engleski

Use and abuse of alcohol among university students from Eastern Croatia

Background: Alcoholism is a growing medical and public health issue both in adults and in the younger generation. Social transition and war in Croatia have increased unemployment and rates of substance abuse. A decrease in prevention programs place adolescents at an increased risk for that abuse. University students represent one of especially vulnerable groups concerning use and abuse of alcohol but till now there has been no data on the extent of that phenomenon among Croatian university students. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of alcohol problems and to explore the connection between gender, study year, number of financial sources during study, type of current residence and the level of alcohol problems among university students from eastern Croatia. Methods: In June 2006, cross sectional survey with self-administered questionnaire containing items on gender, study year, type of financing during the study, type of current residence and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was conducted among university students at the University J. J. Strossmayer in Osijek, eastern Croatia. A total of 831 university students, mean age 22, 0± ; 1, 7 years, 419 (50, 4%) male and 412 (49, 6%) female, 381 (45, 8%) from second (mean age 20, 8± ; 1, 2 years) and 450 (54, 2%) from forth year (mean age 23, 1 ± ; 1, 1 years) formed a representative cross-faculty sample of the Osijek University. AUDIT total scores of 8 or more were used as indicators of hazardous and harmful alcohol use, as well as possible alcohol dependence. Results: Among all study participants there were 76/831 (9, 1%) of them who do not drink alcohol at all and 755/831 (90, 9%) who do. Among last there were 331/755 (43, 8%) of them with AUDIT total scores of 8 or more ; 229/419 (54, 7%) male and 102/412 (24, 8%) female. According to study year there were 160/381 (42, 0%) second year students and 170/450 (37, 8%) forth year students with AUDIT total scores of 8 or more. Among students who have only one financial source during their study there were 157/408 (38, 5%), among those who have two sources of money there were 146/364 (40, 1%), while among those with three financial sources during study there were 27/59 (45, 8%) students with AUDIT total scores of 8 or more. By exploring the connection between the type of current residence and AUDIT total scores it was established that among participants who lived with their parents during study there were 123/350 (35, 1%), among those who lived alone in rented flat there were 138/309 (44, 7%) and among those who lived in the students dormitory there were 69/172 (40, 1 %) students with AUDIT total score of 8 or more. Conclusions: Results of the present study indicate alcohol to be serious problem among university students from eastern Croatia because almost 40% (330/831) of the study population had AUDIT total score of 8 or more. The hazardous and harmful alcohol use, as well as possible alcohol dependence among Croatian university students is related to their individual features as well as to the influence of parents or primary family, dominant friends and social circumstances. Excessive prevention programs that include all above-mentioned influences are needed.

alcohol abuse; alcohol; students; Croatia

DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckm1005