Correlates of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use among Scottish postsecondary helping-profession students.
OBJECTIVE
There is limited information about the prevalence of recreational drug use over the postsecondary experience in Scotland. The purpose of this study was to investigate the patterns of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use in postsecondary helping-profession students (medical, nursing, education and psychology) in Scotland in regards to gender, age and course of study.


METHODS
The Queensland Alcohol and Drug Study Questionnaire was completed by students enrolled in helping-profession courses from 22 departments at universities and colleges in five Scottish cities. The sample consisted of 717 male and 2,537 female students.


RESULTS
A slightly (p < .05) higher percent of women (92.7%) consumed alcohol compared to men (90%), but men consumed significantly (p < .001) more drinks per week (26.7) compared to women (17.3). There was no difference between the two groups when U.K. recommendations of maximum limits for each gender were considered. About 50% of men and women consumed over 21 drinks and 14 drinks per week, respectively. A higher (p < .05) percent of men (42.5%) smoked compared to women (36.9%) and a higher (p < .001) percent of men (40.1%) consumed marijuana compared to women (24.1%). There was no difference in the quantity of tobacco consumed. For both men and women, the prevalence of alcohol and marijuana was highest 2 or 3 years before the maximum use of tobacco (students over 24 years of age). Male and female psychology students consumed the most marijuana. Psychology students, together with nursing students, also consumed the most tobacco.


CONCLUSIONS
In view of the increasing prevalence of tobacco over the university experience, especially among nursing and psychology students, and heavier alcohol consumption among younger students, health education programs for Scottish postsecondary helping-profession students should expand from the recently introduced school programs.
Engs
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Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405, USA.
Van Teijlingen
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D002321:Career Choice; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*