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'Higher education' - substance use among Berlin college students
Leonard Viohl1, Felicitas Ernst1, Julian Gabrysch1
1Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
The European Journal of Neuroscience
|January 12, 2019
Summary
Berlin college students exhibit high rates of illicit substance use, exceeding general population and other city student levels. Factors like smoking, mental health issues, and bisexuality are linked to increased use, highlighting a need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Berlin's nightlife is linked to psychoactive substance use.
- College students are at high risk for substance misuse, impacting cognitive function and academics.
- Previous studies highlight substance use risks in student populations globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail substance use patterns among Berlin college students.
- To identify key protective and risk factors associated with substance use.
- To compare Berlin student substance use with national and international data.
Main Methods:
- An online questionnaire was distributed to Berlin college students.
- The survey assessed sociodemographics, legal/illegal substance use patterns, frequency, and risk-taking behavior.
- A sample of 9351 students from 17 Berlin colleges participated.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of illicit substance use: 69.3% lifetime, 45.9% past year, 28.3% past month.
- Factors associated with increased illicit substance use include daily smoking, mental disorder diagnosis, problematic consumption (Cage-AID), bisexual orientation, and open relationships.
- Berlin students show higher illicit substance use rates compared to German general population and students in other cities.
Conclusions:
- Berlin college students represent a significant population for substance use prevention and intervention.
- Targeted strategies are needed to address the high prevalence and associated risk factors.
- Further research should explore specific interventions for this demographic.