title: Prevalence and factors associated with the use of illicit substances among male university students in Kuwait.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of illicit use of substances and identify the factors associated with illicit drug use among male students in the state-run Kuwait University and private universities in Kuwait.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a cross-sectional survey with a sample of 1,587 male students from both private universities (n = 869) and the public (n = 718) Kuwait University in Kuwait. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Overall lifetime prevalence of substance use was computed with 95% confidence interval. Logistic regression was used to identify the factors influencing substance use, which was adjusted for potential confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total lifetime prevalence of illicit drug use was 14.4% and the most frequently used illicit substance was marijuana (11%). The substance use in general varied significantly (p ≤ 0.001) between private (18%) and public (10%) universities. Multivariate logistic regression model revealed that drug use was positively associated with age, poor academic performance, high family income, being an only child, divorced parents, and graduation from a private high school.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Drug use among male university students in Kuwait was high and requires attention and appropriate intervention. The factors identified with drug use in this study could be utilized to develop appropriate public health policies and preventive measures that may improve the health status of the student population.
authors: Department of Community Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait, Kuwait.
authors: Hisham Z
authors: HZ
authors: Bajwa
authors: Ahmed S A
authors: AS
authors: Al-Turki
authors: Ahmed M K
authors: AM
authors: Dawas
authors: Mohammad Q
authors: MQ
authors: Behbehani
authors: Abdulaziz M A
authors: AM
authors: Al-Mutairi
authors: Shaymaa
authors: S
authors: Al-Mahmoud
authors: Mumtaz
authors: M
authors: Shukkur
authors: Lukman
authors: L
authors: Thalib
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs
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