Title: A Study on Substance Abuse among Professional College Students of Northern Western Rajasthan
Authors: Aditya Kochar, Abhimanyu Agarwal, Sushil Kumar Sharma, Akanksha Arya, Sanjay Kumar Kochar
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i6.125
Abstract
Background: Substance abuse is a growing problem in the world. Millions of people throughout the world are abusing substances such as alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, methamphetamine, morphine, marijuana, heroin and many others.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey with the use of questionnaires to estimate the prevalence of substance abuse among the professional college students in Bikaner Rajasthan. The study was conducted during 2018-19 by using self-administered questionnaires that included demographic parameters and questions about substance abuse.
Results: The total prevalence of substance abuse among professional college students was found to be 29.5%. Male students had significantly higher prevalence of substance abuse as compared to female counterparts (43.26% versus 7.74% respectively). The most common substance being abused was Alcohol (27.75%) followed by tobacco (9.25%).
Conclusion: Prevalence of substance abuse among professional college students is high and causes significant problems in this population; therefore there is necessity of targeted interventions to reduce this huge burden.
Keywords: substance abuse, Professional college, Student.
