title: Assessment of alcohol and other drug use behaviors in health professions students.
abstract: Alcohol and other drug (AOD) use behaviors of health professions students (HPS) were assessed by surveying both university-based HPS and other nursing programs in a Midwestern state in 1999. Response was 2,646 (56.4%) of surveyed students. Family history of alcohol-related and drug-related problems were reported by 39.8% and 13.9%, respectively, with 42.6% of respondents reporting one or both. Among nursing respondents, 48.1%, 19.2% and 51.1%, respectively, reported family problems with alcohol, drugs, or one or both. Past-year alcohol use was comparable to undergraduate college students (UCS) nationally (83%); heavy drinking, tobacco and recreational drug use by HPS were lower. Past year drug use was highest among medical students. Marijuana was the predominant illicit drug; medical students and males most often reported use. Health professions educational systems should proactively address student AOD prevention, education and assistance needs.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, The University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-2135, USA. jbaldwin@unmc.edu
authors.forename: Jeffrey N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Sangeeta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: Jean K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Bartek
authors.forename: R Ellen
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Davis-Hall
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Reardon
authors.forename: Edward M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: DeSimone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D016390:Allied Health Occupations / Q000193:education; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009329:Nebraska; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology