Use of psychoactive drugs by health sciences undergraduate students at the Federal University in Amazonas, Brazil

• Published in: Cadernos de saúde pública Vol. 22; no. 3; p. 663
• Main Authors: Lucas, Ana Cyra dos Santos, Parente, Rosana Cristina Pereira, Picanço, Neila Soares, Conceição, Denis Alvaci, Costa, Karen Regina Carim da, Magalhães, Igor Rafael dos Santos, Siqueira, João Cladirson Alves
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Brazil 01-03-2006
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Age Factors; Brazil - epidemiology; Education, Medical, Undergraduate - statistics & numerical data; Female; Humans; Male; Prevalence; Psychotropic Drugs; Sex Distribution; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Students, Medical - psychology; Students, Medical - statistics & numerical data; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Substance-Related Disorders - prevention & control; Brazil
• ISSN: 0102-311X

A survey was conducted with 521 undergraduate health sciences students from the Federal University in Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil. Lifetime alcohol consumption was reported by 87.7% students, as compared to 30.7% for tobacco, with the latter reported more frequently by males (39.7%). The most common illicit drugs were solvents (11.9%), marijuana (9.4%), amphetamines and anxiolytics (9.2% each), cocaine (2.1%), and hallucinogens (1.2%). The main reason for illicit drug use was curiosity. Lifetime use of anabolic steroids was reported by 2.1% of the students. Alcohol abuse in the previous 30 days was reported by 12.4% of the students. Events following drinking included: fights (4.7%), accidents (2.4%), classroom absenteeism (33.7%), and job absenteeism (11.8%). Another important finding was that 47.3% of students drove after drinking. Opinions on drug abuse and patterns agree with those from similar studies in other regions of Brazil.