Journal of Psychiatry

Prevalence and correlates of non-medical stimulant and related drug use in a sample of South African undergraduate medical students

4^th Euro-Global Congress on Psychiatrists & Forensic Psychology

November 10-11, 2016 Alicante, Spain

Mari Retief

Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Psychiatry

Abstract:

Background: The non-medical use of prescription psycho-stimulants or cognitive-enhancing substances under healthy college students is a growing concern. This use appears to be particularly high under medical students. To our knowledge, no literature is however available on the non-medical use of stimulants among South African medical students. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and correlates of non-medical stimulant use as well as subjective opinion on peer numbers using stimulants and university attitude towards stimulant use among a sample of South African undergraduate medical students. Methods: A descriptive observational study was conducted by means of a self-report questionnaire. Second and fourth year medical students (n=252) completed the questionnaire. Results: Of the sample, 44 (18%) reported a lifetime use of stimulants for non-medical purposes and 33 (85%) of this group reported use within the past year. A total of 6 (2%) students reported a diagnosis of ADHD. In the group without a diagnosis of ADHD, nonmedical stimulant use was associated with year of study (p=0.03) and illicit substance use (p=0.01). Most of the students in this group (31, 32%) reported using stimulants to improve concentration. Conclusion: Non-medical use of stimulants to improve concentration and academic performance is prevalent under the South African medical students sampled in this study. Further research at other institutions and under non-medical students would be helpful to assess the scope of this phenomenon

Biography :

Email: retief.mari@gmail.com