Use of psychoactive substances among students in a Dentistry course in the state of Ceará - DUSI-R instrument
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Abstract
Analyzing the pattern of psychoactive substance use by dentistry students at the University of Fortaleza, as well as its relation to family and social aspects and its repercussions on academic performance. The research was conducted at the University of Fortaleza, targeting students regularly enrolled in the current year's dentistry course. The survey was carried out in April and May of 2016, covering all students from the first to the last semester of the course, with a total of 257 participating students. Data collection was conducted using the DUSI-R instrument, applied via Google Drive and remotely. Consumption of nearly all psychoactive substances was observed, although some only in small percentages. The most widespread drugs among the university students were non-prescription painkillers, at 68.3%, and alcohol at 61.4%, followed by marijuana at 7.5%, tobacco at 7.4%, and non-prescription tranquilizers at 6.7%. It was noted that, regarding alcohol consumption, 35.4% reported enjoying games that involve drinking when at parties. In terms of family relationships, 17.3% of the participants reported that their parents/guardians often argue with each other. Concerning academic performance, 18.8% of the participants reported having grades below average. The pattern of illicit drug use was present in the studied sample with direct repercussions on the academic process and possibly related to the family context.