[Evaluation of illicit drug use among students from universities in Gdańsk]

Anonymous questionnaire examinations were performed among 1585 students from eight universities in Gdańsk, including 664 men and 921 woman from 17 to 48 (mean 21.4 +/- 2.26) years old. Illicit drugs were used by 45.9% of them, including 33.7% applying sporadically. Since a large group of respondents (approx. 24%) used from two to seven narcotics, frequency of students' contacts with different narcotics, given below, was altogether higher than 45.9%. Women significantly less frequently than men were taken two or more illicit drugs (chi 2 = 69.4; p < 0.0001). Cannabis was used by approx. 41% respondents (including about 29.8% applying sporadically), amphetamine by about 11% (including about 7.4% applying sporadically), LSD and magic mushrooms approx. 3.7% each, cocaine 1.1%. A few students took opium alkaloids, ecstasy, jimson-weed, and peyote. Men applied illicit drugs significantly more often than women did (chi 2 = 65.16; p < 0.0001). Drug addicted students (approx. 1.4%) smoked more cigarettes and drunk more alcohol. The frequency of illicit drugs use was the highest among students from Academy of Fine Arts (about 70%), University School of Physical Education (about 58%) and Gdańsk University (about 49%). Respondents of Priest Seminary have had no contacts with narcotics.