Clinical Pharmacology & Biopharmaceutics
Open Access

Abstract

Background: To date, it is very difficult to exclude a single community in the world where substance abuse is not a very serious ongoing public health problem. The college culture of substance abuse will incur a huge financial and health burden on the society. Objective: Therefore, the main objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence of social drug abuse and its associated factors among the students of the Rift Valley University College at Bishoftu. Methods: College based cross-sectional study design with quantitative method using students of Bishoftu Rift Valley University College as source population was used. Results: Of 318 questionnaires to be filled, 290 were complete with a response rate of 91.2%. The most common substances used in the study area were alcohol, cigarette and khat with life time prevalence of 60.7%. The current prevalence of substance use is about 63.1%. According to CAGE-AID parameters (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye opener-Adapted to include drug), 22.8% were alcohol abusers, followed by khat (20.7%) and cigarette (18.3%). Most of the students started to use social drugs at college (42.8%) and secondary school level (30.7%). Most of the respondents used social drugs to relax (25.3%), to follow role model (17.5%), influenced by peers (17.1%) and due to availability of substances (13.5%). Upon usage, the majority of the students suffered from health, social and financial problems. Conclusion: The prevalence of substance abuse is very high affecting future generation. This result necessitates the intervention of substance abuse. Therefore, further investigation and designing of rehabilitation and treatment program is required from concerned bodies. Regular counseling and peer group education can also minimize the substance use practice.

Biography

Email: mulisa2e@yahoo.com