Authors
Aweh BE, Eboreime H, Eriyo WO, Obagaye MO, Okogbenin EO, and Eze CU.
Abstract
Psychoactive substance use among medical students is a significant public health concern given the unique and cumulative stressors of medical education and its implications for patient safety and healthcare delivery. Nigeria bears a disproportionately high national burden of substance use, with approximately 14.3 million people estimated to have used a psychoactive substance in the past year, as of 2019.
Objectives: To determine the sociodemographic predictors of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, amphetamine, tranquilizer, sedative, and opiate use among medical students at Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria, across lifetime, past-year, and current timeframes.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 370 pre-clinical and clinical medical students of AAU and the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital. Data were collected using a self-administered modified WHO Student Drug Use Survey Questionnaire. Bivariate associations between substance use and sociodemographic variables including gender, age, social class, academic level, religion, religiosity, monthly allowance, parental substance use, and geopolitical zone were examined using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests ($p\le0.05$).
Results: Significant predictors of cigarette use included male gender, advancing age, clinical-year status, and lower religiosity. Alcohol use was significantly associated with age group, social class, monthly allowance, parents' marital status, and geopolitical zone. Parental substance use exerted a strong intergenerational influence, with maternal alcohol use and paternal cigarette smoking, each significantly associated with corresponding use in students. A pronounced polydrug pattern emerged, with co-use of cigarettes, cannabis, amphetamines, and opioids occurring almost exclusively among lifetime alcohol users.
Conclusion: Male gender, older age, clinical-year status, middle social class, geopolitical origin, lower religiosity, and parental substance use are key predictors of psychoactive substance use among medical students in southern Nigeria. These findings highlight the need for routine confidential screening, targeted peer-led prevention programmes, and accessible mental health services within medical training institutions.
Objectives: To determine the sociodemographic predictors of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, amphetamine, tranquilizer, sedative, and opiate use among medical students at Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria, across lifetime, past-year, and current timeframes.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 370 pre-clinical and clinical medical students of AAU and the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital. Data were collected using a self-administered modified WHO Student Drug Use Survey Questionnaire. Bivariate associations between substance use and sociodemographic variables including gender, age, social class, academic level, religion, religiosity, monthly allowance, parental substance use, and geopolitical zone were examined using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests ($p\le0.05$).
Results: Significant predictors of cigarette use included male gender, advancing age, clinical-year status, and lower religiosity. Alcohol use was significantly associated with age group, social class, monthly allowance, parents' marital status, and geopolitical zone. Parental substance use exerted a strong intergenerational influence, with maternal alcohol use and paternal cigarette smoking, each significantly associated with corresponding use in students. A pronounced polydrug pattern emerged, with co-use of cigarettes, cannabis, amphetamines, and opioids occurring almost exclusively among lifetime alcohol users.
Conclusion: Male gender, older age, clinical-year status, middle social class, geopolitical origin, lower religiosity, and parental substance use are key predictors of psychoactive substance use among medical students in southern Nigeria. These findings highlight the need for routine confidential screening, targeted peer-led prevention programmes, and accessible mental health services within medical training institutions.
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