while promoting culturally relevant outcome measures. They emphasize the importance of shifting from punitive drug policies to those grounded in public health and human rights, allowing for multi-country studies and the development of evidence-based care models for community mental health. Incorporating traditional knowledge and community-based methodologies into psychedelic science is vital for its evolution beyond biomedical research for widespread dissemination, offering new avenues for improved health outcomes and promotion of human flourishing.

Perspectives on Promotion of Quality of Life for Individuals Recovering from Substance Abuse: Priority for Occupational Therapy Programmes

The prevalence of substance abuse in South Africa is growing fast, impacting negatively on quality of life. Individuals abusing substances present with impaired occupational functioning, which warrants occupational therapy intervention. Meaningful engagement in occupations contribute to well-being and quality of life of an individual. It is important for the occupational therapist to be aware of the enhancers of quality of life for the intervention programme of persons living with substance use issues. The barriers of quality of life need to be addressed in the programme in order to guard against relapse. A holistic approach to the intervention of substance abuse is of paramount importance.

The Determinants and Prevalence of Drug Abuse by Gender in the Selected Competitive Sports at the Universities in Kenya

Purpose: The main objective of this study was to identify the determinants and prevalence of drug abuse by gender in selected competitive sports at the universities in Kenya.&#x0D; Methodology: The study used a mixed methods research design with an intention to capture and utilise both qualitative and quantitative data. The study sample comprised 300 respondents. Out of the 300 students, 173 (57.7%) were male and 127 (42.3%) were female players derived from six selected competitive sports at the universities in Kenya. The selected sports were badminton, tennis, basketball, volleyball, soccer and rugby. Stratified sampling followed by simple random sampling was used to select 10 universities proportionately (4 private and 6 public), the method was the most appropriate to capture universities with women rugby in addition to the five other selected sports. The study sought to investigate the prevalence of drug abuse due to factors such as psychosocial, medicinal and competition. SPSS computer version 20 was used to process data. The data was presented in form of Tables.&#x0D; Findings: The study found that more male players than females abused drugs, with majority being rugby players. Findings indicated that there were more males than females abusing drugs at approximately 89% and 11% respectively. It was concluded that more male than female athletes engaging in sports in universities in Kenya, abuse drugs. This could be attributed to the assumption that males tend to experiment more on most things than do their female counterparts.&#x0D; Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Social Learning Theory, Self-Determination Theory and Harm Reduction Theory may be used to anchor future studies. It was recommended that various stakeholders that include the university management, NACADA and the security apparatus work together with an aim to sensitize and curb drug abuse menace among university athletes, general students’ community and the entire community bordering the universities.

The Prevalence of Drug Abuse as it Relates to Psychosocial Reasons among University Athletes in Selected Competitive Sports in Kenya

The Prevalence of Drug Abuse as it Relates to Psychosocial Reasons among University Athletes in Selected Competitive Sports in Kenya

Assess the Prevalence and Pattern of Substance Abuse and to Evaluate the Effectiveness of an Informational Booklet on Substance Abuse in Terms of Knowledge and Attitude of Higher Secondary School Students

