Profile of the use of legal and illegal drugs by college students at a private university

Abstract

The study investigated the prevalence of legal and/or illegal drugs among students enrolled in Health Sciences Courses (HSC) at a university located in the Quixadá municipality, State of Ceará. The study was conducted through a questionnaire administered to 345 HSC students. The resulting profile was of single white females, ages 16-20 years old, unemployed, with a household income of 2-4 minimum wage salaries. The vast majority does not use any legal or illegal drugs. However, 39 and 16% use alcohol and cocaine, especially for the high, and mainly because of peer pressure during social events. The majority of the students self-medicate. The study suggests that alcohol and drug use within this population is alarming and that new surveys need to be conducted.