Prevalence and Reasons for Psychoactive Drugs Use Among University Students of Medical Sciences in Yazd, Iran

Background: Drug use has always been suggested as the first preventable agent of various diseases and deaths around the world. Nowadays, this problem is more prevalent among young people and students of universities that are at risk. Objectives: Due to the newness of the case and legal restrictions on psychoactive drugs use in Iran, there are no statistics regarding the prevalence of consuming these drugs; therefore, it was decided to determine the prevalence and causes of tendency towards psychoactive drugs use among students of Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. Methods: The present research was a cross sectional study, through which 250 students of Yazd University of Medical Sciences were selected using systematic random sampling and investigated in 2015. Data was collected through a self-made questionnaire and then analyzed using the SPSS software version 22 at a significance level of P = 0.05 using frequency tables, chart, Chi-square, and logistic regression test. Results: The prevalence of psychoactive drugs consumption was 5.6%. The most important factor of tendency towards consumption of psychoactive drugs among students has been failure to meet their emotional needs (35.7%), yet taking pleasure has been the mainspring for consuming these drugs in most cases (50%). There was a statistical significant relationship between psychoactive drugs consumption and age, place of residence, drug history in parents, and being exposed to cigarette smoke throughout the day (P < 0.05). The most commonly estimated odds ratio (OR = 13.08) was related to non-native students. Conclusions: Due to the relatively high prevalence of psychoactive drugs consumption in students of medical sciences as messengers of health, holding life skill workshops and consulting with students, providing appropriate recreational facilities seem essential in order to reduce the prevalence and prevent this dilemma.