Prevalence of alcohol use, alcohol use disorder, substance use and affecting factors in university students in Trabzon province

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of alcohol use, alcohol use disorder, substance use and the factors affecting alcohol use among university students in Trabzon province. Materials- Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data on alcohol use among university students in Trabzon province were analysed with 6213 participants and data on substance use with 6208 participants. Statistical analyses were evaluated by Chi-square test and Binary Logistic Regression test. Results: The prevalence of alcohol use was 24.1% (95% CI 23.0-25.2) and the prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) was 4.9% (95% CI 4.3-5.4) among 6213 students included in the analysis. The prevalence of AUD among alcohol users (n=1496) was 20.2% (95% CI 18.2-22.3). The prevalence of non-medical substance use was 4.6% (95% CI 3.8-4.9) and non-medical substance use in the last 12 months was 1.5% (95% CI 1.2-1.9). The prevalence of lifetime medical substance use was 4.9% (95% CI 4.2-5.3) and the prevalence of medical substance use in the last 12 months was 2.1% (95% CI 1.8-2.5). The prevalence of lifetime substance use was 8.2% (95% CI 7.2-8.5) and the prevalence of substance use in the last 12 months was 3.4% (95% CI 3.0-3.9). The most common reason for alcohol (71.9%) and substance use (14.3%) was stated as having fun. The most commonly used substances were tranquillisers/sleep medication, inhalants and cannabinoids, respectively. Students' alcohol use was related to male gender (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.5-2.0), being over 21 years of age (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.2-1.9), being a private high school graduate (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.6), living in a student house/ dormitory (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.3-1.9), having a mother at higher education level (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.7; 95% CI 1.3-2.2), mother having secondary education (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.2-1.8), mother and/or father using alcohol (OR 5.5; 95% CI 4.4-6.8), close friends using alcohol (OR 7.1; 95% CI 6.0-8.3), receiving education in associate degree programmes (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.6). Male gender was found to be a risk factor in lifetime non-medical substance use and female gender was found to be a risk factor in lifetime substance use. Residing in a student house and mother's level of education being higher education were associated with the frequency of substance use. Conclusion: The prevalence of alcohol use and alcohol use disorder among university students in Trabzon province was found to be high compared to general population studies and similar to university studies. The prevalence of substance use was high compared to a targeted value of zero. The prevalence of alcohol use, AUD and substance use differed between universities. The most commonly used substances were tranquillisers/sleep pills, cannabinoids, volatile/inhalants. The fact that the most commonly used substances were tranquilliser-sleeping pills suggests that misuse and abuse of drugs are high. The fact that cannabinoids ranked second shows the accessibility of a substance that is not legally sold, and the fact that volatile/inhalants ranked third shows that the products used in the manufacturing industry are used due to their health effects (easy access, legal production-sale, cheapness). In short, it shows that students can access substances regardless of their economic conditions, health status and legal situation in the country. When establishing centres for the prevention of alcohol and substance use by university students and for the treatment of users and when planning intervention activities, it should be taken into consideration that students are at risk under all economic conditions, different health conditions and changing legal conditions. In order to prevent recreational use of substances, information activities should be planned for the health effects of substances or first-year courses on the subject should be added to the curriculum. Peer interaction should be prioritised and sociocultural activities at universities should be increased and access to these activities should be facilitated. A service unit that meets the counselling and guidance needs of students to prevent drug misuse can be established.