Adolescence are periods of experimentation, exploration, identity formation, risk taking, and assertion for independence in every person's life. Naturally, the incidence of drug abuse in children and adolescents is higher than the general population. [1] A wide variety of substances are produced for medicinal purposes. These include central nervous system (CNS) stimulants (e.g., amphetamines), CNS depressants (e.g., sedatives, tranquilizers), as well as numerous over-the-counter preparations designed to relieve nearly every kind of human ailment, real or imagined.[2]Substance use among adolescents is one such risky behaviour that had emerged as a global concern. [3] In India, consumption of tobacco and alcohol has become common among adolescents, and in the case of tobacco consumption, the age of initiation was observed to be as low as 12 years.[4] The supreme Court (14 December,2022) told the government that 1.58 crore children aged between 10 and 17 years are addicted to substance in the country.[5] Materials and Methods: A quantitative quasi experimental one group pre-test, post-test design was use to evaluate the effectiveness of an informational booklet on substance abuse in terms of knowledge and attitude of higher secondary school students. The study conducted on 200 samples. Data was collected using following tools – 1. Structured Questionnaire on substance abuse 2. Structured Knowledge questionnaire to evaluate the knowledge on prevention of substance abuse 3. Structured attitude scale to assess the attitude regarding prevention of substance abuse. Results: The mean post-test knowledge score 20.97 was higher than the mean pre-test 13.25 with mean difference of 7.72 which was found statistically significant with "t" value t (199) =35.97 at 0.05 level of significance. Majority (86.5%) of higher secondary school students in post-test had positive attitude towards the prevention of substance abuse. The mean post-test attitude score 69.66was higher than the mean pre-test 58.20 with a mean difference of 11.46 which was found statistically significant "t" value t(99)=21.31 at 0.05 level of significance. Above findings reveals that the informational booklet was effective in enhancing both the knowledge and attitude of higher secondary school students. There was a positive correlation (r=0.550) between the post-test knowledge and post-test attitude score on prevention of substance abuse. Conclusion: After the detailed analysis of the study findings showed that pre-test finding showed that, most of the higher secondary school students had average knowledge and neutral attitude regarding substance abuse. but after the administration of information booklet, it enhancing knowledge and positive attitude of the higher secondary school students regarding substance abuse. There was no significant association found between the post-test knowledge score of higher secondary school students with selected variables. There was a significant association between the post attitude score of higher secondary school students with type of family.

Social Demographic Factors Associated with Drug Abuse Among Undergraduates in Ekiti State

This study examined social demographic factors associated with drug abuse among undergraduates in Ekiti State. Specifically, the study examined the level of knowledge on drug abuse expressed by university undergraduate students; level of drug abuse among university undergraduate students; and common drugs known as expressed by university undergraduate students. The research design adopted for this study was a descriptive survey. The population of this study consisted of all the students of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, while the sample was 200 undergraduate students drawn from seven faculties. The respondents were randomly selected from seven faculties. A self-designed constructed questionnaire tagged “Drug Abuse Questionnaire (DAQ)” was used to collect relevant data for the study. The instrument consisted of five sections namely: Sections A, B, C, D, and E. The validity methods used were face and content validity. The items in the Questionnaire were presented to experts in the fields of Tests and Measurement, Social Studies Education and Guidance &amp; Counselling. The reliability of the instrument was estimated through test re-test method. A co-efficient value of 0.88 was obtained which was considered statistically high to make the instrument reliable. The data collected from the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of the study revealed that majority of the respondents have a high knowledge of drug abuse while only few engage in drug abuse. In addition, peer influence was related to drug abuse among undergraduates but family structure was not related to drug abuse. It was further revealed that male students have higher prevalence of drug abuse than female students despite having similar knowledge of drug abuse. It was recommended among others that discipline should be put in-place by university management to curb drug abuse among undergraduates.

Prevalence of smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug abuse in Iranian adults: Results of Azar Cohort Study.

Substance abuse has significant health impacts on families and society as a whole. We aimed to provide detailed prevalence estimates of substance abuse among the Azar Cohort Study respondents in Tabriz, Iran. Data on 15006 participants of Azar Cohort Study were analyzed. The variables included tobacco smoking, alcohol use, drug abuse, and socio-demographic characteristics. The prevalence of substance abuse (with a 95% confidence interval) was calculated using the direct standardization method. Overall, 9.3% and 6.2% of the participants were regular and heavy cigarette smokers, respectively. Also, 1.9% and 2.1% of participants reported a history of using illicit drugs and alcohol, respectively. Substance abuse was more prevalent among males than females. Substance abuse varied significantly with age and socioeconomic variables. We identified specific demographic and socioeconomic groups with a higher prevalence of all studied behaviors. Such high-risk groups should be targeted when designing substance abuse prevention programs.