title: Prevalence of consumption of addictive substances amongst Moroccan fishermen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of toxic habits is constantly increasing in developing countries and all professional sectors are concerned. Seafarers are a particular target because of the dangerousness and complexity of their work. However, few studies have investigated toxic habits in this population. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of the use and misuse of addictive substances in seafarers and to appreciate poly-consumptions according to socio-demographic and occupational characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 1,219 fishermen. Subjects filled a questionnaire during their medical examination. The questionnaire covered socio-demographic and occupational characteristics, toxic habits (tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and others psychotropic substances). The misuse was assessed by specific tests: dependence on smoking tobacco (Fagerstrom), Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST) and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of consumption was 58.5% for smoking tobacco, 36.2% for cannabis, and 36.5% for alcohol. Amongst consumers, the prevalence of dependence or misuse was 49% for smoking tobacco, 61.2% for cannabis and 86% for alcohol. Only 115 (9.4%) people had no toxic habit. 56.4% had one toxic habit, 20.4% had two toxic habits, 11.9% had three toxic habits and 1.9% had four toxic habits. The most frequent associations were tobacco-cannabis (10.5%) and tobacco-alcohol (6.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this sector, occupational health physicians have to play a key role in raising awareness and fighting against toxic habits.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Laraqui
authors.forename: Salwa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laraqui
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manar
authors.forename: Tarik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ghailan
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deschamps
authors.affiliation: Ecole supérieure d'ingénierie de la santé, Casablanca. chlaraqui51@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chakib H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Laraqui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D009326:Naval Medicine; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Morocco; addictive substances; fishermen