How far can you go? Association between illicit drug use and academic migration

ABSTRACT Objective: To measure the prevalence of illicit drugs use in the lifetime, last year and last month, as well as the factors associated to the last year's use and its association with academic migration, among undergraduate students of a university in southern Brazil. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected through self-administered questionnaire. It was conducted a clustered systematic sampling. For multivariate analyses, it was used Poisson regression. Results: 1,423 students participated. The prevalence of illicit drug use in the lifetime, last year and last month were 42.4%, 25.5% and 17.7%, respectively. Regarding illicit substances, marijuana use was the most prevalent. The variables independently associated with illicit drugs use in the last year were academic migration, being male, younger, single, high parent's educational level, living with peers, tobacco use in the last year, and having friend and relative that have used illicit drugs. Religious practice had a protective effect. Conclusion: Individuals who migrated from their cities to study at the university are more exposed to the main risk factors pointed out by this research and hence to the use of illicit drugs. Based on these results, we suggest that universities develop evaluation, prevention, treatment or referral strategies considering specific needs of this population

摘要 研究目的：旨在调查巴西南部某高校本科生的违禁药品终身使用、过去一年使用及过去一个月使用流行率，同时分析与过去一年违禁药品使用相关的影响因素，以及该使用行为与学术迁移（academic migration）的关联。研究方法：本研究为横断面研究，采用自填式调查问卷收集数据，实施整群系统抽样。多变量分析采用泊松回归（Poisson regression）模型。研究结果：共计1423名本科生参与本次调查。受试者终身、过去一年及过去一个月的违禁药品使用流行率分别为42.4%、25.5%与17.7%。其中，大麻使用是最为普遍的违禁药品使用类型。与过去一年违禁药品使用独立相关的变量包括：学术迁移、男性、年龄偏小、未婚、父母受教育水平较高、与同辈群体同住、过去一年存在烟草使用史，以及拥有使用过违禁药品的朋友与亲属。宗教信仰活动则对违禁药品使用具有保护作用。研究结论：从原籍城市迁移至该校就读的学生，更易暴露于本研究识别出的各类主要危险因素，因此其违禁药品使用风险显著更高。基于上述研究结果，我们建议各高校结合该群体的特殊需求，制定并实施评估、预防、治疗或转介相关的干预策略。