Drug dependence and emotional dysregulation

About 332 male and female students responded to Substance Dependence Scale (SDS) and Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. Reported prevalence of psychoactive substances use are 16.9% (alcohol), 7.2% (sedatives), 7.2% (hallucinogens), 3.0% (inhalants), 3.0% (amphetamines), 2.4% (cocaine), 2.0% (cannabis), 2.0% (opioid) and 1.2% (tobacco). The nature of PSD showed that 5.6% are not in control of their psychoactive substance use, 27.2% are anxious on missing doses, 9.4% are worried about their substance use. 22.8% wish they could stop the use of illicit drugs while 5.0% find it difficult to abstain from drugs. In all, 21.7% and 7.2% of participants reported mild – moderate - severe PSD, respectively. Significant gender influence was observed on PSD, with male reporting higher mean score than female students. No significant mean score difference was found in PSD of secondary and tertiary education students.