title: Substance use of medical students: a nationwide survey.
abstract: Medical students from 13 medical schools in England, Scotland and Wales were asked about their use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. Data from 1,278 students (68% response rate) are presented here. 10% of the respondents were current smokers, 10% ex-smokers. In a typical week 17% of the respondents exceeded the recommended limits for sensible drinking. Other drugs besides tobacco or alcohol had been used by 37% of the respondents. Most of the students who had used drugs had done so on no more than 10 occasions. 9% were current users. Although the majority of medical students neither smoke nor drink heavily nor take drugs, a significant minority either persist in or develop potentially harmful substance use behaviour during their studies. The scope for preventive efforts is considerable.
authors.affiliation: St George's Hospital Medical School, London.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ghodse
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Howse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology