Psychoactive substance use in a faculty of health at a South Colombian University.

Abstract

Introduction:Psychoactivesubstanceuserepresentsaproblemofhighimpactinpublichealth, especially among students of health sciences, which reframe the dimension of psychoactive substance use and its related factors, their consequences and the need of intervention measures to its impact. Objective: To determine the frequency and factors associated with the use of psychoactive substances in students of the Faculty of Health of the Surcolombiana University. Methodology: A Cross-sectional study was conducted. An anonymous survey from the World Health Organization was adapted and applied to a recommended sample of 263 students. Re- sults: Of the total population; 46.38% were men, they have the highest alcohol intake (51.71%). The median age of onset of was 16 years. Marijuana was the most consumed illegal substance (22.57%); the female gender with a median age of onset of 17 years (18.77%) was the most rep- resentative group. Factors associated with the highest prevalence ratio for consumption were: recreational acquisition (PR = 16.50), depressive symptoms (PR = 8.51), anxiety (PR = 7.74), and academic difficulties (PR = 5.54). Conclusion: This study suggests the need of enhancing the programs involved with psychoactive substance use in order to strengthen strategies that prevent possible scenarios that stimulate consumption.