Reality of substance use in medical students of the National University of Córdoba (2018).

Abstract

Introduction: substance use is a socio-health challenge, it is considered to arise due to new behaviors related to living conditions. Certain personal characteristics of the individual and lifestyle could predispose the use of substances in the university population, such as: age, need and importance of feeling accepted, little interest in risks, anxiety and depression.

Objectives: to determine the consumption of substances in university students of the Department of Psychosocial Medicine of the second year cohort 2018, FCM, UNC, city of Córdoba.

Material and Methods: observational, cross-sectional descriptive study; 2018 period. Population / sample: Medicine students of the UNC, of ​​both sexes,> 18 years; The population / sample reached 73 individuals who completed an electronic survey. Variables: sex, age, do you consume ?, ¿licita ?, alcohol, age of onset, abuse of: alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine (family history, age of onset, consumer friends, need for help (personal, family, friends ) Validated self-administered survey (Cronbach's alpha).

Results: 74% female; predominant age range 18 to 21 years (77%). 77% consume alcohol, 59% of them abuse, 20% have family members and 61% consume friends; age of onset was 14 to 15 years (60%). 21% consume tobacco, age of onset 13 to 15 years (19%). 44% consume Marijuana, with an age of onset 13 to 15 years (12%), 15% have family members and 71% of friends who consume. In relation to Cocaine, 3% consume. Only 1% recognize the need for therapeutic support.

Conclusions: in the studied group, the consumption of substances and their age of onset is alarming, the perception of the need for reduced support, a situation that shows that future doctors have little awareness of toxic habits and are exposed to high risk of drug dependence Few respondents reported cocaine use. We believe that knowledge of students' lifestyles and needs is essential to plan effective interventions in this environment in the face of the observed increases.