Drug Use Among Medical Students: Gender Differences and Variations On Drug Use Across Seven Academic Courses (2008/09-2014/15)

Abstract

Introduction

Drug use among medical students is partially unknown. However, consumption among medical students may have a similar role if compared with the rest of population.

Objectives

To study drugs use among medical students comparing gender and evolution on drugs use.

Aims

Students enrolled in the fifth year of the medical studies at the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, from the course 2008-2009 to 2014-2015, were offered the chance to participate voluntarily in the study.

Methods

The students agreed to participate anonymously in a survey filled in during the beginning days of the psychiatry classes. They were asked about their drug consumption, including legal drugs (alcohol and tobacco) and illegal drugs. During the seven study years, 469 questionnaires were collected (74.1% of women) and mean age was 22.77 (20-35) yearsold.

Results

The students reported consuming alcohol (66.7%; 65.5% women, 70.4% men), tobacco (18.6%; 18.1% women, 20% men) and illegal drugs (15.1%; 12.4% women, 22.8% men). The female students consumed fewer illegal drugs than the men (p 0.008) as showed above. Comparing 2008/2009 and 2014/2015 courses, the consumption was: alcohol 75.5% and 65.7%, tobacco 24.5% and 13.2% and illegal drugs 22.4% and 14.7%.

Conclusions

Drug consumption is an important problem among medicalstudents who will becomeprescribing doctors in a few months after the survey. There is a decreased tendency to use illegal drugs. Due to the gender differences on illegal drug use a special focus must be placed on the male group.