Differences in the consumption of psychoactive substances and psychotropic drugs among Medical and Psychology students at exam time
Reference:
Carballo, J.L., Marín, M., Pons, C., Espada, J.P., Piqueras, J.A. y Orgiles, M. (2011). Diferencias en el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas y psicofármacos entre estudiantes de Medicina y Psicología en época de exámenes. Health and Addictions, 11(1), 19-30.
"In Spanish"
The increase in stress among university students at exam time has been associated with an increase in the consumption... more
The increase in stress among university students at exam time has been associated with an increase in the consumption of psychoactive substances and psychotropic drugs. The aim of this paper was to describe and analyze the differences in the consumption of psychoactive substances and psychotropic drugs among Medical and Psychology students at exam time. A total of 257 students of Miguel Hernández University were involved in this study. The participants, aged between 17 and 25, were selected from different years of Psychology and Medicine degrees. Several questionnaires were used to assess the consumption of psychoactive substances and psychotropic drugs, as well as depression and anxiety levels. Regarding the results, Psychology students showed a higher consumption of recreational drugs, such as tobacco or cannabis. However, Medical students reported a higher consumption of psychotropic drugs, besides more depression and anxiety. The level of prior
information about the substances or the accessibility to them might have influenced the differences between both degrees, so that future papers should focus on the assessment of these risk factors.
Buchanan J (2004) Missing Links: Problem Drug Use and Social Exclusion, Probation Journal Special Issue on Problem Drug Use, Vol 51 No.4 pp.387-397
In the late 1980s illicit drug use became a major social problem in the UK. Since then policy and practice has largely... more In the late 1980s illicit drug use became a major social problem in the UK. Since then policy and practice has largely been shaped by psychological and medical perspectives that emphasise the physiological and psychological nature of dependence. Concerned by the limited impact in reducing the number of problem drug users, in 2000 the Government shifted the emphasis away from voluntary treatment by the Health and Voluntary sector, towards coercive treatment, initially in the form of a Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTOs). The Drugs Interventions Programme (DIP), a £447m programme to ‘direct drug misusing offenders out of crime and into treatment’ (Home Office, 2004 p. 29) further illustrates and reinforces this shift. This article argues that this shift in approach is also likely to founder, as it continues to be dominated by a narrow focus on the individual and their drug dependence, and fails to adequately address the social context, nature and underlying causes of problem drug use.
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