Alcohol and drug use in students

Alcohol and Drug Use in Students Attending a Student Health Centre : 

Alcohol and Drug Use in Students Attending a Student Health Centre Dr Lisa Cahill Dr Michael Byrne

Introduction : 

Introduction CLAN study undertaken 2002/2003 Invaluable information regarding student health Compiled results from all colleges Since CLAN survey, no further publications Areas of tobacco, drug use and alcohol

Methods : 

Methods 198 questionnaires distributed Response rate 92% Exclusion criterion Confidentiality Analysed using SPSS statistics 17.0 package

Results - Demographics : 

Results - Demographics Female: 75.7% (n=137) Male: 24.3% (n=44) Irish: 87.8% (n=159) Under 21: 53% (n=96) 21 – 24: 32% (n=58)

Results - Smoking : 

Results - Smoking 24.9% (n=45) current smokers Average age of onset: 16.4 years 65.1% (n=28) tried to stop 95.4% (n=44) want to give up

Factors that would help smoking cessation : 

Factors that would help smoking cessation

Results – Illegal drugs : 

Results – Illegal drugs Cannabis most used illegal drug Life: 49.2% (n=89) > 10 times in year: 43.8% (n=21) Males vs. females Cocaine 6.6% (n=12) Ecstasy 4% (n=7)

Results - Alcohol : 

Results - Alcohol Ever drank alcohol: 98.3% (n=178) Age starting drinking: 15.9 yrs Drink in past week: 76.2% (n=138) Spirits were the most popular drink Binge drink once week: 44.8% (n=81)

Reasons for drinking : 

Reasons for drinking

Attitudes to alcohol by gender : 

Attitudes to alcohol by gender

Adverse consequences of own alcohol use : 

Adverse consequences of own alcohol use

Consequences of someone else’s drinking : 

Consequences of someone else’s drinking

Summary of Study Findings : 

Summary of Study Findings More cannabis use than those of the same age in the general population Cocaine was the second most used illegal drug Alcohol is Affecting studies Spirits very popular Binge drinking is common Female patterns concerning

Specific actions needed : 

Specific actions needed Alcohol and drug group Education Alcohol free spaces E-PUB

References : 

References Hope A, Dring C, Dring J (2005). College Lifestyle and Attitudinal National (CLAN) survey. In The Health of Irish Students. Dublin: Department of Health and Children. National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) & Drug and Alcohol Information and Research Unit (DAIRU). Drug use in Ireland and Northern Ireland [Online] 2005. [cited 2009 Jan 30];[1-28]. Available from:URL:http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/drug_use_bulletin2.pdf National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) & Public Health Information and Research Branch (PHIRB). Drug Use in Ireland and Northern Ireland 2006/2007. [Online] 2008 [cited 2008 Jan 30];[1-44]. Available from: URL:http://www.nacd.ie/publications/44524_NACD_Bulletin_No2(Screen).pdf

Slide 16: 

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