International Journal of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences (ISSN 2226-9614)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
VOLUME 25(19) (2024)
Prevalence and causes of substance abuse among Egyptian university students
Dina A. Hussein1, Ahmed G. S. Abdalla1, Samar S. Ahmed2, Almaza Salim3, Noha Gamal Abdel Hafeez4, Amany M. Ahmed5 & Motee R. Ali1
1Forensic medicine and clinical toxicology department, Faculty of medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62514, Egypt
2Department of Public health. Faculty of Medicine, Suez University, Egypt
3Family medicine department, Faculty of Medicine, Port-said University, Egypt
4Psychology department, Faculty of Arts, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62514, Egypt
5Departement of clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Taif University, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Substance abuse is a global challenge with dangerous effects on health, wealth and security of nations, and individuals’ mental and physical health. This study was done to identify the prevalence and risk factor of drug abuse among university students and evaluate drug abuse use according to its type and problems encountered. Cross sectional study using self-administrated questionnaire conducted for one month in the academic year 2022-2023 to 600 university students at Beni-Suef University from grade 1 to grade 6 and postgraduates. The survey included all faculties in the university. Screening tests for drug abuse in the urine samples were performed by dipsticks and confirmed by auto-analyzer device. Most of the students were male (68.3%), their mean age was 22.05 ± 2.25 year. 58.3% of them were from urban, 84.7 % of them were single, with monthly pocket money 1205.73 ± 1260.02 Egyptian pounds while the mean of family income 5515.50 ± 9210.39. The urine samples were collected and analyzed by drug screening strips, 75.4% of the samples were negative and 24.6% were positive. Auto analyzer confirmed 31.8% of positive cases by drug screening strips and the most common drug was confirmed was combined drug abuse (59.6%). High significance relation of addiction with the mean age of the cases (P value=0.0001), males’ gender (P value=0.0001), high monthly pocket money (P value=0.0001), lower father and mother education (P value =0.0001). The problems faced by addicts were oppose the orders (51.4%), usual liar (48.6%), struggle with parents (44.6%), and psychiatric problems (33.8%) especially unstable psychological state. The most common cause of substance intake in the positive group was adolescent curiosity (56.8%) followed by be happy (48.6%) and active (40.5%). Most of the students were male (68.3%), their mean age was 22.05 ± 2.25 year. 25.7% had a history of substance abuse, the most common substance abuse was THC (34%). Age of students, single, higher family income and father occupation were the most predicted risk factors to substance abuse.
Keywords: Drug abuse, detection, university students, Egypt
Full length article – PDF *Corresponding Author, e-mail: dinaahmed@med.bsu.edu.eg Doi # https://doi.org/10.62877/27-IJCBS-24-25-19-27