Prevalence of drug use and substance dependence among university students at the University of Girona

Autor: F. Calvo, C. Giralt, X. Solench-Arco, J. Patiño-Masó, S. Font-Mayolas
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: European Psychiatry, Vol 67, Pp S215-S216 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 0924-9338
1778-3585
DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2024.462
Popis: Introduction This study examines the prevalence of drug use and substance dependence among university students majoring in Social Education at the University of Girona, aiming to comprehend its impact on the mental health of this population. Objectives To determine the prevalence of drug use and substance dependence among university students majoring in Social Education at the University of Girona and to examine gender differences in consumption patterns. Methods A cross-sectional, observational, and analytical design was employed. The study population consisted of 258 enrolled students in the program. Convenience sampling was used, with a sample size of 156 students, confidence level of 95%, and margin of error of 5%. The final obtained sample size was n=161. An ad hoc questionnaire was used to collect data on general characteristics and drug use. Statistical analysis included Pearson’s Chi-square tests and Student’s t-tests. Results A total of 161 students participated (88.2% females, 11.2% males), with an average age of 21.61 years. Among them, 75.8% grew up in structured families, while 24.2% came from dysfunctional families. Regarding socioeconomic status, 4.3% considered themselves from a low-class background, 32.9% from low-middle class, 51.6% from middle class, and 11.2% from upper-middle class. Substance dependence was identified in 29.2% of the participants: alcohol (20.3%), MDMA (11.1%), cocaine (10.3%), psychopharmaceuticals (4.8%), and hallucinogenic mushrooms (4.0%). No significant differences were found in SDS scale scores for determining dependence thresholds for any substances except for cannabis (Males = 6.13 vs. Females = 1.80, t = 3.886, df = 83, p < .001). A total of 55.6% of males showed substance dependence compared to 25.7% of females (X^2 = 6.853, df = 1, p = .009). Conclusions This study highlights a concerning prevalence of drug use and substance dependence among university students majoring in Social Education at the university, with certain gender-based consumption pattern differences. These findings emphasize the urgency of intervention approaches targeting mental health and substance prevention in this specific population. Disclosure of Interest None Declared
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