Drug Abuse Prevalence and Risk Factors in Students of Shaheed Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd

Addiction and drug abuse in one of the most important health, social and political problems in the world, especially in developing countries. Nowadays this problem has higher prevalence in young people, and so students of the universities are at risk. The aim of this study was to identify drug abuse prevalence and risk factors in students of Shaheed Sadoughi Medical University, Iran, Yazd This was a descriptive cross sectional study and 534 students were selected through random sampling from different medical sciences colleges. The data was collected by self-designed questionnaire and interview, and then analyzed using SPSS software and chi-square test. Data showed the prevalence of drug abuse in students to be 21.5%, frequency of drug abuse was as follows: Hookah 15.9%, cigarette 24.13%, opium 2.8%. The major risk factors were amusement 47.4% and unemployment 42.98%. It was higher in single males who lived in university dormitories. According to the study results, it is recommended that families and university managers facilitate student's entertainment, marriage and occupation. The high prevalence of smoking hookah which is usually accompanied by use of other drugs should be considered in educational programs.