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Prevalence of psychoactive drug use among medical students in Rio de Janeiro

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Abstract

Background

Drug use and abuse may hamper learning capabilities and the development of technical skills in medical students and, therefore, the quality of care offered to patients. The aim of this investigation was to estimate the prevalence of psychoactive drug use among medical students of public universities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and to identify characteristics associated with substance use.

Method

This was a cross-sectional investigation designed to include all medical students of four universities. The final sample included 1,054 students. Patterns of licit and illicit drug use (at least once in lifetime drug use, drug use in the last 30 days (LTD) and CAGE) before and during medical school were assessed by a multiple-choice, self-administered anonymous questionnaire.

Results

Alcohol abuse was more prevalent among male students from higher income families. Alcohol LTD use was more prevalent among male students with college-educated parents. Tobacco, cannabis and inhalant lifetime use was more prevalent among males and tranquillizer use among females. Tobacco, cannabis and tranquillizer lifetime use was more prevalent among students with divorced or dead parents. Inhalant lifetime use was more prevalent among students from higher income families. Students who had college-educated, divorced or dead parents or evidenced tobacco, cocaine or inhalant lifetime use were more prevalent among cannabis users. Male students from higher income families had higher prevalence of cocaine lifetime use.

Conclusion

Substance use in this group of medical students is not widespread compared to rates reported for developed countries. Preventive efforts should focus on alcohol and cannabis use by medical students.

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Acknowledgements

Public Medical Schools of Rio de Janeiro; Dr. Daria Kiselica for the English review; Regina Meira Matias for data typing; Dr. Elson Lima for helping with initial contacts with CREMERJ. Contributions of this work are SRLP Fieldwork coordination, literature review, text, data analysis; PEAAB data analysis, text, literature review; MABS text, literature review; MTCA original design, team selection, final text revision and approval. Financing Sources of this work was CREMERJ.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Epidemiology, Evandro Chagas Clinical Research, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Sonia Regina Lambert Passos MD, DSc & Pedro Emmanuel Alvarenga Americano do Brasil MD, MSc

  2. Depto. de Epidemiologia, Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, CEP.: 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Sonia Regina Lambert Passos MD, DSc

  3. School of Government, National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Maria Angélica Borges dos Santos MD, MSc

  4. Center for Research in Drug Abuse (NEPAD), University of State of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Maria Tereza Costa de Aquino MD, MSc

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  1. Sonia Regina Lambert Passos MD, DSc
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  2. Pedro Emmanuel Alvarenga Americano do Brasil MD, MSc
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  3. Maria Angélica Borges dos Santos MD, MSc
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Correspondence to Sonia Regina Lambert Passos MD, DSc.

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Lambert Passos, S.R., Alvarenga Americano do Brasil, P.E., Borges dos Santos, M.A. et al. Prevalence of psychoactive drug use among medical students in Rio de Janeiro. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 41, 989–996 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0114-7

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