engleski

Substances of abuse and Zagreb medical students

There is only a few relevant data on use of psychoactive substances among medical students in Croatia. We surveyed 774 medical students at the zagreb University for their contact with tobacco, alcohol, psychoactive drugs and illegal substances of abuse. Preliminary analysis of the dta show: a) 30% of the participants decleared themselves as smokers, half of which (16% of total) were regular smokers ; b) 83% of the participants confirmed the consumption of alcoholic drings, 56% of which (46% of total) confiremd drinking at least 'one dring' 3-4 times a month or more often ; c) 68% of the participants stated that they had got drunk at least once in the lifetime, and 25% of them (17% of total) confirmed a habbit of getting drunk at least once a month or more often ; d) 31% of the participants stated that they had used at least one of the legal psychoactive drugs at least once in the lifetime. The drugs used were almost exclusively benzodiazepines ; e)35% of the participants confimed the use of at least one illegal substance of abuse at least once in th elifetime. The consume substances were almost exclusively cannabinoides. The use of 'heavier' substances (LSD, amphetamines, ecstasy, opioids) was confimed only sporadically (from <1% of 4% of all participants). In comparison to a similar survey that we perormed in 1989, it seems that there has been no significant change in the use of legal substances (alcohol, tobacco), but the proportion of students in direct contact with the illegal substances of abuse has increased three times. COntroversially, in contrast to current croatina leslation which criminates all possesions of illegal substances, 44% of the participants are for legalization of marijuana.

medical students; substances of abuse

DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-8206.1999.tb00384.x