Illegal drugs and nutrition in undergraduate students

The nutritional status of 82 marihuana-smoking students from two establishments of tertiary education was studied and compared with 63 controls. There was little difference between these two groups of students. Thirty-four per cent of those taking drugs had a diet which was deficient in one or more nutrients, compared with 30% of the controls. Four of the students who took drugs and three controls had a marginally reduced serum level of vitamin B12, but all were taking oral contraceptive agents. Sixteen marihuana-smokers had either a low folate or low pyridoxal serum level, and another three had reduced serum levels of both vitamins compared with a total of eleven among the controls. Forty-three students (52%) had used, or were using, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in addition to marihuana, and 10 had used mushrooms (Psilocybe cubensis). Thirteen students appeared to be "stoned" at interview.