title: Alcohol, cigarette, and illegal substance consumption among medical students: a cross-sectional survey.
abstract: This study investigated addictive substance use by French medical students. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to 255 participants randomly selected from 1,021 second- to sixth-year medical students. Questionnaires were self-administered and included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, mental health, and alcohol (The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT test]), tobacco (Fagerstrom test), and illegal substance consumption (Cannabis Abuse Screening Test [CAST test]). The AUDIT scores indicated that 11% of the study participants were at risk for addiction and 21% were high-risk users. Tobacco dependence was strong or very strong for 12% of the participants. The CAST score showed that 5% of cannabis users needed health care services. Cannabis users were also more likely than non-users to fail their medical school examinations (89% vs. 39%, p<.01). One quarter of medical student participants (n=41) had used other illegal drugs, and 10% of study participants had considered committing suicide during the previous 12 months. Psychoactive substance consumption by French medical students requires preventive measures, screening, and health care services.
authors.affiliation: University Paris 13 Jules Verne University of Picardy Amiens University Hospital maxime.gignon@u-picardie.fr.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gignon
authors.affiliation: Jules Verne University of Picardy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Havet
authors.affiliation: University Paris 13 Jules Verne University of Picardy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ammirati
authors.affiliation: Jules Verne University of Picardy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Traullé
authors.affiliation: Jules Verne University of Picardy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manaouil
authors.affiliation: Jules Verne University of Picardy Amiens University Hospital.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Balcaen
authors.affiliation: Jules Verne University of Picardy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Loas
authors.affiliation: Jules Verne University of Picardy Amiens University Hospital.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.affiliation: Jules Verne University of Picardy Amiens University Hospital.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ganry
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013337:Students, Medical; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs
keywords: France; alcohol consumption; cannabis; medical students; tobacco