title: The Prevalence of Substance use and Associated Risk Factors Among University Students in the City of Jahrom, Southern Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Substance use among college students in Iran is a serious problem. Determining the pattern of substance use among University students is an important issue for implementing prevention and treatment programs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present survey attempts to determine the prevalence of substance usage and associated risk factors among the students of Jahrom University of Medical Sciences and Islamic Azad University of Jahrom, Jahrom, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was carried out from December 2012 to February 2013 and included 1149 randomly selected students of two Jahrom universities. A standard questionnaire was used for data gathering. Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 15 for Windows. T-test and Chi-square T-test and Chi-square and Logestic regression tests were used for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tobacco (28.3%), alcohol (13.0%), and cannabis and marijuana (5.2%) were the most common substances used by the students. The prevalence of substance use among the male students was significantly higher (OR: 1.5, 95%CI: 1.42 - 2.68, P < 0.001). The risk of at least single episode of substance usage was higher among the students which were living alone (OR: 3.03, 95%CI: 1.74 - 5.28, P < 0.001) The most important motivators for beginning substance use were curiosity, in 46.4%, and seeking pleasure, in 28.8%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Substance usage is considered as a risk factor for students' health among University students in Iran. Design of educational courses addressing the detrimental effects and dire consequences of substance usage could help to improve control programs. Universities could improve their drug abuse control programs by focusing on the high risk groups determined by relevant studies.
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Taghi
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Heydari
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Somayeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Izedi
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Social Determinants of Health, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Yaser
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sarikhani
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Navid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kalani
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akbary
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Abolfazl
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miri
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahmoodi
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akbari
keywords: Drinking, Alcohol; Students; Substance-Related Disorders; Tobacco Use